Whose fries are these?

Whose fries are those?

One day Fred wanted to do something special with his five year old son Jimmy. He asked “son, is there anything you’d like to do right now?” Jimmy said, “I want some McDonald French Fries.” His father said, “if that’s what my boy wants, then that’s what my boy gets.”

They got into the blue and white chevy truck and headed toward McDonald’s. Jimmy’s lips and tongue were silently moving as he could taste the fries before they even reached the store.

His Dad made the order, and Jimmy’s heart pounded when his Dad said make it a super size fry. Fred took the money out of his wallet to pay for the fries and a drink. Jimmy’s little teeth were ready to sink into those hot golden fries, before they made it to the table.

 

When they sat down, grace consisted of “God bless this food amen”, but it seemed like way too many words to Jimmy who was eager to delight himself with this huge blessing of French fries.

 

Fred was happy to see his little boy so happy over something so simple. He decided to join in the fun. He reached over to get a couple of Jimmy’s fries for himself. To his surprise, his son quickly put his arms around his fries as though building a fort and pulled them toward himself and said, “No, these are mine.” His dad was in a state of shock for a moment. He could not believe what had happened.

Fred pulled back his hand and began to reflect about his son’s attitude toward the fries.

Let’s walk together through the things that went through his mind. He was thinking, my son failed to realize that I am the source of those French fries.

At the counter, I was the one who gave the cashier the money from my wallet. I did not give him the size fry he was expecting, but something twice as big. Yet here he is talking about his French fries.

Not only was I the source of the French fries, he has forgotten that I at 6ft 1 and 195 lbs, have the power to take all the fries despite his little arms surrounding them as a fort. Or that if I wanted to, I could go back to the counter and bring him so many fries that he could never eat them all.

He also does not understand, “that I don’t need his French fries. I could go back to the counter and get as many fries as I wanted.”

As the Dad thought about it, one or two fries really would not have made much of a difference for him that day. What he wanted was for his son Jimmy, to invite him into the wonderful little world he had made possible for his son. He wanted his son to be willing to share the very blessing that he had provided.

When we talk about being sold out for Christ, we have to realize that everyday God gives us the choice to live out the chance to Never underestimate the Spirit. God takes us to McDonald’s on a regular basis in our lives.

God blesses us. He blesses you and God blesses me. He’s given us all some French fries. Some have small bags, others medium, others large and some super size. Some are narrow and light in color like McDonald’s others are thick and dark like Wendy’s. Some are straight and some Arby’s are curly. But God has given us all some fries.

Like that Dad, Fred, God desires to sit down at the table with us for some fellowship. When God reaches over to use some of the blessings he has given to us, far too often we say “No God, these are mine. No, No, No. Go and get your own.” We try building our own little forts around our blessings.

 

Everything we have and everything we are has come from the Lord.

 

I have to do a sermon on giving every few years because you need to be blessed and learn to not be afraid of prices or the economy.

 

James 1:17

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

 

God does not need our French fries, and that it is an honor and a privilege to be able to share our fries with God. God does not ask us to give because God is hurting and in desperate need.

God asks us to give because God wants us to be like Him. God has a giving attitude and he wants that giving attitude modeled in his children.

The first verse many people learn is John 3:16 which begins,

“for God so love the world that He”

what did God do?

….He gave His only Son.

Throughout the Bible, you find that God is always giving. In your own lives, how many of you know that you cannot underestimate God’s ability to provide for you in ways that you had not thought possible.

God is very interested in response to the blessings He sends our way and what we choose to do with them. Let’s look at a passage of Scripture in 1 Chronicles 29:10-17

In the first 9 verses we see an amazing offering being given for the building of the center of their faith. At today’s prices, just the gold was 12.5 billion dollars now that’s an offering, that was an amazing sacrifice by a number of people but here is what David said about it

 

Then David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly:

“O Lord, the God of our ancestor Israel, may you be praised forever and ever! 11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. 12 Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength. 13 “O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name! 14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us! 15 We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace. 16 “O Lord our God, even this material we have gathered to build a Temple to honor your holy name comes from you! It all belongs to you! 17 I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. You know I have done all this with good motives, and I have watched your people offer their gifts willingly and joyously.

 

Notice some things here

 

“Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours,”

 

“Wealth and honor come from you alone”

 

“Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!”

 

“Even this material we have gathered to build a Temple to honor your holy name comes from you. It all belongs to you!”

 

David freely gave and all of Israel freely gave this was beyond their tithe. They still each all gave 10% of the income in whatever way they gained income but with this there was amazing giving.

