Six Prophetic Words: Message 10

INTRODUCTION:

Every great story begins memorably…

• “It was a dark and stormy night…” – Snoopy’s Great American Novel

• “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” Dicken’s Tale of Two Cities

• “Life is difficult.” M. Scott Peck The Road Less Travelled

• “There once was a boy named Eustace Clarence Scrubb and he almost deserved it.” C S Lewis - Voyage of the Dawn Treader

• "Call me Ishmael." Herman Melville Moby Dick

• “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” George Orwell, 1984

And – the best tale of them all begins this way…

• “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth….” Genesis 1:1

Good stories touch our hearts.

Why do we care about Star Wars – and the Matrix – and Braveheart – and The Lord of the Rings – and Oprah? Because they tell great stories that touch our hearts.

Stories are bigger than the sum of the facts.

They include feelings, and desperation and hunger and doubt, and fear.

Facts are final. Stories are sticky.

But would you rather read a textbook on ACCOUNTING or a NOVEL about love, death, laughter, grief and triumph?

Stories are very spiritual.

Read the Gospels – Jesus taught in story form. “Parables”… but they are simply stories….
• About brides and grooms
• About trees and fruit
• About coins and pearls and treasures
• About employers and employees
• About sheep and goats
• About planting and harvesting

God wants us to tell great stories.

I want us collectively to tell a story today. In every great story of God’s involvement in our lives there are three parts:

1. The Problem – what I needed God to do.
2. The Provision – what God did do.
3. The Praise – what I’ll do in response.

My story:
In late December – the Lord spoke SIX WORDS to me.
• Faith
• Identity
• Believe
• Miracles
• Miracles
• Testimony

And He told me to preach these words – which I’ve done – today is the 10th message concerning these six words.

We’ve discovered…
• That Faith is a Gift from God

• That Faith results in us having a new IDENTITY

• That our new IDENTITY enables us to take BELIEVING ACTION STEPS

• Which results in God doing MIRACLES in and through us.

• God’s MIRACLES impact others – causing them to look for MIRACLES as well!

• And as we experience all of this – He gives us a TESTIMONY or STORY to tell that brings Him the glory and helps others to seek His Gift of Faith!

Which leads us back to the idea of giving God glory through our TESTIMONY or STORY.

In the Bulletin – there is a section with the three parts of a great story listed.

• PROBLEM
• PROVISION
• PRAISE

NOW – Here’s what we need to do -…

Fill out that little section…

• My PROBLEM was….
• God made PROVISION by doing….
• I will PRAISE HIM by….

As you are doing this – I want to remind you of another story.

There was religious man. Very religious. In fact, He was in the leadership of his church. He knew the rules, the regulations – and he did his best to fulfill them. But, somehow, it wasn’t enough. It didn’t bring him the satisfaction that he expected it to. He was hungry for more.

More came to town in the person of Jesus. And this man was hungry to see if this Jesus was all He said He was. At the same time he didn’t want to burn his bridges with his religious friends. So, late one night, under cover of darkness, he snuck through the back roads of his village in order to have a conversation with Jesus.

“Jesus – I know that you are from God. No-one could do what you are doing unless God were with Him.”

“Nicodemus – you want what I have? You must be born again. It’s time to start over again. Your way will not lead you to life.”

“But, I’m an old man, how can I be ‘born-again’? My mother isn’t going to go for this!”

“Funny. The spiritual life you desire comes from being born twice – first naturally and secondly, spiritually. You need God to give you a spiritual rebirth.”

“Huh?”

“Nicodemus, you are a spiritual leader, but you don’t get this? Listen carefully. I'm speaking sober truth to you. I speak only of what I know by experience; I give witness only to what I have seen with my own eyes. There is nothing secondhand here, no hearsay…”

And then Jesus goes on to tell Nicodemus – and us – God’s exact intentions: (John 3:14ff)

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:14-17

God desires to bring us to full and complete restoration – and He does this through Jesus.

Now – I want you to look at John 3:11 – I’ve printed it in your bulletin:

“Listen carefully. I'm speaking sober truth to you. I speak only of what I know by experience; I give witness only to what I have seen with my own eyes. There is nothing secondhand here, no hearsay…” John 3:11 Message Translation

When you give testimony or tell your story, Jesus lays out some important guidelines:

1. It is serious business.
“I’m speaking sober truth to you…”
2. The best stories come from our own experience.
“I speak only of what I know by experience; I give witness only to what I have seen with my own eyes. There is nothing secondhand here, no hearsay…”

With that said – I want to invite you to share your story. To help you be effective in bringing God the glory and in building each other up – I want to encourage you to use the three-part story tool as much as possible.

• Tell us what the PROBLEM was.
• Tell us what God did to make PROVISION.
• Then give PRAISE to God!

And FOR THE LISTENERS: I want you to be active in listening.

• Listen and record what the PROBLEM was.
• Listen and record what God did to make PROVISION.
• Listen and record the PRAISE.

Who’s first?

Six Prophetic Words: Message 9

Last Sunday…
• Introduced the ROLE of miracles in demonstrating the Presence of God’s Kingdom
• Showed the PURPOSE of miracles in Jesus’ ministry – compassion, need-meeting, demonstrating of God’s glory
• Introduced the idea that Christians are capable of doing the miraculous works of God!
• Showed how in John 14:12 – Jesus said that we do even GREATER THINGS than He did!
• And we made a CHOICE – a decision of the will – to BELIEVE

Believing that God could do miracles in and through us is a vital step in our maturity in Christ!

In Mark’s Gospel, we hear an amazing statement of Jesus: (Mark 16:15)
“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Mark 16:15-18, NIV.

• Jesus speaks to our mission: Bring good news!
• And Jesus speaks to the results of receiving the good news: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved…”
• But salvation isn’t the only thing that happens when we come to BELIEVE: There will be KINGDOM SIGNS that accompany faith – deliverance, tongues, immunity from poison, healing gifts – are but a few!

While this may be not yet be in our own personal experience, it was the normal experience of the early Christians:
• Several times believers were released from prison by angels! (Acts 5:17-25, 12:1-17, 16:25-40)
• Evangelist Philip was transported bodily from Gaza to Azotus – a distance of 24 miles! (Acts 8:39-40)
• Apostle Paul was bit by a deadly snake, but suffered no harm! (Acts 28:3-6)

One of the reasons that we don’t see more of this miraculous activity in the Western World is that somewhere along the road, Christians stopped relying and depending upon God to do miracles, and instead we have learned to rely upon our own personal strengths, intellect, reason, science, medicine. In other words: Christians in the last 100 years have turned away from Holy Spirit power and relaced with Soulish Power.

In the Robert Redford movie, The Natural, his character – Roy Hobbs has used the same bat “wonder boy” for his entire life. At the climax of the movie, in the championship game, his bat shatters. This is the critical moment in his life – when all that he has relied upon comes crashing down. What is he to do? Will he stay in the game? He calls out to the batboy: “Hey, Bobby – go pick me out a winner!” The true test – the beginning of redemption, actually starts when all of our bats break and we can no longer rely upon what we’ve used all of our lives.

The real journey of faith begins when the false self fails!

In my journey as a Christian – I used to believe that with all the right techniques, right programs, right staffing – that the church would grow and increase in numbers. And perhaps some churches do increase in numbers given all the ‘right’ ingredients – but numbers alone does not mean that lives are being changed by Christ!

When we started SUMMIT Church in 1998 – we had ALL the right ingredients – and the church grew in numbers. BUT when we no longer had the resources to keep paying for the right ingredients – then things changed.

This culminated last year when God spoke to me and said: “You don’t need buildings and you don’t need programs – you need Me. TRUST ME. I will build my church, my way.”

God did not change this church to punish it – He changed it to prepare it for greater works!

And what is God’s way? ACTS 1:8
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8, NIV.

• God’s way is that we – as believers – will minister in the power of the Holy Spirit.

And as we minister in the power of the Holy Spirit – God will do miracles. That is not my word – it is HIS PROMISE!

All of our bats are broken. Our so-called strengths will fail us – if not now, then later. What is our choice – to quit? – to run and hide? – to white-knuckle it? – or to say: “Hey, Bobby, go pick me out a winner?” “Hey, God, show me your way!”

So – what must we do in order to see this become reality in our lives?

We must be SPIRITUALLY PREPARED.

God isn’t going to do the miraculous in and through you, until He has prepared you. You must go through a process of development, of refining, or retraining. You must allow God to restructure your priorities, your thinking, your activities – so that you can be a suitable tool in His hands.

I am here – as your pastor – to be used by God as a tool of preparation. Ephesians 4 tells us that as a pastor I am to…
“…prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fulness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:12-13, NIV.

So – in my desire to serve the Lord and to prepare you – here are some action steps to become spiritually prepared for the miraculous:
Spiritual Preparation for the Miraculous:

1. Fully Investigate What the Bible Says about Miracles.

• If we don’t know what God’s intentions are – than how can we involve ourselves with Him? We have to discover what His Word teaches us about miracles!

