Saturday, September 22, 2007
Ways to Pray
Mark 11:20-25
1. have faith in God
2. Speak to the mountain
3. Do not doubt
4. Forgive
“Don’t speak to God about your problems, speak to your problems about your God”
- introduce your problem to your God
1 Samuel 17 : David & Goliath
- David’s faith is in God
David did not once talk to God & plead for his help, instead David spoke to Goliath about his God. He told Goliath what he was going to do & then he did. He told Goliath that his God was going to lead him to victory.
It is interesting that David takes 5 stones & Goliath has 4 brothers. He is going into the fight prepared to go against his whole family & not just him
- David had his faith in God. He wasn’t a warrior he was a boy. He didn’t know how to fight, he attended sheep. But his faith was in God & he believed that God would help him. I mean imagine you in a situation much smaller, most of the time we would be begging for God to help. David spoke to the “mountain” & so should we.
- You get faith by reading the bible Romans 10:17
Prayer Power
So this year me & my girlfriend are at YC with our youth group. It is the evening program & Skillet & Hillsong United are about to come on for a 3 hour performance. Now i love both these bands & wanted to get some videos & pictures of them. Except we had a problem; Jills camera batteries were dead & we didn't have any new ones. Even brand new batteries in her camera only last for about 80 pictures, so we kinda had a dilema on our hands.
We took the batteries out of the camera & prayed over them, basically laying hands on them & speaking in tongues. We did this for about 5 minutes & then put the batteries back in the camera. They then lasted the entire 3 hours .. taking over 150 pics & over 30 minutes of video.
Now who can doubt the power of the Lord almighty!
Your Voice is a weapon .. USE IT
We took the batteries out of the camera & prayed over them, basically laying hands on them & speaking in tongues. We did this for about 5 minutes & then put the batteries back in the camera. They then lasted the entire 3 hours .. taking over 150 pics & over 30 minutes of video.
Now who can doubt the power of the Lord almighty!
Your Voice is a weapon .. USE IT
Hmm..
So i was sitting in social the other day & we were watching a video about Government Systems. In the video there were some protesters, one of them was holding a sign that read "God hates wicked & violent men". I thought to myself "I wonder how many people actually believe this"
You see God does not "hate" anyone and in my opinion this is a very religious view. It goes along the lines of "works to get to God", which doesn't exist either, but thats a whole nother issue. God sent his only son to die for us whil men were being violent & wicked ... now how does this demonstrate hate ??? .... it demonstrates "Ultimate Love"
I fear how many people actaully think that God "hates". God loves us unconditionally & no matter what we do or how bad we screw up, he will always be there to turn to with open arms of a loving Father. He loves everyone equally, a perfect equality.
You see we are his children, hence Children of the Lord. He looks after & cares for us with the ultimate love & care.
1 John 4:8:
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Romans 5:8: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Matthew 28:20 (NIV): Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
You see God does not "hate" anyone and in my opinion this is a very religious view. It goes along the lines of "works to get to God", which doesn't exist either, but thats a whole nother issue. God sent his only son to die for us whil men were being violent & wicked ... now how does this demonstrate hate ??? .... it demonstrates "Ultimate Love"
I fear how many people actaully think that God "hates". God loves us unconditionally & no matter what we do or how bad we screw up, he will always be there to turn to with open arms of a loving Father. He loves everyone equally, a perfect equality.
You see we are his children, hence Children of the Lord. He looks after & cares for us with the ultimate love & care.
1 John 4:8:
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Romans 5:8: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Matthew 28:20 (NIV): Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Holy Spirit
A Little Explanation
The Holy Spirit is a Person: He is God in action
The Holy Spirit is not a gift of power but of God himself
The baptism of the Spirit means that people saved by grace and born again can have new expirences and become Spirit-energized witnesses for Christ
The word "batpism" comes from the trade of dyeing fabrics. It means "dipping". The cloth or garment is dipped into the dye and the cloth takes on the color and or character of the dye. When Christ baptizes us in the Spirit, we take-on the "color" or character of the Spirit. The Spirit is in us and we in the Spirit, we are people of the Holy Spirit
Purpose of the batism of the Holy Spirit:
- to fullfill the Great Comission (Matthew 28:19-20) Jesus commanded the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they had recieved the Holy Spirit before they could do what He called them to do
- The main purpose of the Holy Spirit is for Boldness in witnessing (Acts 1:8)
How to recieve it?
- Repentance - the Holy Spirit is only for the blood-washed sons and daughters of God
- Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ - you do not need to persuade Jesus to be kind and baptize you in His Holy Fire. He has already promised. Come with boldness and collect the gift the Giver is offering you (Hebrews 11:6; Galations 3:1-2; Luke 11:9-10)
What will happen ?
- when you recive the origional baptism of the Spirit, the origional signs will follow (Mark 16:17-18)
- Boldness - Christ had said "Go into the all the world" (Mark 16:15) The moment those "tongues of fire (Acts 2:1-4) touched the disciples head, it put the "go" into them.
What is Tongues?
-Paul describes speaking in tongues as telling secrets to God. (1 Corinthians 14:2) Tongues is the only language the devil cant understand. The arch-confuser is totally confusd himself, because he does not know the alaphabet of the Holy Spirit. Because Satan cannot crack the Holy Spirit's secret code it puts us directly in touch with the throne of Heaven (1 Corinthians 2:6-13)
- Our bodies are "temples of the Holy Spirit". Jesus said a temple was a house of prayer. If our bodies are temples, houses of prayer in which the Spirit dwells, then He will pray through us, pure, powerful prayers, reaching the throne of God.
The Holy Spirit is a Person: He is God in action
The Holy Spirit is not a gift of power but of God himself
The baptism of the Spirit means that people saved by grace and born again can have new expirences and become Spirit-energized witnesses for Christ
The word "batpism" comes from the trade of dyeing fabrics. It means "dipping". The cloth or garment is dipped into the dye and the cloth takes on the color and or character of the dye. When Christ baptizes us in the Spirit, we take-on the "color" or character of the Spirit. The Spirit is in us and we in the Spirit, we are people of the Holy Spirit
Purpose of the batism of the Holy Spirit:
- to fullfill the Great Comission (Matthew 28:19-20) Jesus commanded the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they had recieved the Holy Spirit before they could do what He called them to do
- The main purpose of the Holy Spirit is for Boldness in witnessing (Acts 1:8)
How to recieve it?
- Repentance - the Holy Spirit is only for the blood-washed sons and daughters of God
- Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ - you do not need to persuade Jesus to be kind and baptize you in His Holy Fire. He has already promised. Come with boldness and collect the gift the Giver is offering you (Hebrews 11:6; Galations 3:1-2; Luke 11:9-10)
What will happen ?
- when you recive the origional baptism of the Spirit, the origional signs will follow (Mark 16:17-18)
- Boldness - Christ had said "Go into the all the world" (Mark 16:15) The moment those "tongues of fire (Acts 2:1-4) touched the disciples head, it put the "go" into them.
What is Tongues?
-Paul describes speaking in tongues as telling secrets to God. (1 Corinthians 14:2) Tongues is the only language the devil cant understand. The arch-confuser is totally confusd himself, because he does not know the alaphabet of the Holy Spirit. Because Satan cannot crack the Holy Spirit's secret code it puts us directly in touch with the throne of Heaven (1 Corinthians 2:6-13)
- Our bodies are "temples of the Holy Spirit". Jesus said a temple was a house of prayer. If our bodies are temples, houses of prayer in which the Spirit dwells, then He will pray through us, pure, powerful prayers, reaching the throne of God.
Pondering
Derek Enns
Father, how broken I am. There is a hole that I keep falling into. It is a deep pit and while at times it seems like I have crawled out I have never left the pit. With each step up I find myself falling back a step. This sin draws me into its core. A place of deceitfulness and lust. Lies, broken hearts, lost souls, broken families; it is a plague and spreads like a disease. While it may seem harmless on the outside, on the inside it is a vicious germ that consumes you; it is a nicotine. You cannot overcome it on your own. I thought I could win this battle- have for periods at a time- but somehow it keeps coming back. I crave it. Why is it that I do that which I know is evil and against my morals. I cannot do this on my own. I pray for strength, wisdom, and a clear mind. Only by your grace Lord will I ever be washed clean of this sin. This is my prayer Lord, that you would help me be a man of integrity. Not only for myself, but all who I encounter. I want to be freed from the chains that have been holding me down for so long. My life is in your hands. Enable me to do your will.
Father, how broken I am. There is a hole that I keep falling into. It is a deep pit and while at times it seems like I have crawled out I have never left the pit. With each step up I find myself falling back a step. This sin draws me into its core. A place of deceitfulness and lust. Lies, broken hearts, lost souls, broken families; it is a plague and spreads like a disease. While it may seem harmless on the outside, on the inside it is a vicious germ that consumes you; it is a nicotine. You cannot overcome it on your own. I thought I could win this battle- have for periods at a time- but somehow it keeps coming back. I crave it. Why is it that I do that which I know is evil and against my morals. I cannot do this on my own. I pray for strength, wisdom, and a clear mind. Only by your grace Lord will I ever be washed clean of this sin. This is my prayer Lord, that you would help me be a man of integrity. Not only for myself, but all who I encounter. I want to be freed from the chains that have been holding me down for so long. My life is in your hands. Enable me to do your will.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Fundamentals Of Our Group
Romans 13:8-14
"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not covet, and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the
"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not covet, and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the
Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature"
We are not about a religion, my definition of religion is; a system of man made beleifs. Religion says that you have to do "works to get to God" in order to gain his love. But this isn't true, God loves us all equally from the beginning, we dont have to do anything to gain his favour. It is absolutley impossible for us as humans to follow the ten commandments and if we did, we would be Jesus himself. They are guidelines. We are about relationship with the Father, which is the reason that we were created. We are about advacning the Kingdom of Heaven, like we were told to do "Go into the world & spread the news to all creation" Mark 16:15. We are Christians that have a passion that burns within us, a passion for fellowship, for people, for the Saviour of the world. The commandment that we follow: Treat others the way you want to be treated, Love one another
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