"Identity Crisis"

Note:  The following is a series I am teaching  in Wed.'s Word Studies w/ Pastor.  I pray it will be an encouragement to you as well as a directive.  We are who we are because of who God says we are...we can do what we need to do because God says we can.  Never believe differently.

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"Identity Crisis"

I firmly believe that one of the main reasons that many Christians remain in captivity after salvation is because of an Identity Crisis.   A crisis that is brought on due to… # 1 Failure In Realizing Who They Are In Christ # 2 Accepting Who They Are Based Upon What The Word Says.  Hosea 4:6 says,   “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge….”  

It doesn't matter who or what others say you are... it doesn't matter what the devil says you are… It is what the Word/God says.  In truth it doesn't matter what or who God says you are...if you don't accept it you will continue to fight the same battles you have been fighting for years.

 I. Let It Go: The first thing you must do after salvation to be able to go forward is to .....let what was stay what was not what is....just let it go!

You say "but you wouldn't say that if you knew my past.   I would say what God would say..."What past?"

According to God, the Creator, you don't have a past…5 2 Cor. 5:17,  “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

II. The Word Defines Us:  God’s Word concerning each of us is irrevocable. 

Deuteronomy 4:2 “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take anything from it”

Proverbs 30:6"Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar”.

Revelation 22:18-19, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

III. The Word Says…

*I am complete in Him Who is the Head of all principality and power (Colossians 2:10). “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”

*I am alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:5). “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),”

*I am free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”

*I am far from oppression, and fear does not come near me (Isaiah 54:14). “In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you.”

*I am born of God, and the evil one does not touch me (1 John 5:18). “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.”

*I am holy and without blame before Him in love (Ephesians 1:4; “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,”

What I Have…Because of Him:

*I have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16, “For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”

*I have the peace of God that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

*I have the Greater One living in me; greater is He Who is in me than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). 

*I have received the gift of righteousness and reign as a king in life by Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17, “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)”

*I have received the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus, the eyes of my understanding being enlightened.  Ephesians 1:15-18, “Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,”

*I have received the power of the Holy Spirit to lay hands on the sick and see them recover, to cast out demons, to speak with new tongues. I have power over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means harm me.  Mark 16:17-18,“And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

*I have put off the old man and have put on the new man, which is renewed in the knowledge after the image of Him Who created me (Colossians 3:9-10, “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,”

"No More Waiting"

(Note:  Trying to get back on schedule with my blog.  My objective is to share encouraging directed from Father with those who follow me.  I do this by posting sermons I have preached in condensed form.  If you enjoy what your are reading please let other know.  My deep desire is to honor God and add to the Kingdom daily with my words and actions.  I pray you are blessed with the following...)

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Intro.  I awakened early one morning this week with the title of two sermons I had preached several years ago on my mind.. As I entered into my Father Time these words kept resonating in my spirit....No More Waiting” & “ It’s My Time Now”. 

To all who are standing on promises God has given YOU I encourage YOU to embrace these two statements as prophetic today. YOUR wait is over...YOUR time is NOW!!!   There is  “ No More Waiting “…..No More Waiting For....The move of God!   No More Waiting For....The outpouring of the Spirit. No More Waiting For....Revival. No More Waiting For.... Blessings. No More Waiting For....Peace in our families. No More Waiting For....Prosperity in our whole man. No More Waiting For....Hope in what seems like a time of hopelessness... No More Waiting for your healing...No More Waiting For your sons, daughters, & family members to be converted.  It is time for us to rise up and declare, “ It Is My Time NOW!”

Expectation Is The Foundation of Faith...Do the above words stir you to expect what God has promised?  If not why not?  God's Word is truth & light...if He said He will do it.  Note Ps. 5:3,  “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; In the morning I lay my request before you and wait expectantly."  The keys words here are wait, don't stop God's provision with doubt...have patience, He will come through.  Expect...confess...praise for it...it will come.

There Are Three Steps To  Possessing What God Has Promised.... let me deal with one of them: 

# 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.“   We place it on hold with our doubts, fears, offenses, jealousies, confessions, etc.  

I want you today to now....

Your 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 manu (;  soweth, that shall he also reap.”

                                                

2Co.9: 6 “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly;  and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”

 Today is your day!!  Now is your time!!

What Is On The Horizon....

“I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!" Lk. 12:49

The Vision...

A few weeks back, while n prayer in the sanctuary at MC, I was shown what is on the horizon for the church.  The hungry church...the praying church...the purified church...the hearing/seeing church.

(A Note of Clarity:  The Church = each born-again child of God who understands and knows that we r who we are because of Jesus’ birth, death, resurrection and ascension.  He is now and will forever be the only way to the Father.)

“I saw a pile of smoldering embers; as I looked closer I could see the white dust, a residue of what had been, proof that in the past a fire had once been there but had lost something to burn and seemingly left nothing but the proof of the past fire.  But then I felt the urgency to look closer, under the proof of the past fire, the dust, I saw some glowing ember, .some very small particles that still had the fire in them.  As I stood gazing at the smoldering embers a wind began to blow across 'what was', the dust of the past fire, the dust was blown away, the wind continued to blow upon the small glowing embers and suddenly a fire burst out.  As I stood there the fire began to grow in intensity. As it grew I began to see people start noticing the fire and were drawn to it’s flames.  The higher the flames grew the further away it could be seen and it became like a magnet to those who saw it.  People began to come from far away places...large crowds of people...they came to see and experience the fire.