• Yet – if it is indeed God’s plan that you be involved with His miraculous work – isn’t that worth putting some effort into? Isn’t it worth studying the Bible, reading what other Christians have discovered in their journey? Isn’t it worthy of your time, energy and effort so that you can know? Which has more value – knowing God’s will or knowing who got sent home on American Idol?

• Fully investigate what the Bible says about miracles!

The Apostle Paul wrote his young disciple Timothy these words: 2 Timothy 3:16-17
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, NIV.

Dig in – read, study, pray. Ask God to reveal His plans for the miraculous! To help you study deeper, both on your own, and in groups – we’ve created a place on the Internet where you can download all of the recent teachings from Sunday’s and from Home Groups – I have finally found a Godly reason for an internet site! www.summitchurchteachings.blogspot.com

A second part of God’s preparation process:
2. Fall Passionately in Love With Jesus.

Miracles, signs, wonders, tongues, prophecies – all serve to point people to Christ! The purpose of the indwelling Holy Spirit is to help you move closer to Jesus!

• You don’t study the Bible for the sake of knowing the Bible – you study the Bible so that you’ll fall in love with Jesus!
• You don’t seek miracles for the sake of miracles – you seek them so that people will fall in love Jesus!
• You don’t seek signs and wonders for the sake of signs and wonders – you seek them so that people will fall in love with Jesus!

Do you wonder why your life isn’t as effective as you know it can be? Do you wonder why you aren’t experiencing God’s power? Do you wonder why you feel so disconnected with other Christians?

Maybe it is because you haven’t fallen passionately in love with Jesus!

Jesus said:
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” John 15:9, NIV.

How much time have you spent – focusing, thinking, enjoying – the love of Christ?

Listen to David’s passion:
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” Psalms 42:1, 2, NIV.

“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” Psalms 63:1, NIV.

“One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” Psalms 27:4,

Do you hear the passion? Can you escape his deep passionate love for God? This isn’t about intellect – this is PASSION!

In fact – the passion extends to involve the body…
“Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp.” Psalms 149:3, NIV.

Someone with a passionate love relationship with Jesus isn’t afraid to show it! The Bible talks a lot about believers SHOUTING, SINGING, LIFTING UP OUR HANDS IN PRAISE, DANCING, TREMBLING, KNEELING, FALLING FACE DOWN, JUMPING – Why? Because when you love Jesus passionately – you just can’t hold it in!

Some of you might say: “Well, I’m a quiet reserved person.” – And certainly quiet and reserved people can love Jesus passionately! The most important thing isn’t HOW that love is demonstrated, but that you are growing in your passion for Christ!

Even as we seek for God to work in power – we must first seek Christ.

It is easy to put good things above the best thing.

• It is a good thing to study the Bible. It is a better thing to love Jesus.
• It is a good thing to serve the church. It is a better thing to love Jesus.
• It is a good thing to seek the miraculous. It is a better thing to love Jesus.

Are you passionately in love with Jesus?
Is there an emotion associated with your faith? If there isn’t – something has gone wrong. Your emotions aren’t evil. Your emotions aren’t bad. To cut off from emotions is to be operating at a deficit.

Do we want to fall passionately in love with Jesus? LET’S CRY OUT TO HIM TO DEVELOP THIS IN US!

God – give us a passion for Christ! God – give us Holy Spirit filled emotions for your Son! God – grant us freedom of expression of our passion for Christ!

3. Find Others Who Share Your Passion.

We need others to walk with in order to move into the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit. We cannot do this alone. We need others who share the same passion to share our lives with.

• Our relationships strength us:
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17, NIV.

• Our relationships expand us:
“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
1 Corinthians 12:7,

• Our relationships encourage us:
“All the believers were one in heart and mind.” Acts 4:32, NIV.

We need Christian fellowship because our unity of passion helps us to move into God’s Spirit. In fact, if you spend most of your optional time with unbelievers, you’ll be dragged down by them.

Paul wrote:
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?” 2 Corinthians 6:14-15

Why? Different passions.

The people in this church who are growing in their passion for Christ are doing so – in large part – because they are connected through home groups with others who hunger for the same thing.

• I call our home groups “laboratories” because there we can experiment in a safe environment with the activity of the Holy Spirit.
• I call our home groups “nurseries” because in them, small steps of faith are recognized, honored, encouraged and celebrated!

CONCLUSION:
Miracles occur when we – God’s people – are willing to surrender our best – in favor of allowing God to do His work in and through us.

We must be prepared.
• We need to know what God’s word says.
• We need to fall passionately in love with Jesus.
• We need to be with each other.

Enough talk about miracles. Let’s ask God to work them.

Message 8: Miracles - Doing What Jesus Did

Review Six Words:

1. The Gift of Faith – Granted to us by God so that we can be restored to Him

2. A New Identity – As a result of Faith, I come to see that I am truly a new person in Christ

3. Coming to Believe – Taking action steps – in every area of our being – that reflect who we really are as people of faith.

4. Miracles – what God is able to do in and through the lives of true believers.

5. Miracles – the impact of God’s works on those around us preparing them to receive the gift of faith.

6. Testimony – our stories of God’s intervention that lead us to glorify Him and draw others to Him.

Paul is writing about the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the local church and says:
“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.”
1 Corinthians 12:7-10, NIV.

• God gives evidences of His Spirit living within – they are called SPIRITUAL GIFTS.
• They are given for the ‘common good’
• There are a variety of spiritual gifts, Paul lists some of them: ‘wisdom, knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues.’
• Miraculous powers is listed as one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

What are miracles?

Dennis Bennett defines them this way: “Miracles are events that seem to override or contradict the so-called ‘laws of nature’.

C. Peter Wagner defines the spiritual gift of ‘miraculous powers’ this way: “The special ability to serve as human intermediaries through whom it pleases God to perform powerful acts that are perceived by observers to have altered the ordinary course of nature.”

Intuitively we know that miracles are events that are outside the ‘normal’ course of life. They seem to be inexplicable to the human mind and understanding.

As Christians we must give the credit to God for any miracles that we see happen.

At the same time, as American-rationalistic Christians – we frankly don’t know what to do with miracles, they don’t fit our typical way of thinking and as a result we also don’t expect the miraculous to occur with any kind of frequency – and without expectation of the miraculous, we don’t ask God to do miracles too often.

Unless, of course, our back is up against the wall. When we are in trouble – it is then we ask God to do the miraculous!

• But, what if God wants to work in the realm of the miraculous for reasons beyond rescueing us when we are desparete?
• What if His purposes for working miracles is to provide convincing evidences of His Presence and Power that results in people coming to the undeniable conclusion that He loves them?

God’s word declares that in the church there will be people gifted by the Holy Spirit to be ‘workers of miracles…’

Some people say: “We don’t need miracles today. That was for then. They were a primitive people, they needed dramatic evidence. But we have science. We have reason. Two plus two equals four.”

You can say that if you want - but it goes in direct contradiction to the priorities of God for His people…


“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:12-17, NIV.

• “I tell you the truth” – a declarative statement of Christ – pay attention to this when you see it – He is about to lay out a very important reality of being a part of the Kingdom of God!

• “Anyone who has faith in me…” – What is about to be said applies to all members of Christ’s church – we are invited to participate with Christ – by faith – in something truly amazing!

• “Anyone who has faith in me will do…” “Do” – means that the gift of faith that God gave you will result in new activities, new actions that demonstrate your true identity as the people of God.

• “Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing…” – Apparently when we come to Christ, we get a new agenda for living – we begin to involve ourselves in His priorities, it’s no longer about living for self – we are now living for Christ! What did Jesus do?

Jesus said in Luke 4:18…
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”” Luke 4:18, 19, NIV.

These are the priorities of the Kingdom:
• Good news
• Freedom
• Recovery of sight
• Release from bondage
• Knowledge of God’s favor

And here is what Jesus did:
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.” Matthew 9:35, NIV

And we read the Gospels and we see that Jesus did more miracles than we can even imagine…

• Turned ordinary water into extraordinary wine – John 2:1-11
• He walked on water and enabled Peter to do the same – Matthew 14:25-33
• He miraculously increased one little boys food in order to feed 5000 people – Mark 6:34-44
• He caused a raging storm to cease – Mark 6:45-52

When Jesus is questioned about His identity, he simply says:
“Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.” Matthew 11:4, 5, NIV.

Why did Jesus perform miracles?

• To demonstrate compassion to the suffering - healings
• To meet practical needs – feeding, walking on water
• And – to demonstrate the glory of God!

In fact, Jesus did so many miracles that is caused John to write:
“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” John 21:25, NIV.

Now – go back to John 14…
“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:12-17, NIV.

• He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father
– Do you get this? Do you see the implications of what Jesus is declaring?

We – God’s people of faith – given a new identity as people of His kingdom – will take action steps of believing faith – that will result in ‘greater things’ than even Jesus did! We get to be a part of God’s miraculous activity in the world:

- We get to demonstrate compassion to the suffering!
- We get to meet practical needs through the miraculous!
- We get to show the glory of God to an unbelieving world!

