Unbelievable Blessings, Undeniable Faith, Unshakeable Passion

Unbelievable Blessings, Undeniable Faith, Unshakeable Passion

Earlier:

• Acts 3 Peter and John are used to heal the beggar
• Acts 4 They are held in custody; released with constraints; prayed for boldness (v. 29, 31); Unity resulted (v. 32)
• Acts 5 Power is demonstrated in the church; Apostles arrested and put in common prison & freed (v. 19); v. 23 “Prisoners are gone with doors still closed & guards still watching...”; brought to council again (v. 28); v. 40 beat the Apostles...and given a gag order, but they kept preaching (42) in the temple and houses.
• Acts 6 Division shows up
• Acts 7 Stephen speaks up
• Acts 8 Saul is raging as a result to the revival that’s going on
• Acts 9 Saul is converted
• Acts 10 Gentiles are saved and visited
• Acts 11 Peter defends his ministry to outsiders. Church exploded with evangelism
• Acts 12 Herod steps in the slow things down

Acts 12:1-18 

➢King Herod killed James the brother John. James and John along with the Peter were part of Jesus inner Circle

➢It was during a festival, so Peter had Peter put in jail for seven days.

➢The king thought that this would please the people.

God tampered with the evidence

➢Note how much security became put on Peter.

➢What do you think that is?

➢Word got out about Jesus’s escape. 

➢The enemy recognizes Jesus in you! That’s why there’s such a lockdown on you. The enemy doesn’t want you to do what Jesus did… Escape. 

➢Don’t become discouraged when there’s so much in your way. Our enemy knows what Jesus in you is capable of.

➢And besides. This was not Peter’s first prison break! Peter had been freed before!! See the book of Acts chapter 5 

➢The church prayed fervently and with out stopping.

Acts 12:6-10

On the night before Peter was to be taken for trial and execution, 

Every exit from the building was guarded by armed men. 

In the middle of the night, an angel came to deliver Peter. First, the angel made the soldiers unconscious* (Italy trip). Then he wakened the apostle. Notice that Peter was sleeping like a baby. His ability to find rest on the night before he was scheduled to die shows that he had become a man of great courage and faith.

Peter was so deep in sleep that the angel could not waken him gently. 

The chains fell off, as if unlocked by invisible hands.

Recognizing that Peter's mind was still befogged, the angel told him everything he needed to do. He needed to gird up his robe—

The angel instructed him to follow, and Peter obeyed. All this time, Peter was not fully awake. He thought he was seeing a vision.

Peter to a spot about a block away from the prison gate and suddenly vanished * ( angels don’t do what we can for ourselves and our God)

Rhoda

Acts 12:11-17

Then Peter's mind cleared, and he fully realized what happened. With a heart thrilled to be free and safe, Peter praised God for taking him out of the hands of his enemies.

But now he had a problem. Where should he go? Once his escape was detected, the authorities would start searching for him. He decided that first he should inform the church of his deliverance. He did not want their anxiety to continue any longer than necessary. He therefore set out for the house of John Mark, where a large group of believers was having a prayer meeting.

John Mark was the same Mark who later wrote the Gospel. Many scholars believe that his house held the upper room where the believers received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and where Jesus shared the Last Supper with His disciples.

. They accused her of being crazy.

*Peter give them instructions to give to James. James will become the new leader of the church. This message and power him to take his position. 

Challenges:

• Let’s become a praying church & pray for leaders and God’s vision for the ministry to be carried out
• Obey quickly!
• Know what to do when angels disappear
• Don’t let anyone talk you out of your miracle

Blind Bart Sees (You'd Better Ask Somebody!) Luke 18

Luke 18: 35-43 Bart Sees: You'd Better Ask Somebody!

 *‘This chapter is really about praying without ceasing!

Story #1 Determined widow who wouldn’t not take no for an answer! (Ultimately...don’t we really want to know that Jesus hears us rather than an uncaring God/genie granting  greedy wishes?)

Story #2  Humble servant was honest in his prayer & Jesus respects him.

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35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a *blind man was sitting by the roadside *begging. 

36 When he *heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 

37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”

➣ Do you even know when a shift has occurred?

➣ When Bart discovered why it was noisy (Jesus) ...he knew what to do

➣ Jesus need to be the talk of the town here in Madison!

38 He called out, “Jesus, *Son of David, have mercy on me!”

➣ He was prepared and a bit knowledgeable! (This is pre-braille) 

➣ Your cry out to prove that you know about Who He really is!

39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the *more, “*Son of David, have mercy on me!”

➣ Opposition! So?!!! What does this limit you? (Many stop right here!)

➣ You can’t let opposition outtalk your praise!

➣Bart pressed in and called Jesus by an insider’s term

40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

➣ The ones who served Jesus...know served Bart! “Bring him here!!)

42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your *faith has healed you.” 

➣ Faith?! Shown by his tenacious prayer...which yielded fruit & praise

➣ Bart left: work station, lot in life & expectations of him & followed.

