Lord Teach Us to Pray: Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

Exodus 16, bread from heaven, John 6, Jesus explains that He is the actual bread that God gave from heaven

Emphasis: Praying for, believing in and receiving God’s life everyday His way

1. God’s baking bread- will we follow the recipe

2. Exodus 16:4-5

4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.”

Exodus 16:20-24 they tested God and did it their way

20 But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. 21 Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted. 22 On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers each. And when all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, 23 he said to them, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.’” 24 So they laid it aside till the morning, as Moses commanded them, and it did not stink, and there were no worms in it.

His instructions had purpose…would they trust His Word daily and specifically? Or would they do it their way, and move outside of His will?

I firmly believe when Jesus said, “Give us this day our daily bread.” that He was talking about both physical and spiritual bread.

2 reasons

1. Exodus, God promised to provide, but would His people be willing to trust Him daily and not work extra on Saturday? Test—obedience to His word—both in action and timing.

• Do it your way and it decays and turns to worms. Do it His way,  and it will last.

• 2. Matthew 4:4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God”—So powerful—

• Side note: Sabbath is an important test of faith because Jesus fulfills the Sabbath through His work on the cross—

II. I don’t like this kind-give me the other one?

John 6:25

When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?”

John 6:26

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.

What does this mean? You seek me not because you saw. They saw, they touched, they ate. They were filled physically, but couldn’t see spiritually. It’s like this…

Romans 5:3 KJV And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

Romans 5:3 ESV

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance—knowledge, wisdom, understanding

John 6:27-29

27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

John 6:32

Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.

John 6:33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

John 6:34

They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

John 6:35

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

John 6:36–piece of bread

But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.

John 6:50-56

50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he  will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”—give us our daily bread—serve Him 52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.

Once He saw they grumbled He hit it even harder— most of them left on this day, and He didn’t stop there. He turned to His disciples and asked if they were going to leave Him too. Their response was?, where would we go? You alone have the words of eternal life.

Their response wasn’t you have the best vocals, or you can really strum the harp Lord

• It wasn’t, you have the best ideas about children’s programs

• It wasn’t you have the best miracles, as a matter of fact, the miracles were all the crowd wanted and they left but it was the word of truth that Peter desired and made him stay

• But how does a person know that they are being fed words of truth if they’ve never eaten words of truth?

He certainly seems to be making a connection between food and life, but it’s obvious that He is talking about spiritual life, not physical life, so how do we allow His flesh to be our spiritual food?

The answer is the connection between the Spirit’s moving through the word of His [cross]—it comes from the Spirit of the word. :

John 6:63

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

He is the word

John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Revelation 19:13

He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.

Just like food is physical and you can see it, touch it, eat it, and it becomes nutritional life to the physical body, Jesus became flesh, and when He, through His word and faith in His word becomes our spiritual diet, we gain spiritual life.

In the Exodus passage they didn’t want to do it God’s way and at one point they didn’t even want God’s bread. In the John passage, they didn’t want the bread of life either. It seems the scriptures keep describing people that are always divided on what they want from God.

Vision: a rolling hill pasture land with green grass filled with a multitude of modern day believers. I knew in the spirit they were believers, and they were running in all different directions, not running away into the horizon. But never really getting anywhere or going anywhere. As they would run in different directions it wouldn’t be long and they would now be running around each other in circles. They were all around each other but disconnected. Different opinions, different directions, chaos and confusion. There was no peace or order. Nothing was being accomplished.

Sheep scattered

Matthew 9:36-38

36 Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then He *said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”

They need the Shepherd of their souls— His name is Jesus.

1 Peter 2:25 for ye were as sheep going astray, but ye turned back now to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.

Somebody asked me one time… Matt are you a shepherd? Technically, I’m an under shepherd. My job is to lead others to the shepherd of their soul.

People are divided and seperated by their opinions Put us back together Lord— word of prophecy

Yes Lord these bones can live

Put sinew on these bones and put them back together Lord

O Lord Put flesh on these bones

Give them a mouth Lord and let your word go forth

Let your word be declared in the earth

There is a Shaking Coming: Part 2

What remains after the shaking inherits the blessing

Hebrews 11:5 KJV

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he  pleased God.

Hebrews 11:8

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Hebrews 11:10

For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

Moses refused to enjoy the pleasures of sin just to be called Pharaoh’s son but instead suffered the reproach of Christ.

V 5 My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

The reason He chastens in love is because He wants us to receive the promises.

