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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.

1 Peter 3:7 (ESV) Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Effective Prayer

• spoken words

• Reconnect heaven/earth

• Realign heaven/earth

Hindered Prayer  - Obstacles and impedances - from the military practice of making slits in the street to hold up a pursuing enemy

The hindrances are not necessarily created by God. They can be the byproduct of a life/actions out of alignment with the word of God and it creates a misfire.

Inconsistent - one of the biggest obstacles to effective prayer is inconsistency which leads to shame. For many,  avoiding prayer altogether is the alternative.

• Mark 1:35 (ESV) And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

• Luke 11:1–2 (ESV) Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”  And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.

• I have found that a less formalized prayer time during seasons when that is impossible and an ongoing conversation throughout the day keeps me tapped in.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (ESV) pray without ceasing,

Lack of Faith - many pray not expecting to hear His Voice, sense His Presence or see His Hand in action. This repeated activity replaces faith in God with something else = IDOLATRY.

• Do you really pray with expectation?

• Your prayer time experiences callouses

• It becomes an obligation

• You become Immune

• Zero Expectation 

• IDOLATRY

• Your circumstances are more powerful than God

• Your enemy is more powerful than God

• God does for others but not for you

• Revelation‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬ “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”

• James‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬ ‭‭“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” ‭

Lack of Works

• Almost every effective prayer requires action on the part of the person praying, beginning with the prayer itself, followed by the actions necessary to see the prayer answered.

• At minimum, faith demonstrated in the way you pray.

• Willingness to be the conduit

• Willingness to humble yourself

• Willingness to change

• ‭‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬, ‭17‬, ‭22‬, ‭26‬ ‭( ESV)‬‬ “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” 

Wrong Motives - it is possible to desire a good outcome for very wrong motives, which will hinder the answer from coming.

• James‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭(ESV) ‬‬“You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” ‭‭

Poor Treatment of Others - even though they are two different conversations, our treatment of others impacts our ability to connect with God in prayer

• Matthew 25:40 (ESV) And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

• 1 Peter 3:7 (ESV) Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

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

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits

are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long.

Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever!! So we don’t look at

the troubles we can see right now, rather we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the

troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever!!

Hannah - A dream follower

1st Samuel 1-2

Opposition to the Dream - NO control elements

• road-block to the dream in place - God closed Hannah’s womb (1 Sam 1:6)

• made fun of by family members for inabilities (1 Sam 1:6)

• well Intentioned but unsupportive loved ones (1 Sam 1:8)

• wrongly accused of poor behavior - by a well respected authority (1 Sam 1:12-14)

Hannah’s Control Elements

• showing great emotion (1 Sam 1:10, 11) -Pslams 34:17 & 18

• defends herself (1 Sam 1:15-16) & DOES NOT lean in to offense (vs.18) Eph 4:32 Prov 15:1 Luke 6:27

• immediate agreement and belief in promise (vs 18) Romans 5:8-10 - Tim 4:10 John 14:10

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.

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. 

It Is Embedded In Who You Are 

• Jeremiah 1:5 (ESV) “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” 

○ These generalities are true of every person

○ You are not a windup toy released to see what happens

○ There is design 

• Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

○ Intelligent design reveals purpose 

○ Like a tool on the shelf, a closer look reveals purpose. 

We tend to look outward for His will to be revealed when so often it can be discovered by looking more closely at who we are. Not all of it, but the shadows are there. 

It Can Be General, Permissive Or Specific 

• Romans 12:2 that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 

  • Good - General - Zip Code 

    • Everyone Saved 

    • Everyone Involved In Discipleship 

    • Everyone Builds His Kingdom 

    • Everyone Walks In Kingdom Favor/Provision - Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

  • Acceptable - Permissive - Neighborhood 

    • Career

    • Spouse 

    • Car 

    • Specific Church 

  • Perfect - Specific - Address 

    • Micro moments of right wrong 

    • Micro decisions that unlock destiny 

      • Widow who gave prophet last of oil and flour 

      • Woman who anointed Jesus for burial 

      • Region vs opportunity 

    • Micro Calling 

So which one is it? 

