Amen, a customary statement at the end of a prayer or during preaching to express our agreement with what is said and the hope that it will take place. But, AMEN is so much more than just a statement.

• AMEN is an attitude, a posture, a way of life.

• AMEN is a response that unlocks the abundance of Heaven.

• AMEN is our resounding YES to all that God says. It is also a resounding YES from God to his children.

AMEN is our emphatic agreement with all that God has said that He will do.

AMEN is never a negotiation and we have to be on constant guard against letting it become so because the Enemy is not only a liar, but he is also a manipulative negotiator. He The exodus of the Israelites from Egypt gives us a great example of how this process will and should play out. When you enter into spiritual warfare for your life, your health, your job, your family, your church, fill in the blank, you can expect resistance. To begin, you need to understand who your are in Christ and hold your ground.

AMEN requires us to be bold.

God spoke to Moses. Moses knew that God had chosen him to liberate the Israelites from Egypt and lead them out into freedom. Pharaoh is the embodiment of the Enemy in our lives. He held all dominion over the Israelites and they were his slaves. He was the most powerful man in the world at this point in time. So, what would you expect him to do when an old shepherd shows up one day and tells him to let God’s people go. Not too surprisingly, he says no. Not just no, but an emphatic no!

• Exodus 5:2 But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and besides, I will not let Israel go.”

The enemy’s first response is always no. If his mission to steal, kill, and destroy your life, then you can bet that he’s not just going to roll-over and walk away the first time you engage him. So, Moses tells him again to let God’s people go and this time, he doesn’t just say no. He also doubles their work! We have all experienced how, when we begin to push forward for the things that God has for us, the enemy pushes back and things get harder.

• Your sickness develops a new symptom.

• You get into another fight with your spouse.

• You have a new mechanical failure.

Recognize that this is the first stage of the fight you have entered into. The enemy will attempt a “shock and awe” approach to quickly overwhelm your enthusiasm and faith. The enemy isn’t taking you seriously.

AMEN requires us to encourage ourselves.

When you are believing for God’s deliverance in your life and aligning yourself with all Heaven has promised, you can’t tuck tail and run when you hear “no” from your circumstances. We push forward in the battle, continually declaring what the Word of God says over our lives. Be prepared because, in this phase, the enemy will change tactics and it is critical that you continue to encourage yourself with God’s Word in His Spirit.

We can see in the scripture that as God began to rain down plagues upon Egypt for not releasing his people that Pharoah continues to harden his heart against God. But he also starts to do something interesting. He starts to waffle on releasing the Israelites. Three different times Pharoah agrees to let them go only to reverse course and deny their release as soon as the current plague is past.

• Exodus 8:8 & 15 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Entreat the Lord that He remove the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the Lord.”... But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the Lord had said.

• Exodus 8:28 & 32 Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. Make supplication for me.”... But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go.

• Exodus 9:27-28 & 34-35 Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time; the Lord is the righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones. Make supplication to the Lord, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail; and I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.”... But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his servants. Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not let the sons of Israel go, just as the Lord had spoken through Moses.

You will notice that in each of these circumstances, Pharaoh agreed to let them go because he was suffering. He wanted relief. As soon as he got it, he rescinded the release. I know that we have all experienced this. You find yourself in the middle of a spiritual battle for God’s goodness in you life or someone elses and you get signs that you have won the battle, only to find out that it wasn’t the case. I don’t know about you, but when I experience this, it has the tendency to ramp up my anxiety and sense of hopelessness but instead I need to get excited because the enemy is suffering from the blows that I am raining down upon him! He has begun to shift tactics because he has to do something! He knows he can’t refuse the Word of the Living God! So, don’t get discouraged in this stage of the fight!

Sometimes, this will happen multiple times and it can drive us to despair if we look at it incorrectly. This is not the enemy toying with a powerless fighter. This is the enemy shifting to try and find a toehold because his defeat is imminent.

AMEN requires us to be non-negotiable.

This may be the hardest phase of the battle. The negotiation stage. When the enemy begins to lose ground, he will begin to offer you an imitation blessing, less than the full Amen.

