Wednesday, May 29, 2013

"It's Time"



5/26/13


Intro.   In the message this morning I want to share with you a word God has given me concerning His people, the church, the message is "It's Time".  

It's Time For....The next move of God! It's Time For....a fresh outpouring of His Spirit. It's Time For....Revival. It's Time For.... Blessings. It's Time For....Peace in our families. It's Time For....Prosperity in our whole man. It's Time For....Hope in what seems like a time of hopelessness.  It's Time for us to rise up and shout, “ It Is my Time NOW!”

There Are Two Steps We Must Take To Possess What It'sTime for us to possess:  #1-Realize That God Will Do What He Said He Will Do….#2-Know The Promises of Things To Come….


Step # 1- Realize That God Will Do What He Said He Will Do “ The moment God says something to you it becomes fact.  You and I are at that time given a choice; we can accept and began walking “ as if  “ or reject it by putting it on hold. “

The Set Time has come!  Ps. 102:13  “Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion:  
                                           for the time to Favour (an attitude of approval: preferential  
                                                treatment shown to somebody) her,  yea, the set time, is    
                                            come.   (Set = ready, prepared, primed)

Due season has arrived!  Gal. 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due    
                                            season we shall reap, if we faint not.  (Due = rightful, 
                                            deserved, owed) What you are owed is determined by 
                                            what you have sowed! 

Ga.6: 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man  soweth, that shall he also reap.
                                                 
2Co.9: 6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly (sparinging=2. Deficient or limited in quantity, fullness, or extent.);  and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.   (Bountifully = 1. Giving freely and generously; liberal. 2. Marked by abundance; plentiful.)


Step #2- The Promise of Things To Come:  Amos 9:13-15,  “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper,  him who sows the seed and the mountains shall drop sweet wine , and all the hills shall melt   And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel , and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof  they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. 15And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.”


In these verses we see where God is promising a supernatural restoration...a manifestation of the uncommon among the common.... of all that has been taken from His people.  Note with me those events....

“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, that..........
#1-the plowman shall overtake the reaper, (an uncommon harvest is released)  and 
#2-the treader of grapes (an uncommon prosperity is released) him who sows the seed and 
#3-the mountains shall drop sweet wine (an uncommon flow of the Spirit of God), #4-and all the hills shall melt  (the hills were the places of idol worship. God will break the powers of them off of the nations. Psalm 121:1; 97:5; 18:7; Isaiah 65:7;.)   
#5 -And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel (a strong deliverance released), and 
#6-they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof (Spiritual, mental, and financial productivity released; look at Obededom’s household how they where blessed – 2 Samuel 6:11 & 1Chron. 13:14.  Restoration - Jeremiah 27:22 & 30:17)
#7-they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. 15And I will plant them (spiritual land and realms are released ,2 Samuel 7:10; Ps.1:3; 80:15; 92:10; 104:16; Jer.12:2; 17:8) upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.”



Conc. To each person here today who has ever had a rhema Word from God...."It's Time!!!"

Thursday, May 16, 2013

The Journey To Pentecost II

Part II - The Process

Nothing just happens.....God demands a process.  Though we all love the promises God want to jump right to the Product of the Promise but we must go through the process.

There are two important words that arise in attaining God's promises of the Spirit...they are hunger anc continue.  Without either we will miss out on what He has for us.


a. Matt. 5:6, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
           For they shall be filled. hunger: Gk. ‘peinao’  to famish, to crave,   starving.
           1. Ps. 42:1, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God.” 
                Panteth (yearneth): to long for.   “ The hart is fond of feeding near the waters.  When hunted he will take to the river, stay submerged as long as his breath permits, then swim down stream in the middle so as not to touch the branches of trees on either side. He thus prevents the hounds from finding his scent.  Sometimes he will stay in the water submerged with only his nose out, until he is routed.  In a chase he becomes faint and longs for the water intensely. “
     
 b. Acts 1:14, These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and   
          Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

           1. They continued.  Continuity is a necessity if we are to receive all that God desires for His 
                church.  Never ever give up!   If God said it will come, it will come. Note Deut. 7:9,    
                “Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who  
                keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who 
                love him and obey his commands.”NLT
           
          2. With one accord.  A divided house is a house that is living beneath the fullness of God’s 
               promise.  

Agreement is a necessity if we are to see God do what He has promised to do.  When even two come in agreement it changes the direction of things...from sickness to health...from sorrow to joy...from poverty to prosperity.  Always look for someone to come in agreement with you.  Matt. 18:19, Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
           
         3.  In prayer.  His house is a house of prayer. Matt. 21:13, And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’  

                Note II Chron. 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. “
           
         4. In supplication (petition).

Part III. The Product:
        
        a. Acts 2:1-4
            1. Sound of a mighty rushing wind, it filled all the house.  “No one was left      
                 out!!”

