Author: Pastor Tim

Today, I am starting a series entitled “Essential Exercises for Building a Better Body.”

 

If we all would honest that we could use a little tuning up. We need some body-building. We need to improve our bodies.

 

Now, I’m not simply talking about our physical bodies. Although that is probably true for most of us physically, and although it is unhealthy, even dangerous to be out of shape, flabby and weak, there is a greater danger we face.

 

You may be asking yourself, “If the pastor isn’t talking about the physical body, then what body is he talking about?” I am talking about the body of relationships you are involved in daily.

 

The relationship between you and your family

The relationship between you and your church family

The relationship between you and your friends

The relationship between you and your co-workers

The relationship between you and the other parents at little-league

The relationship between you and the person sitting in the seat next to you this morning.

 

The “body” of relationships that make up our church, which is called “The Body of Christ.”

 

This body of relationships that we all have is the context in which we live life. Now, I don’t know about you, but I tend to think that life can be kind of difficult at times. Life is often hard. But we don’t have to just endure life, we can thoroughly enjoy it and live it to the fullest. Jesus tells us in

 

John 10:10

I came that everyone would have life and have it in it’s fullest.”

 

The full life that Christ came to give us starts in a personal relationship with him, and it is daily lived out in the context of the relationships we have with others, inside the church, inside the home, inside the office, etc.

Jesus wants us to live the full life and he gave his very life so that we can do just that. It is His free gift, offered to us. However, to truly experience all the fullness that he offers to us, we need to make sure that the body of relationships we live in is a healthy body. That’s why we’re going to spend the next few weeks considering the essential exercises for building a better body.

 

These exercises, or principles, for building a better body are found in the Bible, God’s Word to us.

 

The biblical principles I am going to look at over the next few weeks can be applied to our relationship within the local church and they can be applied to our relationships:

– with our families

– at church

– at home

– at work

– on the athletic field

– at school

– wherever.

 

These biblical principles can be applied to every relationship you have.

In fact, they are essential exercises if you want to build healthier, stronger relationships.

 

Now, since these are Biblical principles, or principles based upon what the Bible teaches, then the first thing we need to do is to look at the Bible and see what it says to us regarding these essential exercises.

 

Look with me at Ephesians 6:10-18. We’re going to look at this passage of scripture with an eye toward building a better body

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints

.When we look at these verses we see the essential exercises needed to build a better body of relationships.

 

– Allocate Strength

– Act with Integrity

– Attain Righteousness

– Advance Real Peace

– Assert your Faith

– Align Your Thoughts With Christ

– Acknowledge the Word

– Approach Christ in prayer

 

Today Let’s look at the first exercise that is essential to building a better body. If we want to truly have a better body of relationships, then we have to learn to allocate true strength.

 

Let’s face it, maintaining healthy relationships is hard work. It takes a high degree of strength, and most of us don’t feel like we have the strength or energy to do what is necessary to maintain healthy relationships in all areas of our lives.

 

Keeping a relationship healthy involves a high degree of maintenance. And relationship maintenance means using a lot of your strength.

 

It takes mental strength, it takes emotional strength, it takes spiritual strength to keep a relationship happy, and when you have to apply that strength to the relationships you have at home, at work, at church, etc. you quickly begin to run out of strength.

 

The fact is neither you nor I have enough strength to really keep all of the relationships we have in a state of good health. We are just over stretched.

 

However, I have good news for you. There is a source of strength that we can have as strength is needed. Our strength can be supplied from God Himself.

 

Look with me again at Ephesians 6:10

 

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”

 

Paul, the author of this letter, tells us exactly where we can find the strength we need. We find it in the Lord, and in His mighty power. If I don’t have the strength myself to keep things healthy, then I have to turn somewhere else to get the strength I need, and that somewhere else is really a someone else! It is Jesus Christ who gives me the strength I need.

 

Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

 

That “all things” includes maintaining the health of the myriad of relationships I have to exist within.

 

Why is Paul so adamant that we find our strength in God? Because he understands that the struggles we face go beyond just time constraints and personality issues. He knows that the real battle we face comes from a strong enemy.

 

Look at Ephesians 6:12 again, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

 

He knows that the devil loves it when our relationships are in turmoil. Because when our relationships are in turmoil we cannot focus upon God as we should. It is hard to draw close to God when we are having people problems as home at work and at church. Thus since we lack strength on our own and since we are fighting a very strong, very crafty, very dangerous and evil enemy, we must find our strength in God and God alone.

 

So if God has the power and I need it, how do I allocate that power or strength to use in building a better body? I’m glad you asked.

 

There are four steps we need to take to get the strength we need, when we need it, to maintain healthy relationships that honor God. Let’s take just a few minutes and consider those five steps.

 

How do we allocate the strength offered so that we may “Be Strong in the Lord?”

