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Faith Promises – Rick Bagwell
Tag: promises
YOU MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE THE TEST OVER
I HAVE BEEN TOLD, WHEN WE ARE TRIED, AND DON’T PASS THE TEST OF ENDURANCE, AND TRUST GOD TO FIGHT OUR BATTLE —- BY THIS, I MEAN, WE TAKE IT IN OUR OWN HANDS —-WE WILL AT SOME POINT IN LIFE, HAVE TO TAKE THE SAME TEST OVER AGAIN.
IT IS MUCH BETTER FOR US TO GO AHEAD AND WATCH GOD MOVE ON OUR BEHALF, AND WAIT IT OUT, AND LET GOD GET THE VICTORY FOR US, THAN TO HAVE TO FACE THIS AGAIN.
YOU WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN THROUGH A TRAIL, DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT; BUT YOU WILL FACE ONE AT SOME POINT AND TIME AS YOU SERVE THE LORD.
II CORINTHAINS 8:2 – HOW THAT IN A GREAT TRAIL OF AFFLICTION (OR IN A TIME OF MUCH TROUBLE) THE ABUNDANCE OF THEIR JOY AND THEIR DEEP POVERTY ABOUNDED UNTO THEIR RICHES OF THEIR GREAT LIBERALITY. PAUL IS WRITING A LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS TO INFORM THEM OF HOW THE MACEDONIAN CHURCHES WHO WERE GOING THROUGH A TIME OF GREAT TROUBLE, WERE STILL FILLED WITH JOY THAT THEY COULD BE IN AN OVERFLOW OF GIVING TO THE CHURCHES IN JERUSALEM.
MANY OF US WHO ARE GOING THROUGH A GREAT TRIAL, WHETHER IT BE PHYSICAL OR FINANCIAL, WHATEVER IT IS, COULD LEARN FROM THESE MACEDONIANS. THEY WERE ONLY ACTING ON THE PRINCIPLES OF THE PROMISES OF GOD.
THEY DIDN’T ALLOW SATAN TO STEAL THEIR JOY, AND THEY WERE SOWING AN OFFERING AGAINST THEIR OWN POVERTY TO MINISTER TO THE NEEDS OF THE SAINTS. WHAT A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE TO US.
IF WE ARE BEING TRIED, WE SHOULD FIRST, PRAISE GOD THROUGH IT, AND THEN, TRUST HIM FOR THE OUTCOME.
ALSO, WE SHOULD ASK HIM, “LORD,WHAT CAN I LEARN THROUGH THIS?”
I PROMISE YOU, HE WILL SHOW YOU, AND BRING YOU TO A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW HE WORKS.
JAMES 1:2-4 – MY BRETHREN, COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YE FALL INTO DIVERS TEMPTATIONS (OR VARIOUS TRIALS):
KNOWING THIS, THAT THE TRYING OF YOUR FAITH WORKETH (DEVELOPS) PATIENCE.
BUT LET PATIENCE HAVE HER PERFECT (COMPLETE) WORK, THAT YE MAY BE PERFECT (MATURE) AND ENTIRE, WANTING NOTHING (OR LACKING NOTHING).
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN GOING THROUGH TRIALS THAT DEVELOPE PATIENCE, AND BEING TEMPTED TO DO EVIL. BEING TEMPTED TO DO EVIL , IS BEING DRAWN AND ENTICED BY YOUR OWN LUST.
GOD DOES NOT TEMPT MAN TO DO EVIL (JAMES 1:13-18).
JAMES 1:12 – BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT ENDURETH TEMPTATION: FOR WHEN HE IS TRIED, HE SHALL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE, WHICH THE LORD HATH PROMISED TO THEM THAT LOVE HIM.
JAMES TELLS US TO COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN WE FALL INTO TRIALS (VERSE 2), BUT HE IS NOT TALKING ABOUT FALLING INTO SIN, HE IS TALKING ABOUT DISCOVERING THAT WE CAN FIND STRENGTH TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION AND ENDURE TRIALS, THROUGH THE LOVE OF GOD AND HIS POWER.
WITHOUT THE POWER OF GOD IN THE LIFE OF A BELIEVER, TRIALS CAN CAUSE HIM OR HER TO BECOME BITTER AND CRITICAL AND LOOSE THE CROWN OF LIFE.
VERSE 12 READS …WHEN HE IS TRIED… THIS SHOULD TELL US SOMETHING: WE WILL BE TRIED AT SOME POINT IN OUR LIVES.
LETS PASS THE TEST THE FIRST TIME, SO WE WON’T HAVE TO TAKE IT OVER AGAIN!!!
TRUST
THERE ARE THOSE WE TRUST, AND THERE ARE THOSE WE HAVE NO TRUST IN. MANY TIMES WE TRUST PEOPLE AND FIND OUT LATER THEY ARE NOT TRUST WORTHY. HOW CAN WE AS BELIEVERS KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?