Hebrews 12:18-24 ESV

18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and  to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Psalms 48:1-2 KJV

1 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. 2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

Psalms 2:6

Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

Lets explain Zion: literally, it is one mountain amongst 7 in Jerusalem but spiritually, it’s so much more

This holy hill, this mountain of God, the city of the King… these are terms used to describe Jerusalem, which is where God has chosen to put His presence in the OT. This is the place that He declared war against the forces of evil as He takes this earth back one step at a time. The Lord is looking for property, a base of operations from which He mounts His attacks against evil and takes back what the devil stole. He is looking for you and me to not just show up but to worship Him because He is worthy. To pray because He moves through our prayers. To study His word, so that we can understand, put faith in and walk in the victory that this New Covenant He gave us with His blood offers. In all this, He wants us to understand that we are privileged to be able to serve Him.

He is working His way from the temporary and the physical. He is working His way towards the spiritual and eternal. This heavenly Zion that He speaks of is the city that Abraham was looking for. It’s the place that Enoch was brought to because he separated from the wickedness of the pre flood world. It’s the place that Noah was looking forward to when he built the arc in order to give the human race an opportunity to make it there.

The writer to the Hebrews is pleading with these believers not to quit. They’re being tempted to go back to their old lives of temple worship and animal sacrifices because of the persecution from their families and friends. Their choices to serve Jesus have affected their finances. The writer is saying, “Don’t give up. Without faith, it is impossible to please God!”

What about you? What old life does the enemy tempt you with?

Hebrews 12:25-29 ESV

25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom  that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

Esau didn’t worship/ serve

Hebrews 12:14-17

14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any  man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;  16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Matthew 27:3

Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

2 Corinthians 7:10

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Lord Teach Us to Pray: Your Kingdom Come Pt. 2

Introduction

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven 2: God’s Kingdom The bigger picture

Last week, we focused on God’s will being accomplished on earth as it is in heaven related to individuals. The 3 main points were:

1. True conversions

2. The cross is an ongoing work-believe what the Bible says, new identity

3. He is fashioning a body for His head-Bible reading

The emphasis of this message is Your Kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven Part 2 God’s Kingdom— The bigger picture

Sometimes we say, “I have a lot on my plate.” Let’s try to take a look at God’s plate.

1. God is engaged in spiritual warfare

2. He is looking for believers to grow past self

3. …so they can engage in the war w/ Him-active duty

We cannot see what God is doing without His help

Through Jesus, we’re offered new birth and new life, which frees from the bondage of sin. Jesus explained to Nicodemus that the new birth allowed both entry into and the ability to see the kingdom of God.

Luke 17:20-21

20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and  said, The kingdom of God cometh not with  observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Faith and commitment to God’s kingdom and God’s work on earth w/ pure motives yields an eternal reward:

Releasing the seed of the kingdom that is in you reproduces after its own kind. The reproduction of the image of God on earth was your created purpose. When you accomplish God’s will on earth, through the grace that flows from what Jesus has already accomplished for you on the cross, you receive an eternal reward

Understanding God’s business on earth requires understanding God has an enemy who rebelled before man was ever created. He wants humans to do the same— reject God and His plan.

It’s understandable that most people come to God and church, because they need Him to fix them. I know that I needed God to heal me from a life of sin. It’s an ongoing work, but I am healed, and I am being healed.

But, with time we start to grow spiritually, begin dying to self, and become more focused on God’s will rather than our own.

Luke 10:17-20

The Return of the Seventy-Two

17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the  demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

Luke 10:19-20

19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

2 Corinthians 4:1-4

The Light of the Gospel

1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

So if we asked for light, and we could see— if the veil was removed and we could see what God sees, what would we see? And once we saw it:

Ephesians 2:1-2 ESV

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

Psalms 2:1-3 ESV

1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”

Psalms 2:4-12

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 7 I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.” 10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

connection: prince of the power of the air works through the children of disobedience through the rulers of the earth who take counsel together and make a plan to break free from the Lord’s authority.

Katy Perry/ Miley Cyrus I kissed a girl and I liked it. Then they kiss. Both were raised in the church. I am trying to explain to you that this is not accidental.

This is what we are up against? What is going to fix this?

• Voting?

• Joining a political party?

• What about prayer?

Prayer by the saints will affect the nations and the world that we live in

Psalms 149:5-9 ESV

5 Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands, 7 to execute vengeance on the nations and punishments on the peoples, 8 to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron, 9 to execute on them the judgment written! This is honor for all his godly ones.

Praise the LORD!

Revelation 12:1-12

The Woman and the Dragon

1 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4  His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.

Satan Thrown Down to Earth

7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

Ephesians 6:10-13

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Daniel 10:1-5 ESV

1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. And the word was true, and it was a great conflict. And he understood the word and had understanding of the vision.

2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. 3 I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks. 4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris) 5 I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.

Daniel 10:12-13

12 Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia,

Daniel 10:14

and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.”

Daniel 10:20

Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come.