I know that you minds are saying: “How can this be?” – but – let’s demonstrate a little Holy Spirit-control right now and say instead: “Lord, let it be!” Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to fill our unbelieving intellect and begin even now to make faith statements of agreement with Christ:

“I believe! I believe that you’ll use me to do the miraculous! I don’t know how – but I believe you at your word! Lord, let it be!”

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6, NIV.

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8, NIV.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21, NIV.

• Participating with Christ in the miraculous isn’t about you – it’s about allowing His power to flow through you.

• As we become increasing God-dependant – and decreasingly self-dependant – He will make His grace abound!

• As we become increasing Spirit-empowered and decreasingly soulish – He will do ‘immeasurably more’ than we can even imagine!

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you for ever-- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:16-17

The key to participating with Christ in the miraculous stems from our relationship with the Indwelling Holy Spirit! As we become increasingly aware of His Presence in our lives – as we move further and further away from self-centered, soulish living and increasingly allow Him to direct our lives – we come to know Him personally. And then, we are able to pray and act accordingly!

When you know God’s priorities in the moment, you can take the action steps that He will bless!

This is what Paul was getting at in Galatians 5:24…
“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:24-25

When I am in step with the Spirit – I will experience His power like never before! And He will do great things in and around me!

CONCLUSION:
• Are we believers?
• Do we believe God at His Word?
• Are we willing to submit our finite intellect to the authority of an infinite God?
• Do we want to participate in the miraculous work of Holy Spirit in drawing people to Christ?
• Will we seek Him to show us the way?

Let’s cry out to God – right now – asking for Him to work in power in our midst.

Other Teachings

Message 1: Introduction to Six Prophetic Words

Six Prophetic Words

INTRODUCTION:
• 2004 will always be remembered by me as a huge year of TRANSITION.
• The transition was God drawing us back to Himself.
o This is God’s heart toward us – to fully reconcile and restore us to Himself

2 Peter 3:9 expresses this idea:
“He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

• This is the agenda of God – restoring us to Himself!
• How does he accomplish His agenda?
o Through the completed work of Christ that is made evident to us by the Holy Spirit! Listen to this:
“The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this.” Hebrews 10:15

When you hear the truth of God, it is the Spirit of truth that convinces you of its reality. Jesus said that…
“No-one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him…”John 6:44I

God the Father has as His clear objective to restore us – His highest and best creation – to Himself. He sent Christ to make the way and the Holy Spirit reveals the reality of this message to our spirits.

• For the past several months, He has been speaking loud and clear to us about our need to live in the power of the Indwelling Holy Spirit.

• He has taken us on a journey where He has helped us to see out true makeup – Body, Soul and Spirit.

• And He has helped us to begin to realize that we must no longer live fleshly or soulishly – but that we are SPIRITUAL people designed by God to function in the power of the Holy Spirit.

• Recently, you’ve heard stories of the beginnings of true Holy Spirit living:
- Chris Wilkerson – “God spoke to me!”
- Ralph Herrera – “God used me to pray for healing!”
- Gerry Meza – “God healed me!”

• What matters in this story is that God is causing His people to experience His power – and the result of this is they are beginning to experience the abundant living that Christ promised!

• I have another story of the Holy Spirit’s intervention. A few weeks ago, I was in prayer, and the Lord began to speak to me. He gave me ‘six words’ – and they came slowly and with great effort. He told me to meditate and prayerfully consider each of those six words. Which I did. Then, a couple of weeks ago, He told me that I could began to talk about these words with some people, finally, this week He told me that I could share these words with all of you. Which I plan to do this morning.

• Before I do – I want you to remember that it is our responsibility as Believers to ‘test’ every word against the Bible. I have spent the past several weeks ‘testing’ this word against the Bible. I believe this word I am going to share with you is from the Lord and is consistent with scripture. If I didn’t believe that, I wouldn’t dare speak it. But, you must do the same test. It is your responsibility.

• PRAYER

• The six words that I received are: FAITH, IDENTITY, BELIEVE, MIRACLES, MIRACLES, TESTIMONY. Write them down in the little colored boxes in your bulletin.

• FAITH.

When I received this word, and as I’ve meditated upon it, it has come to mean this:

“Faith is the gift from God that moves me away from fleshly and soulish living into spiritual living.”

The Bible makes it clear that faith is a gift that enables us to experience God in our lives.
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”” Romans 1:16, 17

NOW – as God gave me the word “Faith” He linked it with the second word:

• IDENTITY.

We all are smart enough to know that the word “Identity” has to do with how we view ourselves. And as I listen to the Lord concerning this word, He filled it in for me:

“Because of Faith, I belong to God and His Kingdom.”

This is to be our identity. We are God’s children. We belong to Him.

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 says that because of faith – I am not who I used to be – I am a new person!
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:” 2 Corinthians 5:17

This means…
- I am not to measure myself, or be measured by the world’s standards.
- My identity doesn’t come from the definition of the temporary – but from the decision of the eternal one!
- Christ is in me. And I now have the hope of glory residing within!
- My life is not to be built on the sandy shores of earth, but upon the rock foundation of Christ!

This is a huge issue, which I fully intend to explore deeply with you in the coming weeks. So much of what we believe about ourselves comes from our family background, our culture, our DNA, our experiences – but… I believe God gave me this word so that we can become free to be who we really are!

Faith and Identity go hand in hand.
- In the gift of faith we discover who we really are.

This is the first level of experiencing Spiritual living. I call it the ‘GIFT OF FAITH”

Now – the second level – BELIEVE and MIRACLES. – I call it the “ACTIVITY OF FAITH”

• BELIEVE.
Frequently we think that the word “Faith” and the word “Believe” are synonymous. But they aren’t. “Faith” is the gift that God gives, and “Believe”…

“To believe is to take action steps which demonstrate my new identity.”

We’ve all heard – and used the expression: “Talk is cheap.” We all know what it means. James put that expression a slightly different way when he wrote:

“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do… “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:14-18, 26

Faith must be translated to action. Walking in faith is where true belief is demonstrated.
- Believing is obedience
o Like tithing.
o Like serving.
o Like learning to depend absolutely upon the promises of God.
- Believing is learning to listen to His voice – and then doing what He says.
- Believing is taking action steps, and as a result we do the will of God.

And we can only take these action steps, as our faith becomes our identity. As we truly become – first and foremost – the people of God! As our faith impacts us, changes our identity, and causes us to ACT based upon WHO we really are!

Why were the early Christians able to do the things they did? Because they ACTED out their true IDENTITY!
- They healed because they knew that God heals, and they belonged to Him!
- They cast out demons because they knew that God restores, and they belonged to Him!
- They raised the dead because they knew that God is the giver of life, and they belonged to Him!
Which takes us to the fourth word, so tied to the third:

• MIRACLES.
In this age of reason, we’ve denied the reality of the miraculous. Too bad for us. We’ve exchanged the power of God and accepted the poor substitute of the power of the human brain.

But, Christianity is a faith based upon the supernatural. Without the supernatural, Jesus stayed in the grave.

As I prayed about this word – the Lord showed me that…
“Miracles are God taking action.”

God does miracles, and He uses His people to accomplish them.
o We pray, God works.
o We seek, God reveals.
o We speak, God accomplishes.

This is all tied to faith and identity. Jesus said:
“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”” Matthew 17:20.

Jesus wasn’t kidding – ‘nothing will be impossible for you…’

Listen to what else Jesus said:
“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12

Again – this is something we don’t know much about. And, I promise that we will be exploring this together so that we can have a fuller and more complete revelation of God’s will in our lives.

But before I go on – think about this:
- God does a miracle in our lives when he does an inner transformation. He changes us and we begin to display that transformation – that display is called the ‘fruit of the spirit’
- God does a miracle in our lives when he does the outer transformation. He gives us the ‘gifts of the Spirit’ and we begin to be used by Him to impact others.
- God does miracles through our lives and others are transformed – as we walk in the gifts of the Spirit and people begin to be healed, words of knowledge and prophecies are given – and their lives are made better.

In the gift of faith – we discover who we really are.
In the activity of faith – we discover who God really is.

NOW we move to the third level – I call it THE EVIDENCES OF FAITH.

• MIRACLES.
Didn’t we just talk about miracles? Yes, but as the Lord gave me this word – the second “miracles” took on a different meaning from the first.

Let me explain: the first ‘miracles’ was used to describe the ACTIVITY of God’s people walking in faith. This word is used to describe the EVIDENCES of God’s Glory that is accomplished through the miracles.
Or – another way to put it – the IMPACT that miracles have.

“The undeniable action of miracles demonstrates the character of God.”

You see – when God begins to work His miracles, we see Him for who He truly is. We see that He is a God of love! We see that He is a God of mercy! We see that He is a God of power!

When believers take on the new identity through faith, and begin to believe for miracles – things happen! Powerful things! Wonderful things! Amazing things! And the purpose of these things is that we begin to see God for who He really is!