MOST OF THE TIME IT’S THROUGH A PROCESS OF WAITING TO SEE IF THEY BETRAY OUR TRUST, OR HOLD TO THE TRUST WE PLACED IN THEM IN AN ADMIRABLE WAY.
TRUST IS FAITH IN ACTION. TRUST MEANS: TO PUT ONE’S CONFIDENCE IN.
IN THE WORD OF GOD, WE FIND INSTRUCTIONS IN WHAT NOT TO PUT OUR TRUST. I WILL LIST THEM: WEAPONS (PS. 44:6); WEALTH (PS.49:6,7); LEADERS (PS. 146:3); MAN (JER 17:5); WORKS (JER. 48:7); OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (EZEK. 33:13).
THIS SHOWS US WE CAN’T PUT OUR TRUST IN THINGS, PEOPLE, NOR OURSELVES. WELL, THAT COVERS ALMOST EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING BUT GOD, THAT IS.
WHY IS IT THAT PEOPLE, MUCH OF THE TIME, PUT THEIR TRUST IN THINGS, PEOPLE, AND THEMSELVES, BEFORE THEY PUT THEIR TRUST IN GOD?
BELOVED, THIS IS THE WAY OF THE WORLD. WEAPONS, WEALTH, LEADERS, MANKIND, OUR WORKS, AND EVEN OUR RIGHTEOUS- NESS CAN FAIL US AT ANY TIME.
THE WORLD DOES NOT RECOGNIZE GOD AS THEIR SOURCE OF TRUST, BUT WE AS CHRISTIANS TRUST GOD FOR EVERYTHING, EVERYDAY.
OUR TRUST IS TO BE PUT IN GOD’S NAME: PSALM 33:20-22 – OUR SOUL WAITETH FOR THE LORD: HE IS OUR HELP AND OUR SHIELD.
FOR OUR HEART SHALL REJOICE IN HIM, BECAUSE WE HAVE TRUSTED IN HIS HOLY NAME.
LET THY MERCY, O LORD, BE UPON US, ACCORDING AS WE HOPE IN THEE.
OUR TRUST IS TO BE PUT IN GOD’S MERCY: PSALM 52:8 – BUT I AM LIKE A GREEN OLIVE TREE IN THE HOUSE OF GOD: I TRUST IN THE MERCY OF GOD FOR EVER AND EVER.
OUR TRUST IS TO BE PLACED IN GOD’S WORD: PSALM 119:41 – LET THEY MERCIES COME ALSO UNTO ME, O LORD, EVEN OUR SALVATION, ACCORDING TO THY WORD.
SO SHALL I HAVE WHEREWITH TO ANSWER HIM THAT REPROACHETH ME: FOR I TRUST IN THY WORD.
WHEN GOD’S FAVOR IS MANIFESTED TO US, WE CAN SUFFICENTLY ANSWER OUR ENEMIES WITH THE WORD. WE TRUST IN GOD’S WORD: WE TRUST IN HIS PROMISES THAT ARE CONTAINED IN HIS WORD, FOR HIS SERVANTS.
MATTHEW 12:17-21 – THAT IT MIGHT BE FULFILLED WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY ISAIAH THE PROPHET, SAYING,
BEHOLD MY SERVANT, WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN: MY BELOVED, IN WHOM MY SOUL IS WELL PLEASED:
I WILL PUT MY TRUST UPON HIM, AND HE SHALL SHOW MY JUDGMENT OT THE GENTILES.
HE SHALL NOT STRIVE NOR CRY; NEITHER SHALL ANY MAN HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS.
A BRUISED REED SHALL HE NOT BREAK, AND SMOKING FLAX SHALL HE NOT QUINCH, TILL HE SEND FORTH JUDGMENT INTO VICTORY.
AND IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES TRUST.
THIS IS DESCRIBING WHAT JESUS DID FOR OUR SALVATION; AND WE CAN PUT OUR TRUST IN HIM AND WHAT HE DID FOR US. ALL OF US, GENTILES AND JEWS ALIKE, CAN PUT OUR TRUST IN HIM FOR ETERNAL LIFE.
THIS BEING THE GREATEST OF THEM ALL, THERE ARE MORE WONDERFUL BENEFITS TO TRUSTING CHRIST: BENEFITS OF JOY: PSALM 5;11 – BUT LET ALL THOSE THAT PUT THEIR TRUST IN THEE REJOICE: LET THEM EVER SHOUT FOR JOY, BECAUSE THOU DEFENDEST THEM: LET THEM ALSO THAT LOVE THY NAME BE JOYFUL IN THEE.
IT’S EASY TO HAVE JOY WHEN THINGS ARE GOING GREAT, BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE STILL PUTTING OUT TRUST IN GOD AND THINGS ARE NOT SO GREAT?
