Luke 3:2 (ESV) during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

The Word Of The Lord - Divine communication and guidance delivered to man.

The Word Of The Lord Is Common. Hearing The Word Of The Lord Is Not.

• Few are aware of the reality

• Few are listening to hear Him speak

• Few listen when He speaks

You Are Listening. You Will Hear. You Will Respond.

The Word Of The Lord In Action:

• Abraham: Genesis 15 - a son in his old age who will inherit a land of promise

• Samuel: 1 Samuel 15 - God had rejected Saul as King for his disobedience.

• Elijah: 1 Kings 17 - God was bringing a drought over Israel but would supply for Elijah in the wilderness.

John The Baptist: Luke 3:2 (ESV) during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

There are a bunch of different ways to hear from God

• Biblical principle

• Circumstantial affirmation

• A sense of confirmation in your spirit

• Prophetic word

The Word of the Lord is higher.

7 Nuances Of The Word Of The Lord

It Comes Unexpectedly At Times, But Can Be Sought.

• Abraham was not seeking - Gen 15

• Daniel was seeking - Daniel 10 - more frequent

• Frequency in life for the general person is low

It Is Guidance For The Macro.

• A true Word for you is not just for you. It is a word, through you, beyond you. You are simply a catalyst to activate the Word. 

• There are life Words and seasonal Words.

• It is change oriented, but doesn’t always require change.

• Samuel: Saul is not king

• Don’t make major life changes without this

It Is The Revelation Of God’s Truth

• 1 Kings 17:24 (ESV) And the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.”

• Psalm 119:160 (ESV) The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

• John 17:17 (ESV) Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

• Delivered so that you will know for sure

• Key details that you need to know

• Sometimes it confirms, often cuts against the grain

It Requires Your Yes To Receive It

• Luke 1:38 (ESV) And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

• Your amen is required.

• You must embrace it as God’s Word to you.

• You must put it on like a coat

• Otherwise it will become a testimony against you.

Ongoing Action Is Required For Its Fulfillment.

•  It Will Be Tested 

• Psalm 105:19 (ESV) until what he had said came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him.

• Temptation for substitutes or to quit

• Everything in this world will oppose God’s Best in your life.

Authority and Power Are Embedded Within.

• The word comes with authority and power woven into the fabric.

• Luke 4:32 (ESV) and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority.

• Joseph - Genesis 41:38–40 (ESV) And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?”  Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are.  You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.”

It Transforms As It Rests Upon You.

• Jacob the Deceiver became Israel, he who struggles with God and overcomes.

• 1 Samuel 10:6 (ESV) Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.

• 2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV) And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Luke 3:2 (ESV) during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

The Word Of The Lord - Divine communication and guidance delivered to man.

The Word Of The Lord Is Common. Hearing The Word Of The Lord Is Not.

• Few are aware of the reality

• Few are listening to hear Him speak

• Few listen when He speaks

You Are Listening. You Will Hear. You Will Respond.

The Word Of The Lord In Action:

• Abraham: Genesis 15 - a son in his old age who will inherit a land of promise

• Samuel: 1 Samuel 15 - God had rejected Saul as King for his disobedience.

• Elijah: 1 Kings 17 - God was bringing a drought over Israel but would supply for Elijah in the wilderness.

John The Baptist: Luke 3:2 (ESV) during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

There are a bunch of different ways to hear from God

• Biblical principle

• Circumstantial affirmation

• A sense of confirmation in your spirit

• Prophetic word

The Word of the Lord is higher.

7 Nuances Of The Word Of The Lord

It Comes Unexpectedly At Times, But Can Be Sought.

• Abraham was not seeking - Gen 15

• Daniel was seeking - Daniel 10 - more frequent

• Frequency in life for the general person is low

It Is Guidance For The Macro.

• A true Word for you is not just for you. It is a word, through you, beyond you. You are simply a catalyst to activate the Word. 

• There are life Words and seasonal Words.

• It is change oriented, but doesn’t always require change.

• Samuel: Saul is not king

• Don’t make major life changes without this

It Is The Revelation Of God’s Truth

• 1 Kings 17:24 (ESV) And the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.”

• Psalm 119:160 (ESV) The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

• John 17:17 (ESV) Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

• Delivered so that you will know for sure

• Key details that you need to know

• Sometimes it confirms, often cuts against the grain

It Requires Your Yes To Receive It

• Luke 1:38 (ESV) And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

• Your amen is required.

• You must embrace it as God’s Word to you.

• You must put it on like a coat

• Otherwise it will become a testimony against you.

Ongoing Action Is Required For Its Fulfillment.

•  It Will Be Tested 

• Psalm 105:19 (ESV) until what he had said came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him.

