Spending Time with the Lord in Prayer

The Great Commission

Part 4 – Spending Time with the Lord

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith – www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

ANNOUNCEMENTS

6:00PM Evening Service at the church –

“Seminary Students will be preaching”

August 17^th – Walker Spriggs

August 24^th – Deacon Kurt Ulman

August 31^st – Grace Steadman

September 7^th – Lori Ulman

September 14^th – Lynnette Higgins

WHERE WE ARE AT

† The Great Commission – Restoring the Lord’s Ministry

† Recognizing where we are with the Lord

† Serving God HIS way

INTRODUCTION

Over the next few weeks we are going to talk about our relationship with the Lord.

And how we want to do things God’s way, not our own.

Proverbs 19:21

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

And it’s important that we remember…

2 Timothy 2:5

Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules.

We need to understand that if we want the rewards of being followers of Christ that the Bible speaks of, then we have to play by the Bibles rules.

So many times people try to lay claim to the benefits, rewards, and blessings of God, without considering their whether or not they are living by God’s standards, or as 2 Timothy states, playing by the rules.

As Paul said, you can not enter a race, do it your way, and expect to receive the victor’s crown.

This week our focus is spending time with the Lord in Prayer

WHAT IS PRAYER?

Why do you think many Christians do not pray and spend quality time with God daily, like Jesus did?

† Some are too busy

† some have wrong priorities

† some are living for self and not for God

† for some the cares of the world have crowded in and robbed them of the joy of having intimate fellowship with God

† some have a lack of discipline

† some lack faith

† some are living in disobedience

† some don’t know how to pray and have fellowship with God

† and some have a wrong understanding of who God is.

Many do not understand that God is love relationship oriented, and that His heart’s desire is to have close and intimate fellowship with His children.

Many do not understand that being a Christian is all about having a growing love relationship with the One who loves them completely and unconditionally, and that it is not about being religious.

Isaiah 56:7

Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

We are supposed to be known by our powerful prayer life.

When people speak of our gathering place, our church, they are to recognize it as a place of prayerful worship.

It should be called a house of prayer.

2 Chronicles 7:14

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Do we want God to hear our prayers?

Do we want our sin forgiven?

Does our land need to be healed?

If we humble ourselves, PRAY, seek God and turning away from our sin….we will receive this from God.

1 Corinthians 1:9

God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

Remember the first will of God is that you are saved.

This ONLY happens through prayer!

And fellowship (relationship) with God can only happen with prayer!

Do you know, if you never prayed, you would never be saved.

How can you have a relationship with someone you never talk to?

How can a relationship grow if you never spend time with that person?

Always remember that the greatest desire in God’s heart is for you to have a growing and intimate love relationship and daily fellowship with Him.

What is the first thing that you think of when you hear the word “prayer”?

Do you think of asking for things?

Praying for someone else… or something else?

If we want to please God, and do what Christ commands then we need to see what the Word of God says about prayer, because Christ IS the Word made flesh, and to obey Him means to obey the Word.

Psalm 62:8

Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.

God wants our communication with Him to be HONEST, OPEN and TRANSPARENT.

If you are struggling, anxious, worried, angry, He wants you to share that with Him.

Not because He doesn’t know already, but because He cares and wants to hear from you and talk with you.

TO KNOW GOD

"NOW THIS IS ETERNAL LIFE: THAT THEY MAY KNOW YOU, THE ONLY TRUE GOD, AND JESUS CHRIST, WHOM YOU HAVE SENT.” - JOHN 17:3

“... THAT YOU MAY KNOW AND BELIEVE ME, AND UNDERSTAND THAT I AM HE." - ISAIAH 43:10

The Biblical words for “know God” mean much more than our English word, which sounds like it means to know about God. God wants you to know Him by seeing and experiencing Him in and around your life.

When you see and experience God’s faithfulness in your life for example, you then know that God is faithful. This is a much better and more intimate and real knowledge of God than just knowing about Him.

COMMUNICATION REQUIRES TWO PEOPLE

A close and intimate relationship needs to be a 2-way relationship.

