Knowing the heartbeat of God for you Part 5

Knowing the heartbeat of God for you….Part 5

 

Week number one we talked about the way God sees you versus the way we see ourselves God’s heartbeat for the way He sees us

 

The labels we wear versus what God calls us knowing His heartbeat for the labels He gives us

 

A few weeks ago that we would understand God is always with us that we can have his heartbeat and know when we are in difficult places He will get us through them and we don’t need to fear

Last time I shared I talked about how it is God’s heartbeat to bless His children

 

His heartbeat is that we truly know Him

 

John 11:1-7

 

Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” 4 When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. 7 Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”

 

When we know the Father’s heartbeat we learn to trust Him despite any circumstance….notice how odd John 11:5,6sounds to us

 

“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.”

 

Jesus loved Lazarus, Martha and Mary but he purposely allowed him to die because He loved them and John 11:4tells us why

 

“This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

 

If we see things from God’s perspective, knowing His heartbeat, more importantly, trusting His heartbeat

Romans 8:28

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

 

It is not that the “things” are good. They could be disastrous but God is even able to make the disastrous “things” work for our good. He will turn it around

 

We must believe in who He is and learn to trust him

 

Solomon said it this way

 

Proverbs 3:5,6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

 

Jesus had no plans to fail Martha, Mary and Lazarus but he had a bigger plan that anyone could imagine. He was going to leave a miracle and a precursor to His own resurrection for everyone to see

 

How often do things happen in our lives, even things that seem disastrous?

 

What is our first response? Do we run to the Lord saying we trust in Him and even though we don’t understand we choose to stand and trust him or do we

 

– complain about what is happening to us

– look for someone to blame for what is happening to us

– Get angry at God for something bad happening to us

 

Martha and Mary kind of did the latter

 

John 11:17-28

 

So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. 19 And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21 Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

28 And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.”

 

Martha is just like you and me…..”Jesus, I know you can handle certain things, I have faith for those things”  she complained to Jesus about not solving her problem her way!

 

She has a battle with belief and unbelief…”I know whatever you ask God he will make it happen”

 

Jesus “OK I’ll bring your brother back from the dead”… Martha “I know on the final judgment day we all will rise”…. Jesus “Martha let me help you here, I am life”

 

Jesus is saying, Martha, this is bigger than bringing your brother back to life I am going to do this but there is so much fear, anxiety worry about death, it breaks my heart…people don’t really believe that this life is just temporary and that eternity is forever

 

I want everyone to understand though everyone will die in this world, that is not the end. There is a more marvelous place and this fear and brokenness that is all around is breaking my heart

 

Jesus always has a better plan than what we see immediately…it is His heartbeat that we would trust him regardless of the dire need, circumstances, experience, battle, struggle, or fear we may be facing

 

Martha and Mary were upset about their brother’s death they were disappointed Jesus wasn’t there; he didn’t care enough to show up before Lazarus died…do you feel that way about God sometimes? You needed him now…why did he let you down?

 

 

 

Ephesians 3:20

 

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,”

 

Here is Mary’s response

 

John 11: 29-32

 

As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. 31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”

32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

 

Mary the same as Martha….Jesus I had a plan, an idea and why didn’t you do it my way?”

 

Once again when we have the Father’s heartbeat we live in so much peace because we are able to look beyond the circumstances to know that God has something far betterthan we could hope or imagine

 

 

33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 34 And He said, “Where have you laid him?”

They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”

35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”

37 And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?”

38 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”

Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”

 

I love this part of the story I believe three things were going on here in Jesus heart

 

  • His heart was broken for Mary and Martha, he was their friend, he loved them and He was feeling their pain…when you go through something the one who loves you the most feels your pain as well
  • His heart was broken for the human conditionthat his friend Lazarus had just died…Jesus is our high priest who understands all that we go through…He understands how we feel when we lose a loved one, the sorrow and mourning we face
  • His heart was broken for the fear and misunderstanding humanity has about eternal life.

 

I need us to take note here that sometimes we can believe what we need from God is truly impossible…Martha was saying he is not just dead Jesus he is rotting

 

When we know the Father’s heartbeat we never give up hope we know he can

 

Move the mountains

Heal anything

Turn the water into wine

Violate any physical law

Feed 30K with a few loaves and fish

Set anyone free

 

What will he do for you?

 

John 11:40-44

Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

 

When you know the Father’s heartbeat it is easy to come into agreement with his purpose and his plan Jesus asks “Can you believe with me that God has a bigger plan here?”

 

Jesus proclaimed the greater miracle so all the world would know…here is where many get messed up

 

– We give God our agenda then when He doesn’t fulfill our agenda we get frustrated

– We give God our plan and when it doesn’t happen the way we want we give up and miss out on what God really wants to do

– we give God our concerns our worries and when He doesn’t respond to them our way, we abandon him

 

Martha and Mary felt this way, obviously, the townsfolk of Bethany felt that way based on what they said in verse 37

 

We all battle seasons of doubt but I have found my doubts leading me to ask honest questions, that in turn, lead me to Jesus

 

Never fear to ask the Lord hard questions or the leadership he has in your life. As long as they are honest and you are ready for an honest answer you will be OK

 

God wants us to have his heartbeat to trust him even when things don’t seem to be going the way we want or expected

 

He always has a better plan it just may take a little longer or a different path than we expect.