1. Acknowledge our weakness without His strength.
2. Affirm His strength and His presence.
3. Align yourself with His will.
4. Act in obedience.

 

 

• Admit That You’re Weak Without God

 

Let’s be honest for just a minute. 99.9% of us don’t like to depend upon other people. We don’t like to depend upon anyone but ourselves. If we have trouble the first thing we do is bare down and try to get through it ourselves.

 

We’re raised that way. Our nation was founded with the ideals of independence and rugged individualism at the center of all that we believe. We view as weak those who have to lean on others to get through it.

 

However, if we are so good at being independent, then why are broken relationships at epidemic levels in our society? If we are so strong and have the power to fix things ourselves, why is the divorce rate as high as the marriage rate in America? Why is the divorce rate as high as the marriage rate in conservative, evangelical churches?

 

Why are we in a relationship crisis in our society? The reason is that we are weak, we simply don’t want to admit it. However, if we are going to allocate strength from God, we must admit that we are weak without Him.

 

As Lee Strobel, the former teaching pastor at Willow Creek Church has said, “We can’t be filled with the power of God until we first empty ourselves of the pretense that we can get by on our own.”

Power is available for all of us. There is no secret chant or special ceremony necessary to access this supernatural power from God. We simply need to acknowledge that we need it.

 

We are weak without His power. Jesus said in John 15:5

“I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me.”

 

That last sentence sums it all up. We cannot do anything without Him!

We cannot build any healthy relationship… …without Him!

Not at home, work, church or anywhere… …without Him!

 

There is a second step we must take to allocate strength. We need to affirm God’s power and presence!

 

• Affirm God’s Power and Presence

 

Affirm: To assert strongly: declare positively.

Another dictionary put it this way: To put into words positively, with conviction!

 

If we want to allocate strength or power from God, then we need to strongly declare, with conviction that God does indeed have power.

1 Chronicles 16:11-12 says this “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders has had done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced. Trust the Lord and his mighty power. Worship him always. Remember his miracles and all his wonders and his fair decisions.”

If you want to affirm the power and the presence of God, then spend time remembering the times he has worked on your behalf.

If you can’t think of any such times, then open the Word of God and read about his miracles and his wonders.

This book is full of accounts of God working wonders and miracles. It contains true story after true story of his power working on our behalf.

He led Moses and the Israelites out of Egypt and through the Red Sea! That’s power.

He knocked down the wall of the city of Jericho! That’s power.

He enabled weak and frightened Gideon to take 300 men and destroy an enemy army numbering in the 10’s of thousands! That’s power.

He enabled little David to take out big Goliath! That’s power.

He healed the lame, the blind, and the demon possessed! That’s power.

He raised the dead! That’s power.

He raised his only Son, Jesus, to life-never to die again-after he had died for our sins and been in the tomb for three days! That’s power.

The Bible is full of stories of God’s power at work and that power is available to us.

The first step in allocating strength is to admit we are weak without God, the second is to affirm, with conviction his power and his presence. But there is a third step we must take. We must be willing to align ourselves with God’s will.

 

3) Align Yourself With God’s Will

 

The third step in allocating the strength of the Lord is to align yourself with God’s will.

There are few things more dangerous than a person who has power of some sort and yet doesn’t know how to use that power.

 

Give a six year old a power saw and you’ll see what I mean. Either they will destroy something, they will hurt someone or they will hurt themselves. A six-year-old child has no business using power tools.

 

Turn an inexperienced driver loose in a crowded parking lot or on a crowded free-way and you’re asking for trouble. Not because they are inherently bad or because they are evil, but because they have power that they don’t know how to use.

The same applies to the power or strength that we can allocate from God. We shouldn’t think we’ll receive any such strength if we don’t first know how to use that strength. You see, many of us want God’s strength, God’s power, so that we can accomplish what we want in life and so that we can get what we want from our relationships.

 

We often ask for power from God without first asking what God’s will is and then aligning ourselves with that will. That is why we lack power many times.

 

“You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives…” James 4:2b-3a

 

Can you relate to that? How many of you have asked God for strength in dealing with “people problems” not so that you could fix the broken relationship or so that you could be a witness to the other person, but so that you could get your way, or at least get comfortable again?

 

If we want to allocate the strength that God make’s available to us then we have take the time to find out what God’s will is and then align ourselves with His will.

 

It says an angel came and strengthened Jesus in the garden after His prayer. Jesus needed strength, not to do his own thing, but to do the will of God. “…yet not my will, but yours be done.”

 

If we want to allocate the strength that God has for us, then we must first of all align ourselves with His will. That means we have to be willing to submit what we want to what he knows is best.

It means giving up our desires, our plans, our designs for our relationships and letting God have his way. That sounds like a scary proposition, but it isn’t. If you think about it, it’s a win.