I EXPERIENCED THIS ONE DAY A WHILE BACK, AND THE DAY BEFORE THAT.
FIRST, MY MOTHER HAD CANCER IN HER ARM, AND IT WAS REMOVED. THANK GOD, THE DOCTOR THINKS HE GOT IT ALL. THIS WAS HARD FOR ME AND MY SIBLINGS BECAUSE WE LOVE OUR MOTHER AND HAD ALREADY SEEN OUR DADDY, WHO WE LOVED DEARLY, PASS WITH LUNG CANCER BECAUSE OF SMOKING.
I DROVE BACK HOME TO BE COMFORTED BY MY HUSBAND WHO WAS WAITING FOR ME: AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS HE TOLD ME, WAS OUR PET, ROSIE, WAS VERY SICK AND SHE WAS TO BE PUT TO SLEEP THE NEXT DAY. I WAS CRUSHED. THIS WAS JUST TOO MUCH.
I WAS STILL DEALING WITH MY TRUST IN GOD TO TAKE CARE OF MY MOTHER, NOW THIS. ROSIE WAS OUR SPRINGER SPANIEL, WHO WAS QUITE A PERSONALITY, BUT VERY OLD AND WEAK. I LOVED HER SO MUCH.
I JUST HAD TO GET ALONE WITH GOD. I DIDN’T WANT MY HUSBAND TO DO THIS, BUT HIS MIND WAS MADE UP, AND IN THE END, I KNEW I HAD TO SURRENDER TO THIS. IT WASWHAT WAS BEST FOR ROSIE.
I CRIED AND CRIED, IT WAS SO HARD. I POURED OUT MY HEART TO THE LORD. HE BEGAN TO COMFORT ME WITH HIS WORD. THE SCRIPTURES BEGAN TO COME THROUGH MY TEARS. GOD INSTRUCTED ME WITH THAT STILL SMALL VOICE TO TURN TO PSALM 34 AND 44. ALL OF IT MINISTERED TO ME, BUT ONE VERSE IN PSALM 34, VERSE 18, GAVE ME THE GREATEST COMFORT OF ALL – THE LORD IS NIGH UNTO THEM THAT ARE OF A BROKEN HEART; AND SAVETH SUCH AS BE OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT.
I WAS THINKING, WHAT IS CONTRITE? THE DEFINITION IN STRONG’S IS: CRUSHED, AND POWDER.
THIS BROUGHT ME BACK TO A SERMON, IN FACT IT WAS THE FIRST SERMON I HEARD TD JAKES PREACH. IT WAS CALLED “ASHES.” HE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE CAN COME TO THE PLACE THAT WE ARE SO CRUSHED THAT WE BECOME THE POWDER FROM THE FIRE, WE CALL ASHES.
AS WE SERVE THE LORD, AND CONTINUE TO TRUST HIM THROUGH THESE HARD PLACES. HE BEGINS TO ELEVATE OUR FAITH, BECAUSE WE KNOW, WITHOUT A DOUBT, WE WILL NEVER COME THROUGH THESE THINGS ALONE.
I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE WHO DON’T KNOW THE LORD, GET THROUGH THESE HARD TO UNDERSTAND THINGS. A DEATH OF A LOVED ONE, OR A LOSE OF A CHILD. THEY CAN’T GET HELP THEY NEED FROM THE WORLD THAT BRINGS JOY.
WELL, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME: THE LORD RESTORED MY JOY AND GAVE ME PEACE AS I BEGAN TO WORSHIP HIM IN IT.
* PART 2 COMING UP.
REVELATION
I CORINTHIANS 2:9-10
BUT AS IT IS WRITTEN, EYE HATH NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NEITHER HAVE ENTERED INTO: THE HEART OF MAN, THE THINGS WHICH GOD HATH PRPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM.
BUT GOD HATH REVEALED THEM UNTO US BY HIS SPIRIT; FOR THE SPIRIT SEARCHETH ALL THINGS, YEA, THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD.
THE BIBLE SAYS THE NATURAL MAN CANNOT RECEIVE THE THINGS OF GOD . IF A PERSON RECEIVES JESUS INTO THEIR HEART BY FAITH, THEY CAN BE LED BY GOD THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD, AND THE INNER VOICE OF GOD. AS A CHRISTIAIN GOD PUTS WITHIN MY SPIRIT A HUNGER AND THIRST FOR HIM. AS I AM FILLED WITH HIS SPIRIT EVERDAY HE REVEALS THE PURPOSE FOR MY LIFE. I HAVE A PURPOSE; A DETERMINED END. OUR GREATEST DESIRE AS A CHRISTIAN IS TO KNOW GOD AND LOVE HIM. HE DIED FOR US ON THE CROSS. WE MUST DIE DAILY FOR HIM, TO OUR OWN DESIRES, AND JESUS WILL GIVE US HIS DESIRES. WE CAN DO ANY THING OR HAVE ANYTHING THAT IS HIS WILL.