 

Can you see some areas in your life you feel like God let you down? Some areas of hurt where you didn’t understand?

 

God has a better plan…Can you lay those plans at his feet today and allow Him to show you the better plan?

 

When you know someone, really know them it is easy to know what their heartbeat is….God wants us to be at peace, to not worry or be afraid, he wants us to trust that God always has a better plan. The key is knowing His heartbeat for you. You are really loved by Him, you see yourself through His eyes, wear only the label He has placed on you, know that he is always with you, always wants the best for you…wants to bless you always

 

That takes trust! Will you trust him today with your future? Will you trust Him with your past? Your past has shaped who you are today but it doesn’t need to control your future God has a better plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elementary

Hebrews 6 :1-3

“Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instructions
about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so.”

To start off – the point to these verses is not so much the 6 “elementary teachings that we should have already had, but that they are foundational and they are elementary!!

How many of you after being taught something, would think – “I wish I had been taught that when I was younger!”

I know I have. Since I have been mentoring, I have noticed that there has been some lack off elementary teaching in men’s lives. It is what I have come to call cracks in the foundation. Either
some of these have been learned over the years and some missing or none have been learned.

This is not my idea! This is in the Word of God stating that these 6 principles we should have had been taught from the beginning.

Foundation – themelios comes from another greek word tithemi which means – “to place purposely, with care and precision!!!!!!

1 Cor 12:18

“But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.”

This talks about us being set in the body of Jesus!!! A foundation is layed the same way.

We are about building God’s house!!!

Proverbs 24:3,4 says

“By wisdom a house is built, through understanding it is established, through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.”

Knowledge – gaining of facts
Wisdom – application of the facts
Understanding – when to apply the facts

Example:

  1. Hammer, Nails, Wood, level
  2. Philippians 4:19 – “And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

In chapter 6 verse 1 the very first word is “Therefore” a very important word because it is a pivotal word that means that what is about to be said, is connected to what has been already said,
so let’s go back and see what was previously said!

Hebrews 5:11-14

“We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”

If you are feeling like you are being yelled at, then maybe you are!!!!!!
Maybe it’s time to grow up!!! Ouch!!!!
Maybe God is calling you out of the boat and do some walking on the water!!
I don’t think God is yelling at anybody but He does want us to grow up!!!!
As far as the teacher side of this verse, you may say “I’m not a teacher” I beg to differ with you!!!!

Mentoring program needs YOU!!!!!
Everybody can mentor just like everybody can teach!
Problem with the mentoring program is that there isn’t enough people to mentor.
But I don’t know anything about mentoring!

How many of you knew how to be a good husband or wife or parent before you made that commitment?

In verse 11 it says that we are slow or in some versions dull in learning. In the greek these are defined as slothful and lazy, how does that happen?
Well I think it comes down to choice. If you feed on milk long enough, your system can’t handle stronger or meatier food, there is no challenge to your system.
The verses also say that the mature are constantly training themselves, slow, dull lazy people don’t do that.

The word leave in 6:1 does not mean separate yourself from it permanently but in the greek, the picture that is being painted here is one of a classroom where the teacher has taught the student,
then tested them and has received a passing grade, that student is free to move on. So the mature person is in constant motion of some kind all the time.

1Corinthians 13:8-13 says

“Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease, where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophecy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

This is what is known as the Love Chapter!
I have always been taught that this is in the far future when we see Jesus in person, not on this earth, and I still believe this.
But I also believe that these verses also speak to us here and now.

Just like John 17:3 says “Now this is eternal life; that they may know you the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent”

The “then I shall know fully” is the potential as a mature person.

Ephesians 4:11-16

“It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be
evangelists and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service so
that the whole body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the
knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness
of Christ.”

Knowing the Heartbeat of God for you…Part 4

Mark 10:13-16

 

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. 14 When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” 16 Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.

 

I wanted to take a point from the character of Jesus that I know many struggle regarding. My hope is that over this past weeks as a church we have been coming to an understanding of who Jesus really is and the way the Father really loves us as we have seen it in Jesus.

 

It is funny and not funny all at the same time the comments I hear from people that I hope after today…I will never again hear from people in our church.

 

All of us are growing and in the process of growing we fail, we make mistakes, we sin…when that happens here are some of the things I hear

 

“Well God’s going to get me for that one”

 

“I’m going to be punished for that”

 

“Well at least I’ll be with all my friends in hell for that one”

 

“I hope God didn’t see that I might not wake up tomorrow”

 

I just heard on Wednesday in reference to all of the fires, floods, volcano eruptions….”Somebody really ticked God off!”

 

There are certain denominations that have thrived for years on a God that seemingly can’t wait to punish people for their sins.

 

I really don’t want to see a show of hands but I want you to think if this the way you have viewed God?

My hope is if it was that you are changing that view based on this scripture alone

 

Jeremiah 31:3 (the Message)

 

“I’ve never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love!”

 

Is this the same God that you were thinking of just a few moments ago?

 

Children raised in innocence will tend to love and want to be loved in these verses what do we see

 

Mark 10:13

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.

 

First people are so drawn to the love coming from Jesus they were pushing their most precious gift toward him.