 

To David it was giving out of love, not a sacrifice at all, for three reasons:

 

  • He had the Father’s heart of giving he was not selfish at all. He knew His life and future where not in his hands but God’s, John 3:16 from earlier
  • He recognized everything he had including His skills, talents money all belonged to God so he was rejoicing that God allowed him to keep anything but was joyous to give back to God what he did
  • He recognized you can’t out give God
  1. Because of this exorbitant giving they had created a place that established their home…the establishment of the temple was the last part to make Jerusalem their home

 

  • When we learn to give we create a home where God dwells. When we give. Here is the promise of God from Malachi 3:8-11

 

Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 9 You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! 11 Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

 

God is saying you have cheated, I gave you all the French fries and you are saying NOOOOO! These are mine!

But he is not really concerned about us cheating Him. He doesn’t need us to give Him anything, everything is his so why is God so upset?

He was upset because we are cheating ourselves..it is like when we sin God can not bless it and when we don’t trust him with our giving

God promises that if you trust Him, give your 10% tithe and offerings. God will protect, bless, and supply all that you need.

I have numerous examples of how the Lord has done that for Paige and me but I thought hearing from someone else but show you that it is not Ministers who are blessed when they are obedient.

 

MARK SCOTT

 

2) Establishing the temple in Jerusalem also brought prosperity and blessing to Israel, as being obedient through giving will be for you

 

Luke 6:38

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

 

Giving is saying to God I trust you more than I trust my ability to earn a livingGod is not in need of your French fries but he does want you to share with Him. 100% of what you have, as David said, come from God he asked for you to have His heart in giving not because He needs it but so

 

Examples, kid’s college, investments, home, cars

 

We decide if the fries we eat are small, medium, large, or super-sized based on how much we have learned to trust God

3) As they established the temple giving to God they were blessed not only for themselves but all the nations and people around them were blessed with peace and prosperity.

 

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

 

When God gives to you and knows he can trust you, he gives you more French fries than you need and expects you to be willing to share with us.

 

We give to others:

– Though our tithe, giving 10% or more to the church

– We give through offerings helping special projects, other ministries

– Through alms giving to the poor and individuals in need

 

But we also give to others through our skills, gifts, and time:

 

– volunteer for children’s church

– volunteer in our outreach programs

– using your gifts as in and outside of the church just to serve others

– give our time and talents to help others

 

As we read in Malachi when we learn to give and especially give God’s way. God opens the windows of heaven

 

Why? Because when we give…

 

  • We act like God… because he loved he gave!
  • We prove that we trust Him more than ourselves, our ability to earn
  • We have overcome pride, fear, lust and selfishness. We prove we really want to be like him not just act or trust Him

 

I would ask you not to trust my words today because people are funny about money. I would ask you to put God to the test at His Word.

 

God wants to bless you this thanksgiving he wants you to have a thankful heart and prove that you have it, by learning to trust that God has more French fries for you than you can imagine but you decide if it is a small, medium, large or supersize by how much you are willing to trust Him.

 

Malachi 3:10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!

 

Where are you financially? Are you blessed enough? Are you at peace about cost and expenses or do you worry about money all the time?

 

God wants to bless you but you have to walk in obedience. The church is not hurting but if you are not giving, you are hurting yourself Try it for six months I guarantee you if you trust God he will bless you.

 

Whose fries are they any way?

 

 

Start small and Dream big! Part 3

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.”

.

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)

Start small Dream big! Part 2

Start small and dream big! Part 2

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.”

Last week we talked about the Kingdom of God being like the mustard seed and the mustard seed tree. How the smallest things can impact the Kingdom of God.

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 see in this that it only takes a little bit, but that little bit, is kneaded though out the dough and as it is kneaded affects the whole.

When Israel was leaving their 400 years of bondage they took with them the unleavened bread. Leavening (yeast) gives bread it fluffiness and full taste unleavened bread has very little taste but will not spoil as quickly but al it really is, is flour it has not power to be something greater. It is an example of moving in our own strength rather than being filled with the Holy Spirit moving through us.

Today as part of the service we are celebrating communion. It helps my point with this teaching to have you remember the taste or tastelessness of bread without yeast, matza.

Tasted pretty bland didn’t it, dried your mouth out a bit

Here are some quick things about yeast that I want us to talk about today.

– First, as with the parable of the mustard seed, it teaches us not to underestimate the potential of small beginnings in the Christian life.

– Second, the parable teaches us that when the Holy Spirit applies the Gospel, there is no limit to what can happen in a person’s life. The Holy Spirit is like the leaven: He affects everything. The Gospel is the kneading process

– Third, much of this work happens even when we are not aware that we are being changed. The work is silent. Maybe you think…

“I wonder if I am really growing spiritually? I don’t think I am changing at all.” The truth is, wrote Paul,

“It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” Philippians 2:13.