There is a Shaking Coming: Part 1

Chapter 11 a cloud of witnesses that believed God had a plan and lived their lives for Him instead of themselves.

Hebrews 12

P1: 12:1-2

1. Surrounded by a cloud of witnesses— lay aside every weight and sin/run the race w/ endurance

2. Look to Jesus, the author and finisher, despised the shame, endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him.

P3: 12:3-11

1. The Lord had to endure great hostility from sinners on this earth. He was holy and the world was fallen. They came against Him and tried to destroy Him. He endured—hypo monae means that He remained steadfast and did not waver  against the great opposition that was against Him.

3…consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds

The world was hostile against the Lord, because He was completely different than the world. I’m sorry to say that much of the church is hostile towards the Lord, because it has embraced the ways of the world.

The church is warned that the last days will be characterized by:

1. 1 Timothy 4:1-2

1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall

• depart from the faith, giving

• heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

• V2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy;

• having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

2. 2 Timothy 4:2-4

2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

• 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;

• but wanting to have their ears tickled,

• they will accumulate for themselves teachers

• in accordance to their own desires,

• 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth…

The truth of the cross crucifies the flesh, but also…

Galatians 6:14

But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

The change of the cross is both immediate and progressive. Immediately, the believer becomes a new creation. The Spirit of God is implanted into the heart and begins the transformation from the old creation in Adam to the new creation in Christ, but love of the world and preservation of self tries to prevent the metamorphosis from taking place. The cloud of witnesses that goes before us shows us that there have been countless humans that believed God’s word and chose the kingdom of God over the kingdoms of the world. The result was that the world treated them the way that it treated Jesus.

God wants to prepare our hearts, so that we will be faithful to Him.

5 …despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him

6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Hebrews 12:7-8

7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

through Jesus’ work of the cross and our response through faith, we have been made sons of God. We live in a world that increasingly hates correction and discipline, but our Father is not of this world. That is the prince of the power of the air, the Spirit that works in the children of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2).

If you truly are a child of God and desire to serve Him, be prepared, there is discipline coming. He will not allow you to stay the same.

Psalms 119:67

Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

Psalms 94:12

Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law,

People grow weary when the Lord disciplines them. They drag up, tap out, ask the coach to take them out for a couple of plays? I’m kind of tired.”

“Take you out for a couple of plays. Son, we don’t have anyone else? We need you to stay in the trenches and fight.”

Growing up, my football coach would have told me, “If you need a break, go to the locker room and turn in your uniform, because you obviously don’t understand the privilege of being on this team.”

He calls you son. He is your Father, and you are His son, made possible through the death of His only begotten Son. He has a plan, and if you’re going to really be His, there is going to be some discipline involved, and we are going to have to endure it.

Hebrews 12:6

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

Hebrews 12:7

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

You have to endure the discipline of the Lord. When He disciplines, He is treating you as a son. Good Fathers discipline their children. Listen church the conclusion of this chapter is that there is a shaking coming. In the end, God is going to shake everything and only that which remains will enter the kingdom. Therefore you must endure the chastening of the Lord. Your eternity depends upon it.

Hebrews 12:8-10 ESV

8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.

A true child of God will participate in the discipline of the Lord, or else they aren’t a true child of God. It’s a good thing if the Lord is bringing discipline into your life, because it means that you are a son/child of God. If He’s not bringing discipline, then it means that person is not really a son of God.

Hebrews 12:11

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. [exercised]

The thought of this section on discipline ends with these two truths:

1. God’s discipline is painful when it’s present. Why would God discipline? There is something that He doesn’t like about our lives or our behavior that He is dealing with. No one likes the way discipline feels. A spanking hurts, and punishment feels frustrating. The time mom punished me from the circus. I can still see myself so frustrated. I realize it now that it was a spirit of rebellion that refused to comply.

The discipline of the Lord can be much more painful than missing the circus: Financial famine, discord in relationships, trouble at work… The enemy offers answers to lower the pain…many times people people look around for someone or something else to blame instead of taking their medicine like a big boy and humbling themselves under the hand of God.

2. But discipline yields a crop: holiness

Discipline yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness

Proverbs 29:1

He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.

James 1:21-25 ESV

21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Do You Have Faith in the Word?

Let’s take a look at some scriptures that describe the nature of God’s word, because any proclamation about God’s word requires faith on the part of the hearer that His word will accomplish His will on earth and also in your life.

Rain & snow have a purpose/ God’s word has a purpose

Isaiah 55:8-11

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways,

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain cometh down,

and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth,

and maketh it bring forth and bud,

that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please,

and it shall prosper in the thing  whereto I sent it.