PERSONALLY I DESIRE A HARVEST LIKE JONAH.
PERSONALLY I WANT MORE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
PERSONALLY I WANT TO SEE THE SICK HEALED.
PERSONALLY I WANT MY NEEDS MET.
HERE WE HAVE SOME DESIRES THAT ARE GOD’S WILL FOR US. THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS SAID, YES AND AMEN. GOD WANTS TO BLESS US WITH REVELATION AND POWER . WE CHRISTIANS HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST.
EPHESIANS 3:20
NOW UNTO HIM THAT IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE CAN ASK OR THINK, ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKETH IN US.
THAT POWER OF GOD IS WORKING IN US, TO DO MIGHTY THINGS IN US ,THROUGH US, AND FOR US. GOD HAS PREPARED THINGS FOR US THAT IS BIGGER THAN US. ONLY THROUGH OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM CAN WE EVEN HAVE THE FAITH TO ASK HIM FOR THESE THINGS.
MY FAITH HAS GROWN SO MUCH AND HAS BEEN STRETCHED. SOMETIMES I GO THROUGH DRY SPELLS WHERE I DON,T FEEL GODS PRESENCE, MY PRAYERS SEEM TO NOT GO ABOVE TTHE CEILING, BUT I HAVE LEARNED THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH. FEELING IS WONDERFUL BUT WE DON’T LIVE BY FEELING, BUT BY FAITH. GOD IS STILL THE SAME IF WE FEEL HIM OR NOT, HIS PROMISES ARE STILL YES AND AMEN. THE FEELING WILL R ETURN, BUT FAITH WILL ALWAYS BE THERE.
BUT GOD HATH REVEALED THEM UNTO US BY HIS SPIRIT.
RECKLESS FAITH
MARK 5: 25-29 – AND A CERTAIN WOMAN, WHICH HAD AN ISSUE OF BLOOD TWELVE YEARS.
AND HAD SUFFERED MANY THINGS OF MANY PHYSICIANS, AND SPENT ALL THAT SHE HAD, AND WAS NOTHING BETTERED, BUT RATHER GREW WORSE.
WHEN SHE HAD HEARD OF JESUS, CAME IN THE PRESS BEHIND, AND TOUCHED HIS GARMENT.
FOR SHE SAID, IF I MAY TOUCH BUT HIS CLOTHES, I SHALL BE WHOLE.
AND STRAIGHTWAY THE FOUNTAIN OF HER BLOOD WAS DRIED UP; AND SHE FELT IN HER BODY THAT SHE WAS HEALED OF THAT PLAGUE.
THIS WOMAN KNEW WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE SICK.
THIS WOMAN KNEW WHAT IT LIKE TO GET HER HOPES UP AND BE DISAPPOINTED.
I KNOW WHAT GOES ON IN THE MIND OF A SICK PERSON.
I ALSO KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE HEALED.
I AM SO THANKFUL FOR MY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD, EVEN WHEN I WAS SICK. GOD IS GOOD TO US ALL THE TIME. THE DEVIL IS OUR ENEMY NOT GOD.
HEALING IS ALWAYS AVIALABLE TO US, SOMETIMES IT IS INSTANT, SOMETIMES IT IS PROGRESSIVE.
I PREFER THE INSTANT, BUT WILL BE HAPPY WITH THE PROGRESSIVE HEALING.
THIS WOMAN HAD A SICK BODY, BUT A STRONG WILL. A STRONG WILL IS A MAJOR FACTOR IN RECEVING ANYTHING FROM THE LORD.
SHE ALSO HAD PATIENCE, AND DETERMINATION.
HER WILL TO BE HEALED STAYED STRONG, WHILE HER BODY WAS STILL SICK.
SHE BECAME RECK-LESS IN HER FAITH. ACCORDING TO JEWISH LAW, HER CONDITION OF BLEEDING, FORBID HER FROM BEING IN PUBLIC.
RECK-LESS FAITH CAN CAUSE YOU TO FORGET WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT. SOME HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THAT HEALING IS NOT FOR TODAY. YOU NEED TO FORGET THAT. IT IS A LIE STRAIGHT OUT OF RELIGIOUS TRADITION. GET RECK-LESS AND RECEIVE.
THIS WOMAN SAID IF I CAN TOUCH, BUT HIS CLOTHES, I SHALL BE WHOLE. HER WILL SAID, WHAT HER WILL BELIVED, THIS IS IMPORTANT. WHAT A STATEMENT, SHE DIDN’T ASK FOR JESUS TO TOUCH HER, HE DID TOUCH A LOT OF PEOPLE FOR HEALING, BUT SHE WAS DETERMINED TO TOUCH HIM.