I want us to look at a few things about and how it can change our lives

The presence of yeast

1) The yeast is a foreign substance that comes from the outside and dramatically changes the flour
– In order for there to be transformation in our lives the Holy Spirit comes from outside to us as sinners because of the blood of Christ
– The Holy Spirit is not in the nature of man but when He comes in gives us a new nature
– Just like the yeast does to the flour the Holy Spirit touching our lives brings about radical change to who we are
2) It is not simply enough to add yeast to the flour a process called kneading is necessary.
– Kneading is the process by which the dough is pushed and stretched so that every little bit of flour is impacted by the yeast Genesis 18:6 sarah does this

“So Abraham ran back to the tent and said to Sarah, “Hurry! Get three large measures of your best flour, knead it into dough, and bake some bread.”

3) It is the word of God that does the kneading in us. This is what Peter did on the day of Pentecost, he got up full of the Holy Spirit and power t did not stop with simply showing the power of the Holy Spirit to reach every person in their own language but continue to knead them. Acts 2:40

“Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

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

– if the Holy spirit would not communicate His grace to us we would not have know ever the love, joy peace etc.
– He expresses that in us because that is who the Holy Spirit is, we the flour could not know this about from the yeast being himself and bring about His nature in us.
– It has nothing to do with our temperament but everything to do with who He is in us. The purpose of the Spirit is to release the fruit and the gifts in us.

– There has been a sad divorce today in many churches between the Word and the Spirit. Those who emphasize the word focus on doctrine, sound teaching, expository preaching and all of this is right, correct, and needed in the church today, so that the church might be able to know what they believe why they believe it and defend what they believe Spurgeon, Wesley, Finney and the early church Fathers….Those who emphasize the Spirit focus on the gifts and fruit of the spirit, miracles, signs and wonders all of the things we see in the book of Acts which are necessary for the world to take notice of the church and this too is all right and correct

– The problem is we need both! 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, gives us the power to live out His fruit and walk in his gifts

2) 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

– a hatred for sin,
– a longing for Christ
– a desire to see the glory of God manifest so that the world will see that there is a God in the heavens.

The Spirit combines what He is with what we are, so that we might become that which we were destined to be.

– Darkness becomes light
– confusion becomes order
– numbness becomes feeling
– apathy becomes longing
– death becomes life.

The purpose of the yeast is to communicate it’s own nature to the flour. It doesn’t destroy the flour but makes it enhanced. So the Holy Spirit is with us. As we submit to the nature and work of the Hoy Spirit in our lives He takes our gifts, personalities, abilities, talents and fulfills their true nature.

Many are afraid of what the Holy Spirit may do if we allow Him to do his work in us but that is the fear of man rather than God

He will change you and give you an aroma, a scent, a beauty, and He will use your abilities to exceed all you ever dreamed of. Do not be afraid of the Holy Spirit, submit completely to God’s work in you.

The Holy Spirit is God; He is the God of the Bible. He doesn’t destroy he only changes us to fulfill what the lord has designed us to be.

Next week the process and power

What about you today? Are you permitting the yeast to permeate every part of you to where you are seeing the victory, life, and light

Paula Millsaps – The Heart of an Effective Intercessor Prophecies start at 55 min in

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.

Start small dream big!

Start small but dream big!

WE are so caught up in this election but I want to encourage you that there is something more important than this election, a more important power shift than president, and Jesus talked about it

Matthew 13:31,32

Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”

The whole time Jesus walked the earth His mind was set on the Kingdom, the people loved to hear about the Kingdom.

Here is the prophesy about Jesus beginning.

Isaiah 53:2

 Like a young plant or a root that sprouts in dry ground, the servant grew up obeying the Lord. He wasn’t some handsome king. Nothing about the way he looked made him attractive to us.

God loves to take small insignificant things or moments and turn them into something powerful.

– That chance meeting,

– a short conversation,

– a word of encouragement.

, God can take people the world looks at as insignificant and turn them into something amazing

– Charles Haddon Spurgeon the greatest theologian and preacher in England in the 19th century was rejected by Regents college as not being someone of value for ministry.

– Walt Disney was fired from a local newspaper for not having an adequate imagination.

– Michael Jordan was cut from his High school basketball team

BTW both men claim faith in Christ.

This is part of the purpose of this parable to show that God can take the most insignificant event, or most insignificant person and make it or them, something amazing in the Kingdom.

Jesus said

Matthew 18:3,4

Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

A child is innocent, trusting and obedient to the Father

Matthew 20:25-27

But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.

The servant isn’t worried about accolades, the servant sees a need and meets it but God sees the heart and the need being met

The mustard seed like a child is small and insignificant but the only way to be effective in the Kingdom is to recognize your greatness only through Him.