Intimate communication needs to be 2-way also, or it is not good communication.

Hearing God’s voice is by far the most important part of our prayer and fellowship time with Him.

If you are not hearing God’s voice, you are missing out on getting to know Him more, you will miss His plans for you, and you will miss out on the full & abundant life that He wants you to have, which is only found in Him.

- “I WILL GIVE THEM A HEART TO KNOW ME.” — JEREMIAH 24:7

PRAYER/TIME WITH GOD IS VITAL TO BEING CLOSER TO GOD, “ONE” WITH GOD, AND TO GROWING MORE LIKE JESUS (SPIRITUAL GROWTH)

“Prayer is designed more to adjust you to God, than to adjust God to you & your desires.”

The time a Christian gives to prayer & fellowship with God is not meant for his/her carnal or natural life, but to nourish the life of Jesus in him/her.

If you do not spend quality time with Jesus, you will not grow spiritually.

If you do not spend quality time in prayer, you will not hear from the Lord.

GETTING TO KNOW HIM INTIMATELY

"Teach me your ways so that I may know you and continue in your favor." - Exodus 33:13

The Hebrew word "yada" is used in the Old Testament and is translated in English as the word "Know" or "Knowledge". The Hebrew word yada has a much wider sweep and meaning than the English word know. The Biblical Old Testament word for Knowing God means the following; to know God means:

- to Perceive - to Learn
- to Understand - to Recognize
- to Believe - to Accept His Claims
- to Conform - to Be Willing
- to Perform or Live - to Obey
- to See or Experience

These words that all come out of the Hebrew word "yada" all hold important keys to getting to know God the way that He wants us to know Him. The opposite of knowing God is not ignorance or a lack of knowledge, but is Rebellion.

"I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things."

- Paul
(Philippians 3:7-10)

Reading the Word to Spend Time with the Lord

The Great Commission

Part 4 – Spending Time with the Lord II

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith – www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

ANNOUNCEMENTS

6:00PM Evening Service at the church –

“Seminary Students will be preaching”

August 24^th – Deacon Kurt Ulman

August 31^st – Grace Steadman

September 7^th – Lori Ulman

September 14^th – Lynnette Higgins

September 21^st – Walker Spriggs

WHERE WE ARE AT

† The Great Commission – Restoring the Lord’s Ministry

† Recognizing where we are with the Lord

† Serving God HIS way

† Spending Time with the Lord in Prayer

INTRODUCTION

Over the next few weeks we are going to talk about our relationship with the Lord.

And how we want to do things God’s way, not our own.

Proverbs 19:21

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

And it’s important that we remember…

2 Timothy 2:5

Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules.

We need to understand that if we want the rewards of being followers of Christ that the Bible speaks of, then we have to play by the Bibles rules.

So many times people try to lay claim to the benefits, rewards, and blessings of God, without considering their whether or not they are living by God’s standards, or as 2 Timothy states, playing by the rules.

As Paul said, you can not enter a race, do it your way, and expect to receive the victor’s crown.

READING THE WORD OF GOD TO SPEND TIME WITH THE LORD

So today I pose the question,

“What’s so important about the word of God?”

“I believe in Jesus, that’s all that matters, right?”

“The disciples did pretty good for themselves and they didn’t have a Bible.”

A. If you don’t read it for yourself anyone can convince you what it says.

For example I could say Isaiah 42:26 says, “All who are good in heart shall receive the blessings of the Lord.”

If we would take the time to look up this verse you would see it’s not there. There are only 25 verses in Isaiah 42

How many times have you heard someone say something that isn’t true?

Probably more times than you realize if you’re not reading the Word.

“God helps those who help themselves.” - Not from the Bible, it was Benjamin Franklin

But if I was to say to you,

John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have ever lasting life.”

Most of you would know that I am speaking the truth.

Why? Because you have probably read this scripture sometime in your life and you recognize it.

This is just one reason we are to read the scriptures.

I. WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT READING THE WORD

Romans 10:17

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God

Psalm 33:6

“By the word of the LORD were the heavens made,
their starry host by the breath of his mouth.”