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No-one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.” 1 John 4:9-13

God’s first demonstration of his character of love towards us was through a miracle! He sent Christ into the world! He demonstrated love through the miraculous!

And now – he anticipates that because we have received the miracle – we will give the miracle! ‘love one another’! How? “God lives in us… He has given us the Spirit!”

The miracles demonstrate God’s character – and these leads us to the sixth word:

• TESTIMONY.
To give testimony requires that you have seen and experienced something personally. Chris, Ralph and Gerry gave testimony because something happened to and through them.

What does it mean to give testimony?
“God is becoming increasingly real and increasingly loved by us!”

As you walk in faith. As you become a new person in Christ. As you take action based upon you beliefs. As God does the miraculous through you. You will come to know God better than ever and you will love Him more and more and more! And – you won’t be able to shut up about Him! And why would you want to?

When Jesus healed the man who had been filled with demons, he instructed him:
“Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over the town how much Jesus had done for him.” Luke 8:39

When Jesus spoke words of truth to the woman at the well in Samaria – she was so moved by His love that we read…
“Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” They came out of the town and made their way towards him.” John 4:28-30

She gave testimony. And God is glorified.

And that is the whole point – God being glorified in our lives. And as God is glorified in your life – others will be impacted – in fact, draw a curved arrow from the word: TESTIMONY back up to the word FAITH. Because as you go through this process – others will be impacted!

CONCLUSION.
FAITH – IDENTITY - In the gift of faith – we discover who we really are.
BELIEVE – MIRACLES - In the activity of faith – we discover who God really is.
MIRACLES – TESTIMONY - In the evidences of faith – God is glorified!

Isn’t this what you desire? Isn’t this what you secretly hunger for? A genuine spiritual connection with God that results in you being changed and God being honored?

I for one – am sick of the Christianity of tips and techniques. Much of modern Christianity has become a watered down version of the latest self-help guru! I can’t take it any more. And I hope you can’t either.

• I want the real thing.
• I want the abundant life.
• I want to be a truly spiritual man.

I believe this is the agenda of God for our lives. I am going to pursue His agenda.

Allow me to conclude with these words of Jesus from John 5:
“I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no-one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” John 5:19-24

Message 2: Faith as a Gift

MESSAGE TWO:

As Christians we believe that God speaks. Yet, as Western Christians, we’ve nearly forgotten what His voice sounds like.

In this church, we are rediscovering the Holy Spirit – and things are changing as a result. We are learning to recognize the voice of God again.

When God speaks, it is for a reason – He is drawing us to Himself. He may be correcting us, he may be directing us, or he may be encouraging us, but regardless of the specifics – He is drawing us into more intimacy with Him.

Last week I shared SIX WORDS that God spoke to me a few weeks ago in prayer. I want to remind you of those words and then begin to look in depth at the first of them.

1. FAITH: “Faith is the gift from God that moves me away from fleshly and soulish living into spiritual living.”
2. IDENTITY: “Because of Faith, I belong to God and His Kingdom.”

The first two words tied together make up – The GIFT OF FAITH
In the gift of faith – we discover who we really are.

3. BELIEVE: “To believe is to take action steps which demonstrate my new identity.”
4. MIRACLES: “Miracles are God taking action.”

Believe and miracles tied together make up – THE ACTIVITY OF FAITH
In the activity of faith – we discover who God really is.

5. MIRACLES: “The undeniable action of miracles demonstrates the character of God.”
6. TESTIMONY: “God is becoming increasingly real and increasingly loved by us!”

Miracles and testimony tied together make up - THE EVIDENCES OF FAITH
In the Evidences of Faith – God is glorified!

Today I want to look at the GIFT OF FAITH – where we discover who we truly are.

PRAYER
From Genesis to Revelation the Bible speaks of FAITH. But there is one scripture that defines FAITH better than any other – Hebrews 11:1
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1

We learn several things from this verse:
• Faith is PRESENT TENSE – Hope is FUTURE TENSE.
• Faith is BELIEVING BEFORE SEEING – But will eventually bring SUBSTANCE to what we have believed.
• Faith is ACTIVE not PASSIVE.

We can all understand NATURAL FAITH. We have faith in the things of the world we experience through the five senses:
• Turn on the TV – and believe you’ll see something on your screen.
• Sit on the chair – and believe you’ll not fall to the ground.
• Make a phone call – and believe you’ll get someone’s voice mail.

This is NATURAL FAITH. Trusting in something you can see, feel, hear, taste or touch. “Seeing is believing!”

But the faith that comes from God is SUPERNATURAL FAITH. The Gift of Faith transcends the natural senses and involves a SUPERNATURAL connection with a Divine Being. This is why this first word that God gave me is so vital to our next steps as Christians – it is as if He is saying to us: “You’ve relied on the things of the NATURAL WORLD for too long! I’m moving you into an entirely new realm of experience! I’m bringing you into the realm of TRUE FAITH – SUPERNATURAL FAITH!”

From what I can tell – there are three kinds of SUPERNATURAL FAITH:
• SAVING FAITH
• LIVING FAITH
• THE GIFT OF FAITH

I. SAVING FAITH
Hebrews 11:6 says:
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

If you are going to have a relationship with God that results in salvation you must have ‘saving faith’.

Def: Saving Faith doesn’t come from our good deeds but from our faith in Christ Jesus.

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” Acts 16:31

Jesus is not evident to our physical senses. You need to experience His love and fellowship here and now, but you cannot do so in your NATURAL SENSES. You need His SUPERNATURAL intervention, and that is exactly what happens when the Holy Spirit draws you to Jesus! Your salvation by faith is a GIFT from God – not something you can manufacture!

Turn to Ephesians 2:8-9:
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no-one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Notice the words: ‘grace’, ‘not from yourselves’, ‘gift of God’, ‘not by works’

Salvation is mine, not because of anything I have or will do, but as the direct result of faith given me by God’s grace.

Why would God do such a thing for people like us? It speaks to His character – He loves and cares for you at a level that is hard to fathom.

The Bible tells us that…
“Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17

Right now you can receive this gift of salvation by hearing and receiving the Word of Christ – and as you open your heart to this message, God will grant you the faith necessary!

The first ‘faith’ given is ‘saving faith’ - Saving Faith doesn’t come from our good deeds but from our faith in Christ Jesus.

The second ‘faith’ given is…
2. LIVING FAITH

I need to explain this carefully:
Def: Living faith is our part in responding to God by allowing Him to transform our lives.

Paul calls this the ‘fruit of the spirit’ – the payoff for being in Christ.

If I plant a strawberry plant, my payoff will be sweet, juicy and delicious strawberrys! As I live in faith, the payoff will be an utterly transformed life.

Listen to these words which describe the payoff:
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22, 23, NIV.

These are the payoff for walking with Christ through life! They come as a result of our salvation and our increasing intimacy with Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit! Listen to what Jesus said in John 15:5…
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:5-8

Our faith in Jesus is supplied by the Presence of the Holy Spirit who empowers and enables us to move forward in life – LIVING OUT OUR FAITH!

One of the chief criticisms labeled against Christians is that we don’t live any differently that non-Christians. While I don’t totally agree with these critics, I do believe that Christ intends for our lives to be very different than they currently are! He desires us to LIVE IN FAITH and as we do, He will WORK powerfully in us and through us.

LIVING FAITH that produces FRUIT is brought about by the process of DAILY CHOICES over a long period of time. One doesn’t plant a STRAWBERRY bush and pick fruit the next day! The bush must be cultivated, fed, watered, and weeded.

The word ‘abide’ in John 15 means to take up permanent residence in Christ. When you decide to take up permanent residence in Christ – He will produce His fruit in your life! Our growth in the fruit of faith depends on a consistent walk with Jesus, daily feeding upon the Scriptures, and fellowship in the Holy Spirit.

If you are having major problems in your Christian development – perhaps it is because you have yet to settle down in the house of God!

Living faith is our part in responding to God by allowing Him to transform our lives.

The third SUPERNATURAL FAITH is…
3. THE GIFT OF FAITH
This gift of faith lies as potential within the life of every Christian believer and becomes much more active after you’ve received the BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Unlike the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, the Gift of Faith is given INSTANTANEOUSLY.

Def: It is a sudden surge of faith to confidently believe without a doubt, that as we act or speak in Jesus’ Name, it shall come to pass!

The word ‘confession’ comes from two root words which means to ‘speak the same thing.’ The spoken gift of faith is confessing what God says, as led by the Holy Spirit.

Check out Mark 11:22-24:
“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:22-24

This is a pretty bold statement by Jesus. But He backs it up. Look at the first four words of verse 22: “Have faith in God…” – this is the key to the rest of the text. All of the power and miracles we seek after stem entirely upon these four words being our reality!