**God’s word will accomplish its intended results. The word prosper means “success” in the Thessalonians verse, the word “effectual” means the same

1 Thessalonians 2:13

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye  received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

**God’s word accomplishes its intended results in those that believe it for what it really is, which is the word of God.

A sinful lifestyle is not normal Christianity

1 John 3:9

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

When a true conversion takes place, the convert cannot continue to live a lifestyle of sin and the seed of God remain in him. The seed of God, which is Christ, through the presence of the Holy Spirit, convicts and contends with the believer to get his/ her heart right. Yes, the conscience can become seared and salvation can be lost, but that’s not what God wants. God wants people restored to Him. God wants you with Him. He’s not trying to get rid of you. He wants communion with you.

2 Peter 1:4

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

One of the precious promises that He has given in His word is that: through conversion, believers become partakers of the divine nature of God. You don’t become God. You share in fellowship with His nature that now lives in you through the presence of the Holy Spirit. This is the new you.

Romans 6:3

-- Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

**The word gives us revelation that we do not have to be ignorant anymore

Ephesians 4:22-23

22 That ye put off ((“Put off” Middle voice)) concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

**Ephesians 4:22-24 NASB 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

The word of God is nourishment that helps us grow spiritually and transition from a baby to maturity in Christ.

1 Peter 2:2

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Romans 6:5-7

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

God’s word says that conversion results in a miracle. The “old man” who was born in the natural in Adam dies in the new birth with Jesus, is buried with Jesus, and is resurrected with Him. Resurrection life through the Spirit, not just for a glorified body tomorrow but for victorious life today.  The old man is crucified with Jesus and the body of sin, or the power of the sinful nature is destroyed because it has no power over the new man. It had power over the old man, but that’s not who we are.

**Romans 8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Romans 4:3

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

**So people that believe what God says are credited righteousness.

Romans 5:17

For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

Adam’s disobedience resulted in sin gaining power and death reigning as a king over the human race. Jesus’ act of obedience resulted in the gift of righteousness. There was an exchange that took place on the cross. He took your guilt and gave you His righteousness. The grace of God is given to the righteous. I didn’t say that. He did.

…they which receive abundance of grace

• who gets the grace?

• The righteous.

• How did they get it?

• It was a gift.

• Everybody gets it?

• No, it’s available to everyone, but only those that believe God at His word get it.

**NASB Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin…

Romans 6:11 KJV

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Lord expects us to believe what His word says. When we do, we are blessed by Him with its benefits. This message was believing God’s word as it relates to the truth that sin has no power over the life of believer’s based upon what the written word of God says.

Conclusion:

The word of God proclaims that the old man was born naturally in Adam, and in that first birth, the old man was born under the power of sin.

The word of God proclaims that when a person is truly converted a miracle takes place. He becomes a new creation. The Spirit of God now lives in Him. The Holy Spirit has power to raise the dead, heal diseased bodies, raise the dead, perform creative miracles and for tonight’s message…destroy the power of sin.

Believers believe. When believers believe, God blesses them. He gives them a gift. The gift is righteousness. Righteous people receive grace. Grace is related to the power of the Holy Spirit. Sin cannot stand in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Lord Teach Us to Pray: Your Kingdom Come - Pt. 1

Introduction

The next section: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…”

A response to prayer: “I know what you need from me son. I hear your prayers, but I have a question for you—what about me? My people ask me to be involved in their lives but what about what I want? I want them involved with what I’m doing”

So What is He doing? What is His will?

Your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven: Part 1 The Individual

God’s will for the earth begins with the lives of individuals. In the beginning, God’s word produced everything according to its own kind. Each creation had seed and ability to reproduce after its own kind. Man was created in the image and likeness of God and was intended to reproduce after the image and likeness of God, which would have resulted in the earth being filled with the glory of God.

The fall perverted God’s plan, now the sinful nature in man reproduces a sinful image of Adam’s fallen state instead of the image and likeness of God. But God does not change His mind and as surely as He lives, His glory will fill the earth.

So we, His people pray…“Your kingdom come—Your will be done—On earth—As it is in heaven”

The plan! a created nation from a man named Abraham —Israel. Through this nation, the world was given a  king. God the Son left heaven and was born a man on earth.

And that is the Christmas story. God the Son was born of a virgin, born the King of Kings in the lowest of human circumstances—it shows us His heart. He’s come to save the least of these.

He was born to die, because we were born already dead, because the wages of sin is death. But His death bought sinners new life. They just have to be willing to be born again.

Once they are born again, the Spirit of God lives on the inside of them but this is just the beginning of new life and this is the beginning of His will on earth for the individual.

I. He wants true conversions—His will

1. Ephesians 1:13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise

2. John 1:4 KJV In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

When the life of Jesus enters, the light of God is turned on. That happens through the cross. The baby that was born with life gets born in you.