Testing Over Time Will Enable You To Discern Which Applies 

You will make poor decisions. 

Some you will have to live with. 

Others you can launch from. 

It Can Go Unfulfilled 

• 1 Timothy 2:3–4 (ESV) This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

• Mark 16:16 (ESV) Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Reasons: 

• ignorance 

• Rebellion 

• Desire Things Outside Of It 

• Failure To Discern It 

• Failure to seek 

• Get Pushed From it 

○ Outside influences 

○ Lack strength/understanding 

○ Fall victim 

○ Submit 

• Wrong decision for “right” reason

• Failure To Enforce It 

○ Lack the understanding 

○ Lack the strength/faith 

○ Submission to “less-than”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭4‬-‭8‬, ‭13‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

4 Greek Words For Love

• Storge - familial love or natural affections, especially between parents and children

• Phileo - deep friendship or brotherly love

• John 11:34–36 (ESV) And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.”  Jesus wept.  So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

• Eros - (not in the NT) - romantic or passionate love

• Agape - highest form of love referring to sacrificial love seeking the well-being of others (referring to God’s love for us and the love Christians are called to have for one another)

Experiencing The Love Of God Equips You To Give/Receive True Love

• 1 John 4:19 (ESV) We love because he first loved us.

• Parents, children, spouse, friends, neighbors and enemies

• True love for God is possible in response to His love

• Religion is created when we try to love God without the revelation of his love.

• “God grant me a revelation of your love for me.”

• The revelation of God’s love is something we walk in. It is a status, It is something we wear. It is like a superpower

• Romans 8:35, 38-39 (ESV) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

• Self love is a poor substitute for the revelation of God’s love.

• The revelation of God’s loves enables us to love correctly

• The love you have experienced prior to that is incomplete, possibly even poisoned.

• Loving others out of a broken experience will be limited.

• In choosing a potential spouse, choose someone who loves God first

• Matthew 10:37 (ESV) Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

LOVE: The Sacrificial DECISION To Seek The Well-Being Of Others

• 1 Peter 2:4 (ESV) As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious.

• God chose to love you.

• God would not command you to do something that you could not choose

• Matthew 22:39 (ESV) And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

• Matthew 5:44–46 (ESV) But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

• Falling into love leads to falling out of love

• That type of love is emotion

• That type of love is attraction

• “You can’t help who you love” is not a true statement. “You can’t help who you are attracted to” is the correct response.

• Attraction is often impacted by brokenness and traumatic experiences

• Childhood trauma

• Broken relationships

• Grooming

• In marriage, attraction is important, but the decision to love is paramount.

• Fall in love means you can fall out of love.

• At moments it will feel like being trapped.

• The decision will unlock the emotion

LOVE: The SACRIFICIAL Decision To Seek The Well-Being Of Others

• 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.

• John 15:13 (ESV) Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

• LOVE empties its vault to increase the value of someone else.

• Anyone who demands things under the umbrella of love is likely manipulation.

• If you loved me then you would….

• God will deal with your narcissism through others.

• “Oh, this is how you feel God…”

LOVE: The Sacrificial Decision To Seek The WELL-BEING Of Others

• 1 Corinthians 13:6 (NIV) Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

• “Well Being: God’s Best

• Some forms of love are out of alignment with AGAPE

• Care for feelings

• Care for comfort

• Care about being liked

• Care about being accepted

• Ex: During the pandemic, riots, and current woke agendas “how will that show the world the love of God?”

• Love in spite of sin, but we can never affirm sin

• Illus: the man sinking because of the concrete block he is holding needs someone to love him without affirming the block.

• True love does not pull people out of the boundaries of God’s Word. True love seeks to center others within God’s Word, sometimes at the expense of:

• Their feelings

• Their comfort

• Their cultural 

• There are more important things than how people feel

• Rejoices with the truth

• Ephesians 4:15 (ESV) Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.

Patriot - a person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors.

• Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

America: 1776 AD - 246 Years Old

• Iran 3200 BC - 5224

• Egypt 3100 BC - 5124

• Vietnam 2879 BC - 4903

• Armenia 2492 BC - 4516

• North Korea 2333 BC - 4357

• China 2070 BC - 4094

Immigration - everyone wants to come here.

• America 50.6 million foreign born people

• Germany 15.8

• Saudi Arabia 13.5 

• Russia 11.6

• United Kingdom 9

2.6 people legally immigrate to the US per year, with close to the same number entering illegally every year.

Largest economy in the world - Gross domestic product

• US 25 trillion

• China 18.5 trillion

• Germany 4.5 trillion

• Japan 4.11 trillion

• India 3.9

Pull China out and our GDP is higher than the following 8 nations combined.

Per capita, we are #7 but the 6 above us are tiny nations.

We are facing an election like none other ever seen

• Election between two who have already been president

• Two who are in their 80’s

• One with a lifetime in politics and the other who the only office he held was the one he won

• Wealth

• When Joe biden left the vice presidency his net worth was essentially zero but has surged to 8 million with book deals

• Trumps value dropped by 700 million to 2.3 billion

• One who is facing 88 criminal charges and 54 felonies.

We Are EXILES - Kingdom First!

• Jeremiah 29:1 (ESV) These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders of the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.

While we live here, we are exiles!!!

This is not our home, this is not our destination.

There has been an beginning and ending to every earthly kingdom

• John 18:36 (ESV) Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”

• Philippians 3:20–21 (ESV) But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,  who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

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

This is the Kingdom He resides over

This is the Kingdom we prioritize

This is the Kingdom we are building

There is a future government coming

Isaiah 9:6–7 (ESV) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

We Are Here, Now, On Mission For Our King

Jeremiah 29:4 (ESV) “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:

• Acts 17:26–27 (ESV) And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,  that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

Here and now is different for many other believers in the world. But it’s the same mission.

We Are To Thrive While Here

• Jeremiah 29:5 (ESV) Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce.

• Jeremiah 29:6 (ESV) Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease.

• Jeremiah 29:11 - …plans to prosper you…

As crazy as that sounds, we are to thrive.

We are not to:

• Live in defense mode

• Live in fear of this world getting on us

• Not get involved in anything

• Multiply, not only in number but in culture/values

• 3 John 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

We Are To Help Here & Now To Thrive

Jeremiah 29:7 (ESV) But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

Seek the welfare

• Health

• Happiness

• Fortunes

Greek word

• Completeness

• Soundness 

• Peace

We have to participate in that.

Never at the expense of our homeland

• Live

• Vote

• Participate

• Give voice

“God doesn’t have a guy, you have a choice”

• Often its the best of two bad choices

• Biblical policy over Biblical lifestyle

• “I like where the ball lands” on other issues

Here Again

Released in 2018 by the band, Elevation Worship who are the music leaders for Elevation Church in NC. 

It provides opportunities for us to do several things:

• To acknowledge the hard place we often find ourselves, in-between where we’ve been and what God has said will be… and then, to lay that struggle, our emotions, our plans, our effort at the feet of the Lord as an offering of trust.

• For us to glorify the faithfulness of God, recognizing that regardless of how we feel or whether or not we sense His presence, and no matter what happens, He has pursued us our whole lives, has not abandoned us in our place of discomfort, and WILL see us through to the very best He has for us.

• For us to establish and pursue our relationship with Jesus as the most important thing. Above our comfort, above our desired outcomes, above any godly pursuit, this is our declaration to pursue God Himself first.

Submission Facilitates Victory

Can’t go back to the beginning, Can’t control what tomorrow will bring, Let your love rise above every fear, In my weakness your glory appears

Life is full of difficult spots

• Loss of idyllic past

• Inability to control envisioned future

• Lamenting failures or sin

• Dealing with trauma from the sin of others

These places in between “what was” and “what will be” are spiritual battlefields.

• Enemy will sow everything from bitterness, resentment, fear, discontentment, pride… all things that will rob us of the abundant life Jesus bought for us.

