February 4th 2024
For this cause
Ephesians 3:1-21
Ephesians 3:20 Text
Ephesians 3:1-2
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
Paul said, to this intent, for this reason, I am a prisoner.
Paul said I have been arrested.
A prisoner in Jesus Christ FOR YOUR SAKE!
A prisoner has no say-so
Their under the authority of their captors
One who will obey to the letter?
There are few men today that are prisoners in Christ fully, but there surely a lot out on work release.
Part timers.
It was no mystery that the Gentiles were to be saved.
Eph 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Gal 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Eph 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
“I became minister”; “to me was this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles Christ’s unsearchable riches.” It was at this crisis that Paul was raised up. Then “it pleased God to reveal His Son “in him, that he might” preach Him among the Gentiles.” The effect of this summons upon Paul himself was overwhelming, and continued to be so till the end of life.
Eph 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Eph 3:15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
Paul bowed on his knees and prayed for them
Eph 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Eph 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Faith opens the door to the Spirit; the Spirit reveals Christ; Christ fills the heart; the heart begins to understand love; and love is the medium through which we become infilled with God, for God is love.
Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Eph 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Now unto HIM!
He is able!
Exceeding abundantly and above!
According to the power that worketh in us!!!
This is the results to our asking
“THINK SMALL / ASK LITTLE
Eph 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
February 11th
Having it our way can cause a lot of trouble and disheartment.
No one wants to be troubled.
No one wants disheartened.
Some still like having it their way.
Why we don’t do what we should be doing?
There is one thing that I find absolutely amazing about most of us. It’s this —
Deep down we all know what is it that we need to do. We know what will make us happier, what will make us healthier, what will help us grow.
Getting in your own way means that you are hindering your own progress or success through your thoughts, behaviors or attitudes. It’s quite common that a person’s own self-doubt, fear or lack of confidence holds them back from achieving their goals or living their life to the fullest.
As humans, we have a habit to associate things not going our way as being a problem.
1Sa 15:1 Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.
1Sa 15:2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
1Sa 15:3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
1Sa 15:4 And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.
1Sa 15:5 And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.
1Sa 15:7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.
Saul’s instructions were–
Utterly destroy all the Amalekites and all they have, and spare them not.
Now therefore hearken to the voice of the Lord.
Note, God’s favours to us lay strong obligations upon us to be obedient to him. This we must render,
Psa 116:12 What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?
God had an ancient quarrel with the Amalekites, for the injuries they did to his people Israel when he brought them out of Egypt.
He basely smote the hindmost of them, and feared not God. God then swore that he would have war with Amalek from generation to generation, and that in process of time he would utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek; this is the work that Saul is now appointed to do.
It is dangerous being found in the company of God’s enemies.
It is our duty and interest to come out from among them, lest we share in their sins and plagues, Rev_18:4.
He smote them (1Sa_15:7), utterly destroyed them, 1Sa_15:8.
OR DID HE?
1Sa 15:10 Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,
1Sa 15:11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.
1Sa 15:12 And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.
1Sa 15:13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.
1Sa 15:14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
1Sa 15:15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.
1Sa 15:16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.
Was Saul obedient unto God?
Saul is playing with God.
THEY, Saul passing the buck.
Saul trying to justify his sin.
Remember, God’s commandments must be done to the letter.
Saul was having it done his way.
1Sa 15:19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?
1Sa 15:20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
1Sa 15:21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
1Sa 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
Destroy all!
1Sa 15:3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
The sin of disobedience!!
1Sa 15:9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
Saul rejected by God!!
1Sa 15:26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
Kingship was given to David!!
1Sa 15:28 And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.
Having it our way can cause a lot of trouble
God Bless you!
The stupidity of fighting God
Obadiah 1:1-21
The Book of Obadiah is based on a prophetic vision concerning the fall of Edom, a mountain-dwelling nation whose founding father was Esau. Obadiah describes an encounter with God, who addresses Edom’s arrogance and charges them for their “violence against your brother Jacob”.
Obadiah is supposed to have received the gift of prophecy for having hidden the “hundred prophets” from the persecution of Jezebel. He hid the prophets in two caves, so that if those in one cave should be discovered those in the other might yet escape.
Who is Edom?
The Hebrew word Edom means “red”, and the Hebrew Bible relates it to the name of Esau, the elder son of Isaac, because he was born “red all over”. As a young adult, he sold his birthright to his brother Jacob for a portion of “red pottage”.