Paul said this about the early church

1 Corinthians 1:26-30

For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God. 30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,

It’s not that God can use the powerful or wealthy but they are a rare breed who can humble themselves to serve the Body of Christ and the Lord

Romans 8:28 says

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

It is not we, ourselves, that cause the growth but when we are submitted to God serving Him He cause all things to work together for good

What are you dreams today?

You have placed yourself into the greatest Kingdom ever and your dreams are only limited to what God can do

120 people changed the world.

Our nation was founded on the principles of Jesus

This great tree is not only to be a blessing to you, but to reach the world.

Jesus uses this to further emphasize and reflect, the prophetic word that Ezekiel gave in chapter 17: 22,23

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take a branch from the top of a tall cedar, and I will plant it on the top of Israel’s highest mountain. 23 It will become a majestic cedar, sending forth its branches and producing seed. Birds of every sort will nest in it, finding shelter in the shade of its branches.

Our walking and living in the kingdom by Kingdom principles will enable:

  1. Insignificant events and people to become significant
  2. Us to allow God to do amazing work through us
  3. Great dreams to be created and fulfilled, things we could not do in ourselves
  4. As we see in Ezekiel vision that Jesus was pointing to, the birds are other nations, other people, people outside our comfort zones that will be impacted by our walking in Kingdom principles

What are those principles?

  1. Become as a child, innocent trusting surrendering to the love and authority of the Father
  2. Want to be great become a better servant of God, see a need meet the need

Got Wisdom?

Got Wisdom?

A number of years ago, an insurance company rated the most dangerous intersections for accidents in the United States. The winner (or better, loser) was the corner of Belt Line Road and Midway Road in Addison, Texas. There were 263 reported crashes at that intersection in the Dallas suburb. That averages out to about five wrecks per week, not counting the unreported fender benders.

 

Sometimes as we drive down the road of life, we come to dangerous intersections. Sometimes we refer to them as “forks in the road.” They are those moments where a choice we make or don’t make sets us on a course that could influence the rest of our journey. Do we stop or go. Turn right or left. Go ahead or turn back. Perhaps you feel like you are at a dangerous intersection right now in your life.

 

The Bible speaks about a divine resource we can utilize when we come to those intersections. It is called wisdom. There are many times when we will approach one of those intersections and we will realize we have a shortage of wisdom.

 

This is the very situation James addresses in 1:5-8.

 

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

 

James has just finished speaking about the various trials we encounter in life. These are the difficulties and afflictions that come our way.

 

Often times, these trials bring us to one of those intersections where we feel lost and don’t know which way to go. We don’t understand the cause of the trial or its purpose. We begin to feel acutely our shortage of wisdom.

 

Here, James tells us what to do; this is what he is saying…

 

Life creates a demand for wisdom, which God supplies when the conditions are met.

 

What is wisdom?

 

There are various definitions of wisdom.

 

Webster defines it as “the ability to make right use of knowledge.”

 

Theological dictionary defines wisdom as “prudent, considered, experienced, and competent action to master the various problems of life…”

 

We see that there is an aspect of knowledge in wisdom. But it goes beyond that. Wisdom involves the practical use of that knowledge to deal with life’s issues.

 

My definition of wisdom is this: Wisdom is the convergence of knowledge and skill which enables a person to make right choices that honor God.

 

True wisdom, according to Scripture, begins with God.

 

Proverbs 1:7 “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

 

From a biblical perspective, if a person does not know God who created all things, revealed truth, and established absolute values, then one cannot be wise.

 

How could a person make right choices without knowing God and His truth?

 

So, wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord. That is, the reverent relationship of knowing God.

 

We gain a clear perspective on wisdom by looking at its opposite – foolishness. Let’s look at the rest of Proverbs 1:7

“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”

 

Proverbs tells us that fools hate knowledge. The fool is the person whose choices contradict God’s truth. The fool ignores God’s value system. The fool makes poor choices.

 

Now that we have an idea what wisdom is all about, let’s look more closely at what James says regarding wisdom.

 

Life creates a demand for wisdom. – If any of you lack wisdom…

 

– There are going to be times when we do not know

exactly what choice to make or how to think about

a given situation.

 

We are in a state of lacking wisdom.

 

– This shortage of wisdom could be highlighted by many

different problems.

 

  • Financial problems
  • Family problems
  • Relationship problems
  • Work problems
  • We don’t always have a clear handle on every intersection we come to in life.

 

Most people do not really have these problems but instead what they really have is a wisdom problem

 

Now, this is very important to understand.

 

– If you do not face up to your lack of wisdom, you will never ask for it.

– It is the arrogant person who thinks they never need counsel.