There is another step we must take if we are going to gain access to the strength that God has for us. We need to ask God for the power we need.

 

4) Act in Obedience to God

Even if we have done all of the above, admitting our weakness, affirming God’s power, and aligning ourselves with his will we may not feel powerful. We may not feel like we have the strength needed. But it’s there.

What we need to do is to step out and act in obedience. We need to move forward, in faith, believing that God has and will give us the strength. And as we obey him the strength we need will be given to us.

God’s strength is not primarily “potential strength.”

He doesn’t have this big battery full of strength and power waiting for us to tap into it. God’s strength for us is primarily “kinetic strength.” Strength in motion, power in action.

After the Israelites had left Egypt and spent 40 years wandering around the Arabian desert, the time had come for them to enter the land God had promised to them. However, there was a major obstacle. The Jordan river, which was the eastern boundary of the Promised Land at that time was at flood stage and they had to cross it. But God had a plan. He promised he would part the waters, like he had done with the Red Sea, but this time he worked just a little bit differently. He told them he would part the waters as they stepped into the river and moved forward. As long as they stood on the river bank waiting for God to part the waters nothing happened. But when they acted in obedience and stepped forward, the water parted. (Story found in Joshua 3)

God wants the same kind of faith to be exhibited in our lives. He wants us to step forward in obedience and as we act in obedience, he gives us the needed strength.

Relationships are hard work. Relationships at home, at work, at church, where-ever take hard work. The body of relationships that we find ourselves existing within must be maintained and built up.

Because of that we’re looking at the essential exercises for building a better body. But to really do the needed exercises we must have strength. We need to have real power and real strength that comes from a source that is bigger than us.

That’s why the Apostle Paul tells us to “be strong in the Lord!” The strength we need to keep our relationships healthy is a strength that we don’t have, but we do have access to it. We need only to allocate it.

How do we allocate the strength offered so that we may “Be Strong in the Lord?”

1. Acknowledge our weakness without His strength.
2. Affirm His strength and His presence.
3. Align yourself with His will.
4. Act in obedience.

Where do you need strength? What relationship needs a degree of strength that is beyond you? Is it a relationship at home? Is it a relationship at work? Is it a relationship with someone in the church? Is it your relationship with the church or more importantly, is it your relationship with Jesus Christ that needs a special infusion of supernatural strength?

Whatever the relationship, I assure God wants to give the strength you need, real power to make it work. This morning right now, start to take the steps necessary to allocate his strength and he will supply you beyond your wildest dreams! Be Strong in the Lord!

How many here have made resolutions in the past?

How many made a resolution or are considering making one this year?

Change is only necessary if you want to live and if you want to fulfill God’s destiny for you.

Think about the things you wish you could change about yourself or your situation

What are you waiting for?

Here are the top resolutions Americans make

 

• Lose Weight and Get Fit
• Quit Smoking
• Learn Something New
• Eat Healthier and Diet
• Get Out of Debt and Save Money
• Spend More Time with Family and those you love
• Travel to New Places
• Be Less Stressed
• Volunteer
• Drink Less

 

As Christians we don’t need resolutions we need a revolution against the mindset of this world and the limitations placed upon us through our culture, families, region or whatever it is time for a revolution and we begin with the revolutionary statement from Paul

2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Paul is writing that you are a new creation…the Greek here implies that when you came to Christ you were made completely new you were not amended, adapted, and the new you is completely superior to the old you! He also calls you a new creation which is the same word used about the beginning of creation which is to say the new you was not created from parts of the old you but is something totally new.

 

I know you may have never heard that explanation before but it is something you need to grasp and begin to believe. If you are willing, God is willing to make this happen in and through you this year.

 

John put it this way…John 1:12

But as many as received him, to them he gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

To make any change takes two things 1) wise choices and 2 self-discipline

Thank God for God who teaches us to make wise choices and who has given us the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into these choices and part of the fruit of allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us is self-discipline (control)

 

Let’s take a quick look at this wish list some of which may be on your list

1) Lose weight and get fit/eat healthier, diet – let’s make a distinction this morning being over weight is not necessarily a sin, but gluttony is (Ezekiel 16:49, Proverbs 28:7, Philippians 3:19,20. Gluttony is showing that food is more important to you that your health or life and sometimes even God it is any food or drink in excess. The great things about it is, if God calls it a sin He will help you overcome it if you choose to all Him.

 

I have been going to the gym three days/week since May and at first it was great, then it was a struggle, and now because I know I am accomplishing something it is more often a joy than not.

Excess weight is different for every body type but if you want to change, the Lord is on your side. Diets don’t work for the long term, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you and listening to your own body can help. Find what is healthy for you and live there. It is about being healthy not body shape.