In the Greek these four words go like this: “Ekho pistis theos”
• EKHO – “Have” – literally to ‘hold, or possess’
• PISTIS – “Faith” – Conviction, belief, confidence
• THEOS – “God”

As Christians – literally as ‘mini-Christ’s’ we are to ECHO GOD’S FAITH!
When we possess in our spirits, the confidence of God – God will DO amazing things!

Elijah is a great example of this. In 1 Kings 17 he announces to the wicked King Ahab:
“As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” 1 Kings 17:1

That is the GIFT OF FAITH in action! And that is exactly what happened!
“After a long time, in the third year, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.”” 1 Kings 18:1

Daniel is another example. Falsely accused and convicted, he is thrown into a LION’S DEN – where death is a given. Yet, after spending the night in the Lion’s den, Daniel still very much alive says:
“My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.” Daniel 6:22

This must have taken a special surge of faith for him to go through this frightful experience.

In the Lord Jesus – the fruit and the gift merge – and we see what the GIFT OF FAITH looks like in fullness. The Gospels are full of examples of His great faith. One day, Jesus and His disciples set out to go across the lake in a small boat. Jesus falls asleep, and a storm begins to rage. The disciples were terrified and wake Jesus from His sleep. What does Jesus do?

“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:39-40

Jesus had to do a miracle because the gift of faith was absent in His disciples. Had they remained calm and confident in the storm-tossed boat in spite of their dangerous situation, they would have been manifesting the GIFT OF FAITH.

• The GIFT OF FAITH speaks with confidence that GOD is God regardless of my temporary circumstances!
• The GIFT OF FAITH speaks with confidence that because GOD WILL NEVER LEAVE ME NOR FORSAKE ME – I will not fear the Enemy or any lesser Enemy!
• The GIFT OF FAITH takes ACTION as the Holy Spirit leads to BECAUSE I POSSESS THE FAITH OF GOD!

CONCLUSION:
The level of faith in which you are living may ebb and flow.

Sometimes we find that we are strong in faith: The Holy Spirit is allowed to work, and wonderful things happen in and around us!

At other times the hang-ups, doubts, fears and the debris in our souls get in the way – and the Holy Spirit is hindered from doing the will of the Father in and through us.

It may seem that some believers operate at a high level of faith, while you are still trying to get off the ground. But this serves to remind us of something vitally true:

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Philippians 2:13

Wherever you may be in your faith journey right now – seek GOD!
Wherever you are in your spiritual progress – seek GOD!

Some of you may have to let go of things you have BELIEVED about God in the past. It’s time to open up to Him – and to allow Him to give you the GIFT OF FAITH!

• SAVING FAITH – brings you into right relationship with Him and restores your spirit!
• LIVING FAITH – grants His Holy Spirit access to change you from within!
• THE GIFT OF FAITH – enables you to face every situation with utter confidence in God!

What is God speaking to you about right now?
• Have you experienced SAVING FAITH? Do so now.
• Have you allowed the Holy Spirit unhindered access so that you are LIVING FAITH?
• Are you walking in the GIFT OF FAITH – facing life with GOD CONFIDENCE?

Message 3: Identity in Christ

MESSAGE THREE:

Because we are people of faith – we are different. We are to not only live differently, but we are to SEE OURSELVES differently.

The second word that God gave me: “IDENTITY” – follows our coming to faith. It is from the gift of faith that we discover our true IDENTITY as God’s holy and beloved children!

Human identity is formed when we are very young – and what we eventually come to believe about ourselves is largely determined by how we are treated by our PARENTS.

- If we are loved and treasured – we believe we are lovable and valuable.
- If we are neglected, ignored or even worse – we believe that we are worthless.

Many of you have extremely deep wounds about your identity. You were hurt at the level of your soul at a very early age – the people who were given the responsibility to love you, nurture you and care for you blew it.

But – I am here today – serving as God’s voice – to bring a message that can transform your life with GOOD NEWS!

I want you to turn to the Old Testament book called “Song of Songs” – or in some versions it is called: “Song of Solomon”

Song of Songs 6:3
Song of Songs uses the love that exists between a Groom and His Bride to illustrate and open us up to the love relationship that Christ and the Bride of Christ – the Church – are to experience.

It’s a surprising book – filled with amazing sexual imagery, lovemaking, passion, desire and consummation of the love that God creates between a husband and a wife. If you think that God is a prude – you’ve never read this book.

In the sixth chapter there is an amazing scripture that speaks directly to the issue of a wonderful sense of IDENTITY that is ours because of faith!
“I am my lover’s and my lover is mine...” Song of Solomon 6:3, NIV.

The King James Version puts it this way:
“I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine...” Song of Solomon 6:3, KJV.

And the New Century Version says it this way:
“I belong to my lover, and my lover belongs to me...” Song of Solomon 6:3 NCV

Do you see the beauty that exists between two lovers? Between a husband and a wife?

When God brought Eve to Adam – Adam said…
“The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman’, for she was taken out of man.” For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Genesis 2:23, 24, NIV.
- The two have become one.
- Belonging.
- Family.
- Purpose.
- IDENTITY.
And they go along in life – TOGETHER. ONE.

But this human relationship is but a picture of what God wants for you to experience in your life with Him.

He desires to give you an unshakable identity in which you can depend all of the days of your life.

“I am my beloved’s, and He is mine.”

When you came to Christ – He did something for you miraculous: He made you a new person! He created a NEW IDENTITY for you! It’s sort of like the witness protection program! He moves you into a new land – the kingdom of God – gives you a new name: “MY child” – gives you a new source of living – “the Holy Spirit” and says: “Live abundantly!”

Listen to the possibilities of what God says about you:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV.

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9, NIV.

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light” Ephesians 5:8, NIV.

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:18, NIV.

“So now you are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family.” Ephesians 2:19 NLT

And listen to this one:
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” Ephesians 1:3-6, NIV.

You belong to Him. And that is something that is rock solid. For not only do you belong to Him – He belongs to you.

Now get this: If I belong to God, and He belongs to me – then the Apostle Paul was correct when He wrote the Roman church:
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38, 39, NIV.

If I belong to God – and He belongs to me – than nothing this world can do to me can separate me from His love!

TYING FAITH TOGETHER WITH IDENTITY:

If this truth of your new identity is going to become PRESENT REALITY in your life – there are steps you must take to tie FAITH to the NEW IDENTITY.

1. Stop banking on your soulish ‘assets’.

As we move towards adulthood, most of us transfer our sense of SELF and IDENTITY from what our parents said about us to what we ARE ABLE TO DO WELL. That’s what I mean by ‘assets’.

You all have ‘assets’ that you lean on in order to feel good about yourself and to define yourself.

Things like your: Personality, education, sense of humor, creativity, financial status, athletic ability, good looks, communication skills, level of success in your chosen career, size of your house, etc.

But – as positive as some of those ‘assets’ might be – ultimately, when you are quiet and still and in that secret place where you don’t let too many people in – you know that these ‘assets’ do not bring the satisfaction you’d hoped they would.

The Apostle Paul had a lot of soulish ‘assets’ – look at Philippians 3:3…
“For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh-- though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.” Philippians 3:3-9, NIV.

Paul says – in effect: “Look guys – I’ve got a lot going for me – education, family heritage, personal righteousness, religious stature – and if anyone was going to stand in life based upon his ‘assets’ – baby, it’s me! But – I’ve come to the place in my life where I see that these good things pale by comparision to the truly great thing: I know God! I have a relationship with Christ! I have the Holy Spirit living within! And to me, that’s all that matters!”

He has tasted something far better. And he is learning to no longer build his identity based upon his banked personal assets.

If you are going to move into the new IDENTITY in Christ – you got to stop thinking that your personal assets will bring you meaning. They won’t.

That’s why Jesus said:
“I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”” Mark 10:15

2. Start seeing yourself as a kid again.

Remember – our identity is formed in the hands of our parents. Well – your Daddy in Heaven wants to reform you to see yourself in a whole new way.

Jesus says: “You want what I’ve got? You want to move into my presence? You desire a spiritual life of reality and power – then let go of your preconceived notions and let me reshape you. Become like a little child – open, willing, receptive!”

When someone has been wounded and hurt – openness doesn’t come easily. Trust betrayed is hard to overcome.

But Jesus will not hurt you.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11

“I’m here to guide you into the very best – I’ll take you through the valley of the shadow of death and show you real life! I’ll lay down myself so that you are able to stand!” This is the heart of God towards you.

Faith – as a gift from God – comes in and says: “Yes! I’ll follow. Yes! I’ll let you lead. Yes! I’ll trust.”

If you don’t have this faith – ASK – and then do the very next thing God tells you to do.

CONCLUSION:
The new IDENTITY is built by faith in action. Sitting on the sidelines will not result in faith in action. Sitting on the sidelines watching others will not result in your developing a new IDENTITY in Christ! You’ve got to get up and move. As you walk – He provides.

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:1, 2, NIV.

Your level of spiritual growth is entirely dependent upon you embracing by faith your new identity as a child of God:
“I am my beloved’s, and He is mine.”