– It is the foolish person who refuses to admit his/her need for wisdom.

– Has life created a demand for wisdom in your heart today?

– Do you face a situation you cannot figure out?

– Don’t know which way to turn or what to do or think?

 

Great! Now you are ready for step two.

 

God supplies wisdom to those who ask. “If you lack wisdom ask God.”

 

– Why? God is the source of wisdom. Wisdom is a divine gift. You

get it in a limited form by living a long life or experiencing many

different things. But more importantly you get it from God.

 

– Rather than frantically trying to figure everything out

by ourselves or getting our answers from Dr. Phil,

Oprah, or Ellen we need to go directly to the source – GOD.

 

God will give you wisdom.

 

– He will give it generously. God is not stingy with this

gift. He knows how badly you and I need it. The

word James uses here means “without reserve.”

 

– He will give it without finding fault. The word means

without reproach or insult. God will not insult you

and make you feel an inch tall for coming and asking

Him for wisdom.

 

Have you ever been in a situation where you dreaded asking someone for something because of all the grief you had to go through to get it? You just knew that they were going to say something like, “OK, I’ll give this to you but if you weren’t such a loser I wouldn’t have to.”

God is not like that when we ask for wisdom.

 

Remember God’s attitude toward gift giving. Jesus explained it in Matt. 7:9-11.

“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

 

He pointed out that a good parent never insults the child who comes asking for bread by giving him a stone. He doesn’t give him a snake if he asks for fish. So, if you, who are evil, can give good gifts to your kids when they ask, how much more will God give us good gifts when we ask Him?

 

Do you need some wisdom today? Ask. Ask. Ask. God will not make fun of you. He will not insult you. He is not looking around at the angels as he dispenses wisdom saying, “would you look at this guy?” He delights to give you wisdom. He wants you to come to Him and ask for it. Ask as many times as you need it (which for me is every day).

 

Life creates a demand for wisdom. God supplies wisdom when we ask.

 

Now there is one more thing we need to see.

 

Wisdom is supplied to those who ask in faith.

 

-We must ask in faith, not doubt. Faith is an attitude of trust.

 

– Doubt means “to dispute with oneself.” It is not the kind of “he loves me, he loves me not,” it is convincingly believing

 

– The doubter is like a wave of the sea being tossed

around by the wind. Very unstable and insecure.

 

– The doubter should not expect to receive anything

from God.

 

– The doubter is a double-minded person, unstable in

all he does.

 

The doubt James refers to here is not intellectual doubt. It is not doubting the existence of God or His ability to answer a prayer. It is the doubt of divided loyalties.

 

Doubt here is… the vacillating Christian who cannot decide from one trial to the next whether he or she will really trust the Lord and follow His wisdom.

The on again-off again Christian should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. This is not the type of person who really wants God’s wisdom.

 

I love the words of Abraham Lincoln who said, “I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for the day.”

 

Can you identify with those words today?

 

Do you face a problem which has exhausted your best efforts to solve? Are you looking for answers which seem to evade you? Has your wisdom and the wisdom of those around you fallen short?

 

There is hope. The One who is Himself All-wise delights to give His wisdom to those who ask with a trusting heart. Have you asked God for wisdom?

 

We need to ask for wisdom for our marriages. We need to ask for wisdom to parent our children. We need to ask for wisdom to help us on the job. We need to ask for wisdom to deal with difficult relationships. We need to ask for wisdom to minister to others. We need to ask for wisdom regarding for whom we should vote!

 

Does anyone lack wisdom here today?

 

Let him ask God come and let’s pray together.

 

 

Got Wisdom?

Attention: Wisdom needed

James addresses in 1:5-8.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

What is wisdom?

There are various definitions of wisdom.

Webster defines it as “the ability to make right use of knowledge.”

Theological dictionary defines wisdom as “prudent, considered, experienced, and competent action to master the various problems of life…”

My definition of wisdom is this: Wisdom is the convergence of knowledge and skill which enables a person to make right choices that honor God.

True wisdom, according to Scripture, begins with God.

Proverbs 1:7  “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

Proverbs 1:7

“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”

Now that we have an idea what wisdom is all about, let’s look more closely at what James says regarding wisdom.

Life creates a demand for wisdom. – If any of you lack wisdom…

We are in a state of lacking wisdom.

– This shortage of wisdom could be highlighted by many different problems.

• Financial problems

• Family problems

• Relationship problems

• Work problems

• We don’t always have a clear handle on every intersection we come to in life.

Most people do not really have these problems but instead what they really have is a wisdom problem

Now, this is very important to understand.

– If you do not face up to your lack of wisdom, you will never ask for it.

– It is the arrogant person who thinks they never need counsel.

