The Favor of God
“And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.”
• Be a blessing
• Opportunities of blessings BEHIND
• Intimidations
• His hand of provision
Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place
- The POWER of PRAYER
- The CURE for CARE
- The POWER of PRAISE
- PRAISE on the mountain top, or in the valley
- God has been FAITHFUL
- David said, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread” (Psalm 37:25).
It’s All How You Look At It
• Our old body has a Limited warranty
• Our new body has a Guarantee through eternity
• Troubles seem to last
• Troubles & trials turn into Testimonies
• What you DON’T see is what you get
Losing Your Cutting Edge
Introduction: Ever been discouraged? I got a call yesterday from a man, 73 years old, that said he felt, “DOWN in the DUMPS!” I asked him why. He responded, “While watching the news – the decision to open up our communities so soon, really bothered me.” So… we talked, read Scripture, and PRAYED together. Finally, he regained his “CUTTING EDGE” even though he couldn’t control things. In the days of Elisha, a problem occurred but a solution was found. There are (3) ways to get back your CUTTING EDGE:
- It’s hard to admit when we are wrong or when we have a problem!
- In the end, it’s LIBERATING!
- When did we lose it (fellowship with God, anger and resentment toward people, BAD DECISIONS that effect others)?
- Where was it lost?
- God honors humility.
- He will make a way.
Calling Doctor Jesus
- deadly demons destroy
- divine Deliverer delivers
- changes to “right mind”
- a weary woman who was worn down and worried
- she reached out and touched Jesus and because of her “faith” she was “made whole”
- desperate daddy with a dying daughter
- Dr. Jesus has a cure for sin’s sickness
Happy in an Unhappy World
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”
1. Find something to do with MEANING and PURPOSE! (John 14:10-14)
” He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to my Father.”
• Do nothing – waste of time
• Find something to make a difference
2. Find someone to LOVE that brings AFFIRMATION and security! (John 14:15-27)
” If ye love me, keep my commandments…he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and manifest myself to him.”
• The LOVE of the FATHER
• The LOVE of the Son
3. Find something to look forward to with HOPE and ASSURANCE! (John 14:1-3)
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me….In my Father’s house are many mansions:…I go to prepare a place for you…I will come again, and receive you unto myself.”
• Heaven’s for real
• Jesus will come again
Love y’all,
The Power of Praying for One Another
Introduction: Is there really POWER in prayer? Have you prayed for anybody today? Finish this statement: When we pray for one another there is ____? James, the half-brother of Jesus, gives us (believers), (3) instructions for praying for each other:
1. When should we PRAY? (James 5:13, 14)
” Is there any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you: let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”
• When we face Adversity
“Afflicted” – kak-op-ath-eh-o, which means to suffer – endure – evils (hardships, troubles)
• When we are sick
“Sick” – as-then-eh-o, which means to be weak, feeble, to be without strength.
2. How should we PRAY? (James 5:15, 16)
” And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he hath committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”
• God answers PRAYER
• The PRAYER of faith
3. Whose PRAYERS have GREAT strength? (James 5:16)
“Confess your faults one to another, that ye may be healed: The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
• “Effectual fervent” – en-erg-eh-o, which means to be operative, be at work, put forth power
• “Availeth” – is-khoo-o, which means to be strong, to have power, strength to overcome
Conclusion: Would you agree? The PRAYER of faith brings both mental and physical healing….according to the WORD of God and the WILL of God. Faith is cultivated by a need, planted by a promise, and harvested by the Lord of the Harvest- Jesus Christ. Do you know anybody that needs PRAYER?
Love y’all,
Liberated Living
“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy….Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? .. .let your soul delight itself in fatness…I will make a everlasting covenant with you even sure mercies of David.”
• Some things money can’t buy (vv. 1, 2) “The exchanged life” (Gal 2:20)
• Some things only God can do (vv. 3-5) “He gets glory”
“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near…let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God for He will abundantly pardon.”
• Go back to God
• Call out to God
• He cares
• He pardons
” For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord…For as the heavens are higher than the earth….so are my ways…thoughts than yours….For as the rain cometh down….and returneth not but watereth the earth…..so shall my word be that goeth forth…it shall not return void, but it will accomplish that which I please.”
• God’s character never changes
• God’s Word always changes
Love y’all,
If That Isn’t Love
“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Introduction: Remember the song, “If that isn’t LOVE, the ocean is dry”! Paul understood the LOVE of God…..and gives us (3) reasons we ought to LOVE Him and let Him have His WAY with us:
1. st Reason to LOVE the Lord… we have a Brand New LOVE with a Brand New MOTIVATION! (2 Cor 5:14, 15)
“The love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all….that they which live should not live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” (constraineth – soon-ekh-o, which means “to hold together” – motivates – Jesus is holding us together!)
• Choice – live for SELF
• Choice – live for the Lord
2. nd Reason to LOVE the Lord… we have a Brand New LORD with a Brand New TRANSFORMATION! (2 Cor 5:17)
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away…all things are…new.”
• Brand new owner (under new management!)
• Want-to’s changed
3. rd Reason to LOVE the Lord… we have a Brand New LIFE with a Brand New DESTINATION! (2 Cor 5:18-21)
“Who hath reconciled us to him by Jesus Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation…Now then we are ambassadors for Christ….For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” That’s SHOUTING ground!
(“reconciled” – katalasso, which pictures exchange of coins, ” ambassador” – presbeuo, representative)
• Love for the Lord shows
• Love for the Lord goes
Conclusion: Have you noticed? God’s Word is diametrically opposed to the world’s philosophy of life.
“Live for SELF!”
“Live around SELF!”
“It’s all about SELF!”
No wonder it’s…
– Higher,
– Deeper,
– and Wider, than anything on this earth.
Love y’all,