• Temptation for substitutes or to quit

• Everything in this world will oppose God’s Best in your life.

Authority and Power Are Embedded Within.

• The word comes with authority and power woven into the fabric.

• Luke 4:32 (ESV) and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority.

• Joseph - Genesis 41:38–40 (ESV) And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?”  Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are.  You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.”

It Transforms As It Rests Upon You.

• Jacob the Deceiver became Israel, he who struggles with God and overcomes.

• 1 Samuel 10:6 (ESV) Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.

• 2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV) And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Luke 2:7 (ESV) And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Life will reveal vulnerability, fragility, weakness:

• Health

• Success

• Finances

• Business (2-3 best years, suddenly lay off 15 people)

• Relationships

• Finances (Longview, mill shuts down, whole town reels)

• The wellbeing of a child

• Life

Weakness, fragility, vulnerability is a FACT of life. 

It is a reality that will settle upon you often.

It will often feel like “this thing is hanging by a thread.”

For some:

• This is the moment to give in and quit

• For people of faith, this is the moment where God shows up

Never more weakness in God’s plan to save man than is Luke 2!

• A baby

• In a woman’s womb

• Born in a world 2000 years ago

• During Roman occupation

• During a census

• People who had to travel

• No hospital, no hotel

• A manger in a stable

• Wrapped in a blanket???

• Announcement of a King when there’s no King but Caesar

• The decree to exterminate all male children

I would not have forged this plan - it is as fragile as they get

You will live in this tension more often than not.

It can be one of the best places to live.

Weakness Reveals Our Need For Him

• I don’t like to feel weak or appear weak.

• Especially as a Christian

• Too often we live in the power of our own strength

• We do strive to do our part, be the best we can be

• In limitations, we try to compensate, muscle through

• Recognizing our limitations identifies our need for God

• This works best when it is formal.

• Mark 6:34–44 (ESV) When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.  And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late.  Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”  But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?”  And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.”  

• What do you have? “NOT ENOUGHT”

• Recognizing my “not enough” invites God to fill that gap

Declaring Weakness Invites His Strength

• Jesus could have just performed a miracle

• Defining how little they had was a formal declaration

• “How bad is it” is important

• Matthew 14:18–21 (ESV) And he said, “Bring them here to me.”  Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.  And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over.  And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

He Protects What We Trust Him With

• Luke 1:34–38 (ESV) And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”  And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.  And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.  For nothing will be impossible with God.”  And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

The Discomfort Of Weakness Builds Faith If We Lean In

• “It’s been great, I haven’t had to trust God for anything lately” might be the worst admission you could ever make.

• Trusting doesn’t make you stronger

• Trusting strengthens your confidence in Him

• The need to trust is a gift

Christmas Up Close

• Romantic, sanitary Christmas cards

• A closer look, and it’s messier

• A close up look is more practical because your life is messy

SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:6–7 (ESV) And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Resourced By Heaven

As we see Jesus in the manger we see:

• God’s eternal plan unfolding

• Less than ideal timing

• Roman occupiers imposing their will

• Census

• Transportation and housing issues

God’s plan for our lives takes place amidst OBSTACLES

Resources will be needed

They are practical

Jesus talked about resources more than any other topic

Resourced With “Left Overs”

Luke 2:6–7 (ESV) And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

There is a beauty in these moments

Quiet desperation seeking the bare minimum

No amount of planning could have provided here

There is value in grinding out these situations

The durability built is remarkable

It prepares you for the journey ahead

Resourced By Hard Work

Matthew 13:55 (ESV) Is not this the carpenter’s son? 

Mark 6:3 (ESV) Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary…

• Tekton - building and construction of items ranging from furniture to municipal buildings and in mediums ranging from wood to stone. 

• The economy of Rome during the New Testament was strong and their occupation of Israel was in full swing. A skilled tradesman would have been lucratively compensated 

• In 1st century Jewish culture, fathers taught their sons their trade at by age 12, 

This was a hard working family. While he was born in a manger, the family had a home. By the time the Maji arrived to present gift to Jesus, they were no longer staying in a barn as a result of the census, but living in a home - 

• Matthew 2:11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 

While they moved several times, one would assume that home ownership would have continued. 

After Joseph passed away, Jesus would have inherited the property and responsibility for the family.  

Jesus was likely a homeowner:

• Mark 2:1–4 (ESV) And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home.  And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them.  And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.  And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.

• Mark 2:13–15 (ESV) He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them.  And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.  And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.

Resourced By Earned Favor

Luke 8:1 Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.

Jesus worked hard and had an impact in the lives of those he served. 

Good, hard work for others produces a favor.