Once again, we look to Egypt. When the plague of locusts and the plague of darkness descend on Egypt, Pharoah attempts to negotiate a compromise. After the locusts, he agrees to let the men only leave to worship God. Thankfully, Moses refuses. After darkness, he allows all the people but not the livestock and animals. Again, Moses refuses.

We see this in our own lives when, for example, we are battling a sickness and praying for healing, but the battle has been long and we are tired. Suddenly, we have a breakthrough and see some actual progress. Unfortunately, many times, we accept this partial relief as what Heaven has for us and we simply stop fighting. I want to encourage you today to keep fighting. These negotiations come right before the final curse when Pharaoh breaks and the Israelites are freed! Don’t settle for the partial win because you are about to win it all! Cherish the ground that you have taken and praise God for it but don’t stop fighting for the full and complete deliverance of the Lord. Because we don’t serve a God of partial blessings.

Ours is a God that leaves the 99 to rescue the one. He isn’t satisfied with some. He wants all and so should we. We should settle for nothing less than the whole, complete deliverance of the Lord!

Moses said to let the people go. - Pharaoh said “no”

Moses asked again. - “No”

Changed a staff to a serpent. - “No”

Turned the Nile to blood. - “No”

Plague of frogs. - “Maybe. Mmmm, No!”

Plague of gnats. - “No”

Plague of flies. - “Maybe. Mmmm, No!”

Pestilience. - “No.”

Boils - “No”

Hail - “No”

Locusts - Okay, maybe some of you!

Darkness - Okay, but not the animals!

Death - GET OUT!

Go through the scripture. We get fixated on the 10 plagues but you will notice the Moses actual demands the release of Israel 12 times! 12 demands and 12 tribes! This is no coincidence! God demanded the release one time for each tribe! He wasn’t going to be satisfied with some of his people, He wanted all!

• Mark 8:22-25 And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Jesus and implored Him to touch him. Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.” Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly.

• Genesis 15:13-14 God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions.

When you get to the end and your almost there, just keep your eyes on Jesus because your deliverance is coming! If you’ve been discouraged or settled then stand to your feet and lets press into him.

AMEN, a customary statement at the end of a prayer or during preaching to express agreement with what is said. But, AMEN is much so much more than that…

AMEN Is:

• My Declaration: I Agree With What God Says.

• My Expectation: I Anticipate His Word Will Come To Pass.

• My Participation: I Will Do My Part So He Can Do His.

Ezekiel 37:1,4-7 (ESV) The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 37:7 (ESV) So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied…

Mountains are the highest places on earth. In the Bible, they are symbolic of strength, accomplishment and victory. They are iconic places where God met with man, as was the case for Moses on Mt. Sanai or Elijah on Mount Carmel. Mount Zion is symbolic of God’s dwelling place with His chosen people, Israel, and specifically the location of the temple in Jerusalem.

• Psalm 48:1–3 (ESV) Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress.

One of the iconic New Testament mountains was the Mount of Transfiguration

• Matthew 17:1–3 (ESV) And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.

Valleys are the low places on earth. In the Bible, they are symbolic of waiting, difficulty, battle and even death. These are times and places where God is often seen as absent.

• Psalm 23:4 (ESV) Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me

One of the most iconic Bible Valleys was The Valley of Hinnom:

• During the reign of King Ahaz - (2 Chronicles 28, 33) the valley was used by Baal worshipers to offer their children in their furnaces to their god Molech.

• During the time of Jeremiah - (Jeremiah 7, 19) referred to the valley as "The Valley of Slaughter."

• During reign of King Josiah - (2 Kings 23:10) proclaimed "defiled" and no one was allowed to use it for any purpose.

• During ministry of Jesus - valley evolved into a garbage dump. Trash was burned around the clock, as well as the bodies of dead animals, criminal corpses. It was a well-known hangout for lepers and the sick. There was continual smoke, stench, maggots and flies. At night, dogs could be heard fighting over the trash. Eleven out of twelve times that Jesus talked about HELL, He used the Greek word "GAHENNA." "GAHENNA" comes from the Old Testament word, "HINNOM" which was a valley south of Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 37:1–2 (ESV) The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry.

• hand of the Lord was on Him

• brought into the middle of a valley

• by the Spirit of the Lord

• not just a valley, it was full of bones, many bones! Dry bones!