  1. Cloven (divided) tongues, like as of fire and it sat upon each of them. “Purity” 
      
     Matthew 3:11-12 “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:”


     In Matthew 21:12-16 we find Jesus stepping into His Father’s house.  Upon entering, the first thing He noticed was the disorder that was present.  Men everywhere was busy, but busy doing the wrong things.  Instead of using His house to bring glory to His Father by sharing good news with other men, they were using it for selfish gain.  Gone were the days in which His house was a place of sacredness and respect.  It had become a den of thieves.  Jesus immediately began the task at hand.  “ He threw out the money changers and those that sold doves. “  He purified His house!!  Therein begins the process of becoming empowered For Purpose.  God’s house must be a purified house!

Purity has become a lost word in the vocabulary of many in the church.  We, in our search for what God is saying to His church and our on going goals for successful ministries, have ceased to consider important the message of a pure holy life; a life free from sin and worldly entanglements.  Is it just possible in our search for faith to move mountains and our longing for prosperity-proof spirituality that we have taken on the spirit of the world?  A spirit that refuses to accept “ don’t “ or “ you can’t “ as a part of the Christian life.  All we want to hear is “ do “ or “ you can “.  If this is the case, then may God help us to realize we’re on a journey into mechanical Christianity.  A Christianity that does no more than appease the desires of the self, without concern of what pleases God. 
            
            3. They were all filled with the Holy Ghost and begin to speak with tongues as   
                 the Spirit gave them utterance. Surrendered Control

                This experience as can be noted here was all inclusive.  All were filled; each  
                 of them received the experience.   The same experience is available for all     
                 today.  The only barriers that keep anyone from receiving this great 
                 experience are self constructed barriers.  

        b. Acts. 2: 11: They spoke the wonderful works of God.  
        c. Acts. 2:14-35  Peter preached the Word  (Jesus).
        d. Acts. 2:37  Conviction fell upon them.
        e. Acts 2:38  Repentance
        f. They gladly received the word and 3000 were saved.
        g. Miracles  Acts 3:1-8  The cripple man at the Gate Beautiful was healed.

Conc.  A church was born..........a church that was nothing compared to the formal, ritualistic church before Pentecost.   Signs and wonders begin to be the order of the day.  Thousands begin to turn to Christ.  The message of the minister ceased to draw attention to himself and begin to preach Jesus and Him crucified.  Throughout this great move the devil didn’t lie down and die.   The church suffered persecution.  It had a different affect than what was intended.  It made men stronger not weaker!  The persecuted became the preserved!!

Thursday, April 18, 2013

"The Journey To Pentecost"


The beginning message of a series on "The Journey To Pentecost" preached 4/ 7/13.  I will be ministering on this subject through Pentecost Sunday.  Each Sunday will link up to what was ministered the previous Sunday.  I pray it will be informative and encouraging to you as you pursue His presence daily in your.  Audio copies can be ordered through our messengerwc.com or if you prefer you will be able to listen to them via the web sight.
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Part One: “The Promises      

Intro.  Last Sunday we celebrated Resurrection Sunday. A Sunday filled with praise and worship because of Jesus’ willingness to die on a cross for our sins and His triumphant victory over the grave.  A victory that snatched the keys of death, hell & the grave  from the devil and for ever and eternity changed the destiny of mankind. (Rev. 1:18, “And I hold the keys of death and the grave. ... he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”) 

The second Adam has undone what the first Adam had so miserable failed at.  Today I want bring to your attention the next event that took place and forever changed the landscape of the religious world.  Over the next few Sundays, I want to take you on a “Journey To Pentecost”.