James 4:7 (ESV) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

• Submission means both “yielding control of” AND “presenting or offering”

• Acknowledge the hard place we often find ourselves, in-between where we’ve been and what God has said will be… and then, lay that struggle; our emotions, our plans, our effort at the feet of the Lord as an offering of trust.

• Submit yourself to God and the enemy will retreat.

When we sing these words, offer to the Lord everything weighing you down. Every pain, scar, fear, hope, and plan.

• Surrender to God’s plans for your future and redemption of your past.

• Commit to stop looking in the rear view mirror and start looking forward.

• Thank the Lord for breakthroughs that are coming.

Never Alone in the Process

As I walk now through the valley, Not for a minute was I forsaken, Dry bones awaken, The Lord is in this place

Regardless of how we feel, whether we sense His presence or not, and no matter what happens, He has not abandoned us and WILL see us through to His very best for us.

2 Sam 14:14 (NLT) All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him.

God has always been, and always will be working to draw us closer to Himself.

• Doesn’t depend on our awareness

• Extends beyond our acknowledgement

• Is a result of His character and the value He’s placed on us: the life of His only son

Like David, encourage yourself in the Lord when you feel alone.

• Acknowledge and give thanks for the ways He’s been faithful in the past.

• Evaluate the following and respond to the Lord accordingly:

• Facts: You don’t FEEL Him, SEE Him working, or UNDERSTAND His plan. Maybe you’re even struggling to believe He cares or is even there.

• Lies: He’s abandoned you. You’re too broken. He was never really there at all.

• Truth:  God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He demonstrated His love for you in that while you were still embracing sin, He died to justify you in the presence of God the Father and for the CHANCE that you might choose to trust Him for that. There is nothing outside of you or inside of you that can separate you from His love.

When we sing these words, praise God for His character of faithfulness and love.

• Reject the lies the enemy has told you,

• Embrace the truth of what God says,

• Regardless of the facts of your circumstance.

King First, Kingdom Second

All I want is all you are, Come Holy Spirit, I’m not enough unless you come, Will you meet me here again

The Kingdom of God is built around and for the glory of God. He is central to all aspects of it.

• Declaration that we want Him over anything else

• Invitation for Him to take His rightful place as the King of our lives

Daniel 3:17-18 (NLT) “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

It’s easy to develop a relationship with Jesus where we pursue the things He’s promised as a priority over pursuing Him.

Establish (or reestablish) and pursue our relationship with Jesus as the most important thing. Above our comfort, above desired outcomes, above any godly pursuit; this is our declaration to pursue God Himself first.

When we sing these words make them a personal expression from you to Jesus.

• Invite Him to meet you right where you're at

• Ask Him to change your heart

• Ask Him to heal your unbelief

• shachah (hebrew) - to bow down.

• proskuneo (greek) - to kiss, to show reverence, to bow down

Worship is an issue of priority, affection, reverence, elevation, honor, submission.

• GENERAL WORSHIP - 1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV) So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

• INTENTIONAL WORSHIP:  2 Samuel 6:12–15 (ESV) So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing. And when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn.

Intentional worship is the combination of words and actions intended to bring praise, honor and glory to God.

• Singing - Psalm 9:2 (ESV) I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

• Shouting - Psalm 47:1 (ESV) Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!

• Lifting Hands - Psalm 63:4 (ESV) So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.

• Bowing/Kneeling - Psalm 95:6 (ESV) Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!

• Clapping - Psalm 47:1 (ESV) Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!

• Praising - Psalm 9:11 (ESV) Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds!

• Dancing - Psalm 149:3 (ESV) Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!

• Thanksgiving - Psalm 100:4 (ESV) Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

• Music - Psalm 150:3–5 (ESV) Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!  Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!  Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!

Intentional worship is catalytic in nature. 
As we participate, powerful outcomes are unlocked.

Intentional: Declaration

• Declaration: a formal announcement, binding when made by an authoritative representative.

• God declared: Genesis 22:16–18 (ESV) and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,  I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies,  and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

• Psalm 51:15 (ESV) O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

• Psalm 92:1–3 (ESV) It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High;  to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night,  to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre.

• Your declaration informs:

• God

• Yourself

• Those listening

• Your circumstances

• The spiritual realm around you.