Wow, there is POWER in the word of God!

Psalm 89:34

“I will not violate my covenant
or alter what my lips have uttered.”

We can have faith that what God says, He will do! We can also know that He will not change what He has said.

That’s integrity!

God is a God of His word.

The word of God is powerful, and full of integrity.

God’s word is the eternal truth.

John 8:31-32

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³²Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Who is the truth?

Truth > Jesus > God’s Word made Flesh > God’s Word / Bible

Jesus says; "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Jesus is the Word made flesh;

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

God’s words, Jesus’ words are recorded through the Holy Spirit in this book, the Holy Bible.

It is not just a history book, although there is history in here.

It is not just a story book about the prophets and Jesus, although there are stories in here.

It’s not just a book about prophecies and what the future holds, although it’s all in here.

This book, is the living, power filled words which have come from the mouth of God through the Holy Spirit, pen to papyrus, spirit to word, the mind and heart of God’s plan to redeem man and repair what was lost because of the fall of man.

This book is a record of the beginning of our time, straight through to the end of our time.

God is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end of all that is, all that was and all that will ever be.

This book is your key to a relationship with the Lord, from where we gain knowledge and understanding so that we can weather the storms in our lives and grow in the Lord.

This book holds the mysteries of life and death, the understanding of the ages that were and are to come.

This book is your passport to the here after, faith comes by hearing the word of God, read it, study it, take it in, the words of the Lord need to fill your heart, overflow from your mouth, and your works through the Holy Spirit will make your faith ALIVE!

Faith without works is dead. James 2:17

If you have faith, and ‘DO’ nothing, your faith is dead.

Be ALIVE in the Lord.

We need to gain wisdom through the word.

How can we obey God and serve God if we do not know what it is He expects or wants from us?

He doesn’t expect us to learn through a complicated system of punishment and reward to seek His will.

Although if that’s all He has with you because you do not read the Word of God, then He’ll take what He can get.

But the Word of God gives us the Will of God.

There’s really no guess work involved if you read His word.

2 Timothy 2:15

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

You cannot handle the word of truth if you do not know the word of truth.

You cannot present yourself to God as one He approves of if you cannot correctly handle the word of truth.

When I was in Seminary, there was a young man there who thought he knew the Bible from cover to cover, and thought he knew the interpretation and correct application for every scripture.

He repeatedly misapplied scripture, again and again. There were many theological discussions between himself and the instructor because he could not correctly handle the word of truth.

He ended up making himself look like a fool.

We must read God’s word and allow the Holy Spirit to give us understanding.

How vain to think and profess perfect understanding of God’s word. Who can fully know the mind of God?

We can never fully know or understand all, but we can have understanding and wisdom.

Proverbs 4:4-5

“⁴ he taught me and said,
"Lay hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands and you will live.

⁵ Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or swerve from them.”

There is only one way to get wisdom and understanding.

Through reading the word of God.

Why do so many people have such a hard time in their lives?

Because they don’t read or keep God’s word, they have no knowledge or understanding.

Isaiah 5:13

“Therefore my people will go into exile
for lack of understanding;
their men of rank will die of hunger
and their masses will be parched with thirst.”

Exiled because of lack of understanding.

Understanding of what? God’s Word.

They will die of hunger.

Remember, man does not live by bread alone…But by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4

Their masses will be parched with thirst. Thirst for what, what are they missing because of their lack of understanding?

The Holy Spirit.

If you do not read the word of God, you will lack in understanding.

You will not be fed by the word of God which has come straight from God’s mouth.

Why are the masses parched and thirsty for the Holy Spirit? Because the men of rank, their leaders, are dying because they do not have the word of God, therefore the masses do not have understanding and leadership that will bring them the Holy Spirit of God.

Does Jesus think knowing the scriptures is important to the understanding and knowledge of God?

Matthew 22:29

“Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.”

It is the scriptures, the word of God we are to live by and nothing else. Not popular opinion, not majority votes on right or wrong, not traditions we have developed over the years.

Mark 7:13-15

“Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that."