Ezekiel 37:3 (ESV) And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

• you can end up in a Valley filled with many dry bones as a result of:

  • life happens

  • the enemies attack

  • your own actions – ignorance, stupidity, foolish, sin, rebellion

  • the leading of the Holy Spirit

• However you got there, the question now is “Can these bones live?”

• The answer: YES

Ezekiel 37:4 (ESV) Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.

• At this moment we often make several mistakes with our lips

  • murmur, grumble

    • Exodus 15:23–24 (ESV) When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah. And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?”

    • Exodus 16:8 (ESV) And Moses said… Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord.”

  • become victims: place blame, unforgiving, bitter, excuses, fear-filled verbiage, negative

  • wear it as your identity: everything in life becomes about this

  • become coroners – time and cause of death –faithless

• None of those mistakes brings about God’s desire – LIFE!!!

• You have to understand, words create our lives, our atmospheres

  • we live in them

  • those around us live in

  • the Holy Spirit has to live in - Ephesians 4:29–32 (ESV) Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

• Your atmosphere is the incubator for the future

• What should you do? Prophesy over the bones…

  • The bones are real, don’t act like they are not

  • Prophesy: declare out loud for you/others/heaven/hell to HEAR!

  • Prophesy is not a suggestion; it is a declaration.

  • It is authoritative: Heaven has called you to prophesy! God could come down and do it, but he’s sent you!

  • Prophesy: what God says – general things from the Word, things that you sense, things God has revealed

Ezekiel 37:5–6 (ESV) Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”

• There is and order and timing - You don’t get skin before you get flesh. You don’t stand to walk around before tendons are attached.

• The Word gets the ball rolling

• It’s important to understand that you might have work to do

  • “were just believing God for our finances

  • “were just believing God for our marriage

  • “were just believing God for our health

  • great, but what are you doing?

• Prophesy again, and again, and again!

• Valleys created by Hell will fight back!!! Prophetic warfare – bind and loose. Pray in the Spirit!!!!

Of course, the prophesy is fulfilled, and the outcome is an amazing army!

Holy Spirit, Transform Our Words!

• AMEN is a lifestyle of prophesying. It’s not going to come easily or quickly.

• 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…

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.

1. 1words are like seed – spoken, taken out of the bag and put into play

2. planted and grow – some immediate impact, but a bigger focus on time

3. it will produce fruit – it’s the seed principle

4. 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…

AMEN, a customary statement at the end of a prayer or during preaching to express our agreement with what is said and the hope that it will take place. But, AMEN is much so more than just a statement.

• AMEN is a Person, and His Name is JESUS - Revelation 3:14 (ESV) “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

• AMEN is who God is molding you to be - Romans 8:29 (ESV) …he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…

• AMEN is an attitude, a posture, a way of life.

• AMEN is the resounding YES to all that God says.

• AMEN is the response that unlocks the abundance of Heaven.

We have all found ourselves in a position where we have agreed and then regretted. That car you bought that you really couldn’t afford, or that car that turned out to be a lemon. Or, that “party” you agreed to go to that involved a “great opportunity”. Or agreeing to a date that you really didn’t want to go on.

Sometimes we have agreed for all the wrong reasons; to avoid an argument, because it was easier, to make someone happy.

And, there are times that our yes (AMEN) is resounding but, falls to the ground the moment it comes out of our mouths. Like when we whole-heartedly agree but, really have no intention of making any changes. (Watching a weight loss show while eating a bag of Doritos).

AMEN IS NOT ABOUT BEING AGREEABLE. IT IS AGREEING, EVEN WHEN IT IS THE LAST THING YOU FEEL LIKE DOING.

• The Bible is quick to point this out to us - James 2:18-19 (ESV) But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

• Your “AMEN” is the language of faith…accompanied by works. What works? Acting on what you know that God has spoken.

LIFE IS GOING TO HIT YOU HARD. EVEN KNOCK YOU DOWN.

• “Everyone has a plan ‘till they get punched in the mouth.” - Mike Tyson

• Isaiah 41:10 (ESV) Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

• 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (ESV) We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

AMEN Is Most important When You Have Been Knocked Down!