Resourced By Unexpected Favor

Matthew 2:11 (ESV) …and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

• Magi (magician) a blurry line between occult experiments and legitimate science

• Astrologist, studying the stars and likely the zodiac. After discovering the star identifying the birth of “the King of the Jews,” they left their home to find Him, a journey likely to nearly two years, based on Herod’s resulting decision to kill all male Israeli children two years and younger (Matthew 2:16

• Men of means, travelling in a caravan large enough to be noticed by the general population and stir up commoner and politician alike with their mission (Matthew 2:3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him)

• The Magi came bearing treasures for the King of the Jews. These gifts were appropriate in substance, and no doubt quantity.  They included:

• gold, the appropriate gift for a King.  

• frankincense, the gift for Deity. 

• myrrh, a valued spice, especially for those who suffer 

Be The Strong Man

Scripture: Luke 11:20–22 (ESV) But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.  When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe;  but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil.

A Non-Resister Is An Open Door

Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT) A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

• Unbelievers Are Unaware

• The Vulnerable Are Overrun - Mark 9:17–18 (ESV) And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute.  And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.”

• Participators Are Captured - 1 Samuel 16:14–23 (ESV) Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him.  And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you.  Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.”  So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me.”  One of the young men answered, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the LORD is with him.”  Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.”  And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them by David his son to Saul.  And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer.  And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.”  And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.

A Weak Man Is Easy To Overpower

• Luke 4:13 (ESV) And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

• Genesis 4:7 (ESV) If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”

• Luke 22:31–32 (ESV) “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

• Strength matters

• We can grow our strength

• We are stronger in numbers

• Kingdom momentum is hard to disrupt

A Strong Man Can Be Outmaneuvered And Overcome

2 Corinthians 2:11 (NIV) in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

Job 1:8–10 (ESV) And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”  Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason?  Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

A Vigilant Strong Man Is A Locked Door

1 Peter 5:8–9 (ESV) Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

2025 Strategic Response

2 Corinthians 2:11 (NIV) in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

• What Are Three Repeated Effective Strategies Of The Enemy In My Life In 2024?

• What Are Three Simple Effective Strategic Responses To Thwart His Efforts?

• What Would 2025 Look Like If I Enforce Those Strategic Responses?

2 Corinthians 2:11 (NIV) in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

2025 Strategic Response

My Concerns:

• We don’t respect the reality of our adversary

• We reconcile less than best situations as, “that’s just life”

• We learn to live with the limitations our adversary enforces

• We don’t recognize our enemies repeated effective strategy in our lives

• We don’t recognize how our wins/losses impact the experience of others

You Have An Active Adversary

1 Peter 5:8–9 (ESV) Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

• This is universal a universal truth

• There is no buffer

• Not even spirituality.

• He is continually prowling looking for weaknesses

• He functions in many different forms

• Whispers, circumstances, people

• He is looking to devour 

• Resistance requires standing firm (strength) in faith

• Strength has levels

• It can be increased.

Your Adversary Takes Topography

Ephesians 4:27 (NIV) and do not give the devil a foothold.

• Give - didomi - give vs surrender

• Foothold - Topos - topography, ground

You Can Strategically Overcome Your Adversary - Job 1:6–12 (ESV) Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.  The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”  And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”  Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason?  Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.  But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”  And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

• This can be done spiritually - Job 1:5 (ESV) And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.

• This can be done practically - 

• What Are Three Repeated Effective Strategies Of The Enemy In My Life

• What Are Three Simple Effective Strategic Responses To Respond In Advance

• What Would 2025 Look Like If You Enforced That Response?

Participating IN Novemberfast 2024

• Tune In More Clearly

• Realign With The Lord

• Get A Sense Of What God Has For 2025

• Personally/Family

• Church/Ministry

• Career/Business

Jeremiah 33:1–3 (NKJV) Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the prison, saying,  “Thus says the LORD who made it, the LORD who formed it to establish it (the LORD is His name):  ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

Title: Finders Keepers

Matthew 13:44–46 (ESV) “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.  “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,  who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

This Parable Reveals That Treasure/Pearls

• Exists

• Is Hidden

• Is Discoverable

This is one of the most incredible/exciting parts of following Jesus.

Every day, every season is a treasure hunt.

A follower of Jesus takes dominion over the life God intends by searching, discovering and taking possession of the treasure that would otherwise go unnoticed.

Novemberfast = Discovery

2 Kings 6:15–17 (ESV) When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”  He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

• The young man had eyes to see the natural

• The natural reveals the facts, but not the truth.

• The Spirit reveals Truth.

There are things I can’t see and I know it.

These are undiscoverable in the natural.