¹⁴Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. ¹⁵Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.' "

You nullify the word of God by putting traditions first.

It’s what come out of you that makes you unclean

Because from the fullness or overflow of your heart is what a man speaks.

If you speak foul disgusting abominations, then that is what you are full of in your heart. The word of God says so.

But if you fill your heart with the word of God by reading it, you will grow in knowledge and understanding and your faith will grow.

Jesus says about the word;

Luke 11:28

“He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

John 14:21

“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

Do you love Jesus? Read His commands and obey them.

If you love Jesus, this is what you will do. Then the Father in heaven will love you. And Jesus will love you, and best of all, Jesus says in the scripture here if you read His commands and obey them, Jesus will show Himself to you.

Who wants to have Jesus reveal Himself in your life?

ALTAR CALL

If you need a new fire for God’s word in your life,

If you want to experience Jesus in your life,

If you need help removing this or any other roadblock that is preventing you from growing in faith or experiencing God in your life, let the elders pray for you.

Serving the Lord

The Great Commission

Part 3 – Serving the Lord

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith – www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

ANNOUNCEMENTS

6:00PM Evening Service at the church –

“Seminary Students will be preaching”

August 10^th – Lynnette Higgins

August 17^th – Walker Spriggs

August 24^th – Deacon Kurt Ulman

August 31^st – Grace Steadman

September 7^th – Lori Ulman

WHERE WE ARE AT

† The Great Commission – Restoring the Lord’s Ministry

† Recognizing where we are with the Lord

INTRODUCTION

Over the next few weeks we are going to talk about our relationship with the Lord.

And how we want to do things God’s way, not our own.

Proverbs 19:21

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

And it’s important that we remember…

2 Timothy 2:5

Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules.

We need to understand that if we want the rewards of being followers of Christ that the Bible speaks of, then we have to play by the Bibles rules.

So many times people try to lay claim to the benefits, rewards, and blessings of God, without considering their whether or not they are living by God’s standards, or as 2 Timothy states, playing by the rules.

As Paul said, you can not enter a race, do it your way, and expect to receive the victor’s crown.

But so often I hear people trying to claim God’s blessings while they are living in opposition to the Kingdom.

With God, the ends do not justify the means.

We can only live 1 of two ways…in love as we are commanded, or in selfishness.

We are instructed to live in love…Loving the Lord with all of our heart, mind, body and soul.

Loving our neighbor (the unsaved) as ourselves.

And loving our brother (the saved), the scriptures say …for anyone who says he loves God, yet hates his brother is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

You can claim you live in love all you want, but your actions towards God, your actions towards those who are unsaved, and your actions towards fellow believers will show whether you are living in love, or selfishness.

We MUST live in love.

Or we are living in selfishness.

Thinking only about our wants, our needs, our desires.

Putting others last, and ourselves first.

That is exalting (or lifting yourself higher) than others…

If you exalt (or lift) yourself higher than others, the scriptures say you will be humbled, because exalting yourself is selfish and prideful.

But if you humble yourself, putting others before yourself and live in love as God commands, HE will lift you up.

If you are experiencing hard times in your life, if things seem to be going wrong for you or it seems as though your prayers are not being heard by God, it may be because you have an issue with lifting yourself up.

It may be because you are looking down on the lost, your neighbor.

It may be because you have hate towards your brother.

It may be because you are in a state of selfishness…with no love towards others.

Jesus said, “What you DO to the least of these, you do unto me…”

Think hard about that the next time you open your mouth about another person.

Whether they are unsaved, or belong to the kingdom…how you treat them, is exactly how you are treating the Lord.

{my experience with another Pastor living with hate}

Romans 12:14

Bless them that curse you. Bless and not curse.

Romans 12:17

Do not repay evil for evil.

Romans 12:21

Be not overcome with evil, but overcome with good.

When all we can think about is ‘payback’, or ‘someone getting what they deserve’, we are living in selfishness.

We are putting our desires above the Lord’s desires.

For it is the Lord’s desire that we love.

When we want anything other than the Lord’s desire, we have not crucified our flesh, but are living and walking in it.