I. The Promises The journey begins with promises....Jn. 14:12-16, “I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly (Fixed or unchanging; steady. Firmly loyal or constant; unswerving) believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father. And I will do [I Myself will grant] whatever you ask in My Name [as presenting all that I Am], so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son. [Yes] I will grant [I Myself will do for you] whatever you shall ask in My Name [as presenting all that I Am]. If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever— The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, desolate, bereaved, forlorn, helpless]; I will come [back] to you”
The Greek word translated "another" is crucial to an understanding of Jesus' meaning. The Greeks had two words that meant "another." One was heteros, which means "another kind," as in, "This wrench doesn't fit; bring me another one." Allos also means "another," but it means "another of the same kind," as in "I enjoyed that sandwich; I think I'll have another."
Allos is the word Jesus used to describe the Holy Spirit: "another [allos] Helper." He is, in effect, saying, "I am sending you One of exactly the same essence as Myself." The disciples would have known His meaning immediately. He was not sending back just any old helper, but One exactly like Himself, with the same compassion, the same attributes of deity, and the same love for them.
The promises of the Holy Spirit is the culmination of all that Jesus had to say to comfort these eleven troubled men. In that hour of turmoil, they feared being left alone. Jesus assured them that they would not be left to fend for themselves, but they would have a supernatural Helper. The Greek word for "Helper" is parakletos, which literally means "one who is called (kaleo) alongside (para)." We sometimes use the transliterated term paraclete in English. The King James Version translates it "Comforter," which is one of the meanings of the word. Jesus is saying, "I am going to send a Helper, a Comforter--One to stand alongside you."


a. Isa. 32:15   Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city: Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks; Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.” Detail condition of Israel which persisted  and got even worse during the time between the Old and New testament.
     b. Eze. 39:29, I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the people of    
         Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD." NIV
     
     c. Matt. 3:11, I indeed baptize you with water to repentance. but he that comes 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.
    
     d. Acts 1:8, But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come on you: and you shall   
         be witnesses to me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and to the uttermost 
         part of the earth.

Thursday, April 4, 2013

"Don't Settle"


Preached 3/17/13 in the AM service @ MWC
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Intro.  It is so easy to get weighted down with the daily problems and circumstances that surround us.  To become encumbered with the daily grind of life; paying bills, raising kids to be productive Godly citizens, overcoming the consistent problem of making ends meet.  The danger for all of us is that we “settle” for where we are or what we are going through, never reaching the potential that God had destined us for.  We accept it as the ‘end of the story.’  But it’s not!!  

Today I want to minister on the subject “Don’t Settle!”Don’t settle with the pain....don’t settle with the poverty....don’t settle with the frustrations of life....don’t settle with the fear.  Make up you mind today to pursue what God has made available for you.   Note Paul’s words in I Tim. 6:11-12, But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 

No matter what the circumstances, good or bad, things will change.  For the Christian, ethe change should be for the better.  This, in truth, is part of our blessed hope......" the greater things to come ".

We must determine to not allow anything or anyone control or destroy what we are or what we are destined to become.  We must not settle!

Note with me others before us that refused to settle.

I. God Refused To Settle: 
   a. Man had disobeyed.
b. Did what God said he should not do.
c. God kept His Word.  Man suffered spiritual death... separation from Life.
d. The curse was placed upon man.
e. The serpent had won!
  1. But God looked beyond the darkness and despair of the hour....looked beyond Calvary and  said in Gen.    3:15, " And I will put enmity (opposed/hostile) between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall  bruise thy head..."

II. Moses Refused To Settle:  
      a. Miraculously raised in the home of the enemy of God’s people.  Never lacked for   
          anything.
b. It is easy to become comfortable surrounded by prosperity though they that are around you are living in bondage of sin and moral poverty in a deprave society. 
  1. BUT there came a time that Moses chose to look beyond the prosperity and the privilege ( sometimes a problem ) of being called the son of Pharoah’s daughter. Note Heb. 11:25-27  “ By faith Moses, when he was come to years, (grew up) refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God , than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.  Esteeming ( hold in  high expectation ) the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasure in Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompence ( give compensation to ) of the reward.  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king:  for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible “.  

Faith that a better thing was in store for God's chosen!  He would not settle for what others thought was a perfect life!