SHE KNEW SHE WAS TOUCHING THE WORD MADE FLESH.
I HAVE BEEN HEALED, TOUCHED BY THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH TOUCHING JESUS IN HIS WORD. BY HIS STRIPES I AM HEALED, HIS WILL FOR ME IS HIS WORD FOR ME. IF I CAN BELIEVE HIS WORD FOR THE SALVATION OF MY SOUL, I CAN BELIEVE HIS WORD FOR MY HEALING. SALVATION FOR MY SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY.
EVERY WORD, EVER ACTION OF THIS WOMAN WAS FAITH ORIENTED.
SHE HAD EVERY REASON TO GIVE UP, BUT SHE REFUSED TO GIVE UP.
IN DOING THAT SHE WAS REFUSING THE SICKNESS.
MARK 5:34 – AND HE SAID UNTO HER, DAUGHTER, THY FAITH HATH MADE THEE WHOLE, GO IN PEACE, AND BE WHOLE OF THY PLAGUE.
SHE GOT WHAT SHE BELIEVED FOR, SHE PRESSED THROUGH THE CROWD.
THERE WILL BE OBSTACLES THAT YOU HAVE TO PRESS THROUGH; SYMPTOM’S THAT SCREAM OUT AT YOUR FAITH; WORDS OF FACT FROM PHYSICANS, TRY TO IMPART FEAR AND UNBELIEF; PAIN THAT SCREAMS, “NO THIS IS NOT FOR YOU, YOU CANT BE HEALED.”
THE WOMANS FAITH SCREAMED LOUDER THAT THE SICKNESS, I SHALL BE WHOLE.
THE ONLY ONE IN THE CROWD THAT TOUCHED JESUS IN THE PRESS, WAS THIS WOMAN’S RECK-LESS FAITH THAT WAS AIMED BY HER WILL TO RECEIVE.
SHE KNEW SHE HAD THE RIGHT MAN. THE ONLY ONE IN THE CROWD THAT COULD EVER HELP HER WAS JESUS. I SHALL BE WHOLE SHE SAID. THE TOUCH OF FAITH FIXED HER PROBLEM, THE TOUCH OF FAITH WILL FIX EVERY PROBLEM.
EVERY TIME I READ ABOUT THIS WOMAN, WHAT SHE DID AND WHAT SHE GOT, CREATES FAITH IN ME, IT CREATES STRONG WILL INSIDE ME NOT TO BE DENIED WHATEVER IS PAID FOR, THAT BELONGS TO ME.
ALIGN YOUR TALK AND YOUR FAITH; THEY GO TOGETHER AND WILL MOVE YOUR MOUNTAIN’S. AMEN, GLORY TO MY KING JESUS.
OPEN HEAVEN
MATT. 7:7 – ASK, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN YOU, SEEK, AND YE SHALL FIND; KNOCK, AND IT SHALL BE OPENED UNTO YOU.
THE DOOR TO THIS GREAT PROMISE IS JESUS. ASKING MUST BE DONE, BECAUSE WE HEARD SOMETHING OR READ SOMETHING, STATING,THAT WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR IS THE WILL OF GOD.
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WHOSOEVER SHALL ASK, OR CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED. IF WE BELIEVE THIS, WE CONFESS JESUS AS OUR SAVIOUR, AND ASK HIM TO COME INTO OUR HEART.
NOW THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF ASKING, WHEN JESUS COMES INTO OUR HEART, WE BECOME COVENANT CHILDREN, THIS IS THE DOOR WE OPEN BY FAITH TO LEGALLY ASK.
THE NEXT STEP IS SEEKING THE PERSON OF GOD HIMSELF. SEEKING THE FATHER THROUGH JESUS CHRIST BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS INSIDE OF NOW, DIRECTING OUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY. THIS IS THE GREATEST, MOST REWARDING JOURNEY OF YOUR LIFE. SEEKING THE PERSON OF CHRIST. MANY PEOPLE HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, BUT DON’T KNOW HIM. THEY KNOW ABOUT HIM, THEY HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM, BUT DON’T REALLY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. YOU CAN ONLY GET TO KNOW PEOPLE, THROUGH SEEKING A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.
SEEKING THE LORD WILL BECOME YOUR PASSION. I DON’T WANT TO JUST READ A BOOK AND KNOW ALL ABOUT HIM, I DESIRE TO KNOW THE PERSON, NOT JUST THE HISTORY OF THAT PERSON.
THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT WE CAN SEEK THE FATHER THROUGH JESUS OUR LORD, WE CAN SEEK JESUS, WE CAN SEEK THE HOLY SPIRIT.