When we are supposed to be walking in the Spirit…with a desire to serve our Lord, and ‘DO’ His commands, instead of following our flesh and the sinful desires of it.

For our flesh IS NOT REDEEMED, but remains sinful, it is only our soul that has been redeemed, and it is our soul that must choose this day whom it will serve.

Our flesh or God’s Spirit which dwells within us.

For you can not serve two masters.

This is why Paul said, “I crucify my flesh DAILY”

Daily we must choose to serve the Lord.

Today we are going to look at our relationship with the Lord;

Because we are each a PART of the Body of Christ and our individual relationship with the Lord affects us as a congregation.

This is why it is important for us to judge those in our congregation claiming to be followers of Christ.

This congregation and its health is the responsibility God has given to us.

In the scriptures, the Lord never instructed the church in Ephesus to watch over and correct the church in Sardis…

For each congregation is only responsible for their immediate congregation.

There are a few steps you need to take for you to ensure you are in a proper standing with the Lord, and that you are living in Love and not Selfishness.

1. Recognizing where you are at in your relationship with Christ
• Do you have a relationship?

How do you know you are born again, or in a relationship with Christ?

Romans 10:9-10

9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

II Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Matthew 10:32

Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.

Matthew 10:38-39

38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Are you in relationship with Christ?

Do you belong to the Lord?

Are you “saved”?

Galatians 5:24-25

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature (your flesh) with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Ask yourself, and you will know…

Have you confessed Jesus Christ with your mouth and believed in your heart?

Have you become a new creature? Or are you living the same life you lived before Christ? If there has not been a change, you need to be asking myself some serious questions.

Do you acknowledge Christ to other people? Or in other words, witness?

You MUST if you expect Christ to confess you before the Father on Judgment Day!

Finally, who are you living for right now in your life?

Are you living in love following the spirit, or are you living in selfishness following your sinful flesh?

Galatians 5:24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

Matthew 10:38-39

38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

CONCLUSION

Who are you living for?

Your wants and desires or Christ’s?

Recognizing where we are

The Great Commission

Recognizing where we are…and who is in control

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith – www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

WHERE WE ARE AT

† The Great Commission – Restoring the Lord’s Ministry

INTRODUCTION

Over the next few weeks we are going to talk about our relationship as a church with the Lord.

We are going to look at issues such as;

† Recognizing where you are at in your relationship with Christ

† We are going to look for roadblocks

† Take a look at your responsibilities as followers of Christ

† Look at Christ’s instruction on Tithe / Alms and Love Offerings

† And Examine Prayer in the Bible

After we look at what the scriptures tell us we are supposed to be doing as a church, we are going to evaluate this church, and take a personal evaluation of ourselves as well.

SCRIPTURE READING

Proverbs 19:21

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

We can get tied up in thinking we know what is best for ourselves, for others, for our church…

But God has already told us in His Word what is best.

We can not hear what God’s Word instructs, then “do it our way”

We’re not Frank Sinatra, and God is not buying it.

We can not do anything “our way”

It’s God’s way, or “no way”

Or, as I like to say, there’s two ways to do something for the Lord, the right way, or your way.

CAIN & ABLE

Genesis 4:2

2 Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Here we see two men, both tithing.

Maybe even giving equal amounts.

One was accepted by the Lord with favor, the other was not. Why?

This is an example of how we want to do things “our way” instead of God’s way.

Because Able gave the FIRST FRUIT (First Born), and Cain just gave from the some of the fruits…

You see, Able gave to the Lord what was FIRST to come to him, and Cain gave from his excess, or what was left over.

He gave from what he didn’t need or want.

Cain says…”what’s the problem, I’m tithing?”

But he was in disobedience because he was not doing what the Lord said to do.

God does not want your table scraps. But to be first.

In this, we show that God is first in all things in our lives.

Can we say to the Lord, well, this would have just went to waste, or rotted, I would have to throw it away anyways, so ‘here God, this is for you…’

Or should we say, ‘Lord, I know that all I have comes by your hand, thank you Lord, from what I have received, as your Word says, here is a portion back to you in thanks…’

We receive instruction from the Word, and we try to do it “our way”…then like Cain, get angry when things don’t work out.