But I am not limited to the natural

Hidden Things Are Exposed By

1. SLIDE Divine Revelation - 1 Corinthians 2:9–10 (ESV) But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—  these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

1. SLIDE Prophetic Utterance - Isaiah 42:9 (ESV) Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

1. SLIDE Devotional Pursuit - Jeremiah 29:11–14 (ESV) For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.  You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you, declares the LORD…

ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN

In Matthew 6 we see Jesus demonstrate for his disciples (both those with him at the time and for those to come like us) how to pray…

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come, your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven…

ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN: Aligning Ourselves
Starts with Repentance

Before we can align anything around us with heaven, we must first make sure we’re aligned!

Isaiah 59:1-2 (ESV) Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

• The work of redemption was completed by Christ Jesus but His offer of grace must be accepted by faith.

• Those already following Christ still live with a sin nature in a sinful world. As such, sin will always be a threat to prayer’s effectiveness and must be addressed. 

ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN: Aligning Ourselves…

Prioritizes Kingdom Over Comfort

Isaiah 58:3-11 (ESV) Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD? "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.' If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

• Fasting is NOT…

• Asceticism: self-denial or self-punishment for the purpose of attaining status or favor with God.

• Strategic leverage to persuade or force God into action (i.e. hunger strike)

• Religious ritual or hypocritical showmanship

• Fasting is…

• An exercise of control over our mental, emotional, and physical craving to chase one self-gratification after another.

• A time of concentrated, intentional engagement with the Holy Spirit through prayer, meditation on scripture, and praise.

• A refocus on the priorities that God has called us to rather in lieu of self-fulfillment.

ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN: Aligning Circumstances

Accurately identifying what SHOULD BE compared to what currently IS.

• Does scripture support the need for change?

• What change will bring the most glory to God?

• What’s in the way of that happening?

ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN: Aligning Circumstances

Declare War

Eph 6:12 (ESV) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Spiritual warfare is not optional. God’s best on this earth is under attack so we can choose to fight and win or we can choose to give territory to the enemy.

• “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing” - unknown

Ignoring the gap between what is and what should be is a dereliction of The Great Commision that Jesus gave us.

• Matthew 28:18-20 “...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

• Luke 10:9,17-20 Jesus sends out the 72

• John 17:18-20 Jesus prays for all believers

We fight from a place of victory, but we must still fight.

Anticipate Resistance:

Luke 8:28b-29a (ESV) "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me." For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man.

Other Biblical examples of pushback: 

• Mark 8:23-25 Jesus lays hands on blind man twice

• Mark 9:17-29 Disciples unable to cast out demon

The enemy will try to convince us to accept “what is” whenever we don’t see results.

Don't give in to, “I guess that’s just the way it’s supposed to be”, “maybe this is God’s plan”, or “This doesn’t work”.

• Surround yourself with faith filled people who will join your fight - Who you’re around matters!

• Mark 6:4-6 Jesus unable to perform many miracles in his home town due to unbelief

• Return to the Lord for clarity to identify what’s “off” and adjust

Fight with Expectation:

1 John 5:14-15 (ESV) And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him 

Mark 9:17-29 (ESV) “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

• We may be unclear on when or how, but the question is never, “If?”

• Approach the King with confidence. We’re fighting for His will to be done, so like a general that’s been given an objective:

• We can ask for the resources needed

• Identify the battle fronts we need support on

• Present our plan to the King for approval or revision

We will relentlessly pursue God’s best until we see His will done on earth as it is in heaven.

Hebrews 9:27 (ESV) And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

No such thing as:

• Nihilism - Job 19:25–27 (ESV) For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.  And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God,  whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!

• Soul Sleep - 2 Corinthians 5:8 (KJV) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

• Returning As Ghosts - Leviticus 19:31 (ESV) “Do not turn to mediums or necromancers (familiar spirits); do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the LORD your God.

• Reincarnation - Buddhism/Hinduism - Hebrews 9:27 (ESV) And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

The Soul Departs From The Body

• Genesis 35:18 (ESV) And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.

• Luke 16:22–23 (NLT) “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and was buried,  and he went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.

Believers Are Judged

• 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NLT) For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

• 1 Corinthians 3:13–15 (ESV) each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.  If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.  If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

Non-Believers Are Judged

Revelation 20:11–12 (ESV) Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.  And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.

Believers Enter Into Heaven 

John 14:2–3 (ESV) In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Non-Believers Enter Hell, Lake Of Fire

• Matthew 25:41 (ESV) “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

• Revelation 20:14–15 (ESV) Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.  And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

New Heaven & Earth, New Jerusalem

Revelation 21:1–4 (ESV) Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.  And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

1 Corinthians 2:9–10 (ESV) But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—  these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

Matthew 24:3 (ESV) As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

The End Told From The Beginning

• Genesis 3:15 (ESV) I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

• Acts 2:16–21 (ESV) But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:  “ ‘And in the last days…

• John 6:40 (ESV)…and I will raise him up on the last day.” (x3)

• 2 Timothy 3:1 (ESV) But understand this, that in the last days…

• 2 Peter 3:3 (ESV) …scoffers will come in the last days…

SIGNS: False Saviors - Matthew 24:5 (ESV) For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.