This morning, 7/17/18, my spirit was drawn back to that vision and I heard these words...”It will begin with a gentle breeze and will then grow n intensity".

To the hungry...the thirsty...Pastor or parishioner...get ready the gentle breeze, if it hasn’t’t already started blowing, it is about to begin and then the Wind.

(If this resonates with your spirit...share it with others.)

“Armed & Dangerous”

Preached:  6/10 & 17/18

Text:  I Peter 4:1, “Therefore since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also...”

Intro.  Can you imagine an army going into battle without...guns, bullets, missiles, war ships, tanks etc.  That would be sure suicide!   It just doesn’t happen!  Nor should we, the body of Christ, go into the daily battles we face unprepared....unarmed.   We must arm ourselves for the conflicts that will come our way...to fail to do so is to commit spiritual suicide. 

In Peter’s first letter he tells the child of God to ‘arm himself’....”So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves…"NLT

 Arm: (3695) (hoplizo from hoplon = weapon) This basically means to make ready or prepare, with a focus upon the process of equipping; or to arm, to furnish with arms or to provide. In the case of soldiers it means to equip one's self with weapons.

With What ...”with the same attitude (to have understanding, to think) he had,” 

Jesus was ready and willing to do ‘whatever it takes’….”be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin.You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.” I Pet. 4:1-3 NLT

He was willing to do whatever had to be done to accomplish what He was sent here to accomplish.  It is with this same attitude that we must  arm ourselves for our daily battles. 

 Note: Outlook determines outcome; a believer must have the right attitude if he is to live a right life. Since this is a constant struggle we need to be properly motivated and that is what Peter is doing in this section, teaching that we can be motivated by the truth that our Lord also suffered and also by the certainty of His imminent return to judge the living and the dead.

Victor Or Victim? You Choose:  Too many Christians live with a  ‘victim mentality’. It is used to shed light upon their needs...to produce sympathy for their cause.   The child of God ceased to be a victim the moment he/ she gave their heart to Christ.  At that very moment you became a VICTOR.  ‘Old things passed away all things became new’. II Cor. 5:17

 We Must Arm Ourselves With Facts To Become A Victor Not A Victim:

Fact # 1 - We will face/have difficulties in this life….10 John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation (great trouble or suffering);”  

Acts 14:22, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”  

I Thess. 3:3, “no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.”

We will never win without recognizing and accepting the FACT that we must fight....It is extremely destructive to teach a new Christian, or any Christian, that once they get saved everything is going to become easy.  The devil NEVER gives up!  He wants what he claims to be his property back....that is not going to happen if we are armed!!

Fact #2 - Knowing YOU Never Have To Lose….12 ”Listen! I have given you authority, so that you can...overcome all the power of the enemy, and nothing will hurt you.”  Lk. 10:19  TEV

Listen!   Pay attention to what is about to be said.  Don’t drift off here...listen closely.

“I have given you authority (exousia: rightful, actual, and unimpeded power to act, or to possess, control, use, dispose of, something)”  Simply put….”I have given you the right to exercise the power I have given you.”

D. Sheets:  Where God and Satan are concerned, the issue has never been power, including over control of the earth.  God is al-powerful.  When Satan tried to pull off a coup in heaven, there was a flash of lightning and Satan was gone (Luke 10:18).  No battle, no time delay, no sweat or exertion on God’s part...just a release of His power and glory.  It is always and only a question of authority.

The same is true with us and our struggle against the kingdom of darkness.  Satan did’t gain any power at the fall and didn’t lose any at the cross.  His power or ability didn’t change at either event; his authority, or the right to use that power, did.  In fact, though Christians often state otherwise, 14 Scripture nowhere says that Christ delivered us from or dealt with Satan’s power at Calvary.  He dealt with Satan’s authority. 

The King James Version uses the Greek words dunamis (power) and exousia (authority) interchangeably, which is unfortunate and creates confusion.  In Colossians 1:13, for example, it translates exousia as power:  “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.“  The verse should read that Christ has delivered us from the authority of darkness, as most other translations actually do.  Likewise, in Matthew 28:18 Jesus didn’t say he has been give “all power, “ as the KJV renders...He already had that.  Christ used exousia:  He was stating that He had taken back the authority for us that Adam has lost. 

This is more than a mere technicality.  If Jesus stripped Satan of his power, as some teach, then we no longer need to concern ourselves with him...he becomes a nonissue.  Or if we Christians have been delivered from Satan’s power, as some teach, then he can no longer affect or control us.  We would be able to ignore him completely, which is precisely what many Christians do.

If on the other hand, Jesus dealt with Satan’s authority...the right to use his power or abilities...then we would need to deal with him as a usurper, a rebel, a thief that has no right to steal kill and destroy but will if not stopped (John 10:10).  If we have been delivered from Satan’s authority and given a higher authority in Christ’s name, then we must exercise that authority over the devil’s works and power.  When we do, God’s awesome power will back up our authority.  Luke 10:19 refers to this...using our authority over Satan’s power:  “Behold, I have give you authority (exousia) to tead upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power (dunamis) of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you.”