43 Immediately he received his sight and *followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

➣ Bart became apart of the entourage that followed Jesus into Jericho...and was likely there when Jesus talked with Zacchaeus

Challenge: 

➣ Recognize that something is shifting...and find out what and where it is!

Next Steps:

➣ Acquaint yourself with stories about Jesus by reading your bible

➣ Learn about prayer (Fourth Watch, Prayer Partners, Prayer Clinics)

➣ Find a fellow believer to prayer together with you this week

Remember: It was Jesus who taught us to pray faithfully & relentlessly!

Business as Usual (Acts of Service Which Grow Out of Acts of Worship)

Message Title: Business as Usual (Acts of Service Which Grow Out of Acts of Worship)

Series Title: Words of Life 

Message Text:  St. John 6:43-56 & 60-67 (Sunday, July 13, 2014)

Four things I was taught as a new believer:

1. God is real
2. God is concerned with my life and affairs. God is rooting out of me & rooting for me.
3. Any intimate interaction with God brought about lasting transformation
4. Christianity would likely take my life (As a kid, I expected to die via martyrdom)

✺ I believe that the early church learned similar things about faith in Christ. We need to get back to the true business of Christ’s Church: Transformation

********************************

➣What was the “usual” business of the Church? Bringing healing, help and hope to destitute individuals, societies and systems as a demonstration of God’s power & love which grows out of worship & unity which = Communion with God.

*Message: God infiltrated the world for a distinctly strategic purpose

→God became human, poor, despised, hunted, belittled, accused, denied

*Journey: God infiltrated this world in order to find those who would dissent from the dark status quo of society and reveal the modus operandi of God.

→The work of God is always done in part, in community

*Landing: The dissenters assent when they are not intimately connected to the heart and mind of God.

→We’ve got to wake up and pay attention. This life isn’t the reward. This is work.

*Knowing: Heaven is riding on you. Better stated, Heaven is excited about the prospect of the Kingdom...or authoritative rule of God...through you.

→The salvation we have received is an invitation to suit up and join the action

→Business as usual for the people of God was fully displaying the Grace of God

Response: Determine what true communion with God will cost you & pay it. Jesus is knocking...(Jesus Christ has sent you a friend request)...and seeking communion.

Christ Our Saviour!

Our Savior came thru a lineage of shady characters so that He would be qualified to save shady characters! (Matt 1) 

➣God proves that God is Down!

✩Other deities didn’t claim to have: 1. created the worlds; 2 become human; 3. become belittled; 4. become judged & sacrificed; 5. and have overcome all of this because of the Father’s pleasure.

✩Other deities didn’t openly demonstrate their checkered pedigree

The Components of a Savior

Definition: One who saves or rescues others from danger, destruction, harm, failure

• Rescues
• Delivers
• Preserves

*Ernie Rayner Story (1. His vulnerability brought me stability 2. Implications of Stability. 3. He trusted that I still needed advice...but never bailing our again!!)

Qualities:

• Abilities: 1. Subdue enemies and  2. Rescue victims (remove from danger) & 3. Place them in a safe nurturing environment where they won’t slip back into danger. [This removal from danger and placement in a “safe-house” where adjustments are made to eliminate the threat of future abductions...is called deliverance!]

Theological Qualities and Framework

➣A savior’s work is hands on. Not remote. He became one of us. (Matt 1)

➣A savior must have super powers in order to *defeat our enemy

• *Jesus: Defeated the enemy by loving us, taking on our brokenness and overcoming it; offering God a offering of peace on our behalf...which was accepted by the Father at the resurrection of Christ. (Approval Light @ register)
• The enemy wasn’t appeased. He was disgusted!
• Jesus removed us from the unsafe place of sin (Salvation: Where sin is forgotten)
• Jesus took us to a safe-place where we’d be trained to never slip into the place of Danger again. [Care/Instruction of Holy Spirit & Christian community]

Psalm 106:21

They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;

Isaiah 19:20

And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the Lord because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.

Isaiah 43:11

I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.

Luke 2:11

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

John 4:42

And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

1 Timothy 4:10

For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

2 Timothy 1:9-11New International Version (NIV)

9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed(H) a herald and an apostle and a teacher.

➣He’s is NOT just a Savior! He wants to be YOUR Savior!! (Challenge)

Supporting Scripture for Message: Christ Our Saviour

Christ Our Savior!

2 Samuel 22:3

The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

2 Kings 13:5

(And the Lord gave Israel a saviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians: and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents, as beforetime.

Psalm 106:21

They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;

Isaiah 19:20

And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the Lord because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.

Isaiah 43:3

For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.

Isaiah 43:11

I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.

Isaiah 45:21

Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

Isaiah 49:26

And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

Luke 2:11

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

John 4:42

And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

Acts 5:31

Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Acts 13:23

Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

Ephesians 5:23

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Philippians 3:20

For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

1 Timothy 1:1

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

1 Timothy 2:3

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

1 Timothy 4:10

For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

2 Timothy 1:10

But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Titus 1:3

But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

Sloppy Agappe: God Knows My Heart....