• Your declaration is binding

Intentional: Magnification

• God is already big, but He shrinks in our eyes. Intentional worship brings our focus on God causing everything else to be reduced in His Presence.

• Psalm 34:3 (ESV) Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!

• Psalm 69:30 (ESV) I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.

• Luke 1:46–47 (ESV) And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,  and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

Intentional: Invitation

• Intentional worship is the acceptance of God’s invitation to come close and enjoy the benefits of His Presence. 

• James 4:8 (ESV) Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. 

• Psalm 100:4 (ESV) Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

• 1 Samuel 16:23 (ESV) 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.

• Acts 16:25–34 (ESV) About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,  and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.  When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open…, he was baptized at once, he and all his family.  Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

Just Because We Call It Worship Doesn’t Mean It Is

• Just because we gather,

• Just because a song is played,

• Just because people sing,

• Just because we sit, stand, bow our heads,

• Just because we raise our hands,

Without INTENTION, it is not worship.  In fact, being around the components of focused worship without actually participating in focused worship can actually immunize you from experiencing. 

THE TRUTH ABOUT: WORSHIP

SCRIPTURE: Luke 4:5–8 (ESV) And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’ ”

Worship was not something I recognized growing up.

• Sadly, attended church for 6+ years, never observing worship

• Illus: Gilligan and tiki god seemed like worship

THE TRUTH ABOUT WORSHIP

1. Worship Establishes FIRST; FIRST Demands Worship

• HB shachah - to bow down; GK proskuneō - to kiss (embrace), to show reverence, to bow down.

• Worship is an issue of priority, affection, reverence, elevation, honor, submission.

2.Everyone Worships; Everyone Has A FIRST

• Adam/Eve, GOD as FIRST was by design - Genesis 1:31 (ESV) And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.

• Adam/Eve chose another FIRST, impacting design

Genesis 3:6 (ESV) So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

Genesis 3:24 (ESV) 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.

Psalm 51:5 (ESV) Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

• Everyone is worshiping

• Ignorant worshippers

• Intentional worshippers

• People

• Objects

• Positions

• Ideas, Truths, Concepts

• Ideologies

FIRST is impacted by influences followed by decisions.

• So important to influence others

• Because of Design, when GOD is FIRST, life is in sync

3.FIRST Impacts Experiences & Outcomes

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

• First Impacts Eternal Life -

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

• 2 Corinthians 5:9–10 (ESV) So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

4.Everything We Do Can Be Worship

• 1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV) So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

SLIDE THE TRUTH ABOUT: COVERING

SCRIPTURE: Job 1:9-10 (ESV) 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.

Coverings Protect, Amenitize and Expose

• Sun glasses; polarization; harmful plastic

• Clothing; fashion; poor construction

• Home; air conditioning; breach in roof

• Military; confidence; bought by an interest

Matthew 23:37–39 (ESV) “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!  See, your house is left to you desolate. 

• Psalm 17:8–9 (ESV) …hide me in the shadow of your wings,  from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me.

• Psalm 27:5 (ESV) For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.

• Psalm 61:4 (ESV) Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah

• Proverbs 18:10 (ESV) The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

• Psalm 32:7 (ESV) You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah.

4 Critical Coverings

Impacting Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Financial, Social 

Family 

• Job 1:9-10 (ESV) 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.

“Church” or religion

• Church is your most influential social group that worships something

• Christian Churches

• People treat churches like they are stores they shop from, when in reality they are covenantal families that bring covering, amenities and breaches

• Philadelphia: Revelation 3:8–10 (ESV) “ ‘I know your works… I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.

• Ephesus: Revelation 2:4,5 (ESV) …you have abandoned the love you had at first…. Repent… If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place…

State/Nation 

• Psalm 33:12 (ESV) Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

• Jeremiah 29:7 (ESV) But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

Kingdom

• The World/Kingdom of Heaven

• John 10:9–11 (ESV) I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.  I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Review Your Current Coverings & Adjust

• Are you fully engaged in coverings?

• Are you strengthening your coverings?