Esau despised his birthright because God had proclaimed that his birthright equaled death. God gave favor to Jacob, who was the youngest.
The Edomites were the descendants of Esau, the firstborn son of Isaac and the twin brother of Jacob.
As an adult, Esau rashly sold his inheritance to Jacob for a bowl of red soup (Genesis 25:30-34), and he hated his brother afterward.
Esau became the father of the Edomites and Jacob became the father of the Israelites, and the two nations continued to struggle through most of their history.
The Edomites regularly attacked Israel, and many wars were fought as a result.
BROTHER FIGHTING AGAINST BROTHER.
I BELIEVE THAT God has and will fight our battles for us.
The Great sin of Edom (Esau).
Oba 1:10 For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.
Oba 1:11 In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.
Oba 1:12 But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress.
Oba 1:13 Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity;
Oba 1:14 Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress.
Edom / Esau
HE PURSUED HIS BROTHER WITH THE SWORD.
He wanted to kill him
HE SHOWED NO MERCY.
Mercy is often needed only, in the face of weaknesses and shortcomings.
HIS ANGER DESTROYED CONTINUOSLY.
God doesn’t operate like that, He had to rebuke Edom for being so destructive.
HE MANTAINED AND NURTURED HIS WRATH FOREVER
People refuse to let it go! That is evil, you should stop before God turns around to engage you in a battle as He promised to deal with Edom.
Now we see Edom fighting a battle he cannot win.
Oba 1:18 And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it.
Fighting a losing battle.
To try hard to do something when there is no chance that you will succeed.
Paul was fighting a losing battle kicking against the pricks. (Acts 9:5)
Ananias and Sapphira lying to God. (Acts 5:1-11)
Achan stealing from God. (Joshua 7:1-20)
Many of people have tried to fight against God and found themselves losing.
Just remember,
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
The stupidity of fighting God
Acts 12:1-25
For a man to live in war against his Creator is stupidity. For a man to live in violation of all the laws of God Him being more vast than that man just doesn’t make sense, and yet most men live their whole life long fighting God, God’s law, God’s plans.
And it doesn’t make any sense at all.
For centuries men have clenched their fists and gritted their teeth in the face of God, and they do it today.
They pit their own will against the will of God.
Proverbs 21:30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
And what he meant by that was anybody who goes against God is a fool.
There’s no wisdom in that.
That shows they don’t understand and there’s no wise counsel in that.
Nothing can stand against God and yet men foolishly slam their own wills against the will of God like scattering eggs against the ground and all you have is lives broken against a God that cannot be violated.
Men have always tried to fight God; that isn’t anything new.
In the very beginning and you can find out that God had a standard, and Eve decided to fight it and Adam decided to join the fight and all of us are cursed. God had a standard for sacrifice.
You can’t fight God. It does not work. You can’t find one man in history, one man in the revelation of God that ever fought against God and won.
The world, the government, leaders in high places even the men of this land can’t win fighting God.
The greatest men of the world, the monarchs of the world who could amass the armies of the world tried to fight God and they couldn’t do it and come out on top.
It doesn’t matter how powerful you are.
And what makes a man think just a little insignificant puny man on the face of the globe that he is going to stand in defiance of God?
That is the most foolish thing a man can ever conceive of.
You who can’t even figure out the simplest facts of human existence are going to fight the God who created the universe. It doesn’t make a lot of sense. And since scripture has been complete men have continued to do it. But you know what they are all dead, withered, decayed and gone and God’s alive.
Isn’t it interesting of all the apostles that he picked out to kill, he picked the one that Jesus said would suffer. James
Men think they’re so smart. All they’re doing is just carrying out the plans of God.
It’s foolish to fight God for one classic reason.
Are you ready for this?
God fights back.
Conclusion;
If you’ve never come to Jesus Christ, you’re not giving God the glory, and if you’re not giving God the glory, then you’re fighting against His glory.
And if you’ve not become a part of His church, a part of His body, you’re fighting against His purpose and all three are losers.
You say, well I’m not fighting God. Jesus said,
“He that is not with me is” – what? – “against me.”