– It is the foolish person who refuses to admit his/her need for wisdom.

Great! Now you are ready for step two.

God supplies wisdom to those who ask. “If you lack wisdom ask God.”

God will give you wisdom.

– He will give it generously. God is not stingy with this gift.

– He will give it without finding fault.

Remember God’s attitude toward gift giving. Jesus explained it in Matt. 7:9-11.

“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

He pointed out that a good parent never insults the child who comes asking for bread by giving him a stone. He doesn’t give him a snake if he asks for fish. So, if you, who are evil, can give good gifts to your kids when they ask, how much more will God give us good gifts when we ask Him?

Do you need some wisdom today?

Life creates a demand for wisdom. God supplies wisdom when we ask.

Now there is one more thing we need to see.

Wisdom is supplied to those who ask in faith.

-We must ask in faith, not doubt. Faith is an attitude of trust.

– Doubt means “to dispute with oneself.” It is not the kind of “he loves me, he loves me not,” it is convincingly believing

– The doubter should not expect to receive anything

from God.

– The doubter is a double-minded person, unstable in all he does.

Doubt here is… the vacillating Christian who cannot decide from one trial to the next whether he or she will really trust the Lord and follow His wisdom.

I love the words of Abraham Lincoln who said, “I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for the day.”

Can you identify with those words today?

Does anyone lack wisdom here today?

Let him ask God come and let’s pray together.

Words that change our hearts and our world! Part 3

Words that Change our hearts and the world Part 3

Just a little review first

Part 1 we talked about

We should always pray

Prayer is not an option it is a command from God

Prayer has power

Part 2 we talked about most effective ways to pray

Get in a quiet place

Know who you are talking to

Schedule a time to pray

Create a prayer list

Pray specifically

Pray out loud at times

Take time to listen

We know we need to pray and the attitude and aptitude of prayer

What are the types of prayer

– We talked about quiet, alone, prayer as one type of prayer

– We know also that when we pray, regardless of the type of prayer, we need to pray in faith. James challenges us when praying for the sick

James 5:15a

“a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well….”

Through time of spending in prayer we learn to hear from Him and more and more of our prayers are answered because we are praying His will. 1 John 5:14

“And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.”

We need to understand that prayer is a battle. Our flesh does not want to take the time or energy to pray but the enemy as we have seen in these skits especially does not want us to pray.

In Matthew Jesus had gone through His temptation in the wilderness and had defeated the devils advances and in Matthew 4:10,11 we read this…

“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” 11 Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.

Remember Jesus is God in the flesh but later Jesus has to rebuke Satan again. Matthew 16:23

Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

Satan never won with Jesus obviously but we have to have a “Jesus” mind set to stay focused

Types of prayer

– Thanksgiving

Philippians 4:6 and Colossians 4:2 tell us to pray with thanksgiving.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”

“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.”

Psalm 95 and 100 tell us to enter into the presence of God with thanksgiving.

When Christ prayed He often gave thanks – Matthew 15:36; 26:26, 27; Luke 22:19.

Praying with thanksgiving should be a regular part of our prayer life.

Two weeks ago we read this scripture from 1 Thessalonians 5: 16 – 18

Always be joyful. Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

A grateful heart is a heart God can work with

– Supplication – this is a word ill bet you used this week. It is an old word and Philippians 4:6 uses it in the New King James

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

God really cares about you and I know some of you struggle with that but supplication is prayer that you pray for what you need. It is asking for the stuff of earth and heaven that you need to get you through the day.

The Greek word for this is used 60 times in the New Testament

The point being that it is not arrogant to pray for your own needs. God welcomes you with open arms when you take your genuine requests for help to Him.

– Intercessory prayer – standing in between two people, it is praying on behalf of others

1 Timothy 2:1 “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.”

Notice here that Paul doesn’t tell us to pray only for those people we like but to pray for all people…we are to intercede, stand in the gap for implore God for all men and women regardless. The power of any nation is in the hands of the church.

We can stand in the gap for our families, our neighbors, our nation, our work place our schools, people that are hurting or broken and the Lord hears it and moves on their behalf.

Both Supplication and Intercessory prayer can involve, healing, prophetic insight and spiritual warfare

– Consecration – this is the type of prayer where something is dedicated, or set apart to the Lord or confirmed to the Lord.

Christ’s prayer over Communion in Matthew 26, Luke 22, Mark 14 is this kind of prayer.

Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 1:9-11 is an example of a dedication that does not seem like a prayer but truly is.

So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. 11 Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”

Then in the New Testament Acts 13: 1-3

Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

We can consecrate our day, our jobs, our families all to the Lord anything that we have the authority over we can dedicate to God

Whatever type of prayer you pray know that God is listening. We are called to all of these types of prayer.