That anger in Cain drove to more sin…

We must do things God’s way…THEN we are looked upon with favor.

So what is God’s way?

This is God’s purpose for us…this is what we are going to examine over the next few weeks…God’s way…God’s purpose for us.

I. What is the Lord’s purpose?

a. Three Will’s of God

i. That all are saved and come to a knowledge of Christ

1 Timothy 2:3-5

3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

Matthew 18:12-14

12 "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.

ii. The Great Commission: GO, Witness, Baptize, Teach

iii. To receive the Spiritual Gifts so that you are God enabled

Daniel did not survive the lions den because he used to work in the circus.

Moses did not part the red sea because he was an engineer.

David did not defeat Goliath because he was a slingshot champion.

Joshua did not defeat Jericho because his army was so overweight when they marched they caused an earthquake that tore the walls down.

And Jesus Christ did not die on the Cross so you could have a free ticket to heaven, yet not serve Him a day of your life here on earth.

Do not take His grace for grant-it

As Job says, ‘The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away’

I pray that you do not run out of grace, before you run out of time.

We must be God enabled, and we must be DOERS…

Daniel was enabled by God, but if he did not PRAY, angels would not have come.

Moses was enabled by God, but if he did not STEP into the raging waters, they would not have parted.

Joshua was enabled by God, but if he did not OBEY, the walls would not have fallen.

David was enabled by God, but if he wouldn’t have faced the giant, he could not have defeated him.

This is where we are at as a church…a body of believers…the Body of Christ.

† God has called us out and planted this church

† God has enabled us to fulfill His calling on us

† Now we have to DO our part!

We have to PRAY like Daniel.

We have to STEP INTO the raging waters.

We have to OBEY the Lord, and the enemies walls will come tumbling down.

And we have to FACE THE GIANT, so that he may be defeated!

Ephesians 6:10-18

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

We are at war.

We are in God’s army.

And God has given us a home base.

b. Local Church is to be Home base

i. For Followers to be built and strengthened

ii. For lost sheep to be saved and become NEW

New Creation / New Creature

We receive a NEW FAMILY AS WELL!

Mark 3:35 - New Family (Jesus)

35 Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."

iii. For the lost to find refuge

iv. For sinners to be forgiven

II. These purposes are our questions to ask ourselves

a. Are you a follower of Christ?

i. Have you accepted the covenantal promise of commitment?

ii. Have you confessed to the Lord you have sinned?

iii. Have you repented of that sin?

Romans 2:4-6

4 … do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God "will give to each person according to what he has done."

God’s kindness, tolerance and patience toward us, leads you toward repentance.

What will you do?

Will you turn to Jesus and make Him your Lord,

Or will you continue to live ‘Your Way’ and store up wrath for yourself on the day of judgment?

God has given His grace to lead you to repentance after you accept Him, not to continue living in sin because you have claimed the blood of Christ, and think you can now live ‘your way’, and be right with the Lord.

b. The Great Commission is our command

i. Are you going?

ii. Are you witnessing?

Romans 10:8-15

8 But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Matthew 18:14

…your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.

iii. Are you baptizing?

iv. Are you teaching obedience to Christ?

III. Time to see what roadblocks are in our way!

i. After examining the basics, we will dig deeper

Ask yourself the questions that will grow your relationship with the Lord

Romans 12:1 - 3

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy (which is given to lead you to repentance), to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

You need to live your life and all you do for the Lord, this is how you worship God spiritually. By putting HIM FIRST in everything!

2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,

Stop living like the unsaved!

…but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Change your thinking…

Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

UNTIL YOU;

REPENT, put God first in all things, stop living like the unsaved, and change your thinking…

You can not live God’s will for you in your life.

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

Judge yourself with your understanding!

Take the faith God has given you, and judge yourself, so that He will not have to judge you.

Luke 19:43-44

43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."

This is now.

2 Timothy 2:1 – 6

1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

3 Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

4 No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer.

5 Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules.

6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.