III. Isaiah Refused To Settle:   
a. During Isaiah’s time Israel was in bondage and control of heathen nations.
b. Time and time again God had sent His Word through the mouths of His prophets 
     calling for the repentance of Israel.  For a season they would return and be 
     blessed but the pull of the world around them would pull them back to the sins of    
     their surroundings.
       c. Isaiah looked beyond and said in Isa. 9:6 , “ For unto us a child is born, unto us   
           a son is  given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name 
           shall be called Wonderful, Counselor,  The mighty  God, The everlasting Father,  
           The Prince of Peace. “ 
    “ And the redeemer shall come to Zion...” Isa. 59:20
    " IN the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high 
      and lifted up, and his train ( glory ) filled the temple.  " Is.6:1

 IV. Jesus Refused To Settle:
       a. In Matt. 16:18 He said, "I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not 
           prevail ( overpower it or be strong to its detriment, or hold out against it ) against 
           it.      
       b. In John 14:3 He said, “ I go to prepare a place for you " also said,  " I will come 
            again receive  you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.“  

V. We Can And Must Refuse To Settle:
     a. Ps.91:2  I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge ( the state of being covered or protected: something to which one turns for assistance in difficulty or need in the absence of a usual means or source of supply ) and my fortress ( a place offering resistance to a hostile force ): my God; in him will I trust  ( lean and rely ).
       
Conc. I close today with this admonishment....”Don’t Settle” the best is just around the bend.         

Friday, February 22, 2013

"Revival"

A timely message ministered Sunday morning, Feb. 17, 2013 @ MWC.  You can listen to this sermon @ www.messengerwc.com. in the media section.

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J. Rhodes Sermon                                            2/17/13

Title: Revival

Text: Ps. 85:6,Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?” (A Request.)

Intro.   I believe there are many within the church that are tired of the uninspired, lifeless meetings that are being replicated across the country that we call having church.  There is being birthed in many a desire for something that gives substance to the time that men are giving on Sunday morning to their God.  Something that will help them have faith in God...faith in themselves...faith in others...that they will be able to overcome the obstacle that inevitable come their way every day.

The church is not producing it!   We have ended up with misdirected pursuits…pursuits that are depleting, diluting and destroying the church instead of reviving it.  

History bears out that there are people who have made a mark on their generation because of a great move of God but through time became so caught up in their own organizations they ceased to be an organism that God could work through to bring light to a darkened world.  I pray today that we here at MWC, and the church of today that God is raising up, will not allow itself to follow the paths of self-destruction that so many have followed. 

Today I want to talk to you about  “ Revival “.  We will note I. What Revival Is & The Promise of Revival
  
 What Is Revival?  Is it a church full of shouting saints?  Is it an evangelist who knows how to entice people to get involved in the latest religious fad that has swept into the church?  Is it getting sinners saved? is it turning Washington and everyone there around and heading them in the right direction? Or is it all of these combined?  Though each of these have their place in revival  neither one nor all together constitute revival.    

    We are surrounded by a harvest field of humanity that needs to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ but there is a difference in harvest and revival.  This has been an area of misunderstanding that has hindered revival in the past.  

    Revival defined is “the process (there are no over-night successes) of....
     
     1. Bringing somebody back to life...  Jn. 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and 
        destroy; I have come that they may have life (zoe-spiritual life), and have it to the full.” NIV   
     2. Consciousness, = is the quality or state of being aware of an external object or 
         something within oneself”
     3.  Full strength“.  Ps. 29:11, “The Lord will give strength to His people;”

    This, in my opinion, defines the need of the church today.   We need to see life and strength brought back into the church.

Conc. Are you hungry for revival?  Is there a burning desire to walk in His presence on a daily,  
            consistent  basis?  Do you long for your family and acquaintances to come the knowledge of  
            Who He is?   If your answer is yes.........then let us purpose this day to “ Pray and seek His 
            face ”  then we will hear from heaven!

Thursday, February 7, 2013

"Don't Give Up"

Preached Sunday, 2/3/13.  You can hear this message at messengerwc.com. in Media link.

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Text:  Mk. 5:21-34 Amp.



Intro.  Five stand out examples this woman exhibited as she pursued her miracle....

I.  She did not let where Jesus was going or who He was going too see keep her from pursuing Him where He was.

II.  Obstacles were not allowed to be a deterrent in her pursuit for a miracle.
  1. She was weak after 12 years of losing blood and had suffering at hands of physicians as well as spending every dime she had but did not get any better.  She had every excuse in the world to give up BUT she kept looking for a better way.
        b. There was no room made for her to get her miracle....she had to press her way through the crowd.