 

The verse that challenged me is from 1 Corinthians 9:26,27

So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

I want to be able to accomplish all God has planned and doing my best to stay out of the hospital and have the endurance to do all that I am called to do.

Other verses you can check out Romans 12:1, 1 Corinthians 10:31

Practical advice

 

• Find out what is driving you to hurt yourself this way and get help to deal with it
• Get a friend to help you with your eating habits
• Research to find healthy alternatives to bad choices
• Walk more and drink more water

2) Learn something new – there is so much to learn, the more I study God’s word and wiser people than I am the more I realize how much more I have to learn.

 

God has given you dreams and the reason most of your dreams have not yet been fulfilled is that there is more you need to learn.

Want to travel the world…learn the language and/or the culture

Want to understand the economy, politics, wise investment or just your kids home work…study

Paul wrote to his young disciple and said this 2 Timothy 2:15

“Study to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

 

Our world is amazing, cultures and people are exciting there is so much to learn and when you are looking at it from God’s perspective it can blow you away and give you new life.

Jesus said this about the Holy Spirit John 14:26

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

 

God promises, if you are curious and want to know and understand things, He will help you to go deeper if you would like.

Jeremiah 33:3

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

 

BTW this year M-F, I will be posting on the app, facebook, and my blog at timburgan.blogspot.com I will be posting a “thought for the day to help you go deeper in understanding God’s word.

 

Practical advice

 

• Discover your personal interest and start reading more about it
• Turn off the TV and send time reading, taking a class, being mentored in an area of interest.
• Seek out people with different interest and try some new hobby or interest to stretch who you are

3) Get out of debt, save money

Money is one of the big divorce makers. The way we have learned to handle money or not handle money as the case may be will determine our future

Solomon, the second wisest man to every live said this…

Proverbs 22:7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

In fact Jesus challenges us that if we can’t learn to handle money and our debt we will never be trusted with the things of God.

Luke 16:11

“If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?”

 

Most people have not been taught how to handle finances. Constantly struggling with debt, trying to get ahead, have little to no money saved for your kids college, retirement. The Bible actually has a lot to say about becoming a blessing and successful with your finances.

We are commanded in scripture to financially care for our families, to leave an inheritance for our children and grand children, and to take care of the church

If you want to change how to handle your finances we have the financial peace seminar that shows you how to do this with wisdom and get you far ahead of others.

Think you can’t do it? Think again! God wants you to do it so if you are willing He will show you how and give you what you need if you will be faithful!

Other scriptures about money

Proverbs 6:9;  10:4;  14:23;  20:13

 

Practical advice –

 

• Cut up your credit cards
• Design a budget you can live with
• Start saving
• Work more if you need to for a short season to get caught up or out of debt
• Sign up for a Financial Peace seminar and actually go!

 

4) Time – is the topic I place for “less stress, spend more time with family and those you love, and volunteering.

 

Each of us are given the same amount of time in a day. I have found if I don’t control my life others will. Having an out of control life leads to stress, issues with those you love, and robs you of the things you want to do.

 

When I was in college someone shared this statement with me Prior planning prevents poor performance and poor planning permits poor performance.

 

Paul writes these two statements

Colossians 4:5

“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.”

 

Ephesians 5:15,16

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”

 

Running late, always, not prioritizing your time and allowing others to control it places lots of stress on you.

 

Other scriptures about time management

Proverbs 21:5, Proverbs 27:1, Psalm 90:12, James 1:5, James 4:13,14, Matthew 6:33

 

Let’s get you kicked off to fulfill the revolution you are about to undertake

 

 

 

 

The beginning of a Christmas miracle for you

 

When Zechariah, the aging priest in the video, went to work that day, he did not expect to encounter an angel. He had been a priest for decades and served faithfully in his priestly responsibilities for as

long as he could remember. However, God regularly works through ordinary people doing what they normally do in their life. Although Zechariah was in the midst of a once in a lifetime opportunity to

offer incense inside the Temple, angelic encounters are not as unique as we might expect. From the first chapters of Genesis in the Garden of Eden to the final descriptions in Revelation and all throughout the pages of the Bible, there are hundreds of references where the activities of angels are recorded.

 

A recent Google search of “angel encounters” produces well over one million results in less than one second. Historical reviews of virtually all nations and cultures demonstrate some belief in angels.

 

Many religions talk about the potential of angels

– Egyptians prepared ornate tombs expecting angels to visit them

– the entire focus of Islam depends upon the angel Gabriel

 

Does the Bible speak of angels in our every day lives?

 

Psalm 91:11

For he will order his angels to protect you in all you do.

 

Hebrews 1:14

Are they (angels) not all ministering spirits, sent out to serve those who will inherit salvation?