June 22: Sloppy Agape (God knows my heart…But…)

"But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!' Luke 13.27

➤Amazing grace! God’s grace does more that provide a cosmetic covering for hurtful actions...it provides the cleaning, scrubbing and restorative work in our hearts, memories and souls. Grace isn’t merely a bandaid...it’s a scalpel...it’s anesthesia...it’s stitches...it’s therapy...it’s restoration. It’s a chance for wholeness.

✔The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. Gen 6.5

✔13 King Rehoboam established himself firmly in Jerusalem and continued as king… 14 He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord. 2 Chron 12.13-14

But Jesus…knowing their hearts…

✔Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? (Matt 9.4)

✔Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? (Luke 5.22)

✔But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? (Matt 22.18)

➤Jesus doesn’t merely want to be told to search our hearts…at what point do we begin to seek and know His heart??

Look at the story of Malachi Chapter One and sloppy offerings

• When times were frustrating, people blamed God
• Accusation was that they disrespected God’s name by the offerings they brought
• The sloppy offering showed what they thought about God…a determined how God saw them.
• Try offering this to your governors and others whose favor your desire!

➤Our limited and often-skewed worldview keeps us from understanding where we fit into God’s plan.

• Rest and reward are coming to those who labored with and for God
• We are the new temple and God wants people to experience Him without distraction
• Grace = the nature of God pressing into our worlds, making us acceptable…not contemptible to God.
• We’ve been chosen…not forced…to serve God. This implies choice.
• When we chose God… and God’s ways…Grace opens new levels of favor, power, encouragement, affirmation, alleviation, faith, endurance, hope and joy. All of which aid us in standing for and with our Great God and Sovereign king.

✔Don’t let me want to do evil or waste my time doing wrong with wicked people. Don’t let me even taste the good things they offer. Psalm 141.4

Closing Points:

✺ A pure heart is a beautiful thing to God..it’s the honorable way of loving God.

• A yielded heart is how a heart becomes pure. (Pure<> flawless. Purity rejects impurity)
• The heart is central because it is said to be the seat of our will.
• The heart is where Christ is said to reside in us via the Holy Spirit
• David doesn’t compare his heart to others…or scrutinizes it himself…he asks God to look at it and make a decision on its status and necessary changes

Next Steps

• Decide if God is your good-luck charm or the Captain of your soul
• Pray Psalm 139.23 today and each day this week.
• Ask God to teach you what it really means to love the Lord with all your heart.

Psalm 139:23 

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; (NKJV)

Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me;

Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life. (MSG)

23 Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! Psalm 139.23 (AMP)

Prayer Isn't Magic (Superstitions Series)

Prayer isn’t Magic~ (Series: Superstitions)

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14.13-14

• Prayer changes things...
• Pray without ceasing...
• Talk with the man upstairs...
• She’s a prayer warrior...

Prayer isn’t a wish book.

Prayer isn’t magic...our magic.

Prayer isn’t about manipulation

Prayer isn’t about having our own way

➤Today I want to teach about pray NOT being a formula without being formulaic. 

God has an agenda...

Earth is where it is played out...

Heaven is where it is strategized...

The Heart of God is where it originates...

The Hearts of God’s people is where it is staged...

The Will of God is where it is furnished...

The secret places of prayer is where it is hardwired...

The lives of the extraordinarily normal followers of Jesus become the canvas where the unseen splendor of Glory is seen in vivid, glistening colors... 

➤Pray is like the Tenney locks. It is meant to lift us to a place of compatibility

➤”In The Name Of Jesus” isn’t the spiritual version of “Abracadabra”

➤Background Dan 10

Prayer is about positioning (Praying against things that jeopardize this)

Prayer is about submitting (Being honest with our struggles & seeking aid)

Prayer is about listening (Who simple blabs when they have an audience with God)

Prayer is about co-laboring (Getting instructions about the next move)

Prayer is about releasing (Hearing/seeing what the Father says and praying that)

Prayer is about aligning (Asking for adjustments of attitudes, values, priorities, etc.)

Prayer is about disciplining ourselves spiritually (What do I need to do today?)

➤Power prayers that shaped history

• “I don’t know what the action plan is, but I know who does and I’m watching.” (Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20.12)

• “Show me how to properly lead your people into your will so that your glory is revealed and your cause...not mine is promoted.” (Solomon, the Richest, Wise man in Scripture man in 1 Kings 3)

• “Lord, I believe, but help my unbelief!” (Ruler who requested a healing from Jesus for his son in Mark 9.24)

• “I prefer plan B and ask you to bless that plan....however, we both know that what I should have prayer was to let you will be done....then the angel of the Lord appeared.” ~Jesus in Gethsemane in Matt 26 & Luke 22 

Ultimately

Prayer is Communing with God...

10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 1 Sam 3.10

11 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” Luke 11.1

Next Steps: 1. Ask Jesus to teach you how to pray. 2. Get with people who do. 3. Pray and then expect. 4. Buckle up.

➤I pray that you’d pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5.17). This implies tenacity, discipline & connectedness. Pray until you get what God wants!