III. She had determination,  v. 28, “ For she kept saying, If I only can touch His garments...
IV.   She had faith/hope,  “I shall be restored to health...”   

     Note:  No doubt the faith was the fruit of the the reports (testimonies) she had heard of Jesus and  
     what He had done for others, v. 27. 

     Those reports (testimonies) birthed hope in her.    Hope: “a strong and confident expectation.”   
     
     Ps. 38:15“For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.”

     Ps. 146:2,  “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his    
     God: Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:
    Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down. The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.”

V.  Her aloneness didn’t cause her to give up and get bitter.  For 12 years she had been, as the law demanded, “put a  
      part” from her community because of her condition.  She knew that when she reached out and touched just the hem of 
    Jesus clothes she was breaking the law...He would become unclean...but she also knew this was her last hope.  

Note Jesus reaction:  Mk. 5:34, “And He said to her, Daughter, your faith (your [a]trust and confidence in Me, springing from faith in God) has restored you to health. Go in [b](into) peace and be continually healed and freed from your [[c]distressing bodily] disease.”

In truth He, the Word, brought to light that the Law, the Word of God, should never be used to keep us from Him but to bring us to Him.  The Word will produce the miracle not stop it!!

Notice John 1:1-2, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 
5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

"Called To A Solemn Assembly, The Reason"

January is "Solemn Assembly" at MWC.  A time we set aside to seek the face of God for the Church, families & our nation.  We discontinue all activities other than those related to Word, Worship & Prayer and focus on crying out to God for His intervention in the affairs of the world around us.  Through Him we will tear down the strongholds of the enemy...through Him we shall overcome.  I pray you are blessed....

The Message Bible: 2 Timothy 3: 1-7  “2As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, 3dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, 4treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. 5They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people.  6These are the kind of people who smooth-talk themselves into the homes of unstable and needy women and take advantage of them; women who, depressed by their sinfulness, take up with every new religious fad that calls itself “truth.”

 Joel 1:14 - “Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly; gather the elders and  all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God and cry unto unto the Lord.”

Intro.  In II Timothy we see the condition the world will be in when the last days come upon us.  Sound familiar?   In Joel, we hear the heart cry of a prophet who has heard from God.  He sees the condition Israel (Nation / Church) is in and the judgment that has come their way and the continual judgment that is coming because of their sins and he calls for “all the people” to come together and do whatever it takes to stay the hand of God’s judgment.  He “Called For A Solemn Assembly”.  

SOLEMN ASSEMBLY IS: Note Eccl. 3:1-4, 1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4A time to weep, and a time to laugh;  a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

 Solemn (demonstrating sincerity and gravity) assembly (the coming together of people for a common purpose) is a corporate and personal call to separate ourselves unto God for a time of… 

a. Consecration:  Declare sacred; devote to a solemn purpose.

b. Prayer: An earnest request for something; one who asks (as for a favor or gift) humbly. Ps.55:15, “As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.”

c. Fasting: An abstaining from food or drink. Ezra 5:21-23  “Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. …. The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.  So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.”

d. It is a time of seeking His face for a specific purpose.    Ps. 27:7-9, “Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.  When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will  I seek. Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.”

    Bartimaeus - Mk. 10:51, And Jesus said to him, What do you want Me to do for you? And the blind man said to Him, Master, let me receive my sight. (Mark 10:51 AMP)

e. It involves humbling ourselves before God in repentance. II Chron. 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.”

f. It is a time of prayer-intercession as we wait on God. It is God finding someone that will stand in the gap and make up the hedge for a people who have gone astray from His way.  Eze. 22:30 “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.”

g. It is a time of preparation. Make or get ready. Ex.15:1-2, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 2The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

Conc. The easy thing to do is to say what we want…I want my family saved…I want a good marriage….I want peace,….I want revival…I want Jesus first in my life….but.....

our wants are never accomplished by what we say but by what we do.”   

Note James 1:22, "Be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only."