 

I know some would want to just push their kids off of someone some days but if Jesus were the vengeful, wrathful, angry God everyone talks about

 

It is another topic for another time but the idea of the vengeful wrath-filled God comes from people who have not read the Bible. Did God do things like that and will he do it again? Yes, but it was never because mercy, love, grace, calls to repent were not given to ad nauseam. God is first and foremost…LOVE.

 

He loves, if possible, to a fault!

 

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

 

So the reports of His wrath, anger, hatred are the very first “fake news”

 

Here is the reality of what we see, remember one of the accomplishments of Jesus was to “show us the Father!”

We see one of the very few times where Jesus actually got angry and the only time where the Greek meaning of an intense anger is directed toward the disciples

 

Mark 10:14

When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.

 

Jesus is saying I value these children. The disciples saw the children as an intrusion into the importance of Jesus’ ministry as men were valued first, women a distant second and children and even further distance third and should be neither seen or heard unless called for.

 

Jesus is once again showing us the Father’s heart and what it should be. You Mom’s know how your heartbeats for your children and if someone hurts your children it hurts you worse than if they had hurt you.

 

Jesus is saying I find those which society does not value as valuable. Everyone created in God’s image is important.

 

Please as a side note parents Jesus is talking to us today to say “let the children come to Him” don’t allow sports, dance, school, even your hurts, fears, rejections of wounds stop you from bringing your children always to church, to learn about him…make it a priority

 

Paul tells us the Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit…children raised in a loving environment example this..peace/joy knowing their parent(s) have everything under control, blind loving trust. They are covered in God’s righteous until they must make that choice for themselves

 

Then we see this God that people think is so full of wrath, anger, and vengeance does something very loving

 

Mark 10:16

16 Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.

 

Once again, Philip, one of the disciples, came to Jesus and said show us, God, show us what He is like, show us who He is

 

John 14:9a

Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!

 

God’s heartbeat is that this is the way you see him.

 

Someone who…

 

– loves you

– will wrap His arms around you and

– wants to bless you, always.

 

He will come alongside of you when you are afraid, overwhelmed, feel as if no one cares. Someone who will be there when all the world is collapsing around you.

 

At the same time as a loving Father…

 

– will challenge you to grow

– may put you in dangerous positions (last week)

– but always be with you, so you can find out really who you are

 

This is who God is and His real heartbeat for you!

 

Here are a couple more verses you may have never read before

 

Psalm 103:13-17a

The Lord is like a father to his children,

tender and compassionate to those who fear him.

14 For he knows how weak we are;

he remembers we are only dust.

15 Our days on earth are like grass;

like wildflowers, we bloom and die.

16 The wind blows, and we are gone—

as though we had never been here.

17 But the love of the Lord remains forever

with those who fear him.

His salvation extends to the children’s children….

 

God knows exactly what we are, what are limitations are, what are gifts are and He will love us in the way we need to touch the world so that all generations will see Jesus in our lives

 

Psalm 68:5,6a

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—

this is God, whose dwelling is holy.

6 God places the lonely in families;

he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy….

 

This is a far cry from the wrathful, vengeful God who only wants to punish people when His word says his heart breaks for those without Fathers and if allowed, He will be a father to the fatherless, he wants no one to feel alone but wants them loved always and rather then sending people into punishment wants to bring them out of their self-imposed punishment.

 

Let the little children, let the broken, let the widows, let the hurting, let the mature all come to Jesus so that He can bless

 

What about you today, do you need blessed? Come an just simply ask the ministry team to bless you!

 

 

Knowing the heartbeat of God for you! Part 3

Knowing the heartbeat of God for you…Part 3

 

We all go through stuff

 

We have trials, struggles, battles in this life. These battles come for various reasons, sometimes it is the evil in the world coming through others to us, sometimes it is the harvest of sin ours or others in our lives, sometimes it is the devil if we are open to allowing him access, sometimes it is simply time for us to grow and we are provided with an opportunity to do so. If we were honest, we would recognize any of these reasons as an opportunity to grow

 

As Christians, we don’t want to admit it but we are still in this world and we still battle stuff…it shouldn’t surprise us, because Jesus, Paul and Peter, and James all told us we would….

 

Here is a list of scriptures you don’t want to know

 

Jesus -Matthew 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

 

Paul – Romans 5:3-5 “And not only that but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

 

Peter -1 Peter 1:6,7 “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”

 

James -James 1:2,3 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” NASB

 

BUT here is a story of Jesus that will help you understand His heartbeat for you and for the struggles you walk through

 

To give you the complete story I needed to combine two passages for you.

 

Mark 6:45-50

 

Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the crowd away. 46 After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray. 47 When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. 48 Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night He *came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them. 49 But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; 50 for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and *said to them, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.”

 

Matthew 14:28-32

 

28 Peter said to Him, “Lord if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind stopped.

 

Mark 6:51,52

 

51 “Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, 52 for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened.”

 

I started out sharing, everything is an opportunity for growth….the disciples had just fed probably 30,000+ people with a few loaves and fish. Not only had they fed them but they had more left over than they were originally given….just in case you don’t know, that is the way God always works….you can’t outdo God when you choose to trust Him whether it is with time, talent, or treasure

 

Out of this miracle here is what happened….

 

Mark 6:45,46 “Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the crowd away. 46 After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray.”

 

Notice what Peter is saying here, as this is Peter’s Gospel…Jesus made them get into the boat to head into the storm.