• Get involved in your school district, local city council. 

• Do you have an unintended or unhealthy coverings

• Certain negative atmospheres that I can’t impact, I limit.

• Some coverings you trade

You Are A Covering: Recognize And Adjust As Needed

• Job 1:9-10 (ESV) 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.

• Protect, amenities and expose

• You build your coverings strength with spiritual disciplines and obedience

• You weaken/create breaches by your ignorance, lack of discipline and sin

• Be blessed so they can be blessed

SCRIPTURE:  Daniel 3:4–7 (ESV) And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,  that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.  And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.”  Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Compromise: 

• Good: to settle a dispute by mutual concession

• Bad: to accept standards that are lower than desirable

• Very Bad: to embrace standards below God’s expressed will

COMPROMISE IS MORE THAN A SIN. SIN IS AN ACTION, WHILE COMPROMISE IS A COURSE OF ACTION.

Daniel 3,4 - Babylon lead by Nebuchadnezzar 

• Spiritually dark time. 

• Like America, the King's world was influenced by corrupt politicians, business leaders, social elites, judges, dark priests, and people from academia with a few godly people in the mix.

• In Babylon were people of Israel, human trafficked into Babylon by the government. Some of their finest were elevated to political prominence 

• Daniel 2:49 (ESV) Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s court.

• God will promote you and use you to influence your world in spite of the evil around you!

• Their presence made influential people jealous, but more likely, agitated the demons that influenced the people of influence.

• Neb set up an image ninety feet tall

• Daniel 3:4 Gathered the nation so when the music kicked on, everyone was to bow down and worship the image.

• People participated on various levels:

• As a group, everyone participated wholeheartedly.

• Internally, people participated for various reasons

• All in on idolatry

• Afraid of losing job

• Desire for promotion

• Meet the expectations of their sub-group

• Crowd pressure

• Virtue signaling - good people do this

• Afraid of the furnace

• There were hold-outs, and hold-outs were dealt with.

• Daniel 3:8 (ESV) Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews.

• Daniel 3:12 (ESV) There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

• Brought before Neb

• Daniel 3:13 (ESV) Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king.

• Daniel 3:15 (ESV) Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”

The Furnace: A Place Of Decision

• A demand for compromise leading to safety from destruction

• And invitation for obedience the leads to promotion

Common Furnaces Of Compromise:

• Individuals, groups, organizations and communities.

• Instead of influencing them, they influence you

• Require ongoing compromise

• They strip you bare. 

• You may survive but you will not thrive.

• Activities contrary to scripture

• Addictions

• Anger 

• Unforgiveness

• Cultural attitudes, values and practices

• Things our culture embraces that occasionally demand our participation and celebration.

• I would not attend a ceremony to celebrate someone committing suicide

• I would not attend a ceremony to celebrate someone having an abortion

• I would not attend a ceremony to celebrate two men getting married.

• I would not attend 

• Circumstances 

• Miserable marriage

• Poverty finances

• Poor health

• Family Torment

• Generational sin

Compromise Will

• Provide escape from the furnace, offer quick rewards that will not last

  Invite and permit unforeseen trappings to reside in your life

• damage your relationship with God, micro at first, macro when it is in full bloom

• Corrupt, over time, things He’s already done/given you

• Limit future experiences/promotions 

• Camouflage the touch of God on your life

• His touch, his presence makes you different than others

• It makes you attractive to others

• It makes people want what you have

• Compromise causes you to blend in 

Things That Will Not Break The Stronghold Of Compromise:

• Wishing for something different

• Praying for things to be different

• Admission of Mistakes

• Sorrow For Sin

• Asking For Forgiveness

Facing Compromise: DECLARE // RENOUNCE

Daniel 3:16–18 (ESV) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.  If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.  But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Isaiah 43:1–3 (ESV) But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. 

THE TRUTH ABOUT: TRIALS

• John 16:33 (ESV) …In the world you will have tribulation.

• John 16:33 (NIV) …In this world you will have trouble. 

• John 16:33 (MSG) …In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties.

The Facts About Trials

TRIAL - a person, situation or thing that tests, reveals, proves another

TRIALS were not intended for our origin story.