Message
“Nothing but the Blood”
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
The life of the flesh (the whole body) is indeed “in the blood.”The life of the flesh is in the blood
Lev 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. …for it is the life of all flesh
Lev 17:14 For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off. …for the blood is the life
Deu 12:23 Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb – Here is given the reason why the followers of Christ prevailed at this time against all their adversaries.
It was because they fought against the dragon (the devil) in the armor of God.
They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb – by proclaiming salvation to sinners through Christ crucified, and by their continual intercession at the throne of grace for the conversion of the heathen world.
What can wash away my sin?
What can make me whole again?
For my pardon this I see:
For my cleansing this my plea:
Nothing can for sin atone:
Naught of good that I have done:
This is all my hope and peace:
This is all my righteousness:
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Blood is so important to God that it is mentioned in the Bible around 700 times.
The Blood, Which cleanses the soul from all sin, and so leaves no room for accusing.
And by the word of their testimony – The word of God, which they believed and testified, even unto death.
Why does the world hate the blood of Christ so much?
Man has disliked the blood form the beginning because it shows how deceitful the heart is, that we do not like to go in God’s way. We find this in the 4th chapter of Genesis when Cain wanted to go his own way.
The power of the blood of Jesus has provided everything you need to live a life of victory, including Redemption, fellowship, healing, protection and authority over the devil.
The blood symbolizes cleansing and purification—the settling of a matter.
The blood made it possible for us to come into the presence of God.
Hebrews _10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
His plan of Redemption was the same as it was for Abel, Moses and Noah—it would be through the shedding of blood.
The greatest thing the blood of Jesus accomplished was this—it washed all your sin away and made you clean and pure—white as snow.
Christ poured out his life in the ultimate atoning sacrifice for our sin and the sins of the world.
The Blood of Jesus Has Power To:
Redeem us
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace …
Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
With his own blood — not the blood of goats and calves — he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.
Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Reconcile us to God
For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood…
Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Pay our ransom
For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver.
It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.
1Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1Peter 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation …
Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Wash away sin
But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
1John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Forgive us
Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Free us
… and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us.
Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Justify us
Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
Romans 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Cleanse our guilty conscience
Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.
Hebrews 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Sanctify us
So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.
Hebrews 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Open the way to the presence of God
But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Give us peace
For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
Colossians 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Overcome the enemy
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Message
What is positive thinking?
Message
What has happened to the Fire in the Church
Psa_29:7 The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire.
Psa_39:3 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,
Psa_50:3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
Psa_78:14 In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
Psa_97:3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
Mar_9:44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Act_2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
FIRE IN THE CHURCH
What does fire symbolize?
“Fire represents many things to many people and cultures. It is recognized as a purifier, a destroyer and as the generative power of life, energy and change.
It represents illumination and enlightenment, destruction and renewal, spirituality and damnation”.
To be “on fire” is to be eager, zealous, or “burning” with enthusiasm.
Sometimes we speak of “lighting a fire under” someone, by which we mean “motivating” that person or “urging” him or her to action.
In the church include on-fire Christian (“a zealous Christian”) and on fire for the Lord (“filled with enthusiasm for God”).
Although these are not found in the Bible, but we do find examples there of people with “burning” zeal and descriptions of the Lord’s work using terms associated with “fire.”
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, I encourage you to stay on fire for God.
I am convinced now more than ever that the world needs a church that is on fire. Not some dead, dry, barely surviving church…but a church that is on fire for Jesus!
Lev 6:13 The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.
God instructed Moses that this fire should never go out but to burn continuously.
We can afford to lose a lot of things, but not our fiery passion for God.
I REMEMBER A TIME WHEN I was in another church service,
The neighbor’s call the fire department because they saw fire coming from the roof of the building we were in.
If you were to tell a nonbeliever that your pastor was on fire!” or “our church was on fire!” They would call for a fire truck to put it out.
- Do you UNDERSTAND WHAT THE FIRE OF GOD IS
- Fire symbolizes many things in the bible.
- Fire symbolized the holiness of God.
- When Moses received the ten commandments on Mount Sinai, the bible says that the whole mount was lit with fire. Exodus 19
- In Genesis 9 we come to understand that fire can represent the judgment of God, because it was fire that fell down upon Sodom and Gomorrah for their immorality and unrighteousness.
When God pours out judgment, he pours out fire, you can see it over and again in the Bible.
When we pray for the fire of God, we are literally calling down the presence of God.
When we ask God to send his fire, we are literally asking God to send his presence.