 

Last week was Father’s day and you might say to yourself, “What kind of loving Father would purposely send His children into danger ?”

 

If we only look from a temporal point of view, a “right now” point of view it would seem that way. We will deal with that in a few moments, for now, I need you to look at what happened here. The disciples performed a great miracle. It was they who handed out the food that multiplied and fed the masses and Jesus is saying, “get into the boat and cross the lake”…he didn’t warn them that the storm was coming he just sent them with the knowledge of the miracle, the violation of physical law that they performed.

 

God is drawing us ever closer to Him. He is giving us His heartbeat. He is showing us we can trust Him and the miracles He will do for us. We saw it a couple weeks ago with Bonnie, Ken, and Sarah’s testimonies, how he delivered them from fear and disease and showed them that He loved them

 

The challenge is, as humans we have a, “What have you done for me lately, mentality!” when it comes to everything…

 

Penguins can win the Stanley Cup, Steelers the Super Bowl, people can bless us, and God can move the mountains and we treat it all the same….”That was fine when it happened but what have you done for me lately”

 

The disciples had that attitude and it cost them, but Jesus wanted to give them the Father’s heartbeat so he sent them for a boat ride

 

What did Jesus do? He knew what he was sending them into, so He went to pray.

 

I believe he prayed they would have their hearts open to the Holy Spirit’s work and that the Father’s heartbeat would come alive in them that they would know that God would always be with them, that he desired for lives to be changed, to understand they don’t need to ever fear and people to see Jesus

 

Mark 6:47, 48a

 

47 When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. 48 Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them

 

When we understand the Father’s heartbeat we remember that we are never alone

 

Hebrews 13:5b,6

 

“I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” 6 so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.

What will man do to me?”

 

Jesus sent them and he knew what they would be facing. Our Father knows exactly what you will be facing, always. Nothing is ever a surprise to him he will not leave us

 

Jesus is always praying for us

 

Romans 8:33 – 35

 

Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

 

When you have the Father’s heartbeat you know you are never alone and not only are never abandoned by the one who loves you the most, but Jesus is always, always, always praying for you!

 

He was doing that as the disciples were facing their greatest fear, one in which Jesus had sent them, one in which He was in control. The same Jesus who broke the laws of nature to feed over 30K with the loaves and fish, but they forgot very quickly who he was and what he did for them.

 

When we have the Father’s heartbeat we know our lives are in His hands we don’t need to worry about even life and death because we know we are so desperately loved that until God’s plan is fulfilled nothing can rob us of life…we learn to trust God and his plan, not our circumstances.

 

Mark 6: 48b – 50

 

…at about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them. 49 But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; 50 for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and *said to them, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.”

 

They are in a raging storm and Jesus walks right beside them and intends to keep walking…they all see Him walking right past him…they couldn’t imagine it. What is going on? It looks like Jesus but it is walking on the water, so it must be His ghost or something

 

He had to be close enough in a raging storm for them to hear him.

 

When you are in your storm remember He promised he would be there even in the valley of the shadow of death as the Psalmist wrote in the 23rdPsalm…He is right there…he is not going to be an active participant in your trouble but he will be outside of it waiting to be invited into it to bring peace….the Father’s heartbeat is that you understand the storms are only there for you to know and understand what you believe, for you to learn to trust Him, that He is always with you and always standing for you!

 

Their destiny was not complete yet so they had no reason for them to fear death if it was their time still no reason to fear because they were going to their reward.

 

The story of Peter’s walking is only in Matthew’s record of this incident. Why is this important? It shows us the Father’s heartbeat for us to trust Him as well

 

Matthew 14:28-32

 

28 Peter said to Him, “Lord if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind stopped.

 

Peter wanting to verify it is Jesus said, “if it is you, then I can do the same thing you are doing if you say it is OK!” Sometimes our struggles can provide unique opportunities to stretch our faith

 

As much as Peter takes a bad rap for this, only two men in history have ever walked on water, Jesus and Peter

 

Even though he sank, he still walked on water. The Father’s heartbeat is for us to not be afraid to be stretched the way He wants to stretch us. If we fail in trying to walk by faith he will catch us.

 

In our battles, in our fears, we can choose to keep struggling or know Jesus is right there and is able to deliver us.If we are willing to allow him and stop our struggling and know the Father’s heartbeat that we can feel him and even see him in our struggle knowing that he is building our faith and getting us through it, making us stronger all the way.

 

Mark 6:51,52

 

51 “Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, 52 for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened.”

 

This is the second time in just a few weeks where Jesus calmed the storm. Jesus’ challenge to Peter’s faith was because of that as well as the miracle of the loaves and fish..all along he is trying to help them understand the Father’s heartbeat yet rather than allowing it to happen they allowed the natural circumstances to steal their understanding of a supernatural God…they chose to harden their hearts rather than have His heartbeat

 

 

When we have the Father’s heartbeat and any trial, struggle battle comes our way we now know we can rest in His

 

Peace – because He is the prince of peace we have no fear of the future, of sickness, disease, finances, because He has our lives in his hands

 

Life – because he is the way the truth and the life. He brings life to everything, and life abundantly every struggle is an opportunity for Him to bring life when we have His heartbeat

 

Joy – because it is his desire to fill us with Joy, always. It is his desire to give us all that we need that we might be at peace have life and our lives are completely joy-filled this too is the Father’s heartbeat

 

These things are not dependent on circumstances but instead on your knowing the heartbeat of God.