• We were made in the image of God, in His likeness, with his logo and nothing was needed to test, reveal or prove because we were established perfectly.

• Genesis 1:31 (ESV) And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

• Very - meod - muchness, force, abundance

• Good - tob - pleasing, agreeable, good

• With God’s authority, we tested all things, but needed not be tested ourselves. In fact, nothing could test us.

• Genesis 1:26 (ESV) And let them have dominion… over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

TRIALS began when sin cursed our world.

• Genesis 3:17–19 (ESV) And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground (world) because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;  thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.  By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

• In this world…

• John 16:33 (ESV) …In the world you will have tribulation.

• John 16:33 (NIV) …In this world you will have trouble. 

• John 16:33 (MSG) …In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties.

TRIALS will permeate our lives until the end.

• James 1:2 (ESV) Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

• James 1:12 (ESV) Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial…

• 1 Peter 1:6 (ESV) …you have been grieved by various trials,

• 1 Peter 4:12 (ESV) Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

• 1 Corinthians 15:26 (ESV) The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

The Lies About Trials

• LIE: God is the source of trials (temptations)

• “This is happening, it must be meant to be” - NO

• James 1:13–15 (ESV) Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.  But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.  Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

• God doesn't start tem

• God doesn’t prolong them

• God rarely shortens them. 

• God typically doesn’t doesn’t end them

• LIE: Trials are a byproduct of God’s displeasure

• Luke 13:1–4 (ESV) There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.  And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?  No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.  Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?

• Jesus was speaking against the idea that bad things happen to bad people. Bad things just happen.

• An absence of trials is not proof of His pleasure.

• An abundance of trials are not a sign of his displeasure nor a lack of faith.

• LIE: Trials are predetermined and must be endured until they end. 

• This lie assumes that there is no way to avoid trials and once they begin, there's nothing we can do but ride them out. 

• Trials are not predetermined.

• We can actually create them. We can lengthen them. We can shorten them. 

• Galatians 6:7–9 (ESV) Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.  And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

• We can do much more than endure! We can grow!

• James 1:3–4 (ESV) for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

• We can do much more than endure! We can overcome

• 1 John 5:4–5 (ESV) For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

• LIE: Your trials define you.

• This is to submit to your trial and to be limited by your trial and become its victim

• Genesis 50:20 (MSG) Don’t you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now—life for many people.

The TRUTH About TRIALS

Discerning A Trial’s Source Allows You To Navigate A Straight Path Through

• Trials can be caused by you, others, the devil, and life circumstances in general. Knowing the source determines your posture and methodology to navigate through. 

• Job 2:7 (ESV) So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.

• Matthew 26:14–16 (ESV) Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests  and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.  And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.

• Jeremiah 2:14–17 (ESV) “Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant? Why then has he become a prey?  The lions have roared against him; they have roared loudly. They have made his land a waste; his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant.  Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head.  Have you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the LORD your God, when he led you in the way?

Your Attitude During Trials Will Impact Their Length, Next Steps & Destination.

• Numbers 11:1–3 (ESV) And the people complained in the hearing of the LORD about their misfortunes, and when the LORD heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp.  Then the people cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the LORD, and the fire died down.  So the name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of the LORD burned among them.

Trials Have A Secondary Purpose - Your Maturity

• The primary purpose of the trial is to derail you.

• The secondary purpose (God’s allowance) is to prepare you for His best.

• James 1:3–4 (ESV) for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Our Greatest Trials Are Launching Points Into His Best

• God is a god of justice, so he makes up for the trouble we experience:

• Romans 12:19–20 (ESV) Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”  To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

• He will add 1/5

• Leviticus 5:16 (ESV) He shall also make restitution for what he has done amiss in the holy thing and shall add a fifth to it and give it to the priest. And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and he shall be forgiven.

• He launches you into destiny

• Genesis 41:39–40 (ESV) 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.”