More than spiritual, this is also political

SIGNS: Increased Wars - Matthew 24:6–7 (ESV) And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom,

SIGNS: Increased Natural Disasters: Matthew 24:7 (ESV) …and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

SIGNS: Increased Persecution For Believers - Matthew 24:9 (ESV) “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.

SIGNS: Departure From Faith 

• Matthew 24:10 (ESV) And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.

• 2 Timothy 3:1–5 (ESV) But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,  treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,  having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

SIGNS: Increased Deception - Matthew 24:11-13 (ESV) And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.  But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

• This is not just the church

• Prophets OT delivered the news on behalf of God

• Modern Day - news 

SIGNS: Increased Knowledge - Daniel 12:4 (ESV) But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

SIGNS: Gospel Preached Worldwide - Matthew 24:14 (ESV) And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

SIGNS: Restoration, Regathering of Israel, Rebuilding of Temple 

Ezekiel 38-39; Zechariah 12-14, Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15; Revelation 11:1-2

SIGNS: Mark of the Beast - Revelation 13:16–18 (ESV) Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,  so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.  This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

SIGNS: One World Government - Revelation 13:6–8 (ESV) It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven.  Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation,  and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.

1 Corinthians 15:24 (ESV) Then comes the end…

Matthew 28:1–7 (ESV) Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.  And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.  And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.  But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”

Jesus Wasn’t The Only Or The First Resurrection

• The Shunammite's Son - 2 Kings 4:33–35 (ESV) So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the LORD.  Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm.  Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.

• The Unnamed Man & Elisha’s Grave - 2 Kings 13:20–21 (ESV) So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year.  And as a man was being buried, behold, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.

• Jairus’ Daughter - Mark 5:41–42 (ESV) Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”  And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.

• Lazarus - John 11:43–44 (ESV) When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”  The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

• The Graveyard Near Golgotha - Matthew 27:50–53 (ESV) And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.  And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.  The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised,  and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

• Dorcas (Tabitha) - Acts 9:40–41 (ESV) But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.  And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

ONE DIFFERENCE: Every one of these went on to die again.

Jesus’ Resurrection Was Different

• He Wasn’t Easily Recognized - John 20:14–16 (ESV) Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.  Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”  Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

• He Was Able To Appear/Disappear - Luke 24:36 (ESV) As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!”

• He Maintained His Scars - John 20:27–28 (ESV) Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”  Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

• He Didn’t Die But Ascended Into Heaven  - Acts 1:9 (ESV) And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.  

• He Promised To Return By Descending - Acts 1:10–11 (ESV) And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,  and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Our Future:

Resurrection or… - 1 Corinthians 15:21–23, 47-49 (ESV) For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.  As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.  Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.

Transformation - 1 Corinthians 15:51–52 (ESV) Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

John 19:29–30 (ESV) A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.  When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

 Jesus WAS before He was BORN

• He Existed Before He Was Born - John 8:53–59 (ESV) Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?”  Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’  But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word.  Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.”  So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”  Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”  So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

• He Died Before He Was Born - Revelation 13:8 (KJV) And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Christophanies/Theophanies In The Old Testament - The Angel of The Lord // The Angel, The Lord, allows himself to be worshiped.

• He Is Credited For Creation - Colossians 1:15–17 (ESV) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

• He Walked With Adam - Genesis 3:8 (ESV) And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

• He Appeared To Abraham (several times) - Genesis 18:1–3 (ESV) And the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day.  He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth  and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant.

• He Wrestled Jacob - Genesis 32:30 (ESV) So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.”

• He Spoke Out Of The Burning Bush To Moses - Exodus 3:4 (ESV) When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

• He Appeared to Joshua - Joshua 5:13-15 as the commander of the army of the Lord before the battle of Jericho.

• He Appeared to Gideon in Judges 6:11-24 as an angel, speaking on behalf of God.

• He Appeared to King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 3:25 as one like a son of God, walking with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace.

• He Appeared To Isaiah in Isaiah 6:1-8 when he saw a vision of God on his throne.

• He Appeared To Ezekiel - el throughout his book through various visions and encounters with God's glory.

JESUS Was Born Fully MAN*

• Philippians 2:5–8 (ESV) Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,  who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,  but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

• Set divinity aside

• He had access but refrained.

• Limitations of all men

• Baby, vulnerable

• Grew in status with men

• Tired, weary, hungry, frustrated, angry

Jesus’ Power Came From The Holy Spirit

If Jesus was just a man, where did his power come from?