 

May I ask you today, where are you in your struggles, trials, difficulties?

 

Do you understand God’s great love for you in such a way that you are walking in peace, life, joy, love despite the circumstances?

 

If not, allow this portion of your life to be filled with the Father’s heartbeat for you, you will overcome every time.

 

Remember all those scriptures we read from the beginning that we really don’t want to know? Each of them was saying, “you’re going to go through stuff, but God will never let you down, in fact, He will give you great victory through it if you will just trust Him!

 

Reread them in the notes if you need to, reread them often or until you get it and then you will have peace, life, and joy but come this morning for prayer to get you started

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Knowing the Father’s heartbeat for you…Part 2

Knowing the heartbeat of God for you…Part 2

 

If someone asked you to describe yourself, how would you?

 

Men get their definition mostly from what we do…women derive their definitions mostly from how they relate to others..Interestingly enough psychologist say we get the majority of our definition from our mothers

 

However…

 

These are all titles names that we have assigned to us. Chances are if you are telling me in public it would all be good things but if we were in private, you may tell me some of the things that hurt.

 

God’s heart beat is that you would know who you are, your potential based on what He says about you

 

Luke 8:26-39

 

So they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee. 27 As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in the tombs outside the town.

28 As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon’s power.

30 Jesus demanded, “What is your name?”

“Legion,” he replied, for he was filled with many demons. 31 The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit.

32 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged him to let them enter into the pigs.

So Jesus gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned.

34 When the herdsmen saw it, they fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. 35 People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. 36 Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed. 37 And all the people in the region of the Gerasenes begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them.

So Jesus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake. 38 The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying, 39 “No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him.

 

Living under a false view of yourself can be very deceptive. This man was so deceived he didn’t realize he was naked, homeless or where he was living…when we have lived with a belief about ourselves for so long we can even deceive ourselves

 

In Revelation the church of Laodicea had been deceived so that it limited their effectiveness

 

Revelation 3:17

 

“Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,”

 

The Father’s heartbeat is that we know who we are so we might know others and set them free…that is where we are going today

 

Verse 28 How many times do we freak out or even argue with God when He wants to do something in our lives…sometimes He even has to drag us kicking and screaming to do something that is going to bless us and others…

 

He asks you to serve in some capacity and you fight it but once you do it you are glad you did

 

You call someone because you feel the urgency and you end up knowing what a powerful time you had

 

You don’t feel like going to church, you are tired, busy, but you make the time and the Lord touches you every time

 

You give knowing it is inconvenient and that you could use the money somewhere else then God pours out blessing after blessing

 

 

Verse 30 What name are you known by? What name do you call yourself? What name binds you in chains and keeps you from being all the Lord has called you to be? God changed people’s names

 

  • Abram, meaning “high father” — to Abraham, meaning “father of a multitude of many nations”
  • Jacob, meaning “caught by the heel” — to Israel, meaning “God may prevail/he struggles with God/God preserves”
  • Jebediah, meaning “friend of God” — to Solomon, meaning “peaceful”
  • Sarai, meaning “argumentative” — to Sarah, meaning “princess”
  • Saul, meaning “prayed for” — to Paul, meaning “small/humble”
  • Simon, meaning “he has heard” — to Peter, meaning “the rock”
  • Joseph, meaning “He will add” — to Barnabas, meaning “son of encouragement”

 

Why do you think God changed their names?

 

– we often get a false understanding of who we are from our environment, successes/failures, and psychologist say much of t comes from our Mothers.

 

– we get locked into believing things that are limiting and not true

 

– we don’t fully understand the way the Lord sees us

 

What you believe about yourself, what you call yourself is who you are or who you become.

 

Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is. (NASB)

 

What are names that you call yourself?

 

– Not good enough

– Invisible

– dumb, stupid, idiot

– sinner

– failure

– ugly

– don’t fit in

– victim

– miserable

 

What does God call us?

 

I am loved by God 1 Thessalonians 1:4

I am new 2 Corinthians 5:17

I am no longer a slave but free Galatians 4:7 (also and heir and child)

I am a friend of God John 15:15

I am a saint 1 Corinthians 1:2

I am the righteousness of God in Christ

I am chosen Ephesians 1:4, Colossians 3:12

I am blameless Ephesians 1:4

I am a citizen of heaven Philippians 3:20

I am sealed by God’s love Ephesians 1:13, Song of Songs 8:6

 

There is so much more, overcomer, more than a conquer, child of God, Joint heir with Jesus

 

The Father’s heartbeat is for us to know ourselves through His eyes but for many of us our truth is not His truth. We see ourselves through the eyes of our frame of reference our life experience.

 

 

The Lord promises us a new name

 

Revelation 2:17b

 

“And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.”

 

When we come to Christ even though we might not feel new, everything in God’s eyes is wiped away and everything for us is made brand new…the old names you called yourself no longer exist. You are new in Christ.

 

 

Verse 32 Jesus already plans for us to be free but many times we need to make the choice to not allow the name to determine really who we are

 

Jesus already planned to set the man free, that is why he went there.  Jesus went out of his way to come to the man then he went right back after he did….he is determined to set us free from the names we believe, the things we believe about ourselves…The Father’s heart chases after us wanting to set us free, the question is are we willing to be free or have we become so accustomed to the titles we have that we own them and even though he is chasing us…we will not be free. Some in here for whatever reason have chosen that in the past and are choosing it even today.