Jesus said we have authority (keys) to “bind” the forces of hell (Matt.16:19).  The term is deo, and means to “fasten or tie, as with a chain or cord” (Zodhiates, Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible, NASB).  The word was also used in legal circles to mean “legally or contractually binding,” which obviously conveys the idea of authority, binding or tying Satan legally, and God will back us with His power.  So again, 15 what will determine victory for us is understanding and exercising our God given authority.

 Some Reminders:  Eph. 1:19-20, NLT “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.”

 I John 4:4, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

 I John 5:4, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

Conc:  He has not left us unequipped!  He has given us what we need to win.....it is up to us to arm ourselves and go for the victory!! It is ours for the taking!!  We are and should be armed and dangerous...ready to reek havoc against the enemy of the Kingdom!!  The devil can’t take what we want allow!!

"The Fight Is On"

Excerpts from the series "A Fresh Glimpse of The Dove - The Fight Is On"    4/15/18

   I believe there is an ever increasing number of people today in and even out of the church who are tiring of the glitzy, glamour filled halls of religion we call the church today.  No longer are we satisfied with the religious robotics called worship that does little more than move carnal flesh.  The desire of many is for something that brings a true change to their lives.  A change that builds within them a faith that says life is worth living.  That it can truly be filled with joy, peace, freedom, purity, harmony, success, etc.   

Christianity Today - ‘The Rise of The Nons’:  This is a group of people who since the year 2000 have bailed out of ‘church as we know it.’  Why? many ask.  There are various reasons…I believe one of the main reasons is what is being offered.  The church has become so ‘trend concious’ until we’ve allowed the preaching of a life-changing gospel to take the back-row seat.  

There is and must be a God birthed desire for the reestablishment of a moral compass that will help define and give directions for what is right and what is wrong….what is good and what is bad.  

For to long we’ve allowed outside influences legislate to us, to our children, to the church as a whole, what is acceptable and what is unacceptable.  In truth this is nothing more than the blind leading the blind…the results?  They both end up in the ditch of despair!!  I say enough is enough; it is time for the church to return to preaching / teaching and living a Bible based lifestyle.   Jesus didn’t come to birth a church that is so materialistically controlled until the desire to see the lost converted ceases to be our primary pursuit.   He didn’t come to reveal to a sin crusted humanity a “feel good gospel” that does nothing to prepare man for eternity. He came for one purpose; to give His life as a sacrifice…as a ransom…as a redeemer.  He came to seek and to save the lost!!  He wanted to give man a way out of hell and a way into heaven.  And I say with the Apostle Paul, ”….knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.  Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.”  

In short it is time to resist what is wrong and stand for what is right while at the same time shouting to the devil and his minions “The Fight Is On!!”  The Fight Is On for the very core of what we as Christians stand for…no longer will we be dictated to by those who have no understanding of God, His will or His Word. 

II. Fight For It Or Lose It:  Passivity is not an acceptable part of the make up of a child of God.  We cannot and must not just sit back and let the enemy, religious or otherwise, take what God has blessed us with.  To do so is to doom the future of our children and grandchildren and definitely the demise of the Church as God intended it to be.  Part of the great commission demands that we ‘cast out devils’.  (Mk. 16:17)

The Monument Men: In WWII Adolf Hitler  who dreamed of being a great artist, led the Nazis' in the largest art heist in history.  German forces plundered thousand of paintings, sculptures, artifacts and relics.  Hitler’s plan was to house these treasures for himself in a massive and beautiful museum he would one day build.  Had it not been for a group of Allied forces called the Monument Mens, many of these prized possessions of European culture would have been lost with the demise of the Third Reich.  Organized as an Allied military unit during the war, this band of about 350 male and female art historians, museum curators and professors searched out the stolen loot.  By the time the war had ended, the Monuments Men had helped track down (and eventually return) about five million cultural and artistic objects.  The early stages of their salvage expedition, the Monument Mens were given little to no respect by combat soldiers; yet these men and women fought hard.  One man in the task force, Second Lieutenant Rorimer, had incredible resolve.  He once stood in front of a chateau that was on the list of protected monuments.  The building had been set fire and three of its four walls knocked down.  This monument was barely standing.  Rorimer heard a rumble of approaching bulldozer.  The massive machine thundered it's way toward the protected monument on a demolition mission.  Rorimer, jumped in front of the bulldozer and boldly thrust out his hand, demanding the driver to stop.  A commanding officer rushed over and demanded that the Monuments Man had no authority to tell anyone what to do.  Rorimer had not intention of backing down.  He was there to protect a protected monument!! And protect it he did!!

We need some Monument Men/Women today who understand the value of what  we stand for and what God’s Word demands and promises.  Men/women who are willing to fight the hords of hell and their co-horts for the what we know is rightfully ours.  We either must fight for it or lose it.  I say..."The Fight Is On".  What about you?

"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!!!"

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!!