Luke 3:21–22 (ESV) Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened,  and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

When Jesus Did Miracles, He Wasn’t “Proving Who He Was” Or “Showing Off.” He Simply Recognized Things Out Of Alignment With Heaven And Demonstrated “How To!”

Your Power Comes From The Same Spirit - Romans 8:11 (ESV) 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.

Was Tempted, Suffered And Crucified In Every Way By/For Sin.

We are tempted/sin in every way - Body, Soul Spirit

We SIN on all Levels 

Jesus Suffered On All Levels, For Our Sin

• Body - John 19:16–18 (ESV) So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus,  and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.  There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.

• Soul - Luke 22:41–44 (ESV) And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed,  saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”  And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.  And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

• Spirit - Matthew 27:46 (ESV) And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

• He Suffered During Temptation - Hebrews 2:18 (ESV) For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

• He Did Not Sin - Hebrews 4:15 (NIV) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

• He Became Sin - 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

He Died*

John 19:29–30 (ESV) A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.  When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

John 3:14–15 (NLT) And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,  so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.

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 2 Kings 20:1 (ESV)‬‬ In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.’ ”

About Scripture

• 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV) All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

• 2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV) Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

The Bible is the inspired book of TRUTHS The LORD wants you to know. It is not the entirety of TRUTH, but it is absolute TRUTH. 

It is similar to a box filled with unconnected puzzle pieces that when properly fit reveal the big picture of TRUTH consisting of smaller scenes of associated TRUTHS.

Bad practice picks favorites pieces, ignores others and even manufactures pieces to create a desired picture.  Good practice assembles the pieces as they fit together allowing the pieces to reveal the picture of the TRUTH that HE declares.

We Are Created By God To Live Eternally

• Psalm 139:13–16 (ESV) For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.  My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.  Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

• Job 19:26–27 (NIV) And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;  I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

• Luke 16:22–23 (NLT) “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and was buried,  and he went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.

This is why abortion is so wrong.

• Rape (1%) 

• Elaine

• Two wrongs don’t make a right.

My body, my choice - what about suicide? What about when it affects another?

• Every miscarried child will be in heaven

• Every aborted child will be in heaven

We Will All Die* Because Of Sin -

Genesis 2:16–17 (NIV) And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;  but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

Constant Death:

• Spirit

• Soul

• Body

Because Of:

• Your sin

• Other’s sin

• The presence of sin

Final Death - Hebrews 9:27 (ESV) And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

Days Can Be Lengthened Or Shortened - 

• Proverbs 10:27 (ESV) The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.

• 2 Kings 20:5–7 (ESV) “Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord, and I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake.” And Isaiah said, “Bring a cake of figs. And let them take and lay it on the boil, that he may recover.”

There Are A Few Exceptions:

• Enoch - Genesis 5:24 (NIV) Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.

• Elijah - 2 Kings 2:11–12 (ESV) And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.  And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

• Rapture???

• 1 Corinthians 15:51–52 (ESV) Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

• Luke 17:34–35 (ESV) I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left.  There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.”

Prophecy is easy to interpret after the prophecy is fulfilled.

If Someone You Love Dies:

• Death Is The Enemy Of God - 1 Corinthians 15:26 (ESV) The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

• Love People, Rely On God

• Be Thankful For Time You Had Not Bitter For Time You Don't

Mark 13:1–5 (ESV) And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!”  And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”  And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,  “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”  And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray.

Mark 13, Matthew 24, Luke 21

• When will the temple be torn down?

• What are the signs the temple will be torn down?

• What will be the sign of your coming (Mt 24:2)

• What will be the sign of the end of the age (Mt 24:2)

• They are asking about MANY ENDINGS

• End of Jesus’ life

• End of following Jesus around

• End of their temple

• End of their nation

• End of all nations

• End of separation from Jesus

• End of this age

Anticipate The End.

Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 (ESV) For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:  a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;  a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;  a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;  a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;  a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;  a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;  a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

We tend to look forward to specific moments as if they are fixed destinations in life, but they are not.

We tend to try to hold on to them beyond their expiration date.

Reality: you are going to experience The End, over and over

• Some can be seen a long way off 

• Some are abrupt and sudden like the end of a job

• Some will make sense

• Some will make no sense

Seasons Are Multi-Layered

• Personal Seasons

• Family Seasons

• Career/Business/Economy Seasons

• Social Seasons

• Community/National

• Kingdom/Ecclesiastical

Sometimes a change in one category impacts all categories.

God’s purposes will prevail overall.

His purposes are experienced by those who follow Him.

Be On Guard During The End.

Mark 13:5–9 (ESV) And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray.  Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray.  And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet.  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.  “But be on your guard.