• The countdown begins when we hit the mat. We will either lay there and be counted out or we will get up and keep fighting.

• Your AMEN Stirs Your Heart. A Reminded Spirit is a Fighting Spirit.

• Our Amen makes a statement about what we believe. It is not just based upon what we see. Not like an illusion or delusion; we might really be knocked down. We might really be confused. But what do you believe? That God is for you? That He is fighting on your behalf? That no matter what he will never leave you no forsake you? That you can be healed/restores/forgiven/rescued?

• God’s people have always been encouraged to remind themselves of what God has done. “Teach them to your children, talk of them when you sit in your house,” “fan into flames.”

AMEN Is Not Agreement with Victory But, His “Right Now” Word.

• It is agreeing without having any idea how it will turn out. Victory isn’t raising our hand in triumph, but just standing. ROCKY LOST THE FIGHT! His victory was just standing back up.

• There is always another fight. There is always another trial. We will win some battles and we might lose some. But we overcome by getting back up!

• So often we want to get so excited about the victory that we try to jump over the obedience. No victory is won without obedience. Consider Jesus!

• Jesus’ “AMEN” meant he would be knocked down on the mat and the countdown would begin.

• Jesus even asked the Father if there was another way. “Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.”

Your AMEN Breaks the Heart of the Enemy.

• Ephesians 6:13 (ESV) Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

• Jesus walks in on Satan’s victory party and takes his keys!

• Rocky eventually becomes the champ. In nearly every huge bout he gets knocked down, his opponent celebrates, and Rocky gets back up. And their spirits are shaken because he just took the worst and he is still standing.

• Adversity doesn’t define you. How you respond to it does.

• JESUS OFTEN TOLD PEOPLE TO “GET UP!” - “Get up, take up your bed and go home.” “Get up and walk.”

• You no doubt know what it means to be knocked down. And you may be struggling with the strength to get back up. Jesus is saying “Get up.” Right now, your “AMEN” is hearing his voice and standing to your feet.

• There are people in your corner rooting for you. You are not alone.

Amen, a customary statement at the end of a prayer or during preaching to express our agreement with what is said and the hope that it will take place. But, AMEN is so much more than just a statement.

● AMEN is an attitude, a posture, a way of life.

● AMEN is a response that unlocks the abundance of Heaven.

● AMEN is our resounding YES to all that God says. It is also a resounding YES from God to his children.

AMEN is our emphatic agreement with all that God has said that He will do. So, what do you do when you don’t agree?

What do you do when you struggle to see any evidence of the presence of God in your life?

What do you do when your spending time in God’s word and praying but aren’t getting anything out of it? The void of silence from Heaven.

What do you do when you’ve been waiting for God to fulfill a promise to you for so long that you no longer believe that it will ever happen?

AMEN requires us to be honest with God.

Discouragement isn’t just the opposite of hope. It is the killer of it. One of the most poisonous elements about discouragement is that it makes you feel like you are all alone, that no one else is going through or has gone through the experience of feeling far from or separated from God. This belief keeps us from speaking out about our brokenness to others, especially God, because we harbor an incorrect belief that He has somehow betrayed us.

What you need to recognize is that what you are experiencing is not normal for the Kingdom, but it is not uncommon in our world. You are in good company and you need to be honest with your King about what you are going through. It doesn’t make you a complainer or ungrateful. It makes you someone that needs a savior!

● King David complained more than anyone else in all of scripture! And yet, God considered him a man after his own heart. (1 Sam 13:14)

○ Psalm 10:1, 13:1-4, 22:1-2, 60:1-3, 79:1-5

In every case of David complaining, it was quickly followed up by his bold declaration of God’s goodness and impending deliverance. Acknowledging our mis-alignment opens the path to become aligned. The obstacle that you believe is keeping you from God is in fact the way to God! This is part of the Enemy’s great deception!

Being honest with God will bring you to the point of verbalizing what you need from Him! If you don’t talk about it, you will be prevented from ever making a petition to God about it!

● Matthew 7:11b “...how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”

● Mark 9:21-24 And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” And Jesus said to him, “If you can? All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe, help my unbelief.”

AMEN requires us to shift our point of view.