As I started this teaching out

1 John 5:14

“And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.”

So many times we simply throw up prayers to heaven, God hears them but are we really able to hear Him? Do we know that our prayers have been answered.

You do if you have listened over this last few weeks, our praying isn’t simply for us to have what we need, God cares and makes things happen but through prayer, our words do change our hearts and the world.

As we believe this let’s put it to work today, what do you need prayer for? Let us agree in prayer for your mountains to move.

Here is the power of prayer wrapped up in one verse Jesus shared

Matthew 17:20

“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”

What is impossible for you right now? Whatever it is I hope you realize now that nothing is impossible and your prayers can change your world!

 

 

Prophetic Word…a Call to the Church

Mark 4:29

And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.”

 

The person who is going to win the election is the going to be person who will cause the Body of Christ to mature the most

 

The only thing that is important is someone going to heaven or going to hell

 

Matthew 13:24 -30

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

 

Matthew 13:37

He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

 

Our job….

 

Love God

Love Man

Make disciples

 

As a Christian who loves God and holds up the cross of Christ who loves God, who loves man and is making disciples I can solve the problems

 

Revelation 3:14-22

And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

 

Malachi 3:2-4

But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderers’ soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness.

 

God I have no rights…I have no banner but you….I have no purpose but you!

 

You can not make peace without the Prince of Peace

 

It’s not over…I stand at the door and knock, if any man opens the door then I will come in

 

We need God in the church again, we need the Holy Spirit to move in one Body that is not divided…we need one Body in America again then we will straighten America out.

 

 

 

 

Words that change our hearts and the world! Part 2

Words that change our hearts and the world! Part 2

Prayer is simply having a conversation with not only your loving heavenly Father but also with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the ruler of all time and space, He is the all-knowing, all-powerful, all-present God, and He among other titles is the Almighty God.

I mentioned last week, “seven days without prayer makes one weak”

Exodus 33:15

Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.

He stands in the gap for the whole nation and one man is able through standing the gap to save the nation.

Prayer is a constant reminder that God is with us!

1) Get to a quiet, undistracted place

Moses went into the tabernacle to talk with God Exodus 33:8

Jesus would go away alone Mark 1:35

Jacob met Him in the wilderness Genesis 28

We need to give Him our undivided attention so we are able to hear him clearly

Proverbs 8:17

I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me.

 

2) Know who you are talking to

He is the God who loves you with an everlasting love Jeremiah 31:3

He is the God Almighty Exodus 6:22

He will never leave you nor forsake you Deuteronomy 31:6

When you are praying you are talking to the one who loves you the most, is almighty, and will always be with you!

 

3) Schedule a time to pray…

Psalm 5:3

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.

We schedule whatever is a priority to us and talking with God needs to be a priority

 

4) Create a prayer list

1Timothy 2:1

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,

Use your phone or a pad or something to keep a list to keep focused and  organized.

5) Pray specifically

Matthew 6:8

“Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him”

It is also an acknowledgment on our part that we are truly care about specific individuals and things revealing that our heart is growing to be like the Father’s heart.

6) It is best many times to pray out loud

Psalm 142:1,2

I cry out to the Lord; I plead for the Lord’s mercy. I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles.

And a very obvious verse from Romans 10:9

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

when you pray out loud it forces you to focus on what you are saying sometimes when we pray silently it is easy for our minds to wander

7) Prayer is about listening to God as well, part of conversation is not just talking but listening as well

Jesus said in John 10:27

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

God spoke to Jeremiah and said

Jeremiah 7:13

And now, because you have done all these works,” says the Lord, “and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you, but you did not answer,

Proverbs warns us

18:13 “Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.”

Please remember prayer is simply conversation with God

– He wants to spend time with you,

– He wants you to know Him better,

– He wants you to be at peace

Prayer times for our nation beginning October 17th at 6PM

We are always open to praying for you

 

Addition notes so you know God as you speak with him

Names of God 

ELOHIM” (or Elohay) is the first name for God found in the Bible, and it’s used throughout the Old Testament over 2,300 times. Elohim comes from the Hebrew root meaning “strength” or “power”, and has the unusual characteristic of being plural in form. In Genesis 1:1, we read, “In the beginning Elohim created the heaven and the earth.” Right from the start, this plural form for the name of God is used to describe the One God, a mystery that is uncovered throughout the rest of the Bible. Throughout scripture, Elohim is combined with other words to describe certain characteristics of God. Some examples:

– Elohay Kedem – God of the Beginning: (Deuteronomy 33:27).

– Elohay Mishpat – God Of Justice: (Isaiah 30:18).

– Elohay Selichot – God Of Forgiveness: (Nehemiah 9:17).