MY PRAYER IS SO OFTEN LIKE THIS: HOLY SPIRIT TEACH ME HOW TO HELP PEOPLE, DID JESUS SAY THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR TEACHER. HOLY SPIRIT SHOW ME WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN THIS WORSHIP SERVICE, SO I CAN FLOW WITH YOU. I SEEK YOU LORD, SHOW ME WHAT YOUR WILL IS TODAY FOR MY LIFE, CONNECT ME WITH THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT ARE PURPOSED BY YOU THIS DAY.
WHAT A TRIP, WHAT A JOURNEY, WE HAVE IN LIFE SEEKING OUT THE LORD OF PURPOSE, THE ONLY WAY WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE HIM IN ALL OUR WAYS, IS TO MAKE HIM THE LORD OF OUR WAYS. ONLY THROUGH SEEKING HIM CAN HE DIRECT OUR PATHS.
I LOVE THE LORD SO MUCH, THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS PUT A PASSION IN ME TO SEEK THE PERSON OF GOD, MY LORD, MY SAVIOUR,MY KING.
I DON’T SEEK HIM TO KNOW ABOUT HIM, THATS RELIGION, I SEEK HIM TO KNOW HIM, TO BE INTIMATE WITH HIM.
THIS IS THE JOY OF MY SALVATION, ASKING, SEEKING AND KNOCKING. WHAT A PROMISE, WHAT A SAVIOUR.
KNOCKING IS THE LEGAL PART OF ASKING, SEEKING. THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT ASKING, SEEKING AND KNOCKING IS THAT TO DO ANY OF THE THREE STEPS, WE MUST MAKE CONTACT WITH GOD. THE WHOLE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE POINTS US TO OUR CREATOR.
AGAIN, KNOCKING IS THE LEGAL PART OF ASKING, SEEKING AND KNOCKING.
IN PRAYER, IT IS LIKE GOING BEFORE THE GREAT JUDGE OF THE UNIVERSE, HAVING LEGAL PROFF OF PETITION. BRING SCRIPTURE TO HIS REMBERANCE, QUOTING HIS WORD BEFORE HIM, THE PROMISES OF GOD, THE WORD OF THE KINGDOM. SAYING LORD THIS IS THE GROUNDS FOR MY RIGHT TO REQUEST THIS TO BE DONE FOR ME. YOU PROMISED THIS .
HE BOUND HIMSELF BY HIS WORD. WE HONOR HIM WHEN WE HONOR HIS WORD. HIS WORD IS TRUTH, THE MOMENT HE SPEAKS IT, IT BECOMES TRUTH. IT BECOMES LEGAL, IT IS LAW.
KNOCKING IS REMINDING HIM OF HIS PROMISE. SOMETIMES WE ARE IN TROUBLE AND NEED HIS HELP AND WE QUOTE HIM HIS WORD AND THE JUDGE SAYS, I SAID THIS BUT THERE ARE TWO PARTS TO THIS, MY PART AND YOUR PART, I SAID I WOULD DO THIS, BUT YOU MUST DO THIS. YOU HAVEN’T DONE YOUR PART, YOU DID THE OPPOSITE. THEN WE MUST ASK FOR THE MERCY OF THE COURT AND CORRECT OR REPENT OF OUR DISOBEDIENCE. THANK THE JUDGE FOR MERCY AND TRUTH. IF THERE WAS NO MERCY AND ONLY TRUTH WE ARE IN TROUBLE.
ALL THREE ASK, SEEK, AND KNOCK HAS A PURPOSE, EVERYTHING GOD DOES, HE DOES IT FOR MAN, TO BRING MAN TO HIM AND TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH MANKIND, HIS CREATION. HE LOVES US, DON’T REJECT HIM OR IGNORE HIM. ASK SEEK AND KNOCK YOU WILL LOVE THE JOURNEY.
THE WICKED JUDGE/THE FAITHFILLED WOMAN
LUKE 18:1-8 AND HE SPAKE A PARABLE UNTO THEM TO THIS END, THAT MEN OUGHT ALWAYS TO PRAY, AND NOT TO FAINT.
SAYING, THERE WAS IN A CITY A JUDGE, WHICH FEARED NOT GOD, NEITHER REGARDED MAN:
AND THERE WAS A WIDOW IN THAT CITY; AND SHE CAME UNTO HIM,SAYING, AVENGE ME OF MINE ADVERSARY.
AND HE WOULD NOT FOR A WHILE: BUT AFTERWARD HE SAID WITHIN HIMSELF, THOUGH I FEAR NOT GOD, NOR REGARD MAN:
YET BECAUSE THIS WIDOW TROUBLETH ME, I WILL AVENGE HER, LEST BY HER CONTINUAL COMING SHE WEARY ME.
AND THE LORD SAID, HEAR WHAT THE UNJUST JUDGE SAITH.