THE ENDS are key times with much at stake

• An attempt to deceive

• An attempt to react emotionally

• An attempt to take something for you

Collateral damage impacts everyone, including you.

You always carry how you end a thing into the next thing.

Follow Jesus Through The End.

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.

He is not going to stop leading.

Following must be active.

Matthew 11:15 (ESV) He who has ears to hear, let him hear. (x13)

Galatians 5:16 (ESV) But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

James 5:16

• (NIV) The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

• (NKJV) The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

• (NASB95) The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

• (MSG) The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.

• (ESV) The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

• (NLT) The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

Effective Prayer: Begins With The Spoken Word

• God speaks

• Man speaks

• Unlimited audiences:

• God

• Man

• Spiritual/natural realm

• First Words - Genesis 1:3 (ESV) And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

• Key Words - Genesis 1:26 (ESV) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. 

• God didn’t just speak, he fashioned with His hands.

• Genesis 2:18 (ESV) Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

• Genesis 2:21–23 (ESV) So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.  And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.  Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”

• Normative Words - Genesis 3:8 (ESV) And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…

• Heaven and earth is connected, aligned

• Contested Words - Genesis 3:23–24 (ESV) therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.  He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

From that moment on, prayer was no longer easy communication. It became lost, difficult, skewed, perverted, unsuccessful, questionable, illegal, contested, punished, ineffective

Combat Ineffective Prayer: PRAY/READ OUT LOUD!

• Personal prayer time

• Praying for others

• Talking to circumstances

Effective Prayer Reconnects Heaven And Earth

The Reality Of Disconnection: a byproduct of sin, a strategy of the enemy, a condition you will experience your entire life, regardless of your spiritual condition.

• Daniel 10:12–13 (ESV) “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.  The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days…

• Matthew 4:1–3 (ESV) Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness....  And after fasting forty days and forty nights… the tempter came and said to him, “If..”

• Deuteronomy 28:23 (ESV) And the heavens over your head shall be bronze…

• Psalm 22:1–2 (ESV) My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?  O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.

• Isaiah 59:1–2 (ESV) Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Prayer Reconnects

• Genesis 4:26 (ESV) To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD.

• Genesis 28:16–17 (ESV) Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.”  And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

• Jeremiah 29:12–14 (ESV) Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.  You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you, declares the LORD, 

• Acts 4:31 (ESV) And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Combat Ineffective Prayer: PRAY INTO PRESENCE

Effective Prayer Realigns Heaven And Earth

This step is contingent upon the last step.

God’s Presence Catalyzes Alignment.

Stop Praying For Alignment Without Presence!

• Matthew 6:9–10 (ESV) Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.  Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

• 1 John 5:14–15 (ESV) And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

• Mark 9:28–29 (KJV) And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?  And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

Bringing Alignment In More Than Just The Area Prayer For

• Personal alignment

• Internal kingdom alignment

• External kingdom alignment

Combat Ineffective Prayer:  Fast For Power

• (NIV) ...prayer... is powerful 

• (MSG) ...prayer... is something powerful to be reckoned with.

• (ESV) ...prayer... has great power as it is working.

• (NLT) ...prayer... has great power and produces wonderful results

Mark 4:35-41 NIRV

When evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” They left the crowd behind. And they took him along in a boat, just as he was. There were also other boats with him. A wild storm came up. Waves crashed over the boat. It was about to sink. Jesus was in the back, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him up. They said, “Teacher! Don’t you care if we drown?” “Yes, I care. I gave you the authority to take care of it.” He got up and ordered the wind to stop. He said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down. And it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Don’t you have any faith at all yet?” They were terrified. They asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Mark 3:13-15 (NIRV)

Jesus went up on a mountainside. He called for certain people to come to him, and they came. He appointed 12 of them so that they would be with him. He would also send them out to preach. And he gave them authority to drive out demons.

Could this have been a test for the disciples? An opportunity to flex their authority? Jesus selected 12 to go out to preach and gave them authority to cast out demons.

38… “Yes, I care. I gave you the authority to take care of it.”  - to resist opposing circumstances

Ephesians 6:10-12 CEV

10 Let the mighty strength of the Lord make you strong. 11 Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil's tricks. 12 We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world.

Revelation 12 - War In Heaven - authority from God

Genesis 3 - The Fall Of Mankind - authority God gave to man

Matthew 4:1-11 - Temptation of Jesus - authority from Jesus

Revelation 12:12b - “But woe to the earth and the sea because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.”

3 Steps To Resisting Opposing Circumstances

1. Pray As You Align Your Thoughts (With Heaven)

37 A wild storm came up. Waves crashed over the boat. It was about to sink. 38 Jesus was in the back, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him up. They said, “Teacher! Don’t you care if we drown?”