 

You will ignore these words, this teaching and choose to be miserable and blame everyone and everything else for your chains, bondage, lack of freedom and this morning Jesus is chasing you down

 

Verse 34-36 I don’t think we realize what kind of impact we will have when we realize who we are, who God calls us to be

 

It is selfish for us to live under that titles we give ourselves that are not from God….He has called us to freedom so that we will walk in that freedom and so others can see the miracle of our lives, believe it, be amazed at God’s goodness and desire the freedom we have.

 

Freedom is why Jesus came and freedom is what you will have if you choose to allow Him to bring it to you

 

Galatians 5:1

 

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

 

Verse 38,39 when we have the Father’s heartbeat it is convenient to want to cloister ourselves away from the world and just want to hang out with Jesus but if we truly have the Father’s heart beat we know what he desires and that’s everyone know what the Father calls them, their value

 

I need to ask you this…do you want to live under the bondage, the misery, the bad attitudes, the victim mentality that you have? Do you want to continue to believe because of your own pride that you are somehow less than others, yes pride does that. It is one of the names we live under.

 

Jesus came so we might live and walk in His truth rather than the lies we believe

 

“For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.” John 1:17

 

do you realize the names, titles thalies that you live under? Are you ready to walk in the truth of who he says you are so you might, realize His heartbeat for you and bring others to freedom?

Knowing the Father’s heartbeat for you…Part 1

Knowing the heartbeat of God for you…Part 1

 

I talked with you about God’s heart beat for you…

 

Jeremiah 31:3

The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying:

“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;

Therefore with lovingkindness, I have drawn you.

 

 

Over the next few weeks, I want to give you specifics of how Jesus showed us the Father’s heartbeat in ways you may not have noticed before.

 

The Father’s heartbeat if to make sure you know you are valued for who you are and you are able to value others

 

We see each other every week in church, perhaps a couple of times a week but does anyone really know you….Do you feel like you really matter?

 

That leads us to another question do we believe we really matter to God?

 

We are surrounded by people all of the time

 

We work to accomplish task and goals but we don’t often feel connected or valued

 

We can have all kinds of success or very little success and be in the same boat…ask yourself…

 

Do people really see me?

 

How many people really know who I am?

 

You don’t have to be alone to feel lonely

 

We lead “fake” lives…facebook has perpetrated an entirely fake world where people seem happy, engaged, connected….we have hundreds even thousands of friends but no one really knows us

 

We have people like our post but when you ask them what it’s about they have no clue

 

People connecting with us through Pinterest, Instagram or Linked In but the connections are all surface but God’s heartbeat is to really connect with you

 

Luke 8:43-48

 

Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, 44 came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.

45 And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?”

When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”

46 But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” 47 Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.

48 And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

 

Great story…I am sure you have read it or heard about it dozens of times but in this story, we see the Father’s heartbeat in Jesus and a connection that is real. Let’s take a closer look

 

The woman had been hemorrhaging for twelve years, she had no hope. She was now an outcast in her culture because of her issue of blood she was not allowed to be around people the law said she must be isolated

 

Sometimes we feel like an outcast ourselves, we feel for some reason that we are isolated from the “in” crowd or others in general. We feel like we don’t fit in for some reason it could be guilt we are carrying, shame, low self-esteem, fear of rejection

 

This woman carried all of those things being a widow or at least a single, a woman in a male-dominated culture, the blood flow was a sign of sin in this culture so she was already being always judged. She fit in nowhere because of no man in her life, her blood flow, her guilt her self-condemnation, creating an impossibly low self-esteem…it was in her feeling this way that she did something in desperation…she was trusting in the stories she had probably heard about Jesus who went to other outcasts like Samaritans and lepers. She reached out…the next verses may seem harsh or embarrassing at first but they weren’t

 

Luke 8:45,46

 

And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?”

When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”

46 But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.”

 

Do you think the God of the universe, the God who knows everything, the God who knew He was going to die on the cross and when didn’t know who touched him?

 

This poor woman was already an outcast already feeling rejected and now it seems she is going to be pointed out for ridicule and more rejection.

 

Even being in a crowd of people she felt alone and rejected and it seemed more rejection was coming

 

Jesus keeps pushing the button getting everyone else all excited and confused…why would he do this to this poor woman….this is somethingsome of you believe this morningas well, that if you draw close to Jesus He is going to expose all of your sin, He will reject you or openly ridicule you, when that is the furthest from the truth…

 

if you have read anything about Jesus he never ridiculed or embarrassed regular people. He only had love and compassion for the broken and rejected.

 

Then here is what happened

 

47 Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.

 

Many times if we really come into the presence of God, we have been touched by Him we feel unworthy. We think God will perform a miracle for others but not for us. God cares about so and so but not so much about me. So many others are far more important in the Kingdom than me

 

Remember… “he loves you with an ever lasting love” he is the one who loves you the most…

 

He felt that way and showed us that through this woman. Listen to what he said.. Luke 8:48

 

48 And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

 

This rejected woman, woman of low self-esteem, woman bound by guilt and shame. This outcast he calls “daughter”

 

He not only healed her but he made a big spectacle out of the situation questioning people causes a buzz to be about this unknown person. He took this person that everyone had rejected, everyone had made fun of, ridiculed…he made her the center of attentionnot to embarrass her but instead – to embrace her, -to value her, -to love her, -to raise herup to being a “daughter” of the King. When he used the word “daughter it not only meant child of God but one who was in right standing with God…he took a woman on the bottom rung of society and made her a princess…  His words “go in peace” meant you are righteous before God, she was not only made well, became a princess, but he made her completely right and free in God. That is what the Father’s heart beat is for you today.