AND SHALL NOT GOD AVENGE HIS OWN ELECT, WHICH CRY DAY AND NIGHT UNTO HIM, THOUGH HE BEAR LONG WITH THEM?
I TELL YOU THAT HE WILL AVENGE THEM SPEEDILY. NEVERTHELESS WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMETH, SHALL HE FIND FAITH ON THE EARTH.
WE CAN SEE SEE THE CHARACTERICS OF THIS WOMAN OF FAITH, THAT REWARDS HER WITH WHAT SHE DESIRES.
SHE PRAYS WITH FAITH AND COURAGE AND DOESNT FAINT.
FAINT, GREEK WORD EKKAKEO – SHE DOESNT TURN OUT TO BE A COWARD, SHE DOESNT LOSE HER COURAGE,SHE DIDNT FAINT, WHEN SHE KEPT HEARING NO, NO, NO, NO.
THE TRAIL DIDNT STOP HER, EVERY ONE KNEW THE REPUTATION OF THIS JUDGE, BUT SHE DIDNT GROW WEARY.
SHE WAS BOLD IN HER ASKING, ASKING, ASKING AND ASKING.
SHE KNEW IN THE PROCESS, SHE WOULD FIND A YES IN ALL THOSE NO’S.
SHE KNEW THIS WAS A WICKED JUDGE, BUT HER WILL WAS STRONGER THAT HIS.
SHE MADE THE ONE THAT WAS TRYING TO WEAR HER DOWN, SUBMIT TO HER REQUEST.
NOW JESUS SAID YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS NOT LIKE THIS WICKED JUDGE, HE IS JUST AND WILL AVENGE HIS OWN ELECT, THOUGH HE BEAR LONG WITH THEM WHICH CRY DAY AND NIGHT, WHEN HE BRINGS JUSTICE TO THEIR CRY IT WILL BE SPEEDILY.
ELECT MEANS CHOSEN, A COVENANT PEOPLE, A PEOPLE WHO BY CHOICE ACCEPTED MY COVENANT. KINGDOM CHILDREN, MY PEOPLE, WITH LEGAL RIGHTS TO MY PROMISES.
IN THIS PARABLE, JESUS PICTURES A WIDOW WOMAN WHO PRESENTED A LEGAL CASE TO THIS JUDGE.
FOR JUSTICE TO BE DONE, IT MUST BE ON LEGAL TERMS OR LEGAL GROUND. COVENANT PROMISES MUST BE FOUND, AND PRESENTED TO THE JUDGE.
1 JOHN 5:14,15 AND THIS IS THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE IN HIM, THAT, IF WE ASK ANYTHING ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, HE HEARETH US.
AND WE KNOW THAT HE HEAR US, WHATSOEVER WE ASK, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE PETITIONS THAT WE DESIRED OF HIM.
HIS WILL IS HIS WORD, CONFIRMED TO US BY REVELATION, BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE LOGOS MADE RHEMA
WE MEDIATE, WE RELEASE OUR FAITH, WE BELIEVE, WE CONTINUE TO PRAY THE WORD.
THIS WOMAN KNEW HER GIVEN RIGHTS.
THIS WOMAN HAD PATIENCE.
THIS WOMAN HAD THE COURAGE TO NEVER QUIT.
THIS WOMAN KNEW THERE WAS A YES AND AMEN FOR HER.
THIS WOMAN WAS FAITH DRIVEN.
THE LORD SEARCHES THE EARTH TO FIND FAITH.
IF THOU CANST BELIEVE, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO HIM THAT BELIEVETH.
HOW TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD
Most of us know we can’t hide from God, because He sees and knows all.
He continues to deal with those who run from Him, because it’s not His
will that any should perish. He will continually, draw them to Himself, but we do
have a will of our own. He will draw us but His desire is, that we come to Him freely. This is why
He gave us a choice.
When we do come to Him, and receive Him as our personal Savior, He then, deals with
us: first, as babies, on milk; and then expects us to grow-up.
When we raise our children, we expect things out of them, but we do have to teach them. If they don’t grow up properly, we begin to have trouble with them and they can cause us much heart ache.
Well, God has guidelines and rules, similar to the rules we enforce on our children.
We offer our children many advantages. Most of the time they don’t see that until they grow-up. This is the samewith God and His children.
Some of our advantages of being God’s children are:
1-
His giving of His only begotten Son’s life for our Eternal life
2-
A personal relationship with Him where we can communicate through prayer, and see our prayers answered
3-
The precious promises in His Word
4-
The way to live a victorious life here
5-
Healing and deliverance
6-
The fruit of the Spirit
7-
We can operate in His gifts
8-
Heaven, when we leave here
9-
We will rule and reign with Him in the future Millennial Reign of Christ
And much, much more.