When we say, Lord we need your fire.
The fire of God in the New Testament is the empowerment of God for service.
John the Baptist spoke of Jesus ministry:
Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
2.DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THE FIRE HAS TO BE MAINTAINED
Someone had to maintain the fire.
A lot of people want God to come, but they have no interest in maintaining the fire and maintaining the presence of the Lord.
They want to warm themselves by the campfire…a little marsh mellow…a little sweet from Jesus.
They want to come in and feel a little fire and then walk out and leave.
So many people want to come up on the fire warm themselves and then watch it go out.
What happens when the fire goes out?
Bondage comes
Pain comes
Struggle comes
God has instructed us not to let the fire go out.
God’s fire in us, the fire of God.
Eagerness, zealous, or “burning” with enthusiasm, the burning zeal.
Revelation 3:15–16, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of my mouth”. Lukewarm is the least desirable attribute for water or for spiritual commitment.
Spiritually, a person who is “hot” or “on fire” for Christ can be very useful.
But a person who is “lukewarm” toward Jesus possesses a half-hearted commitment and lives without joy, without love, and without the fire of the Spirit.
“They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly”,
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
- DO YOU WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE FIRE OF GOD IS STILL AVAILABLE
Matthew 3:11, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
John said there is one coming and he is going to bring a re-CHARGING of the fire that is in the Old Testament.
Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
That fire didn’t fall in the desert. It didn’t fall on the brazen altar. God said, now I am putting that fire on men and women. I am putting it on a man and on a woman.
Jesus said, I am going to immerse you in the Holy Spirit. I am going to baptize you in the fire of my presence.
There is a fire shut up inside me.
The fire is on the inside.
I believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit
Crazy things are happening in our nation:
We don’t value life
We don’t respect our elders
We don’t even value the life of our own unborn
We exalt every name but the name of Jesus
We think we can redefine marriage.
Our young people think that life is found in the clubs
Our young people know more about the latest pop star than they do the Lord.
What we need is the presence of God to sweep into our lives, to recharge our fire, to stir us up.
To maintaining the fire.
- Worship
I have discovered that churches and people that no how to really worship have the fire.
- Word
Every time you read the Word, you are putting wood on the fire of your life.
- Willingness to obey God in all things
It is not just enough to read the Word, it is about obeying the Word
- Witness
The reason why the Spirit was given was to make you a witness.
There is no secret service Christian that has the fire for long.
It is supposed to be like a river flowing from God through you to others
- Walking with Christ
How you actually live everyday will make a huge difference.
When was the last time the Holy Ghost, and with fire moved in you
Message
Bloom where you’re planted
Philippians 1:12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
Philippians 1:13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
Philippians 1:14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
The expression “bloom where you’re planted” means a person should take advantage of the opportunities they have in their life and be grateful for the present situation.
“Be content where God has placed you in life and make the most of your opportunity.”
I was asking my wife about a different color of a tree in the mist of all the other trees. How did they get there?Her answer was, “birds gather seeds from other places and drop them to the ground and they bloom where there planted”.
Live the Life God’s Given You!
Live as You Are Called
1Co 7:17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
1Co 7:18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. 1Co 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
1Co 7:20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
1Co 7:21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
1Co 7:22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.
1Co 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
1Co 7:24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
Where ever Paul went he turned his prisons into a pulpit.
1Co 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1Co 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
Acts 9:20;29 Paul preaching
Acts 16:6-34
Paul and Silas in Prison
The Philippian Jailer Converted
So God is telling us “To Bloom Where we are Planted”.
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
“NATIONS”-a large body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular country or territory. (country,state,land)
Message
“HIGHWAYS & HEDGES”
Luk_14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
“The highways and hedges” are the main roads and the country lanes. “Hedges” also speaks of crossing the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:14). It means pushing all the boundaries and going out to the ends of the earth.
We must “compel them to come in” leaves us in no doubt of our duty as followers of Christ with regard to fulfilling the Great Commission. Only, it means compel them by love, not force.
“HOME”
Relating to the place where one lives.
Where you hang your hat.
Home means an enjoyable, happy place where you can live, laugh and learn. It’s somewhere where you are loved, respected, and cared for.
Where you are at.
God places a lot of emphasis on the HOME.
Does people see you as the same person every time they see you?
Are you the same in God’s house as you are at home?
Can the world see Jesus in you?