3. 2 Corinthians 4:4-6 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

II.  The cross is an ongoing work—His will

He’s Changing the heart—inside [soul]

    A. Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 8:28-29

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

   B. Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very  thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

    C. Ephesians 5:26 so that He might sanctify her,  having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

The word is a mirror that does not lie and reveals to us the condition of our hearts:

III. He is fashioning a body to place His head

2. Fellowship with the Spirit

  A. John 14:16-17 16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

The Holy Spirit is the helper

B. 2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion/ [fellowship] of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

Fellowship with the Holy Spirit comes through prayer. As we pray, we draw closer to God through the Holy Spirit. As we draw closer, He reveals His will for our lives, but also what He desires from us as His body.

1 Corinthians 6:13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

He fashions the body into the image of Jesus, because Jesus still ministers to humans through the Holy Spirit. And now He uses our bodies to minister through, because we are His body on earth.

The Holy Spirit wants to fashion and mold a body of unity, but Satan wants to separate. Satan wants to sever and dismember the body piece by piece. You are an individual body part. And he wants you gone.

Vision of hyenas while praying for businesses

Separate

Isolate

Eviscerate—eat the insides out. Satan wants to destroy your insides, your spirit man, which destroys your spiritual connection to God.

As a whole the separating, isolating and destroying the insides of individuals begins to dismember the body. The fellowship or communion of the Holy Spirit is severed. Marriages, parents against children. Children against parents, businesses, churches.

The Cross: An Instrument of Death

Romans 8:1

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

The flesh—the real enemy of every believer is his flesh. The power of Satan and his sin was defeated at the cross. The old man born of Adam died with Jesus 2,000 years ago when he accepted by faith the sacrifice of Jesus for his sin. The lingering problem is the flesh. The carnal nature. All that I want that stands in the way of what God wants for me.

Let’s try to understand this better—the Spirit

Can these bones live? 37:3 O’ Lord God you knowest. 37:3

Thus says the Lord to these bones, “I will cause breath to enter you and you shall live? 37:4

Ezekiel 36:27

And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Jeremiah 31:33-34

33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD,

I will put my law in their inward parts,

and write it in their hearts;

and will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

A believer that is led by the Spirit allows the Lord to search the heart and try the reins. The word of God, the Law of God, becomes more than ink on a page, more than do’s and don’ts, more than rights and wrongs, it breaks through selfishness and self centeredness, it drills through the mantle and reaches the core.

Spirit communicates to spirit and the word of God divides asunder between joint and marrow and soul and spirit and reveals—it discerns the motives and intents of the heart.

But in order for it to work, the believer must not be led by his flesh. An elementary school level understanding of the message of the cross produces a person that is puffed up with pride about their own knowledge of the cross especially in comparison to others and would say to be led by the Spirit means to put faith in the cross, but they never allow their own flesh to be nailed to the cross.

Sin was defeated on Jesus’ cross 2,000 years ago, but your flesh/ my must be crucified daily.

But flesh doesn’t want to die, the self wants to live. The soulish man (1 Corinthians 2:14-3:1), I’m not talking about the pneumatikos that would be the man dominated by the Spirit of God. I’m talking about when the sarkikos and the psuchikos have a Rendezvous. I’m talking about when the soulish man and all his learning and all his beautiful self has a get together with his fleshly man and convinces himself that he’s okay. After all, I don’t drink, smoke, cook meth, or sleep with people.

But what about how you look at the shortcomings of others and view yourself superior to a brother or sister because you don’t smoke or drink, but your mind is filled with lust, your heart is filled with anger that can be hidden most of the time but at the right moment, with the right button—bam! We got a flesh festival now baby!

We talk about the victory of the cross and most of us can quote this:

With His last breath He cried, “It is finished. The earth quaked, the veil was torn from top to bottom signifying that access to the holiest of holies was made available and some of us knowing that are like well, let me go in there, and we enter in and bask in His glory. His presence becomes like a warm wave of love that just wraps me up and man I just love His presence, but do we let Him in here? Do we let Him speak and have His way? When He reveals what He wants, do we yield and submit and be led by His Spirit? Or do we allow the fleshly man to speak to the soulish man and allow the mind to suppress His Spirit?

If we do, then we’re being led by the flesh in that area. And that’s why people that love God can still be full of pride and think more highly of themselves than what they ought.

And that is one aspect of the lust of the flesh. Not fornication, not a desire for drugs or alcohol or internet pornography, a lust for self to live, pride— a refusal to die!

The flesh not only wants mastery over the body for lust it also mastery over the body for law. Just like the flesh lusts to be seen and recognized, it also lusts to perform. It wants to read more Bible than everybody, sing more than everybody, do more works than everybody, heal more than everybody, give more prophetic utterances than everybody. Preach more than everybody. The flesh wants to perform and it wants recognition for its performance.