– Elohay Marom – God Of Heights: (Micah 6:6).

– Elohay Mikarov – God Who Is Near: (Jeremiah 23:23).

– Elohay Mauzi – God Of My Strength: (Psalm 43:2).

– Elohay Tehilati – God Of My Praise: (Psalm 109:1).

– Elohay Yishi – God Of My Salvation: (Psalm 18:46).

– Elohim Kedoshim – Holy God: (Leviticus 19:2, Joshua 24:19).

– Elohim Chaiyim – Living God: (Jeremiah 10:10).

– Elohay Elohim – God Of Gods: (Deuteronomy 10:17).

“EL” is another name used for God in the Bible, showing up about 200 times in the Old Testament. El is the simple form arising from Elohim, and is often combined with other words for descriptive emphasis. Some examples:

– El HaNe’eman – The Faithful God: (Deuteronomy 7:9).

– El HaGadol – The Great God: (Deuteronomy 10:17).

– El HaKadosh – The Holy God: (Isaiah 5:16).

– El Yisrael – The God Of Israel: (Psalm 68:35).

– El HaShamayim – The God Of The Heavens: (Psalm 136:26).

– El De’ot – The God Of Knowledge: (1 Samuel 2:3).

– El Emet – The God Of Truth: (Psalm 31:6).

– El Yeshuati – The God Of My Salvation: (Isaiah 12:2).

– El Elyon – The Most High God: (Genesis 14:18).

– Immanu El – God Is With Us: (Isaiah 7:14).

– El Olam – The God Of Eternity (Genesis 21:33).

– El Echad – The One God: (Malachi 2:10).

“ELAH” is another name for God, used about 70 times in the Old Testament. Again, when combined with other words, we see different attributes of God. Some examples:

– Elah Yerush’lem – God of Jerusalem: (Ezra 7:19).

– Elah Yisrael – God of Israel: (Ezra 5:1).

– Elah Sh’maya – God of Heaven: (Ezra 7:23).

– Elah Sh’maya V’Arah – God of Heaven and Earth: (Ezra 5:11).

“YHWH” is the Hebrew word that translates as “LORD”. Found more often in the Old Testament than any other name for God (approximately 7,000 times), the title is also referred to as the “Tetragrammaton,” meaning the “The Four Letters”. YHWH comes from the Hebrew verb “to be” and is the special name that God revealed to Moses at the burning bush. “And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM; and He said, thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, I AM has sent me to you… this is My eternal name, and this is how I am to be recalled for all generations'” (Exodus 3:14-15).

Therefore, YHWH declares God’s absolute being – the source of everything, without beginning and without end. Although some pronounce YHWH as “Yaweh,” scholars really don’t know the proper pronunciation. The Jews stopped pronouncing this name by about 200 A.D., out of fear of breaking the commandment “You shall not take the name of YHWH your God in vain” (Exodus 20:7). (Today’s rabbis typically use “Adonai” in place of YHWH.)

Here are some examples of YHWH used in scripture:

– YHWH Elohim – LORD God: (Genesis 2:4).

– YHWH M’kadesh – The LORD Who Makes Holy: (Ezekiel 37:28).

–YHWH Yireh – The LORD Who Sees/provides: (Genesis 22:14).

– YHWH Nissi – The LORD My Banner: (Exodus 17:15).

– YHWH Shalom – The LORD Of Peace: (Judges 6:24).

– YHWH Tzidkaynu – The LORD Our Righteousness: (Jeremiah 33:16).

– YHWH O’saynu – The LORD our Maker: (Psalm 95:6).

Names of God: The Lord Revealed in YHWH is the Lord Revealed in Jesus

The LORD who revealed Himself as YHWH in the Old Testament is revealed as Jesus in the New Testament. Jesus shares the same attributes as YHWH and clearly claims to be YHWH.

– In John 8:56-59, Jesus presents himself as the “I AM.” When challenged by some Jewish leaders regarding His claim of seeing Abraham (who lived some 2000 years earlier), Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM.” Those Jewish leaders understood that Jesus was claiming to be YHWH. This is clearly established when they tried to stone Him to death for what they considered blasphemy under Jewish Law.

– In Romans 10:9, Paul declares, “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as LORD… you shall be saved.”

– Immediately, in Romans 10:13, Paul backs up this declaration by quoting the Old Testament, “Whoever will call upon the name of the LORD (YHWH) will be saved” (Joel 2:32).

– Calling on Jesus as Lord is the same as calling Him YHWH, because Jesus is YHWH (LORD), the Messiah foretold throughout the entire Old Testament.

This is a light list of the names of God. The Bible gives us various names of God that reveal His nature and character to us so we might have a better understanding who he is!