James 1:12 (ESV) Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

“Look at the flowers

In all of their beauty

I don’t have to wonder

You know what you’re doing

So why would I worry at all

You’re faithful to supply”

“Look at the sparrow

Lacking for nothing

No fear of tomorrow

And what it will bring

If I have you I have enough

Cause your love will satisfy”

To those who struggle with exhaustion: Does God even hear me? I’ve tried, but nothing happened. Is it ever going to happen? It’s been so long since God promised. Nothing is changing. I give up. I can’t do this anymore.”

1. “You Know What You’re Doing”

1. Job synopsis - he lost his 10 children, his possessions, his health (sores), his wife

2. Job 42:1-6 “The Job replied to the Lord: ‘I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I–and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. You said, ‘Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.’ I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.’”

3. The Lord then blessed him x2, second half of his life

4. Job 23:2, 10-12 “My complaint today is still a bitter one, and I try hard not to groan aloud. 10 But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. For I have stayed on God’s paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside. I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food.”

“Everything I need everything I need

My father has it my Father has it

Every single time the Lord will provide

My father has it my Father has it”

To those who struggle with self-doubt: Am I enough? Am I doing this well? I don’t feel equipped for this. I don’t know what to do. This is too much to handle. I can’t do this.

1. “My Father Has It”

1. Moses & Israelites synopsis - they were about to cross the sea, saw 600 egyptians chariots chasing them, and Israelites thought that they were going to die

2. (Slide 1) Exodus 14:13-14 “Moses answered the people. He said, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm. You will see how the Lord will save you today.

3. (Slide 2) Exodus 14:15, 19-20 “Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, ‘Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people of Israel to move on. Hold out your walking stick. Reach out your hand over the Red Sea to divide the water. Then the people can go through the sea on dry ground.’ 19 The angel of God had been traveling in front of Israel’s army. Now he moved back and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved away from in front of them. Now it stood behind them. It came between the armies of Egypt and Israel. All through the night the cloud brought darkness to one side and light to the other. Neither army went near the other all night long.”

4. Israelites made it safely to the other side

“Seek first the Kingdom and its treasures

Everything else it will be added

All that I’m needing

I know the Lord will provide

I know my God’s not empty handed

He gives us blessings upon blessings

I’m still believing

I know the Lord will provide”

To those who struggle with settling: Life doesn’t look the way I thought it would. This is how it’s going to be I guess. There’s no changing them. It’s always been like that. I’ve always had to deal with this. This is a part of who I am. It’s a part of life. I just don’t see how it could get any better.

1. “My God’s Not Empty Handed”

1. Solomon synopsis: Solomon was the wisest and richest person to ever have lived, God was honored by the way he led and lived, and God promised to fulfill his promise of living amongst the Israelites if Solomon obeyed. But Solomon followed in the footsteps of his father, settling for less. 

2. 1 Kings 11:1-4, 9-13 ”Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites. The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, “You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.” Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord. In Solomon’s old age, they turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the Lord his God, as his father, David, had been. The Lord was very angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. He had warned Solomon specifically about worshiping other gods, but Solomon did not listen to the Lord’s command. So now the Lord said to him, “Since you have not kept my covenant and have disobeyed my decrees, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your servants. But for the sake of your father, David, I will not do this while you are still alive. I will take the kingdom away from your son. And even so, I will not take away the entire kingdom; I will let him be king of one tribe, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, my chosen city.”“

3. Solomon settled for less. 

4. Settle for immediate gratification, minimal effort, believing that things can’t change, you don’t want to face the fact that you have things you need to work on, you don’t believe you deserve better.

5. He has blessings in his hands ready to give you, so do not settle for anything less than what’s in his hands.

Last Encouragement: Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding.” AND Psalm 23 “The Lord is my shepherd. He gives me everything I need. He lets me lie down in fields of green grass. He leads me beside quiet waters. He gives me new strength. He guides me in the right paths for the honor of his name. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid. You are with me. Your shepherd’s rod and staff comfort me. You prepare a feast for me right in front of my enemies. You pour oil on my head. My cup runs over. I am sure that your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. And I will live in the house of the Lord forever.”

The Lord will provide. He already has or He will. Seek first the kingdom and its treasures and everything will be added.