In a sense, the doing of Law demanded holiness without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Do this and live the Law demands

But gives me neither feet nor hands

A better word the gospel brings

It bids me fly and gives me wings

God never intended that the working of the Law would atone for sin and result in righteousness— righteousness was always the work of the sacrifice.

Leviticus 17:11

For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

9am, 3pm, every time an unknowing sin came aware, trimming wicks, filling oil, burning incense, changing shewbread, entering holy of holies

and then this word:

Deuteronomy 4:1

Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.

Deuteronomy 4:5-8

5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. 6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. 7 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? 8 And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?

With all this taking place, all the works and self performance, God’s favor shining down on His people, if not careful, the heart of self magnifies itself and instead of staying humbled and reminded that it’s God that does it, it exalts itself and pride has friends.

Pride surrounds itself with the other lusts of the flesh. If love is where the fruit of the Spirit flows, then pride is where the lusts of the flesh. Let me explain what I mean. God is love. His Spirit produces love and from His love flows: love joy, peace, longsuffering, patience, gentleness and kindness. Satan said I will exalt myself Leviathan is the king over all the children of pride (Job 41:34).

Pride says that I don’t have to live according to the word in this area of my life.

Conclusion:

If you’re a believer, you don’t have a sin problem. You have a flesh problem. You have a refusal to lower yourself under the hand of God. What we all need to do is find an altar somewhere. This one works well, but nowadays people avoid the altar. Make an altar in your closet. A place where you can get alone with God and let Him speak to your heart and there when He reveals what He wants gone, let Him have it, let Him put it on the cross in Jesus’ name!

The Blessing

Numbers 6:24-26t

24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:

25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

bless thee— hand of favor, the benefit of God is on his life

2 Samuel 6:11-12

11 And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household.

12 And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.

1 Chronicles 4:9-10

9 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

— he cried to God, “Oh that you would bless me indeed. Someone has to believe that God is a God of blessing in order to call upon Him to bless one’s life.

keep thee— to guard or hedge about w/ thorns.

In ancient times, a military tactic, was to set up a perimeter of hedges made out of thorns to deter the warhorses from rushing into their space. Spiritually, the Lord promises to keep His people protected. It’s a hedge of protection. The Lord said when you pray, pray this way. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…

Jude 1:24

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

The Lord, in His power, His grace, His mercy is able to keep you from falling. His plan provides everything you need for life and godliness. Your trust in the work of the Lord has purchased grace for power and victory. Your diligence to learn God’s word and willingness to partner with/ Him in obedience to His word releases grace for power over the plans of the enemy.

But unwillingness to walk in obedience to God’s word is rebellion, which is the spirit of witchcraft. This puts us in opposition towards God and His word.

his face shine upon thee— Its a beautiful thing when the light of God shines upon a human life.

Exodus 14:20

And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them [Egypt], but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

God’s light for His people is darkness for the world.

1 Peter 2:9

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

2 Peter 1:19

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

If you look a couple verses before this, it speaks of the mount of transfiguration. God’s glory was revealed through Jesus, which reveled to Peter, James and John, the Father’s pleasure with Jesus. If we will follow the Lord closely and walk in the Spirit, according to His word, then His face will also shine upon us.

One last thing that I will say about the glory and splendor of God’s face shining upon His people is the fact that His light provides guidance in darkness. It’s imperative that the people of God learn to distinguish the difference between the voice of God and their own voice. That’s the difference between the soul and the Spirit:

1. I want a wife. The Bible says that a man that finds a wife finds a good thing, so I will find me a wife….

2. The Bible says that He prospers His people, so I will embark upon my prosperity journey….

The problem that we all run into is that we don’t stay in the place where we remain under the shining of His face. We start to map out for ourselves, our own plans. We seek the wife and the prosperity our own way and expect God to bless it after the fact.

gracious unto thee— kindness, favor and mercy. One of the words used is actually [pity]. He is merciful towards us and doesn’t give us what we deserve.

Matthew 9:10-13

10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? 12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Mercy— good will towards the afflicted. What an act of mercy when the heavens opened and the angels sang that night:

Luke 2:14

Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace,

good will toward men.

lift up his countenance upon thee— the countenance is the face. God promises His people that He will meet with them. One thought that comes to mind was the shewbread in the OT the shewbread was known also as face bread. It described the fact that God’s presence was with them, that He wanted to commune w/ them. He desires communion w/ His people.

Ruth

…give thee peace

Philippians 4:6-7

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The Soldier

2 Timothy 2:1-6

1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 Suffer hardship with me, as a  good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.

stratologeō

“No soldier” in active service/KJV warreth

strato—1. encamped); camp-likeness, i.e. an army 2. an army, band of soldiers 3. the hosts of heaven/ troops of angels

logeō—ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.