 

Hebrews 13:2

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

 

Everywhere in the Bible when godly men and women see angels they are overwhelmed that is why they need to keep saying “don’t be afraid”

However as we read in Hebrews God sends His angels at times in ways that we would not recognize so we need to be aware.

The word angel literally means messenger. God created them for worship of God and service to mankind this is why we do not become angels when we die. We will judge and rule over angelic beings.

Part of their service to mankind is to aid in the battle of powers and principalities so if the world is seeing more evil these days you can be assured that angel activity will be on the increase as well

References to angels far out number the references to Satan and demons so we should expect as always that the power of God in our lives can and should easily out weigh any influence the enemy has.

Angels will play a role in all of the teaching that we are going to do leading up to Christmas.

 

I need to ask you, do you believe God’s word to be true? If so, why do you worry, why are you fearful of demonic attacks why is your mind set on the negative rather than Christ? He has given his angels charge over you but we must choose to trust Him and walk in obedience so he can protect us.

Let’s start with the story of Zachariah

 

Luke 1:1-4

Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. 2 They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. 3 Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, 4 so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.

 

Luke is laying a foundation for everything that will follow here. This is the “I’m telling you a story that you already have heard but I’ve written it down so you know it has been verified type of thing”

It would be kind of like this if you had a group of people who have heard the “twas a night before Christmas” poem and you read it like this

Imagine the official storyteller of the family beginning the story

like this:

“‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house. Not a creature was stirring except for a mouse.”

 

Immediately the people listening to the story would stop the storyteller and say: “Wait. Stop. That’s not even a mouse”

 

Because they had heard it enough, the people Luke was writing to had heard all that he is about to share enough times but wants people to know the stories have been verified.

 

Luke begins this part this way…

 

Luke 1:5-7

When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. 6 Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. 7 They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.

 

The scripture is very clear one of the blessings of following the Lord is children. In this culture it was a stigma to not have children but obviously Elizabeth had not given up hope and Zachariah had not given up his faithfulness to serving God

 

Luke 1:8,9

8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.

 

Let’s pause there and talk about God’s impact in the great and the small.

 

• Elijah, according to biblical prophecy must come before the Messiah the big plan here is that God is doing that through Z and E this tripped up many people because like many today that get a prophetic word they don’t seek God for understanding they run with their own. God Blesses the world
• God cares about Z and E and all that they have gone through, this becomes a major miracle because of their ages, God’s timing is always perfect to make things happen the question is always will we keep trusting Him. God blesses Z and E
• God’s timing and purposes will always happen his way he caused the “lot” to fall to Zachariah and the perfect moment in time. God has got you

 

Luke 1:10-13

10 While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying. 11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.

 

Once again the angelic appearance and don’t be afraid these same fearsome, awesome, powerful angels are watching over you.

God named the baby John which means God is gracious until this time the people of God were under the law now God is prophesying through the name of this child that he will move in grace.

I need to pause here because some of you here tonight are still bound by law. Paul wrote to Timothy and said only the lawless, sinners, homosexuals, liars, the greedy, promise breakers, those who distort the word of God and sound teaching (1 Timothy 1: 8-10) If you are not those things then you need to walk out from under the law into grace. Not sloppy grace when you sin expecting God to just keeping on forgiving but grace motivated by love not to sin when sin grieves your heart.

 

Luke 1:14-17

14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. 16 And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”

 

I want to encourage some of you today with this passage as well. Do you see how much detail there is here about John even before he is conceived?

 

God’s word says he knows you in that much detail about you as well. Read Psalm 139 1-18 for verification

 

Luke 1: 18-20

18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.” 19 Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20 But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”

 

We know Zachariah was faithful because he kept serving even when others ridiculed him and rejected him because as a priest with no children that was a sign that God was not with him but he remained faithful. WE know the Elizabeth kept hoping because this happened.

 

How quickly have you given up on the promises of God? Don’t grow weary in well doing Galatians 6:9 says for in the end you will reap. Are there things you have given up on, repent and return to trusting God for your future.

 

Luke 1:21,22

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long. 22 When he finally did come out, he couldn’t speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary.

 

Charades may not have been Zachariah’s strong suit but eventually they got it. Most of us would be so excited we would run right off with what the Lord had told us but Zachariah proved his faithfulness he waited on God to know how and what to do.

 

How many of us have run right off with something we were told from the Lord or heard from the Lord but did not wait on him to give clarity or discuss with others with wisdom what God was saying?

 

Luke 1:23-25

23 When Zechariah’s week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home. 24 Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. 25 “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.”

 

God spoke and then it happened, now they both understood about God’s timing. They weren’t fertile because of sin or some other failure but instead it was God’s timing. The devil didn’t stop the pregnancy instead God had a plan…if we live in fear we will bear the fruit of fear but if choose to trust God above our circumstances, what people say and hold onto His word we will every time.