Message 4: Believing in Action

MESSAGE FOUR:

Turn to James 1:21-25
God has every one of you in His sight. He sees you exactly as you are. And loves you regardless.

But He isn’t satisfied. He sees the mess of our lives and He says: “I just can’t have that.” So He has created a process by which we can be changed into what we were always meant to be:

The process begins with:
1. FAITH: “Faith is the gift from God that moves me away from fleshly and soulish living into spiritual living.”

When we receive the ‘gift of faith’, we also receive a new…
2. IDENTITY: “Because of Faith, I belong to God and His Kingdom.”

And through the gift of faith – we discover who we really are.

Now that we know who we really are, God calls us to take our faith and put it into action. To…
3. BELIEVE: “To believe is to take action steps which demonstrate my new identity.”

Now, this word: “Believe” is what we are focusing on today. So we will come back to it in a minute. But let me continue this description of the process God takes us through in order to restore us. Once we begin to take action steps – to believe in our new identity – than God is able to do…
4. MIRACLES: “Miracles are God taking action.”

God cannot do miracles in your life so long as you are living as if He doesn’t exist. Once you begin to live as a true believer – then the action starts to heat up! We will see things happen in and through our lives that demonstrate His presence and power.

In the believing and seeing miracles – we discover who God really is.

Now, these miracles have an impact, not only upon us, but upon those around us. The miracles show us something:
5. MIRACLES: “The undeniable action of miracles demonstrates the character of God.”

When God begins to intervene in our lives – we see just how good He really is. All of the false things we believe about are stripped away, and we get to know Him and are blown away by His amazing character and generosity towards us!

And then, we have stories to share. We have a…
6. TESTIMONY: “God is becoming increasingly real and increasingly loved by us!”

Through our stories – our testimonies – God is glorified!

And as God is glorified, we are finally fulfilling His original intent for our lives! The restoration is made full!

But – I said today we are going to focus on the third word…
• BELIEVE.
Frequently we think that the word “Faith” and the word “Believe” are synonymous. But they aren’t. “Faith” is the gift that God gives, and “Believe”…

“To believe is to take action steps which demonstrate my new identity.”

The Apostle James wrote these words:
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do… “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:14-18, 26

Faith and action are linked. You aren’t saved by your actions, but your actions demonstrate your salvation! Faith must be translated to action. Walking in faith is where true belief is demonstrated.

In fact the Bible uses two words for FAITH or BELIEVE:

1. The first word is a noun – pistis – frequently translated “Faith” or “Believe” - and it means: “conviction of truth.” – When you come to Christ – by faith – He is giving you something – a gift that says: “I am convinced of the truth of the Gospel.” This is a gift you possess.

2. The second word is a verb – pisteuo – “pist-yoo-o” – frequently translated “Believer” and it means: “To trust in Jesus or God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something.” In other words, to be a believer is to trust God to enable you to do something that you cannot do yourself!

That’s what we are talking about today – living as true BELIEVERS in action that demonstrates our dependence upon God!

“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:21-25

We are going to go through this section of scripture – line by line – in order to see God’s intent for us regarding ACTION STEPS OF BELIEVING.

Look at the first part of vs. 21:
21a Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent,

• This is all about the PROCESS of RENEWAL and RESTORATION that God wants to do in your life.
• Wouldn’t you agree that SOULISH and FLESHLY living have made a mess of our lives?
• God says: Get rid of it! It’s hard to misunderstand that isn’t it?

It is God’s intention for you to be fully restored to His Image. You were made in His image, but sin has badly messed you up. He wants you to experience His original design – free from the stain of sin! Free from the flesh and the soul trying to be in charge. Instead we are told to…

“Be filled with the Spirit…” Ephesians 5:18 – because it is as we allow the Holy Spirit to fill us, we are empowered to ‘get rid’ of all the garbage!

How? Look at the next part of vs. 21:
21b “and humbly accept…”

God has what you need – He provides it through the GIFT of FAITH – you can be made new in Christ!

What must you do? “humbly accept” the gift.

Jesus said:
“I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”” Luke 18:17

We come in – now standing tall and proud, but willingly acknowledging our brokenness and need.

We humbly accept…
21c “…the word planted in you, which can save you.”

God plants something new in you: He plants Himself. He gives you – through Christ – the Holy Spirit – so that you can enjoy a new identity as God’s child! Remember last week…

“I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.” Song of Solomon 6:3

We are adopted into a new family – the family of God – as we receive the gift of faith! He makes us into new people! We aren’t orphans any longer – we are God’s kids!

At a deeper level – our identity changes from being a person just trying to make his way through life into becoming a truly spiritual person – getting to know God and getting to know the ways of the Holy Spirit so that when we leave this earth, Heaven will not come as such a shock to us!

I’ve said it many times, and I’ll say it again: “You aren’t a physical person having a spiritual experience, you are a spiritual person having a physical experience!”

That’s why we have to embrace our new identity. We have to pursue what it means to be a part of God’s very own family! We have to explore the realities of God through the Presence and Power of His Holy Spirit living within us!

Because this is the truest thing about you: You belong to God!

Now, because of this reality – James writes in verse 22:

22 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

• Because of the gift of faith, because of the new identity – BELIEVE!
• Because of the gift of faith, because of the new identity – TAKE ACTION!
• Because of the gift of faith, because of the new identity – DO WHAT GOD SAYS!

What we do is based upon who we are.
Who we are is based upon what God says. He defines us.

The Spirit says “So, don’t just sit there today – listening to another message from God’s word – do what I’m instructing you to do! Take action! Get up and move! Go with me! There is nothing I require of you that will not result in good for you! Believe! Take action! Do what I say!”

James gives a good illustration of what DISOBEDIENCE and NOT TAKING ACTION is like in verse 23 & 24:
23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

To not take action – to not believe – is to forget who you really are.

When I disobey the Lord, when I do not take action, I am pretending to be someone that I am not. I am pretending to be merely a man of flesh.

But that man of flesh – has to be killed off daily. I know that I am in a war of the spirit – and that if I do not kill off the flesh man daily, he will rear his ugly head and try to take leadership in my life again.

Paul puts it this way in Ephesians 4:22-24:
“Since you have heard all about him and have learned the truth that is in Jesus, throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. 23 Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's likeness – righteous, holy, and true.” Ephesians 4:22-24 NLT

You have a new nature – a new identity – created in God’s likeness! Don’t forget! This is the true you. Don’t forget! This is who you really are! Don’t forget!

Verse 25 tells us how not to forget:
25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.

• Do you want to remember your true identity – and take the action steps – the BELIEVER’S ACTIONS – that reflect your true identity?
• Do you want to kill off that old nature – so that you true new nature can rise up to it’s proper place?
• Do you desire to be a truly spiritual – Spirit-filled – person so that you can get to know God as He truly is?

Then – James writes: “look intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continue to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it…”

“look intently…” – to stoop down and look deeply. Intense effort to know. We live in an age of superficiality – and God calls us to ‘look intently’ – to stoop down and take a good long look. To examine…

‘the perfect law…” – Christ said that He didn’t come to do away with the Law – but to fulfill it! When we look at God’s plans for our lives – we are going to find fulfillment! He lead us to the restoration and renewal that we desire by His way – not our way. How long have you tried ‘your way’ – and how did ‘your way’ turn out? God’s way is perfect! And God’s way…

“gives freedom…” This is the result of allowing God to transform your life ‘freedom!’ Christ didn’t come to take away your life – He came to give you true life! Your renewal will take you to places you only hoped were possible! Imagine a living faith that brings freedom! Imagine no dead rituals but a living dynamic enjoyable relationship with God! This is the result of BELIEVING in ACTION!

James goes on to say…
“and continue to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it…”

Continuing to DO – through thick and thin – through good times and bad – this is the key to becoming who you were created to be. Obeying God when it is hard. Showing up when you’d rather stay in bed. Serving when you’d rather be served. Giving when you have little to give. Conquering fears with faith when the odds are stacked against you!

Do you see the connection between our ACTION and God’s RESPONSE? There is one. Are you feeling distant from God? Did you do the last thing He told you to do?

Look again at verse 25:
25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.”

Read me the last eight words beginning with ‘he will…’

God desires to move on your behalf.
He promises to bring blessing into your life when you take BELIEVING ACTION STEPS.

The King James Version of this verse concludes this way:
“this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

• The doing of BELIEVING is the blessing.
• The doing of FAITH ACTION STEPS enables you to feel the pleasure of God towards you.
• The doing of OBEDIENCE is reward in itself.

You lay your head down on the pillow – secure in the knowledge that you – as a new person in Christ, are exercising actions that demonstrate the presence of Christ. There is a level of satisfaction that comes from this that cannot come in any other way.

CONCLUSION:

Believing is obedience:

And we can only take these action steps, as our faith becomes our identity. As we truly become – first and foremost – the people of God! As our faith impacts us, changes our identity, and causes us to ACT based upon WHO we really are!

What ACTION STEPS OF FAITH are you needing to take?