An active believer is one that engages the battle. He is like a soldier that is encamped and he speaks forth: speaking forth can entail both:

1. Proclaiming truth

2. Prayer/intercession

Farmer’s share

His share: whether money or food, the farmer’s share drives him to plow, to sow, to harvest…

The farmer’s driven to plow. The athlete’s desire for the prize drives him to compete according to the rules.

And the soldier that desires to please his commanding officer is one who engages the spiritual battle and does not get intertwined with common affairs.

2 Timothy 2:14-17

An Unashamed Workman

14 Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,

Katastrophe- (KJV subverting) demolition, overthrow, destruction-- as in cities.

A while back the Lord gave me a vision of buildings in a city that had been bombarded by the prayers of the saints. The area was war torn and had been stricken by demolition. The prayers of the saints caused the catastrophe to the kingdom of darkness. So if prayers bombard the kingdom of heaven and useless talk results in catastrophe, what are all the buildings and defenses of the kingdom of God looking like in the spirit when we speak curses instead of blessings on others?

There is something interesting happening in this text:

1. Paul warns against useless words. There is a whole category of conversation that we could include in this. We will just trust that as we move closer to the Lord through prayer and study of His word, that our renewed mind will be more sensitive towards useless talk will become more clear to you and that as you engage in it, you will be convicted and then from there you can be aware.

2. V15 Divide-- handle aright, to teach the truth directly and correctly

My job is to make a straight cut and present it that way to you. Your job is to rightly make the cut for yourself. You are not to imagine in your mind: Pastor Matt taught me right, I’m going to be okay. We’re talking about your eternal reward and your eternal soul. You will have to decide whether you’re going to be a soldier or a civilian. A soldier wars, they are in the battle, they divide the word, and they avoid useless, worldly talk and actions that will result in catastrophe.

3. V 16 avoid empty and worldly chatter it spreads like gangrene. I know that we all know what gangrene is, but let me say it out loud, so we can hear what it sounds like. Gangrene is death that has occurred to a particular body part. Gangrene must be stopped by amputation or else it will spread to the rest of the body and cause death to the whole.

2 Timothy 2:19-21

19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from

wickedness.”

20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

The believer who desires to serve the Lord Biblically has some specific responsibilities according to this chapter.

1. Engage spiritual warfare

2. Avoid wrong words

3. A spiritual soldier engages w/ words: prayer and proclamation: he speaks life not death

4. He abstains from wickedness

5. He cleanses himself, making himself a vessel of honor (sanctified)

The main point surrounds the effectiveness of the warrior. If his vessel is sanctified, he is ready for the master’s use. If he is not sanctified and cleansed, then he is a vessel of dishonor.

Let’s be clear in that I do understand that there is both positional and progressive sanctification. But when do we start moving forward in the truth? How long should we wait until we stop addictions? How long should it take before we stop vain babbling or foolish talk? How long until we align our lives with his truth. He is gracious and merciful. How long do we take advantage of his grace and mercy pretending that he’s okay with disobedience when we know from his word that he’s not?

1 Peter 2:4-5

As Living Stones

4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Revelation 5:10

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Which Art in Heaven

Matthew 6:9-13 KJV

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.

… Our Father

…which art in heaven

1. He is exalted, but

2. He’s not far away

He is in the exalted place

Psalms 57:5

Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.

He resides in the heavenly realm. He is holy. He is powerful, all knowing, and He is seated on the heavenly throne!

Sometimes when we view life from earth, we become discouraged because our situations seem bigger than God. Prayer helps me see through the eyes of God. Prayer reminds me that my God is bigger. The bills get bigger, the checks might seem smaller. The kids are acting crazy. The body feels sick. The husband or wife is mean. These earthly trials begin to take a toll on the human heart. The heart becomes weighted down. The cares of the world begin to wrap around and choke the hope of God’s word:

But

Philippians 4:19

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

I just declared God’s word to you a word of faith, truth hope! It should have sounded right, felt right, rattled through you weary bones, if their weary, but it’s got to become your word. Prayer will do that for you! Prayer will make God’s word your word for your life!

We say to ourselves that we’re okay, but the weight of the world makes us mechanical, almost robotic. We still go to church, we still read the word, but we’re disconnected from His life.

• Prayer will reconnect us to the heart of God.

• Prayer will make our faith larger than the devils lies

• Prayer provides an opportunity for intimacy. We speak to Him. He speaks to us. He encourages our Spirit to believe Him for what is impossible in the natural. Prayer increases faith!