 

This is the Father’s heartbeat for the world

 

This is the Father’s heartbeat for every person we see and associate with everyday

 

Many times people yell, throw tantrums, get upset are moody because they are simply waiting to be rejected again…we have the power like Jesus to lift them up to be the princes and princesses they are called to be

 

I don’t want to overload you with verses but here are a few to help you remember even when you don’t feel valued that what you are feeling is not the truth but a lie

 

Christ has set us free to experience true freedom Galatians 5:1

 

“So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”

 

WE never need to fear or worry, because God has got us no matter how difficult the situation Psalm 46:1

 

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.”

 

You are so loved by God that He calls you His child 1 John 3:1

 

“See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us his children, and that is what we are!”

 

We all go through times of not feeling like we are important to the people we want to feel important too, but God lifts us up. You have to choose to believe it!

 

Just as important today is I want us to be aware that there are people you know, you see everyday, that God wants you to be sensitive to His Spirit enough, to recognize where they are and be Jesus to them as Jesus was to this woman…it doesn’t matter why they are the way they are we must try to help them and if they will be helped…set them free

 

 

Knowing Real love!

Knowing Real love!

 

We have talked about how God is love

 

We have talked about how God’s love for us is an everlasting love

 

We have talked about how God adores us

 

But what happens when that love is put to the test?

 

 

Ephesians 3:14-20

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.

 

Paul is in prison, he is suffering and he wants the Body of Christ to not lose hope

 

16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.

 

 

Too often we don’t believe fully the love of God for us that sustains us,

 

How do I know? Let’s look at the next verse

 

18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

 

we can walk through times of doubt, times of grief, times of fear, times of confusion and you know He is still there loving and adoring you

 

19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

 

God’s power, His anointing, His authority is not based on our perfection but based on an understanding of His great love for us…

promised in John 10:10 “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

 

We are made complete in life and power…real life and real power because we have come through it all knowing we are loved!

 

Becoming the most powerful influential people on earth Part 4

– We know we have a loving heavenly Father, someone who loves us the most

– We know we are to honor Him by living a life of doing right things

– we know the only hope the world has for peace and joy is seeing our lives as right thinking, right living, and right language…this shows the world His Kingdom and how we can bring hope, freedom and love to our world.

– we know that we have been created to do God’s will, the very thing that because of our skills, talents, and abilities will fulfill us

– we know that He wants us to trust Him daily knowing that He is a very loving caring Father who will never fail you

 

So let’s wrap this up

 

Luke 11:2-4

 

So He (Jesus) said to them, “When you pray, say:

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

3 Give us day by day our daily bread.

4 And forgive us our sins,

For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.”

 

Today we may be talking about the most difficult part of living the Lord’s prayer.

 

Every one of us has gone through a bunch of heartache and rejection. We have all been wounded, hopefully mostly unintentionally. We have been fired from jobs, ripped off by companies or people not paying us if we have a business.  We have been lied to, stolen from and in other ways taken advantage of or taken for granted….people have hurt us!

 

The enemy seeks to kill, steal, and destroy and through all of these things and he is very successful.

 

Families and friends don’t talk to each other for years, careers are killed, dreams go unfulfilled all because of not heeding this principle Jesus taught us to pray

 

4 And forgive us our sins,

For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

 

When we choose forgiveness, we are taking the power away from the event and the person who hurt us.

 

The word translated “sins” here really means  sins – a moral and spiritual debt that is owed.

 

We must first realize our own sin and that it is a great debt that is owed to God and as we recognize that debt, we can then see, comparatively speaking, a person’s sin against us is generally little compared to our sin against God.

 

Both hurt real relationship.

Relationships need forgiveness to flourishand you can not have a relationship with the Lord unless you walk in forgiveness.

Unforgiveness rarely hurts the person who hurt you, but it always hurts you.

The Mayo Clinic says this about unforgiveness

 

If you’re unforgiving, you:

  • Bring anger and bitterness into every relationship and new experience
  • Become so wrapped up in the wrong that you can’t enjoy the present
  • Become depressed or anxious
  • Feel that your life lacks meaning or purpose, or that you’re at odds with your faith
  • Lose valuable and enriching connectedness with others

 

From a spiritual standpoint it cripples you, it limits the intimacy of all relationships, and it may end up keeping you out of heaven

 

Matthew 6:14,15

 

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

 

I’ll talk about this more in a minute

 

Here is the trap of unforgiveness

 

  • In many cases the anger, which lead to unforgiveness is justified, something horrible has happened to you….

– some thing has happened to you as simple as a neglectful event to as serious as a molestation, rape, maybe even the murder of someone close

– no one would blame you for holding unforgiveness because the event is so tragic, at least to you, but the question is who is the unforgiveness hurting?