Message 5: Believing in the Moment

MESSAGE FIVE:

One of the great problems of contemporary Christians is that of UNBELIEF.
Oh – we believe the right things…
• Jesus died on the cross for our sins
• Jesus rose from the grave on the third day
• Jesus is the way, the truth and the life
• We believe that the Bible is God’s word.

The unbelief that I’m talking about concerns the day-to-day way we live our lives. Do we believe God in the moment? Do we TRUST Him in the course of the day? Are we believing God and His promises as we go through the moment by moment of living?

• When stress comes our way – do we believe that God is our peace?
• When financial struggles come – do we believe that God is our provider?
• When anger arises in our soul – do we believe God to fill us with the Holy Spirit and grant us serenity?
• When people set out to get us – do we believe God to protect us?
• When illness comes – do we believe God to be our healer?
• When fears arise – do we believe God to give us faith?

And what about in our relationships with others:
• When illness comes to others – do we believe God enough to pray for healing?
• When relationships go sour – do we believe God so that we can be used as a reconciler?

Do we know and hold to the promises of God as if our lives depend upon them?
• Do we really believe that ‘if God is for us, who can be against us?”
• Do we really believe that ‘greater is he that is us than he that is in this world?”

I want to talk today about what it means to ‘believe God’ in the course of day to day life.

Turn to Matthew 22:1ff
“Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ “But they paid no attention and went off--one to his field, another to his business.” Matthew 22:1-5

Jesus compares God’s kingdom to that of a wedding feast.

Think with me about the best wedding you’ve ever been to: Think about what you experience in your senses at a great wedding:
HEAR:
• Hear the music – songs of love, songs of joy, songs of celebration
• Hear the gasp as the bride steps into the aisle: “She’s beautiful!” “Have you ever seen such a pretty bride!”
• Hear the exchange of vows… “to love and to cherish, until death do us part…”
• Hear the applause of the congregation as the couple is introduced: “Mr and Mrs…”
• Listen for the laughter in the reception hall
• Listen for the sharp sound of the crystal champagne flutes clanging together…
• Listen to the little old ladies: “I used to change his diapers…”

SEE
• See the beautiful flowers on the even more beautiful bridesmaids
• See the candles reflect in the glass
• See the nervous groom pulling at his sleeves
• See the even more nervous father-of-the-bride wondering how his little girl grew up so fast
• See the ring bearer walk down the aisle
• See the tears on the face of the bride’s mother
• See the minister share the gospel

SMELL
• Smell the fragrance of the flowers
• Smell the sweet perfume on grandmother
• Smell the last minute spray of breath spray on the groom’s breath
• Smell the coffee brewing in the reception hall
• Smell the buttery sweetness of the wedding cake
• Breathe deep of the fragrance of the buffet table
• Enjoy the aroma of the bride’s perfume as you dance with her

TOUCH
• Touch the delicate beading on the dress
• Touch the hands of the groom’s mother
• Touch the cool wood of the church pews
• Touch the stiffness of the linen table cloths
• Touch the ring that you’ve worn since your wedding
• Touch the flower arrangements on the table

TASTE
• Taste the communion that is shared
• Taste the first toast
• Taste the mints and nuts on the table
• Enjoy the flavor of the carved meats
• Savor the sweetness of the wedding cake

A great wedding is truly a thing of amazing joy, wonderful celebration and extraordinary love.

And God invites you. You are invited to the wedding of His Son. AND ALL of the wonders of sight and sound, taste, smell and touch - that come with the best wedding is even more powerful for us as believers in Christ! The wedding of man to God is a thing of extraordinary beauty and glory!

Before we go further – let me remind you of what happens when a man and women become husband and wife – and what the spiritual meaning is behind this marriage:

WHAT HAPPENS IN MARRIAGE AND HOW DOES IT RELATE TO WHAT HAPPENS TO BELIEVERS?

1. In marriage: The two become one. (Genesis 2:24-25)
In Christ: You become one with Him! (1 Corinthians 6:17)

“But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.” 1 Corinthians 6:17

When you join together with Christ, by faith – you become united with Christ! Your guilt is forever removed and your shame is eliminated. You are free to be the person He made you to be.

2. In marriage: The Bride takes on a new name.
In Christ: God gives you a new identity. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

When you come to Christ, and when you walk in faith – He transforms your identity. You aren’t who you used to be. He is making you into a new person, as you believe!

3. In marriage: What belongs to the Groom, belongs to the Bride.
In Christ: What belongs to Christ, is given to you! (Ephesians 1:13-14, 18-19)

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession--to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14, 18

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” Ephesians 1:18-19

God did not leave you as orphans, He gave you His Holy Spirit – as a sign of the inheritance that is ours. You have the power of God in your life – that comes as you believe. He works as you believe.

4. In marriage: The union produces children.
In Christ: The union produces fruit. (John 18:21)

“May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” John 17:21

Through your love relationship with Christ, the Holy Spirit will produce fruit – others will be impacted by what they see in you. And – as Jesus prayed: others may believe as a result!

TRANSITION: Marriage is an amazing thing that produces amazing results. Is it any wonder that the enemy is trying to destroy marriage in our culture.

But the relationship that is ours with Christ is even more amazing. And all we are called to do is to take God at His word – to believe God – in the day-to-day of life – and we will see amazing things!

But we live in an age of UNBELIEF… We live in the land of ‘as if’ –
• As if we were mere mortals.
• As if God was kidding around when He made His promises to us
• As if we didn’t have the Holy Spirit

Look at verse 3&4:
“He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.”

The King sends out his servants with the message: “The wedding feast it ready! Come now! Everything has been prepared! Come now!”

But look at the UNBELIEVING response: ‘they refused to come…’

Do you know what the Greek word used here is? It is: thelo – which means: “Resolved not” or “Willed not”

In other words: The people heard the invitation. They knew the King – but they made a choice of the will to NOT TAKE HIM UP on His offer – They CHOOSE not to BELIEVE!

PAUSE RIGHT THERE: Every time that God makes a promise you’ve got a CHOICE TO MAKE – A choice of the will: WILL I – or WILL I NOT – BELIEVE?

If you are struggling with belief – you don’t need to pray: God, give me more faith. You need to stand up – and willfully choose to believe. Do what God told you to do. Believe that what God has promised will come to be! Believe that God isn’t a liar and that He won’t leave you. Believe that God means business.

God is doing a major league renewal in many people in this church right now. I love it! It excites me! The payoff is coming! The blessing is moving in and making itself at home in the hearts of many of you! As your pastor – I am thrilled when you begin to move in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit and you being to experience this amazing change within!

At the same time – there are some who have yet to move forward in this renewal. Some who are in serious danger of missing God’s very best for them! And as your pastor – this breaks my heart. I love you. You are important to God and you are important to me. If I could grab you by the collar and shake it into you, I would – but I cannot.

You have to CHOOSE TO BELIEVE God at His Word.

In the day-to-day of life – you can CHOOSE TO BELIEVE or you can CHOOSE NOT TO BELIEVE. And this choice is solely yours. No one else can make the choice for you.

Look at verse 4-5 of our text for some more insight:
“Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ “But they paid no attention and went off--one to his field, another to his business.” Matthew 22:4-5

Do you see the underlying reason why some didn’t CHOOSE TO BELIEVE? They were preoccupied with their ‘business’ and they paid no attention to the King’s invitation.

Life can be a very busy thing – jobs, school, career, family, taking care of our possessions – can take up virtually all of our time, eliminating any energy or attention for BELIEVING GOD.

But God says to us – in the midst of jobs, school, career, family – I want you to…
“…seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33

CONCLUSION:
Most of you in this room are already BELIEVERS – but many of you are stuck in your walk with God. You’ve achieved a certain level of faith, but you’ve allowed the concerns of the world to cause you to take your eyes off the main thing – to take your eyes off of the King. And in so doing, you’ve become carnal Christians – living as if you weren’t a child of God, living as if you didn’t have the power of the Holy Spirit to draw upon.

God is calling to you today. You can feel it. You recognize His voice. He is saying: “Come out of the flesh – and make a choice to BELIEVE ME!!”

“BELIEVE ME that I will provide – so tithe!”
“BELIEVE ME that I will guide – so follow!”
“BELIEVE ME that I can heal – so be healed!”
“BELIEVE ME that I can restore relationships – so be reconciled!”
“BELIEVE ME that I will empower you to minister – so be filled with my Holy Spirit!”

Today – I believe that God would have us get way out of our comfort zone – and move into an honest relationship with other believers. You know what God is calling you to BELIEVE – but you need to SPEAK your CHOICE to another believer. So, I am asking that you would make a WILLFUL CHOICE to BELIEVE by walking up to another believer – AND TELLING THEM WHAT GOD IS ASKING YOU TO DO.

Message 6: A Believing Will

INTRODUCTION:

We’ve looked at faith, identity and believe. I thought that it was time to move to the 4th word, but the Lord spoke and said – “Not so fast.”