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

"Looking Beyond - The Ability To Disconnect"


(Ministered 12/29/12 in the AM service.  The last Sunday of 2012)

Intro.  It is so easy to get weighted down with the daily problems and circumstances that surround us.  To become encumbered with the daily grind of life; paying bills, raising kids to be productive Godly citizens, overcoming the consistent problem of making ends meet.  But in spite of it all I believe one of the greatest abilities given a Christian is the ability of “Looking Beyond" what is to what will be. It is in truth "faith sight ".  No matter what the circumstances, good or bad, things will change.  

The Problem:  The problem most of us have is the ability to dis-connect.  We find it hard, if not impossible, to disconnect from the pain, the problems, the offenses, the hurts, the weights of our yesterday's.  They have become the un-necessary weights that keep, and will continue to keep you, locked in your present prison of anger, loneliness and despair, hindering you from looking beyond what was and what is and receiving what will be.  

Note Paul's encouragement in Phil 3:13b-14, “ forgetting those things (the pain, the problems, the offenses, the hurts, the weights of our yesterday) behind (past), reaching forth for those things (peace, joy, inner healing) which are ahead (present),.  I press toward the mark (future) for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. “   He had his eyes upon tomorrow, the mark, the high calling”. (God calling me on high. Dake)

Jesus said in Matt. 11:28, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

We must determine to not allow anything or anyone control or destroy what we are or what we are destined to become.  We must “Look Beyond”!

Note with me others before us that looked beyond.

I. God Looked Beyond: 
  a. Man had disobeyed.
  b. Did what God said he should not do.
  c. God kept His Word.  Man suffered spiritual death... separation from Spirit Life.
  d. The curse was placed upon man.
  e. The serpent had won!
   f. But God looked beyond the darkness and despair of the hour....looked beyond to
   Calvary and said in Gen. 3:15, " And I will put enmity ( a feeling or condition 
   of hostility; hatred; ill will; animosity; antagonism) between thee and the 
   woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise (crush; fall upon) thy 
    head..."

II. Moses Looked Beyond: 
     a. Miraculously raised in the home of the enemy of God’s people.  Never lacked 
         for anything.
b. It is easy to become comfortable surrounded by prosperity though they that are around you are living in bondage of sin and moral poverty of a depraved society. 
c. BUT there came a time that Moses chose to look beyond the prosperity and the privilege ( sometimes a problem ) of being called the son of Pharoah’s daughter. Note Heb. 11:25-27  “ By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God , than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.  Esteeming ( hold in  high expectation ) the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasure in Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompence ( give compensation to ) of the reward.  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king:  for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible “. Faith that a better thing was in store for God's chosen! 

III. Isaiah Looked Beyond:  
a. During Isaiah’s time Israel was in bondage and controlled by heathen nations.
b. Time and time again God had sent His Word through the mouths of His 
     prophets calling for the repentance of Israel.  For a season they would return 
     and be blessed but the pull of the world around them would pull them back to 
     the sins of their surroundings.
c. Isaiah looked beyond and said in Isa. 9:6 , "For unto us a child is born, unto  
    us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his 
    name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting
    Father,  The Prince of Peace." 
    “ And the redeemer shall come to Zion...” Isa. 59:20
    " In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, 
     high and lifted up, and his train ( glory ) filled the temple.  " Is.6:1

IV. Jesus Looked Beyond:
      a. In Matt. 16:18 He said, "I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not   
          prevail ( overpower it,  or  be strong to its detriment, or hold out against it ) 
          against it.      
      b. In John 14:3 He said, “ I go to prepare a place for you " He also said,  " I will 
           come again receive you unto  myself; that where I am, there ye may be 
           also.“  John 14:3


V. We Can And Must Look Beyond:
    a. Ps.91:2  I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge ( the state of being covered or  
        protected: something to which one turns for assistance in difficulty or need in 
        the absence of a usual means or source of supply ) and my fortress ( a place 
        offering resistance to a hostile force ): my God; in him will I trust 
       ( lean and rely ).
      
Conc. To each present here today I want you to know God has given you the ability to “Look Beyond” the present circumstances and know there are better days ahead.  You do not have to be satisfied with the bondage, the darkness, the despair of the hour.....this same Jesus is saying that to us today in " And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. " Lk. 21:8
        
It is time to “Look Beyond"!!

“I Am Free…I Am Free…I Am Free At Last”

MC Sermon - 2/20/22 Intro.  Many within the church are being distracted by what is going on around them. The distraction disrupts the pursu...