 

2) It is easy to justify that holding forgiveness from someone is even the righteous thing to do because they don’t deserve it

– It could even be that someone broke one of the commandments and it has affected you! They stole from you, dishonored you, were hypocritical (bearing false witness)

– If you hold unforgiveness how are you acting any more like Jesus than the person who originally offended you?

 

  • We don’t believe it is hurting us in any way, we convince ourselves because it is justified that no damage is being done

– We seem to be able to go about our daily business unaffected but how often does our mind go back to the offense? How many times does something we are doing on a day-to-day basis remind us of the offense? How much have we closed ourselves off from others because of feeling like they may hurt us?

– Apart from walking in forgiveness, at the very least our relationship with the Lord is hurting and most likely with others as well.

 

 

With this in mind I have to bring up a couple of scriptures

 

Love requires forgiveness

 

1 John 4:8

 

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

 

 

Real love requires us to walk in forgiveness but as we know the fruit of God (the Spirit) is also love joy peace etc…

 

This walking in love is not just because God wants it, we should want it too. We should want the freedom that comes from walking in love..

 

Jesus had plenty of opportunities to be offended to hold unforgiveness.He was investing his life in a few key leaders and many times they just didn’t get it

 

– Jesus we want to be the greatest in the Kingdom

– Jesus we are offended for you let us call fire from heaven

– don’t you know we could have given that money to the poor

– if you would have only done what we asked of you he wouldn’t have died

– Jesus I’m not going to let you go to the cross

– Jesus here is a kiss

– Jesus, who is hitting you?

– the whole thing with the cross

– they didn’t believe him at his word that he would rise again

 

He is love so he chose to live in love! This is what we do when we forgive. This is a reflection of who God is. Unforgiveness makes us miserable and can make us miserable to be around.

 

Bitterness can set in; we can develop a negative view of the world and God’s plan for us. It robs us of our joy even when we feel justified in holding it, we are still robbed of our joy

 

When Jesus taught us to pray to forgive it was so that we would live in his joy, love and peace and help bring others to the same thing but it is a choice, Paul challenged the Philippians to choose right choices and thinking

 

Philippians 4:8

 

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

We also need to understand we need to choose to not only forgive others but to forgive ourselves as well

 

Paul struggled here too

 

Romans 7: 15-21

 

For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.

 

We struggle with sin and the struggle is a good sign, meaning our conscience has not been seared because if we did not care about the sin we will break relationship with the Lord.

 

God really loves us and learning to forgive ourselves proves that we trust God enough to forgive

 

If we don’t believe we are forgiven then we are saying, “God what Jesus did on the cross was not enough for me!”

 

What happens if we don’t forgive ourselves and others our hearts gradually harden, if we reject God’s love in this area, we will reject His love in other areas as well. We can eventually walk away from Christ. We will no longer want nor desire Christ forgiveness and wind up in hell first a hell of condemnation and misery on earth than an eternal one apart from God.

 

What is funny is the way this sermon landed on Mother’s day but learning to walk in freedom and forgiveness is an mothering aspect of God’s heart a real mother longs for their children to walk in freedom of condemnation and to be free.

 

What about you today?

 

Are you carrying unforgiveness for yourself or others

 

Do you now understand how much that is hurting you in your health, personal relationship and your relationship with God?

 

Do you want to choose freedom this morning even if you still feel the person is undeserving of your forgiveness?

 

Today is your freedom day…but you must choose!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The most simple basic truth everyone needs but few really know!

God’s great love for you!

God loves you

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are limited or expanded by the love we walk in!

The authority as a man of God that a walk in is based on love!

When God was speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to his people he said this of you and long before we were born

Jeremiah 31:3

“The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying:

“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;

Therefore with lovingkindness, I have drawn you.”

In fact Jesus wanted us to understand this relationship when he taught us how to pray just by the few words

Luke 11:2

Our Father in heaven,

Psalm 139 1-18

O Lord, you have examined my heart

and know everything about me.

2 You know when I sit down or stand up.

You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

3 You see me when I travel

and when I rest at home.

You know everything I do.

4 You know what I am going to say

even before I say it, Lord.

5 You go before me and follow me.

You place your hand of blessing on my head.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too great for me to understand!

7 I can never escape from your Spirit!

I can never get away from your presence!

8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;

if I go down to the grave, you are there.

9 If I ride the wings of the morning,

if I dwell by the farthest oceans,

10 even there your hand will guide me,

and your strength will support me.

11 I could ask the darkness to hide me

and the light around me to become night—

12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.

To you the night shines as bright as day.

Darkness and light are the same to you.

13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body

and knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!

Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,

as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

16 You saw me before I was born.

Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Every moment was laid out

before a single day had passed.

17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.

They cannot be numbered!

18 I can’t even count them;

they outnumber the grains of sand!

And when I wake up,

you are still with me!

Jeremiah 31:3 again

Jeremiah 31:3

“The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying:

“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;

Therefore with lovingkindness, I have drawn you.”

Zephaniah 3:17

For the Lord, your God is living among you.

He is a mighty savior.

He will take delight in you with gladness.

With his love, he will calm all your fears.

He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” 

1 John 4 tells us that God is love…it is not just a feeling but a person

Everything we do is limited by our understanding of how much God loves us and how we can love others

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.1 John 4:18,19

2 Chronicles 16:9a

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”

You are called to change the world…

Romans 8:1,2

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.