• I was feeling kind of tired and a little down the other day – no reason that I can really identity, but I knew that I needed to get alone with God.
• I didn’t FEEL like being with God. But I went to be with Him. Initially if sort of felt like going to the dentist.
• But I knew I needed fellowship with Him. So I made a choice of the will.
• As I was praying – I found myself saying: “I will worship you. I will love you. I will find my strength in you… I will… I will… I will…” – and the more “I will” statements that I made, the closer I FELT to God and the more I enjoyed being with Him.
• And then God spoke to me and said: Choosing to say “I will” is an important ACTION STEP of believers. Teach your people about the importance of having a SPIRIT-FILLED WILL.”
• And so today – here we are – camped out on the word “BELIEVE” and we are going to see how our WILL impacts our ability to BELIEVE.

The fact that we are BELIEVERS – impacts every area of our being – our spirits, our bodies, our intellect, our emotions and our will!

And today, I want to talk about how being a SPIRIT-BAPTIZED BELIEVER impacts our WILL.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit enables God’s Spirit to invade every aspect of your life. When you submit your spirit to God’s Spirit, He moves in and immediately begins an extreme makeover of our spirit, body and soul.

We frequently dismiss our will as being evil, bad and we think that the only thing to do with the will is to submit it to God’s will. “Not my will, but yours be done…” – And that is certainly a valid thing.

But what happens to the will of man when we are BAPTIZED in the Holy Spirit? Isn’t the purpose of the baptism of the Holy Spirit to bring renewal and new life to us? Isn’t the baptism of the Holy Spirit simply allowing the Spirit of God to reclaim what was lost to Him in the fall of man?

So – what happens to the WILL of man when it has been reclaimed to God by the baptism of the Holy Spirit? Let’s start with the basics:

1. The Spirit-Filled Will knows the WILL OF GOD and chooses to live in it.

“Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:15-18

• Do you understand what the Lord’s will is!
• What is God up to?
• What does His Word reveal about His will?
• In the midst of life’s circumstances – what is God’s will in the moment?

One thing is for sure – it is God’s will that you be RESTORED TO HIS ORIGINAL DESIGN!

1 Peter 5:10 in the Message Translation says:
“The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ - eternal and glorious plans they are! - will have you put together and on your feet for good.” 1 Peter 5:10 Message

Since this is God’s will – that you be fully restored – we make a choice of the will, to know God’s will and to live in it! We pursue knowledge of God’s will and we pursue experiencing God’s will!

Back to Ephesians 5 – Paul says: “understand what the Lord’s will is… be filled with the Spirit!”

You cannot walk in the will of God – you will never make the willful choices to allow God’s will to be preeminent in your life, unless you are filled – baptized – overwhelmed with the Holy Spirit!

The soulish will seeks self over God every time – or a religious soulish will seeks to manipulate God with attempts at bargaining: “I will do this, if you’ll do that…”

The Spirit filled will simply seeks to know God’s will and chooses to live in it.

Here’s one test to see if you are walking in the power of the Holy Spirit: In the midst of everyday life, I am increasingly asking questions like – “What is God up to?” or “Since God is doing this, how can I cooperate with Him in accomplishing His will?”

Let’s move on…
2. The Spirit-Filled Will does not allow EMOTIONS and REASON to dominate.

Have you ever had a really difficult day? Filled with discouragement? Filled with desires that are clearly at odds with God’s will? Some of us go shopping on this day – we want to feel good, so we buy something. Some of us surf the internet looking for porn on these days – we want to feel good, so we seek sexual satisfaction. We can feed our emotions with lots of choices.

• Somebody cuts us off on the freeway – and we scream at them and give them the bird.
• Somebody at work is moving ahead of us, so we criticize them to our co-workers, seeking to make ourselves feel better.
But a Spirit-filled and empowered person makes a willful choice to not allow their EMOTIONS and FEELINGS dominate and run the show.

Proverbs 29:11 says:
“A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.” Proverbs 29:11

Keeping our selves under control is a choice of the will.

The Spirit-Filled Will chooses to see emotions for what they are – things that need to be brought under the Lordship of Christ.

Another one of the great battles we face occurs between our ears – the soulish will demands answers to all of it’s questions. Before we can take action steps, we expect God to tell us how everything is going to work out. Before I accept Christ, I want to have all the answers. Before I tithe, I want to KNOW that God will make it up. The soulish will demands answers and guarantees.

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 10…
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5

• The Spirit-Filled Will responds to any thought, any argument, any concept that goes against God in one way: It takes that thought captive and requires it to be submitted to Christ!

• The Spirit-Filled Will says to any thought that is contrary to TRUTH: “No! I will not believe nor even entertain that thought! I choose to believe Christ at His word, regardless!”

Finally…
3. The Spirit-Filled Will is a CONDUIT for renewing the mind and for discovering emotional well-being through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Let’s face it, the restoration process in our lives has a long way to go. And when you are baptized in the Holy Spirit, and when you are walking in a Spirit-Filled Will – God uses your will to be a conduit, a pipeline, a channel for the continuation of His renewal process.

For instance, the Spirit-Filled Will enables God to renew your soul. Jeremiah 15:16 says…
“When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s (SOUL) delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty.” Jeremiah 15:16, NIV.

Listen to that same text in the Good News Translation:
“You spoke to me, and I listened to every word. I belong to you, Lord God Almighty, and so your words filled my heart with joy and happiness.” Jeremiah 15:16 Good News Translation (GNT)

Let’s take that verse apart, line by line:
• “You spoke to me…” – This is the gift of faith.
• “and I listened to every word…” – This is the response of a Spirit-Filled Will.
• “I belong to You, Lord God Almighty…” – This is the new IDENTITY that comes with the gift of Faith!
• “and so your words filled my heart with joy and happiness.” – The word ‘heart’ is one of the words used for SOUL. And the result of receiving His word is joy and happiness that is not based upon temporal circumstances.

When you willfully choose to listen to God, to claim your new identity, to receive His words into your soul, you are transformed, you are being renewed. Your Spirit-Filled Will serves a conduit for this transformation.

Paul wrote:
“My inner being delights in the law of God.” Romans 7:22 GNT

Again, - the word ‘inner being’ refers to the soul. Paul is saying in the midst of Romans 7 as he acknowledges his continual struggle with sin and failure, that at the very core of who he really is – his true IDENTITY, his soul delights in God’s ways!

Psalms 37 speaks to this:
“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him…” Psalms 37:4-7, NIV.

This is a choice – the choice of the Spirit-filled will. Make God your passion, your desire, your hunger. The object of your affections – and He will come through.

So - HOW DOES THIS WORK?

1. First of all, it won’t unless you are baptized in the Holy Spirit. You can be a Christian for decades and not be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And the result is that you are living a soulish Christianity. And you probably don’t have much joy. You probably struggle way more than you need to.

God didn’t design you to be a soulish Christian.

He gives His Holy Spirit to all who will finally come to the end of their self and surrender to His power.

ASK for God to overwhelm every part of you. You’ve already invited Christ to be your Savior, and He has become that. Now, invite Him to invade your space. Stop holding Him at a nice, comfortable distance, allow Him unhindered access.

So go ahead and ASK Jesus to baptize you in the Holy Spirit.
“Heavenly Father, I thank You that I am under the protection of the precious blood of Jesus which has cleansed me from all sin. Dear Lord Jesus, please baptize me in the Holy Spirit and let me praise You with whatever expressions you give me. Thank You, Lord; I believe that You’re doing this right now! In Jesus’ Name, I pray…”

BELIEVE you receive the moment you ask.

“Ask and you shall receive that your joy may be full.” John 16:24

CONFESS with your lips the praises of God!

Begin right now to praise and acknowledge what God has done for you – use whatever words He gives you! Speak! Don’t be silent! Worship! Bless! Praise!

2. Once you’ve been baptized in the Holy Spirit, start making Spirit-Filled Willful statements.

Look at the list of statements I’ve suggested:

• When facing a time when you feeling arrogant: “I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.” Psalms 9:1

• When your emotions say ‘serve me’ you say: “I am your servant; give me understanding, so that I may know your decrees.” Psalms 119:125 NRSV

• When it’s all about you: “I will magnify the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,” Luke 1:46, 47, NIV.

• When bitterness and grudges come: “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31:34

• When I want my own way: “…not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42

• When I want to be in control: “I will trust in You.” Psalms 55:23 KJV

• When I want to have a pity-party: “I will be glad in the LORD.” Psalms 104:34 NRSV

• When I lack peace: I will “Seek peace and pursue it.” Psalms 34:14

• When I want to give up: I “will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” Romans 14:4

• When I want to isolate: “I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” Psalms 122:1, NIV.

These are just illustrations of the statements that the SPIRIT-FILLED WILL makes. We need to SPEAK these statements – to God, to our out-of-control emotions, to our needy intellect, to our flesh that wants feeding – so that the POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT can be tapped into and you can move forward as a person of God!

Christ is calling us as His beloved children to BELIEVE HIM to empower us to live according the the power of the Holy Spirit!