Part of our disadvantage is that we have a limited view of eternity. We were designed for eternity but only possess vision for the present. We know what we have experienced in the past, and we can see what is happening in the now, but we have zero visibility about what the next 10 minutes will bring, much less the next 10 years.

This is often referred to as the difference between short-term and long-term vision. But, the truth is that we don’t even have short-term vision. At best, we have now-term vision. The way to get beyond now-term vision is to recognize that, just like nature, there are different seasons in life.

● Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Just consider the life of a farmer. There is a season to till the ground and prepare the soil. Then there is a season of planting and sowing into the soil. Then the fields need watered, regularly. The fields need to be weeded to remove things that compete for the crops resources. Eventually, the fields need harvested, long days of working in the sun, picking and collecting the crop. All of which is hard toilsome work! Where is the feeling of being blessed in that process? And yet, what a wonderful sense of blessing when the crop has been brought in and the celebration takes place for having barns that are full!

Just because you are in the middle of weeding your fields doesn’t mean that the harvest isn’t coming.

Don’t confuse the moment for the mission! Your now-vision will only take in the circumstances of today and they can be extremely misleading when held in the light of the long-term mission. Jesus gave us the perfect example of how to accept the immediate in order to achieve the eternal.

● John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

“Right now” is not all that there is.

AMEN requires us to take action.

AMEN is a person, and his name is Jesus (Rev. 3:14). Jesus is also the person through whom all of creation was made! Our alignment with HIM allows us to access that creative authority and call forth life and hope when there is none visible. He is our means of fighting through the challenges of this life to all that He has for us.

● Matthew 26:42 He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.”

What was Jesus referring to when he said “if this cannot pass away”? The power of the enemy and the kingdom of this world. Jesus broke the power of the enemy and replaced it with the power and authority of the Kingdom of Heaven. We have access to that power!

That means that we need to sometimes do the opposite of what we feel and instead act out in defiance of our circumstances and experiences in favor of all the good that God has spoken over us and the blessings that He has for us.

AMEN, a customary statement at the end of a prayer or during preaching to express our agreement with what is said and the hope that it will take place. But, AMEN is much so more than just a statement.

• AMEN is a Person, and His Name is JESUS - Revelation 3:14 (ESV) “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

• AMEN is who God is molding you to be - Romans 8:29 (ESV) …he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…

• AMEN is an attitude, a posture, a way of life.

• AMEN is the resounding YES to all that God says.

• AMEN is the response that unlocks the abundance of Heaven.

The Carte Blanche Amen

• Carte Blanche is a cheque that is already signed but has no numerical value entered, yet.

• The Carte Blanche AMEN says Yes to God before He says it, no matter what He says.

Failure to make key life-decisions in advance is to wait until seated at the final sales desk with 1000 high-pressure voices appealing to every wrong motive.

The Carte Blanche AMEN agrees with God before He whispers a Word.

• Luke 21:14 (ESV) Settle it therefore in your minds... beforehand…

GOD Is Always Good, Is Always For Me, And His Word Leads Me To His BEST.

• He is always good. - Mark 10:18 (ESV) …No one is good except God alone.

• He is always for me - John 3:16 (ESV) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Luke 4:19 (ESV) to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Romans 5:8 (ESV) but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

• His Word is always for my best - Psalm 119:105 (ESV) Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. John 6:63 (ESV) …The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. Romans 8:28 (ESV) And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

• best does not mean easy, problem free, comfortable…

The Carte Blanche Amen Know That Positioning Him First In All Things Allows All Things To Work For His Best.

• Exodus 20:2–3 (ESV) “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me.

• Matthew 6:33 (ESV) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

• Luke 14:26 (ESV) “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

first in devotional life, relationship, church participation

THE CARTE BLANCHE AMEN Knows That EVERY Blessing We Enjoy Comes From His Hand And Belongs To Him.

• James 1:17 (ESV) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights…

• Deuteronomy 8:17–18 (ESV) Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

• 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV) Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

• Luke 19:32–35 (ESV) And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it.

• Mark 14:13–16 (ESV) And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

• everything I have is His – I am a steward

• for my enjoyment, but he can call for it whenever he wants

THE CARTE BLANCHE AMEN Knows That Sex Is A Gift From God, A Sacred Act Meant For The Marriage Bed Alone.