Our circumstances show up and that’s all we see - emotions - see truth

Matthew 6:9-10 NIV

“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Mark 11:22-24 CEV

esus told his disciples: Have faith in God!   If you have faith in God and don't doubt, you can tell this mountain to get up and jump into the sea, and it will. Everything you ask for in prayer will be yours, if you only have faith.

• Post on Psycology Today, “...some sources suggest that the average person makes an eye-popping 35,000 choices per day. Assuming that most people spend around seven hours per day sleeping and thus blissfully choice-free, that makes roughly 2,000 decisions per hour or one decision every two seconds.

2. Pray As You Respond And Move

38… “Yes, I care. I gave you the authority to take care of it.”  

• Israel was delivered - they saw their circumstance - panicked - Moses reminds them:

Exodus 14:14-18 CEV

he Lord will fight for you, and you won't have to do a thing.” The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you keep calling out to me for help? Tell the Israelites to move forward. Then hold your walking stick over the sea. The water will open up and make a road where they can walk through on dry ground.

James 2:26 CEV

“Anyone who doesn't breathe is dead, and faith that doesn't do anything is just as dead!”

• Hebrews 11:2- Faith chapter (Noah, Gideon, Rahab, etc.) “It was their faith that made our ancestors pleasing to God.”

3. Pray As You Declare God’s Truth

Mark 4:39, “He got up and ordered the wind to stop. He said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down. And it was completely calm.”

Genesis 1:27 NIRV

“So God created human beings in his own likeness. He created them to be like himself.”

• Quote from Randy Clark, Authority From God, How and Why You Can Kick the Devil Out of Your Life, “When God speaks a word of command He also supplies the power to accomplish what He said to do.” 

• Psalm 119:89 NKJV, “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.” Settled has the Hebrew meaning as when an army takes land or territory and sets guards to protect it.

• Matthew 18:18 CEV, “I promise you God in heaven will allow whatever you allow on earth, but God will not allow anything you don't allow.”

“We're gonna see the strongholds bow. We're gonna see the things of Heaven here, right now”

“Light of the world, Lamb that was slain. Lion who roars, mighty to save. The fullness of God won’t be kept in a grave. Darkness, your hour is over.”

“This is our hope; the cross it has spoken. Death is no more, Christ is the Lord, this is our hope.”

Ephesians 6:10 NLT

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”

Luke 4:16–21 (ESV) And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.  And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,  TO PROCLAIM THE YEAR OF THE LORD’S FAVOR.”  And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.  And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

FAVOR: Pleasure, Presence, Help

GOD FAVORS YOU

Luke 4:19 (ESV) to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Genesis 37:3 (ESV) Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors.

This World Will Do Everything To Destroy Your Sense Of His Favor

Time/imperfections led to deception: I am tolerated by God.

This world will attempt to rob you of His Favor.

• Genesis 37:4, 23-24 (ESV) But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him. So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore.  And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.

Leaning Into His Favor Releases His Favor

Assuming God’s displeasure/disfavor impacts you powerfully

• How you see yourself

• Your Posture in all things

• Flavors every experience

Matthew 9:28–30 (ESV) When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.”  Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.”  And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.”

but…

Luke 15:17–24 (NIV) “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!  I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’  So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.  “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’  “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.  For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

His favor in your best moments, but not because of your best

His favor in your worst moments, in spite of the worst.

Put your coat on.

• Romans 12:1–2 (ESV) I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Submission To God Unlocks Access & Resources

There are some things that God has for you that you will never experience until you say yes to him.

• Romans 12:1–2 (ESV) I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 

• Forgiveness

• Peace

• Self worth

• Purpose

• Love

Your macro submission will leads to micro opportunities

• Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths

Where He leads He will resource.

• Can’t afford to get married

• Can’t afford to tithe

• Can’t afford to go on a mission trip

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

Discipleship Will Focus Your Aim

Saying YES to Jesus will place you in the right zip-code, but engaging in discipleship will help you find the right neighborhood and the right address. 

Discipleship: Actively Following Jesus

• Prayer

• Jeremiah 29:12–14 (ESV) Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.  You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you, declares the LORD

• “Have your way in me.”

• Bible reading/study

• Psalm 119:103–105 (ESV) How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!  Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.  Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

• Obedience

• Active in church family

• Serving

• Giving

• Submitting

It allows all of your spiritual senses to be attuned:

• Hear clear commands

• Discern dangers

• Recognize lies

Take Advantage Of The Reset Button

Sometimes we find ourselves in the wrong place.

Adjustments lead us farther away.

• Decisions that have lead you off track

• Opposition you have yielded to

• Attacks that you have surrendered to

• Bad attitudes that are sin (complaining)

• Unbelief: I can’t/Your cant do this

The supernatural reset: 2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV) if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.