 

There is a call tonight to remember what God has called you to. God has an amazing Christmas gift for you. Just as he did with Elizabeth and Zachariah we can restore and rebuild what you have given up on. God knows you knows the doubts and fears you face but like Zachariah and Elizabeth if you will choose to have hope and keep on serving you will see the fulfillment.

 

Please come tonight and ask the Lord to restore what you have surrendered. That will be the beginning of your Christmas miracle

 

 

Start small and dream big Part 3

Luke 13:20,21

He also asked, “What else is the Kingdom of God like? It is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”

After sharing the mustard seed concept he shares this one.

While they are similar they have different meaning.

– The Mustard seed is about the growth in us to impact the world.

– The yeast is about transforming us from the inside out. This is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives

WE talked about two aspects of the yeast presence and purpose

The presence of yeast

1 The yeast is a foreign substance that comes from the outside and dramatically changes the flour

2 It is not simply enough to add yeast to the flour a process called kneading is necessary.

3 It is the word of God that does the kneading in us.

We must know and apply the Word of God to our lives or the power of the Holy Spirit will be limited through us

The Purpose of Yeast

• Yeast does not come into the flour to destroy it but instead to add to it and make it into something more amazing

1. Yeast communicates its own nature to us and it effects the flour

• The Holy Spirit give us the ability to study and understand God’s Word and to share it in power and truth and as He permeates every part of us,

If we allow this purpose to take place in us then we have all the God wants for us because his nature has worked its way to every part of us producing the most amazing thing….holiness

Today I want to discuss two more aspects of yeast as it relates to this story and our walk with Christ.

The Process of the Yeast

There are certain properties of yeast as it relates to the role of the Holy Spirit or vice-a-versa they come into play in process. Remember Jesus said…

It is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”

– Yeast spreads –

Romans 8:30

“Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”

If we allow the Holy Spirit he does all the work for us and through us if we allow him

– Yeast is strong –

2 Timothy 1:6

Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands

– At present your faith may be just a flicker but allow the Holy Spirit to fan the flame and He will turn it into a raging fire

– Yeast does its work in secret

1 Corinthians 15:31

“I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.”

Surrendering daily allows the Spirit to complete the work in us. Philippians 1:6

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

As one man said to another “I am not what I want to be. I am not what I ought to be. I am not what I hope to be, but thank God I am not what I used to be.”

Yeast gives a sweet aroma to what it touches – The process of the work of the Holy Spirit brings about a sweet aroma in out lives 2 Corinthians 2:15,16

“Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. 16 To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume.”

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The Power of Yeast

The woman works the yeast so it permeates the entire bowl of flour

There are two views of the Holy Spirit in evangelical circles

That he is the third person of the Trinity and in his role it is soteriological doctrine .

The second is the view places him as the third person of the Trinity but his role goes beyond salvation.

– He leads us daily into all truth, helper John 14:17,25

– He guides us and shows us things to come John 16:13,

– He is the sword according Ephesians 6:17;

– Romans 15:13 he fills us with all hope

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I have a list of 70 things the Holy Spirit does beyond salvation at the end of my notes

It is the same with the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives I can’t fully explain how God does everything but I certainly can see the results of His work in our lives.

The yeast in the flour is a mystery. How does it work?

All we know is that Jesus said the Kingdom of God is like that. A woman took the yeast and mixed it into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.

We must allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in us. I person full of the spirit lives out 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.8 Love never fails.

And Galatians 5:22 – 26

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

Mark 9:35 – 37

And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” 36 Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”

