AMEN: Everything Begins With A Word - Steve Parrish
AMEN, a customary statement at the end of a prayer or during preaching to express agreement with what is said and the hope that it will take place. But, AMEN is much so much more than that…
AMEN Is The Verbal Alignment To What God Says, The Expectation For A Future Yet To Exist.
CORE TRUTHS:
1. Jesus Positions Us In The Father’s Favor
In the Old Testament, God was raining down his wrath in judgement on people, cities and nations for their sin.
In the New Testament, Christ has positionally taken their judgement so the Father can engage with them as if they had never sinned.
God’s interactions come from a place of favor, even prior to salvation.
Romans 5:10 (ESV) For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
Luke 4:19 (ESV) to proclaim the year (a cycle of time) of the Lord’s favor (accept, receive or welcome).”
2. Embracing His Favor Places His Best Within Our Reach
saying yes to His favor allows us to begin to experience all that His favor offers.
Philippians 3:12 (NIV) Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
3. His Best ALWAYS Begins With A Word
creation - Genesis 1:3 (ESV) And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
redemption - Isaiah 6:8 (ESV) And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”
propitiation - Hebrews 10:5–7 (ESV) Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’ ”
healing
Psalm 107:20 (ESV) He sent out his word and healed them…
John 5:8–9 (ESV) Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.
deliverance – Mark 1:25–26 (ESV) But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.
forgiveness - Luke 5:20 (ESV) And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”
salvation - Romans 10:8–10 (ESV) …if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THE INCREDIBLE POWER CONTAINED WITHIN THE WORDS THAT YOU USE?
I’ve decided to attend that school…
I’m going to accept that job offer
I say yes to marrying you…
Let’s move there. Let’s buy that house.
Let’s have children. Let’s adopt.
Let’s be a part of this church
WHAT YOU SAY AND HOW YOU SAY IT CREATES AN EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE WHO HEARS!
Proverbs 18:20–21 (ESV) From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
1words are like seed – spoken, taken out of the bag and put into play
planted and grow – some immediate impact, but a bigger focus on time
it will produce fruit – it’s the seed principle
fruit is the byproduct of the seed. life or death – reap what is sown – past words have created your current moment.
DO YOUR WORDS POINT AT YOUR DESIRED FUTURE?
James 3:9–10 (ESV) With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
This is a reality because of the culture we live in. This is a possibility because we are oblivious? It is possible to perceive we are one way, when actually we are another.
Do A Litmus Tests: Listen to what you say and how you say it.
HOLY SPIRIT, TRANSFORM MY MOUTH!
taming the tongue is nearly impossible - James 3:6–8 (ESV) And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
but it is a reality of the Holy Spirit - Joel 2:28–29 (ESV) “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy…