PART II – NEITHER FEARFUL NOR SELF-SUFFICIENT

I CORINTHIANS 1:26-29 – FOR YE SEE YOUR CALLING, BRETHERN, HOW THAT NOT MANY WISE MEN AFTER THE FLESH, NOT MANY MIGHTY, NOT MANY NOBLE, ARE CALLED:

     BUT GOD HATH CHOSEN THE FOOLISH THINGS OF THE WORLD TO CONFOUND THE THINGS WHICH ARE MIGHTY;

      AND BASE THINGS OF THE WORLD, AND THINGS WHICH ARE DESPISED, HATH GOD CHOSEN, YEA, AND THINGS WHICH ARE NOT, TO BRING TO NOUGHT THINGS WHICH ARE:

      THAT NO FLESH SHOILD GLORY IN HIS PRESENCE.

WE ARE TO SPEAK WHAT GOD GIVES US, AND NOT BE WORRIED ABOUT OUR DELIVERY OR THE OUTCOME. HE KNOWS TO WHOM WE ARE MINISTERING, AND WHAT ARE THERE NEEDS.

HE KNOWS OUR ABILITIES AND HOW TO STRETCH THEM. HE DOESN’T SEND US TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT PREPARED TO HEAR HIS HEART. WHAT MIGHT BE THE RIGHT MESSAGE FOR ONE GROUP, MIGHT NOT BE THE MESSAGE FOR ANOTHER. HE ALSO KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE LIVES OF THOSE AT YOUR DIVINE APPOINTMENT WITH THEM.

IT SHOULD BE OUR DESIRE TO FOLLOW THE CLOUD LIKE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL IN THE BOOK OF EXODUS. WHEN HE MOVES, WE MOVE!

IT IS SO MUCH EASIER FOR ME NOW, FOR I CONTINUE TO FIND OUT WHAT HE WANTS, SAY WHAT HE GIVES ME, AND WAIT FOR THE DEMONSTRATION OF HIS POWER AND HIS SPIRIT.

IF GOD USED A DONKEY; AND THEN A ROOSTER WITH A THREE PART SERMON, HE WILL USE YOU AND ME!

PREPARATION, STUDY OF THE WORD, PRAYER, AND FASTING, IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO; BUT OUR MOST IMPORTANT PART IS FINDING A PLACE TO BE ALONE WITH, GOD AND SEEKING HIM, AND WORSHIPPING HIM. THEN, STEP OUT IN FAITH, BELIEVING. FOR WITHOUT HIM WE CAN DO NOTHING; AND WE ARE NOTHING WITHOUT HIM; BUT PHILIPPIANS 4:13 – SAYS, I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME.

II CHRONICLES 26:5b,16 – AND AS LONG AS HE SOUGHT THE LORD, GOD MADE HIM TO PROSPER.

      BUT WHEN HE WAS STRONG, HIS HEART WAS LIFTED UP TO HIS DISTRUCTION:

IF WE KEEP OUR EYES FOCUSED ON GOD AND WHAT HE CAN DO THROUGH US; AND NOT ON OUR OWN ABILITIES, WE WILL CONTINUE ON THE PATH OF MINISTRY PROSPERITY.

OUR DESIRE SHOULD BE THAT WE FLOW CONSTANTLY IN THIS PRINCIPAL, BECAUSE FAILURE TO DO SO, WILL BRING US BACK TO OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING AND ULTIMATELY IN A FALL; OR EVEN INTO SATAN’S TRAP OF SELF-WORSHIP, WHICH LEADS TO DESTRUCTION.

WHEN UZZIAH BEGAN HIS REIGN, HE BEGAN A GODLY REIGN.

II CHRONICLES 26:4a,5 – AND HE DID THAT WHICH WAS RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD…

     AND HE SOUGHT GODIN THE DAYS OF ZECHARIAH, WHO HAD UNDERSTANDING IN THE VISIONS OF GOD:

HE PROSPERED IN WAR AND FAME. THEN HE BAGAN TO THINK TOO HIGHLY OF HIMSELF; HE TRANSGRESSED AGAINST THE LORD, BY STEPPING OUT OF HIS PLACE OF AUTHORITY.

WHEN CORRECTED BY THE PRIEST, HE BECAME ANGRY.

V.19-21a – THEN UZZIAH WAS WROTH, AND HAD A CENSER IN HIS HAND TO BURN INCENSE:AND WHILE HE WAS WROTH WITH THE PRIESTS, THE LEPROSY EVEN ROSE UP IN HIS FOREHEAD BEFORE THE PRIESTS IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, FROM BESUDE THE INCENSE ALTER. AND AZARIAH THE CHIEF PRIEST, AND ALL THE PRIESTS, LOOKED UPON HIM, AND, BEHOLD, HE WAS LEPROUS IN HIS FOREHEAD, AND THEY THRUST HIM OUT FROM THENCE; YEA, HIMSELF HASTED ALSO TO GET OUT, BECAUSE THE LORD HAD SMITTEN HIM. AND UZZIAH THE KING, WAS A LEPER UNTO THE DAY OF HIS DEATH, AND DWELT IN A SEVERAL HOUSE (INFIRMARY), BEING A LEPER; FOR HE WAS CUT OFF FROM THE HOUSE OF THE LORD:

IT IS IMPORTANT TO START THE RACE, BUT MORE IMPORTANT THAT WE FINISH IT; AND REMEMBER: WE NEVER GET ABOVE CORRECTION.

PAUL WROTE TO TIMOTHY IN II TIMOTHY 4:5,7 – BUT WATCH THOU IN ALL THINGS, ENDURE AFFLICTIONS, DO THE WORK OF AN EVANGELIST, MAKE FULL PROOF OF THY MINISTRY.

      I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH;

ACTS 20:24 – BUT NONE OF THESE THINGS MOVE ME, NEITHER COUNT I MY LIFE DEAR UNTO MYSELF, SO THAT I MIGHT FINISH MY COURSE WITH JOY, AND THE MINISTRY, WHICH I HAVE RECEIVED OF THE LORD JESUS, TO TESTIFY THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD.

ALL WE DO IN THE KINGDOM, THE PRAISE AND GLORY MUST GO TO GOD. IF WE ALLOW OURSELVES TO RECIEVE ANY, WE REALLY ARE FAILURES IN THE END.

 

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PEACE TO THIS HOUSE

HOW CAN WE BE THE CHRISTIAN AND MINISTER GOD WANTS US TO BE, IF THERE IS NO PEACE WITHIN?

IN MY TIME WITH THE LORD, HE SPOKE TO MY HEART, “I AM GOING TO BRING PEACE TO THIS HOUSE.”

I THOUGHT, THERE IS NO TROUBLE IN MY HOUSE. MY HUSBAND HAVE BEEN MARRIED OVER 4O YEARS, AND WE GET ALONG GREAT. THERE IS NO ONE ELSE IN THE HOUSE BUT THE TWO OF US.

THEN I REALIZED, OUR LORD WAS TALKIING ABOUT HIS TEMPLE WITHIN ME.

WE ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, I CORINTHIANS 6:19 –  WHAT?  KNOW YE NOT THAT YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY GHOST WHICH IS IN YE HAVE OF GOD, AND YE ARE NOT YOUR OWN?

IF HE WAS GOING TO BRING PEACE TO MY HOUSE THERE MUST BE A LACK OF IT. I WAS TROUBLED ABOUT TOO MANY THINGS: MINISTRY, PEOPLE.

I KNEW I NEEDED TO HAVE PEACE WITHIN, SO I COULD BE MY BEST FOR GOD AND HIS KINGDOM.

WORRY IS NOT JUST A LACK OF FAITH, IT IS SIN. IT CAUSES A LACK OF PEACE OF MIND AND HEART.

PHILIPPIANS 4:5-7 – LET YOUR MODERATION (SELF CONTROL) BE KNOWN UNTO ALL MEN, THE LORD IS AT HAND (THE LORD IS COMING; THE LORD IS IN CONTROL).

BE CAREFUL FOR NOTHING  (DO NOT BE WORRIED ABOUT ANYTHING; OR DO NOT BE ANXIOUS); BUT IN EVERTHING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION WITH THANKSGIVING LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN UNTO GOD.

AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING, SHALL KEEP (GUARD LIKE A WARRIOR ON DUTY) YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.

GOD GIVES US PEACE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. JESUS IS CALLED THE PRINCE OF PEACEIN ISAIAH 9:6 – FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN, UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN: AND THE GOVERNMENTSHALL BE UPON HIS SHOULDER: AND HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, THE MIGHTY GOD, THE PRINCE OF PEACE.

MANY HAVE INTERRUPTED SLEEP, BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF PEACE: PSALM 4:8 – I WILL BOTH LAY ME DOWN IN PEACE, AND SLEEP: FOR THOU, LORD, ONLY MAKEST ME DWELL IN SAFETY.

WE SEE IN THIS VERSE, ONLY THE PRINCE OF PEACE CAN BRING PEACE.

YOU MAY BE THE ONE WHO IS NOT SLEEPING WELL BECAUSE YOU HAVE SOMETHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT SEPARATES YOU FROM GOD’S BEST FOR YOU. YOU LIE AWAKE, KNOWING, JESUS IS COMING BACK SOON, AND YOU ARE NOT READY. YOU CALL IT THE END OF THE WORLD, BUT FOR A BELIEVER IT IS OUR REAL LIFE, AND NEW GLORIOUS BEGINNING.

THOSE DREAMS YOU HAVE BEEN HAVING, TROUBLE YOU. YOU WAKE UP IN A COLD SWEAT, SAYING, “WHAT’S WRONG WITH ME?”

THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT BORN AGAIN, WILL NEVER FIND PEACE UNTIL YOU GIVE YOUR LIVES TO JESUS CHRIST , AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR.

GIVE YOUR HEART AND LIFE TO JESUS, HE IS CALLING YOU TO HIS LOVE AND FORGIVENESS.

SOME NEED TO GIVE UP THAT THING THAT IS COMING BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR LORD: OF YOU DON’T, YOU WILL END UP LOOSING THAT THING, AND ALSO THE ONE WHO DIED FOR YOU.

YOUR CHILDREN NEED PEACE OPERATING IN YOUR LIFE. THIS WILL HELP THEM TO FIND PEACE IN THEIR LIVES.

YOU MIGHT SAY, “I’M DOING THE BEST I CAN, BUT MY CHILDREN A DRIVING ME CRAZY.”

TAKE INVENTORY, DO YOU HAVE PEACE WITH GOD?

DOES YOUR CHILD EXPERIENCE PEACE AND LOVE AT HOME? OR IS THERE ALWAYS TERMOIL, AND A LOT OF YELLING AND SOMETIMES, EVEN FIGHTS BREAK OUT?

SOMETIMES CHILDREN CULTIVATE THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR IN THEIR LIVES, AND BECOME ANGRY AND REBELLIOUS; AND DON’T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHY THEY ACT THAT WAY, AND FEEL THE STRESS OF LIFE.

IF YOU CULTIVATE A TRUST IN GOD TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING, AND YOU DO YOUR BEST, GOD WILL SEE AND HEAR FROM HEAVEN AND HEAL YOUR LIFE.

WHEN WE AS BELIEVERS DON’T HAVE PEACE, I BELIEVE WE ARE NOT REALLY ABIDING IN HIM. I KNOW HOW THE BALLTES COME TO TRY AND STOP US FROM TRUSTING GOD WITH EVEYTHING THAT COMES OUR WAY, BUT I ALSO KNOW GOD DECLARES THAT THE BATTLE IS HIS.

I HAVE PRAISED MYSELF OUT OF MANY SITUATIONS, WITH PRAYER AND SUPPLICATIONS (SUGGESTS PRAYER TO AVOID ALL EVIL) I LET MY REQUEST BE KNOWN UNTO GOD.

HE ALREADY KNOWS, HE JUST WANTS YOU TO INTIMATELY SHARE IT WITH HIM.

AND ONCE YOU GIVE IT TO HIM, IT’S HIS.

IF WE ASK GOD TO HELP US WALK IN THE SPIRIT AND NOT IN THE FLESH, WE WILL SEE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR DAILY WALK WITH HIM.

THE PEACE THAT GOD GIVES, FLOWS FROM THE SENCING OF HIS MOST GRACIOUS PRESENCE, AND CONSISTS IN CHILD LIKE CONFIDENCE AND TRUSTFUL LOVE.

THIS PEACE PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING; IT’S CALM BLESSEDNESS GOSES FARTHER THAN THE REACH OF HUMAN THOUGHT; IT CAN BE ONLY KNOWN BY THYE INNER EXPERIENCE OF THE BELIEVER.

HE IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE ASK OR THINK (EPHESIANS 3:20).

PHILIPPIANS 4:7b – …SHALL KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS… THE PEACE OF GOD IN THE HEART IS A SURE AND RELIABLE MILITARY FORCE, GUARDING IT SO THAT THE EVIL SPIRIT, ONCE CAST OUT, CANNOT RETURN.

HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED THE FREEDOM YOU FEEL WHEN SOMETHING BOTHERING YOU KEAVES?

IN CHRIST JESUS, TRUE ABIDING BELIEVERS, UNDERSTAND HIS PROMISE, PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU, MY PEACE I GIVE UNTO YOU, LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED, NEITHER LET IT BE AFRAID (JOHN 14). WE SEE HERE, JESUS GIVES US PEACE, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT ALSO GIVES US PEACE: GALATIANS 5:22 – BUT THE FRUIT OF THE (HOLY) SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONG-SUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH…

SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT PEACE COMES FROM THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT     

 

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