70 functions of the Holy Spirit

1. He leads and directs. (Matthew 4:1; Mark 1:12; Luke 2:27; 4:1; Acts 8:29; Romans 8:14)
2. The Holy Spirit speaks – in, to and through. (Matthew 10:20; Acts 1:16; 2:4; 13:2; 28:25; Hebrews 3:7)
3. He gives power to cast out devils. (Matthew 12:28)
4. He releases power. (Luke 4:14)
5. The Holy Spirit anoints. (Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38)
6. The Holy Spirit “comes upon” or “falls on”. (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 2:25; 3:22; 4:18; John 1:32,33; Acts 10:44; 11:15)
7. He baptizes and fills. (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:15,41,67; 3:16, 4:1; John 1:33; Acts 1:4-5; 2:4; 4:8,31; 6:3,5; 7:55; 10:47; 11:24; 13:9,52; 1 Corinthians 12:12)
8. He gives new birth. (John 3:5,8)
9. He leads into worship. (John 4:23)
10. He flows like a river from the spirit man. (John 7:38-39)
11. He ministers truth. (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13)
12. He dwells in people. (John 14:17; Romans 8:9,11; 1 Corinthians 3:16)
13. The Holy Spirit gives comfort, health, and strength. (John 15:26; Acts 9:31)
14. He proceeds from the Father. (John 15:26)
15. He shows us things to come. (John 16:13)
16. He gives the gift of tongues. (Acts 2:4)
17. He releases prophecy, dreams and visions. (Acts 2:17,18; 11:28)
18. He can transport people physically. (Acts 8:39)
19. The Holy Spirit brings direction and guidance. (Mark 13:36; 13:11; Acts 10:19; 11:12; 21:11; 1 Timothy 4:1
20. He is Holiness. (Romans 1:4)
21. He is the Spirit of life and gives life. (Romans 8:1,10)
22. The Holy Spirit invites us to walk with Him. (Romans 8:4-5)
23. He groans, prays and intercedes. (Romans 8:26-27)
24. He is a Sword. (Ephesians 6:17)
25. The Holy Spirit produces fruit in our lives. (Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9)
26. He helps us in our weakness. (Romans 8:26)
27. He bears witness. (Acts 5:32 15:28; 20:23; Romans 8:15-16; Hebrews 10:15; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-8)
28. He is the Spirit of Adoption. (Romans 8:15)
29. He gives power to mortify the deeds of the flesh. (Romans 8:13)
30. He provides power for signs, wonders and preaching. (Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:4)
31. He ministers love. (Romans 15:30)
32. He searches the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10)
33. He quickens the mortal body. (Romans 8:13)
34. He brings revelation. (Luke 2:25; 1 Corinthians 2:10,12; Ephesians 1:17-19; 3:5)
35. The Holy Spirit reveals to us what has been given by God. (1 Corinthians 2:12)
36. He washes, sanctifies, purifies and justifies. (Romans 15:16, 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 1:2,22)
37. He gives gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Hebrews 2:4)
38. He seals us. (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 4:30)
39. He is liberty. (2 Corinthians 3:17)
40. He changes us into the image of Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:17)
41. He is the promise of the blessing of Abraham. (Galatians 3:14)
42. He releases a cry to the Father. (Galatians 4:6)
43. He gives access to the Father. (Ephesians 2:18)
44. The Holy Spirit builds us together for a house for God. (Ephesians 2:22)
45. He strengthens us with might. (Ephesians 3:16)
46. He is unity. (Ephesians 4:3-4)
47. He is wine. (Ephesians 5:18)
48. He supplies. (Philippians 1:19)
49. He is fellowship. (2 Corinthians 13;14; Philippians 2:1)
50. He is grace. (Hebrews 10:29)
51. He is glory. (1 Peter 4:14)
52. The Holy Spirit speaks to the churches. (Revelation 2:11,17,29; 3:6,13,22)
53. He calls for the Bridegroom. (Revelation 22:17)
54. The Holy Spirit has the power of conception and anointing for God’s purposes. (Matthew 1:18,20; Luke 1:35)
55. He teaches. (Luke 12:12; John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 1 John 2:27)
56. He gives commandments. (Acts 1:2)
57. He provides power to be a witness. (Acts 1:8)
58. He provides boldness. (Acts 4:31)
59. He gives sight. (Acts 9:17)
60. He commissions. (Acts 13:4)
61. He restrains. (Acts 16:6)
62. He appoints ministries and gives them authority. (Acts 20:28)
63. He releases love. (Romans 5:5)
64. He is righteousness, peace and joy. (Romans 14:17; 15:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:6)
65. He confesses Christ’s Lordship. (1 Corinthians 12:3)
66. The Holy Spirit brings the gospel. (1 Thessalonians 1:5-6)
67. He is keeping power. (2 Timothy 1:14)
68. He brings renewal. (Titus 3:5)
69. He moves on believers. (2 Peter 1:21)

70.    He convicts the world. (John 16:8)

The Heart of the Effective Intercessor
In order to understand what it means to be an effective intercessor, we must first understand what it means to intercede:

According to Merriam-Webster Online, to intercede is: to try to help settle an argument or disagreement between two or more people or groups: to speak to someone in order to defend or help another person. It further defines intercession as: prayer, petition, or entreaty in favor of another.

Synonyms for intercessor: middleman, peacemaker, ambassador, advocate, [paraclete]

These definitions and synonyms give us answers as to not only the activity of the intercessor, but also the heart behind their efforts.

1. Advocate is one of the synonyms for intercessor. We know that our Advocate is Jesus Christ!

1 John 2:1-2: “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”

It is impossible to make intercession without Jesus! He made the way for us to be able to intercede. It is His great love that motivated Him to take our place and it is His great love that should be our motivation to take the place of others! Remember the definition of intercede. Who is the Someone Who has the ability to help others? Who is the One that we must settle disagreement with? Our Father in Heaven! Jesus is the One who made this reconciliation with the Father possible. Without His act of intercession at Calvary, it would still be impossible for us to approach God on anyone’s behalf, including our own. Not only did Jesus make intercession possible, but He intercedes for us constantly.