• the Bible begins with sex, as God created it

• it contains the blueprint of The Kingdom - seed

• no sin like sexual sins that will impact your life (spirit, soul and body)

• Hebrews 13:4 (ESV) Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

• 1 Corinthians 7:4–5 (ESV) For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

• 1 Corinthians 6:16–20 (ESV) Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

• sex is for procreation and pleasure, between a man and woman, committed to one another in the covenant of marriage.

AMEN is a customary statement at the end of a prayer or during preaching when we are in agreement with what is said and hoping that what is said will take place.

• Jeremiah 28:6 (ESV) and the prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! May the Lord do so; may the Lord make the words that you have prophesied come true, and bring back to this place from Babylon the vessels of the house of the Lord, and all the exiles.

AMEN is much more than a statement.

AMEN is also a Person, and His Name is JESUS

• Revelation 3:14 (ESV) “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

AMEN is an attitude, a posture, a way of life. AMEN is a resounding YES to all that God says. AMEN is the response that unlocks the abundance of Heaven. Are You AMEN?

This series is focused on living the AMEN life and experiencing AMEN results. AMEN includes:

• agreement: embracing the things God says

• declaration: verbalizing your buy-in to His truth

• alignment: adjusting your life to His Word

• celebration: joyfully navigating through His truth for others to see

AMEN: Agreement

embracing the things God says

In your world, there are the people you completely disagree with, others you agree with, and a few you agree most of the time with. There’s no one you agree with all of the time, for many different, including the fact there is no one who is every always right. But the reality is… THERE IS! GOD IS always right.

• Hebrews 6:18 (ESV) …it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

• Matthew 9:9 (ESV) As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

AMEN hungers for, seeks out and creates atmospheres to hear God speak.

God’s created man with the ability to hear Him. It’s in our DNA.

• Genesis 3:8 (KJV 1900) And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.

God’s voice gives birth to life in our lives!

• John 6:63 (ESV) The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

Once you hear it, you will want more and more and more!

• Psalm 119:17–20 (ESV) Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me! My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.

But EVERYTHING in this world tries to drown out the Voice of God.

• Acts 28:27 (ESV) For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed…

While He can speak unexpectedly, God speaks more often in atmospheres that are conducive to you listening. It’s less about setting the atmosphere for God than for you.

• His Presence is key

• Gather with my church family in His Presence

• Bible, prayer in His Presence

• listening to preaching, podcasts, reading books

• worship music in the background

• controlling distractions

• spiritual leaders, spiritual conversations

Hearing His Voice is so important because His Voice will:

• reveal things you don’t know but need to in order to experience your best life

• reveal things you believe that are completely and are causing you to act in ways that are taking you in the wrong direction.

AMEN recognizes God’s Voice and presses in to hear what He is saying.

Learning when God is speaking is a key part of following Jesus.

• Matthew 14:25–29 (ESV) And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.

When He Speaks, you will sense it spark your spirit-man, much like temptation will spark your sinful-man.

This is something you can cultivate and grow into. He will highlight words on a page, emphasize words being spoken, impresses things in your mind as you think about them or cause them to burn in your mouth as you speak them.

While there are many environments and mediums in and through which God will speak, the key is the Holy Spirit. He is the one who is talking!

• John 16:13–14 (ESV) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

The Holy Spirit is key to hearing. Press into Him!

• Luke 11:13 (ESV) If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

AMEN already agrees with God before He whispers a Word.

We struggle to agree wither others when we have a differing opinion because we TRUST ourselves more than them, our understanding of our situation more than theirs, our understanding of the people in our world more than theirs, our experience more than theirs. We struggle to TRUST!

AMEN can agree in advance because it trusts:

• that He is good.

• trust He is for you.

  • Sent His son - John 3:16 (ESV) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

  • proclaimed the Day of His favor - Luke 4:19 (ESV) to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

• that He does not lie

  • Hebrews 6:18 (ESV) so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

• demonstrated His best in spite of our worst

  • Romans 5:8 (ESV) but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

• that His way is the better

• Isaiah 55:9–11 (ESV) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.