But, we have a part to play in this, which is the difference in having the favor of God, that
we all want, or we could receive the judgment side of God which brings with it much trouble.
We are always telling our children, when we send them out to play, “Stay out of trouble.” You got it! —– With God It’s the same. We know if we break the rules, we are in trouble.
Today we are going to learn:
How to stay out of trouble with God:
Many of us have tried to make a deal with God. We say “If You will do this, I will do that.”
This is not how God operates. We have His Word: if we will do this, He will do that. We’re always trying to ‘get the cart before the horse’ (so to speak).
WE CAN STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD BY BEING OBEDIENT: Our relationship with
God, and our anointing has much to do with our obedience to Him.
Acts 5:29,32
– Then Peter and the other Apostles answered and said, We ought to obey
God rather than men.
And we are His witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him.
John 15:10 —- If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.
And
1 John 3:22 —- And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
Matthew 7:21 —- Not everyone that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.
God Word is very clear about how to follow His will—we must trust and obey.
One of my most quoted Scriptures is found in Proverbs 3:5,6 —-
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own
understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He
shall direct thy paths.
We are instructed to trust and obey and leave the rest to Him.
He can cause circumstances around us to change. All He wants usto do, after trusting and being obedient, is to do good when it is in our power to do so; but the most important of all requirements, is to spend
time with Him each day.
SEEKING THE LORD CAN KEEP US OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD:
This is where we get direction, and are refreshed by His presence.
How can we know what He desires of us, unless we have a relationship with Him?
Seeking Him, by spending time with Him, and praising and worshipping Him, brings relationship.
It can keep us out of trouble, even though, most of our trouble, is brought-on by our decision
to ‘do it our way’.
Acts 17:27 — That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far away from every one of us.
2 Chronicles 15:2 — The Lord is with you, while ye be with Him; and if ye seek Him, He will be found of you; but if ye forsake Him, He will forsake you.
Lamentations 3:25 — The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him.
And
Ezra 8:22 — The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek Him; but His power and His wrath is against all that forsake Him.
WE CAN STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT AND NOT THE FLESH:
Romans 8:12,13 —- Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
Or we could say, we are not obligated to our carnal or old sinful nature, to do what it begs us to do.
Verse 13 — For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify
the deeds of the body (that is die to self), ye shall live.
Let’s explain it this way. If you keep on following theold sinful nature, you are lost and you will perish, but
if through the power of the Holy Spirit you crush it and it’s evil deeds, you shall live.
You might say, ”This is hard to do”. Well, — I can tell you, it can be done, with the help of Jesus Christ. Ask the Lord to help you.
Look at Titus 2:11,12 —- For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
WE CAN STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD IF WE TAKE THE WALK OF LOVE:
1-
Brotherly love
2-
Loving God
Let’s start with brotherly love:
There are probably many words that are the opposite to the word love, but the most prominent is hate.
There are others that could describe the lack of brotherly love, like despise, judgmental, unforgiveness,
and the list goes on. I ‘m sure you could think of others right-off, and you would be right, but this will do for
now.
1 John 2:10, describes those
who love their brother (talking about other believers), as abiding in the
light. — He that loveth his brother
abith in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling (or error) in him.
1 John 4: 7,8 —- Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
He that loveth not knoweth not God: for God is love.
E M Bounds, on prayer, says,
“By prayer, the ability is secured to feel the law of love, to speak according to the law of love, and to do everything in harmony with the law of love.”
We need divine aid to act brotherly.
Jesus, our perfect example, was and is a devoted friend. He gave His life willingly that we might live. He
gave us Eternal life.
We need to judge our love walk.
JUDGING OURSELVES CAN KEEP US OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD:
Corinthians 11:30,31,32 —- For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep (or are dead).
For if we judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be
condemned with the world.
To judge self, is when the believer sees self as God sees him. He will renounce or forsake self.
It is replacing the self life with the Christ life.
To judge self is to deny self. This is more than self-denial. Self-denial is denying one’s self of the gratification or enjoyment of the flesh. If we practice self-denial only, it is treating the symptom and not the cause.
But when we judge self, we are attacking the cause.
*To judge self, is to lose the self-life and find the Christ-life:
Galatians 2:20 — I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.
*To judge self, is to no longer be self-conscious, but to become Christ conscious:
Matthew 28:20 — Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:and, lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world. Amen.
*To judge self, is to no longer be self controlled, but become Christ controlled:
Acts 9:6 — And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me do?
And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told
thee what thou must do.
*To judge self, is to no longer practice self-esteem, but to esteem others better than self:
Philippians 2:3 — Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
*To judge self, is to become selfless or unselfish.
We are to search-out our lives, to see if there be any wicked way in us, and get rid of it, by askingGod to cleanse or take it out of us, so we can stay out of trouble with God and be a part of that Church without spot or wrinkle.