Hebrews 7:25: “Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.”

So right now, as I speak, Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father making intercession for all of us and for the whole world!

2. Paraclete is another synonym. The Paraclete is the Holy Spirit! Paraclete means helper. When Jesus died the substitutionary death that we deserved, He left behind a Helper, One who could be everywhere at all times. One who is not limited by space, time, and flesh.
It is impossible to make intercession without the Holy Spirit!

Romans 8:26-27: “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Now we are starting to see the position from which we begin to intercede: in Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit, seeking to mediate between God and man through forgiveness of sins, repentance, and according to the will of God.

In my work, I often hear people complaining that their prayers do not seem to ever be answered. They become defeated and depressed, believing that God is not hearing them. They say things like, “I have prayed and prayed and God has not shown up yet! Will you pray for me, because God seems to answer you better?” OR- “Well, you know hope deferred makes the heart sick.”

What they are really saying, without realizing it, is that they have been praying from a wrong position, asking for the wrong things, or placing their hopes in the wrong stuff.

So, how do I know this, you might ask.

James 4:1-10: What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him. And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

1. A position of humility is vital. Acknowledging the FACT that we most often pray according to our desires rather than those of God, and being willing to lay those desires aside in favor of His desires is the hardest thing for us to do. Allowing the Holy Spirit to inventory our hearts must be where we begin. Confession of sin, forgiveness of others, and complete dependence on God must be the daily practice of the intercessor.

1 John 1:14-15: “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

2. We must ask according to His will. Remember Roman 8, we must realize that we do not know what to pray and must submit ourselves to Him by seeking His will in the situation. I promise that you will begin to experience intimacy with God as never before if you will begin to practice these first couple of steps. Humble and submit yourselves before Him, seeking His will for every situation. You can seek His will through prayer, but the best way to know for sure whether something lines up with God’s will is to know the Word. Refuse to be like the world, praying from your own selfish desires, attempting to force God’s hand or tell Him how things should be done. Begin by praying His Word over people and situations. This type of positioning before God will deepen your relationship with Him in ways that cannot even be described. He will begin to place in your hearts those people and things that He wants for you to come into agreement with Him about. He will even speak through you by the Holy Spirit: sometimes with knowledge and sometimes in your spirit language. This is when you will see answers to prayer and the favor of God manifested in your lives. Ask HIM what you should pray!

Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

3. Your hope must be in Christ alone! If you have your hope in ANYTHING other than Christ, it is in the wrong things. Many put their faith in the things of God, His blessings, miracles, and gifts. I am here to tell you that all of things will fade away and none of them are worthy of your hope. Those who hold that their hope has been deferred have simply placed it in the wrong things! We must seek His face and not His hand! Knowing Christ and the love that is available through Him is sufficient to fill all of our needs! He is the One who is our Savior. He is the One who is our Healer. He is the One who is our Deliverer. We continue to see these as things that He does rather than understanding they are actually His identity! The way that we gain access to healing, salvation, and deliverance is by having a personal encounter with Him. Getting to know the One who was, and is, and is to come is the only way to be an effective intercessor.

Mark 11:24: “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

4. When you pray, BELIEVE!!! Doubt will completely negate your prayers. His Word is true and He cannot lie! If He has said it, He will surely do it! Most people do not doubt that God can do it, but that He will do it for them. This is due to a misunderstanding of who God really is and who we are once we are in Christ. Remember, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). We must also remember that it is not our righteousness, but Christ’s that we depend on. Far too often we receive from a place of our own righteousness rather than seeing ourselves as clothed in the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:22). In short, it is the opposite of faith and equivalent to calling God a liar to doubt that we can receive what is promised in His Word.

1 Corinthians 10:31b: “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

5. The goal of intercession must ALWAYS be bringing glory to God! We bring God glory by living lives of obedience to His Word and His ways. We bring Him glory by pointing people to Jesus and by proclaiming His great work on Calvary. We must never seek the glory for ourselves or for others. Any and all healing, deliverance, salvation comes from the Giver of Life and it is prideful and idolatrous to take any of the credit for the work He has accomplished!

It is important for us to understand that praying from a wrong position, asking according to our own will instead of God’s, and placing our hope in the things of God (including gifts, anointings, healings, miracles) rather than the Person of God actually constitute what is known as religious or spiritual witchcraft—the attempt to manipulate God into performing those tasks in our lives and the lives of others which we believe should be performed.

You may also know these as soulish prayers—meaning they come out of the soul (mind, will, and emotions) of man rather than coming from the Spirit of God.

No wonder they are not being answered! The truth is, it is the grace and mercy of God that they are not! He sees our hearts and knows our weaknesses. He understands our failings and knows that we are incapable of goodness without Him.