Satan’s power and ability to affect our lives entered our earthly realm when he deceived Adam and Eve into listening to him and disobeying God. And that is his plan for us also. If he can’t get us to disobey God now, he will work on others around us.

His strategies influence people around us, through them, he inserts chaos and confusion into our lives. He releases lies of hopelessness and despair into our atmosphere. He draws our focus on the problems—But when I read God’s truth, I learn— Satan is cast down:

Luke 10:18-19

18 And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.

And when I pray, it stimulates my faith to believe what I read. No, you’re a liar Satan. You’re cast down. I take authority over you—liar!

The broken Law gives Satan legal right, and the Law gives strength to sin (1 Corinthians 15: 56) Jesus’ sacrifice took away the power of the enemy by taking away the power of the Law:

Colossians 2:14-15

14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Jesus defeated the powers of darkness. He stripped them of their ability to have power over this earthly realm (Make people get up and show them as the earthly realm). He has given His power and authority to us (believers) to trample over the powers of the enemy, so that we can accomplish the work of God on earth. If Satan can keep us burdened, we will be preoccupied with earthly cares and not engaging the spiritual battle, but Jesus said:

Matthew 11:28-30

28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Satan says: “That won’t work!” But in prayer, I hear God’s voice remind us of His word, “Satan is a liar and the father of lies. If you will trust me my child, I will get you through this trial.”

Peter said:

1 Peter 5:7-9 NASB

7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

“That won’t work, you need medicine for this problem.”

8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

Satan does not have authority over your life. He cannot steal from you, kill you or destroy you. He cannot have his way with you because Jesus defeated him at the cross, and prayer will will give you strength to believe God’s truth and reject the enemies lies.

He’s exalted but he’s not far away:

Psalms 46:10-11 KJV

10 Be still, and know that I am God:

I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

God’s people believe He is w/ them. He lived w/ Jacob (Israel) and He lives in Christian.

Matthew 1:23 NASB

“BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.”

Ephesians 2:5-6 NASB

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

He’s not far away from us, and we’re not far away from Him. The word of God says that we are in Him, and He is in us. We are spiritually connected to God through the cross. But intimacy is another level of relationship and requires time spent in the presence of another— the cross opens the door to God’s presence, and prayer says, “I’m walking in.”

I’ve noticed that the more time I spend in the heavenly presence, the less I’m bothered by earthly problems, and it becomes harder for Satan to fluster my feathers with carnal cares.

We have to be careful that we don’t allow earthly cares to distract us from what is important to God. God concerns Himself with spiritual matters. Yes, the spiritual affects the physical. But the danger is that we can become so consumed with earthly cares that we lose our focus on the spiritual.

1 Corinthians 6:20

For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

1 Corinthians 3:16

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

John 4:23

But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father  seeks to be His worshipers.

How will we worship Him in spirit and truth if we don’t seek the truth in his scriptures and connect spirit to spirit through prayer?

God is looking for people to connect w/ him Spirit to spirit.

God made a way to not be far away. Jesus paid the debt of sin so that His Spirit could live in our bodies.

Prayer will make this truth a reality to our hearts. Prayer produces intimacy and intimacy with God results in a desire for consecration and separation from the world. Jesus already died so that we can have victory, but the further we stay away from the presence of God and the closer we remain to the world, the less desire we have to be consecrated and separated and the more we become deceived that compromise and complacency are okay.

James 4:8

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

The closer you get to God. the more convicted you will be about ungodly behavior. The more sensitive we are to his presence, the more aware we are when we fail and the quicker we repent.

In these vessels He brings His presence from  heaven to earth and through us He changes the lives of others, then we have a heavenly purpose and when we gather here, these buildings now have a heavenly purpose:

Matthew 21:13

And He *said to them, “It is written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER’; but you are making it a ROBBERS’ DEN.”

The world is lost and hurting. The closer we draw to God, the closer he draws to us and the more of Him we have to offer the hurting world.

In this Acts passage, we learn from Paul that the world is blindly searching for God, but He’s not far away:

Acts 17:22-27

22 So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. 23 For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;

He is one call away. The reason that most of you are here this morning is because this truth has settled in your heart. He was right there. There was a time you didn’t know it, but then someone told you and you called on Him and then He was there. He was in you. You could feel Him. Did you hear what I said: “You called on Him, and His presence entered you. Did you hear what Paul said, “There is a whole world of people out there that are like we were, wandering around, feeling around, groping and looking for some new thing to feel our hearts and make us happy and the whole time, He’s right there. He’s not far away and prayer will make that real enough in your heart to where you want to tell someone about it.

“Well, I already do tell people about it.” Well then hallelujah prayer will bring an anointing that will release the anointing of the Holy Spirit into the words that you say for the Lord! Don’t delay start to pray!