Monday, June 29, 2020

Awe or Ugh!

My Cornerstone Series / Awe or Ugh? 

Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

Joel 2:28-29  The Promise of the Spirit
28 “It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions. 29 “Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

Acts 2:37-47 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. 

Big Idea: The awe of the Spirit moving is what founds every church
1. The Spirit came … (Acts 2:1-4)
2. They were craving waiting and longing; for the Spirit (Acts 2:1-4
3. They certified the Spirit was from God (Joel 2:28-29)  
4. They were contrite and repented of sin (Acts 2:37) 
5. They connected with and received the Spirit (Acts 2:38)
6. The culture of experiencing the presence of the Spirit was the founding of the church.  (Acts 2:43)

How do we join with God to create awe? 
STEP 1: UNITY - AWE COMES WHEN GOD’S FAMILY IS TOGETHER /  DISUNITY UGH!
STEP 2: AWE COMES WHEN IN WORSHIP THERE IS EXALTATION OF JESUS AS LORD RESURRECTED
STEP 3: FOCUS ON THE GOSPEL … AWE COMES WHEN GOD ADDS TO YOUR NUMBER
STEP 4: AWE COMES BY PRAYER AND SEEKING GOD’S WILL … THEY WERE TOGETHER WAITING  

Sunday, June 21, 2020

THE POWER OF PRAYING


The Power of Praying!

James 5:16-18 Pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.
Prayer is the Christian’s greatest superpower, but we have stopped using our superpower.

BIG IDEA: Prayer is the action that validates our belief in God!

Matthew 7:7-11
Keep asking… Keep seeking … Keep knocking: emphasis doesn’t translate for us in English

1. Prayer can. There is nothing that God does that I can't if I pray!

2. Prayer believes. There is nothing God does that I can't if I pray!

3. Prayer seeks. There is nothing God does that I can't if I pray! 

We seek first the Lord .. Matt. 6:33, We set our affections on heaven Col. 1:15
2 Chronicles 7:12-16 Humble... then pray ... if we pray...
Humility is paramount if the other keys – prayer, seeking the face of God, and obedience – are ever to produce victory in our lives. ... Thus, if we want our prayers to be answered 'Yes', we have to be in Christ for it is then He is glorified, and we have to operate in humility.

4. Prayer is all powerful ... 

Since God is all powerful we are all powerful when we pray!
Nothing of eternal significance ever happens apart from prayer. - Jerry Falwell Sr

5. Prayer is all knowing ... 

Since God is all knowing we can pray for all that we don't know to be revealed.
Matthew 5:5-13

6. Prayer is always present ... 

everywhere present at the same time “Like being there in person.”
Revelation 1 .. in the spirit on the Lord’s day
Psalms 139 ESV

7. Prayer is infinite in its affect.

James 4 Effectual Availing Much - Gives us the ADVANTAGE IN THE FIGHT...
Ephesians 1:15-23

8. The voice and action of the trusting is prayer!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart … Proverbs 3:5,6 … NO LEANING HOW.. PRAY ...
Cry out… Psalm 34:17
Philippians 4:4-7 Psalms 3, 4, 26, 86… All prayers of Trusting in God..
NOT TRUSTING IN GOD THE GREATEST SIN.

9. The philosophy by which we wait & still our hearts, minds, will is prayer!

Isaiah 40:31. James 4 Draw near...

10. Our warning to the enemies of God is prayer!

THE WEAPON OF THE FAITHFUL
Psalms 109:4 … But I am in prayer … i.e. as a warning
Ephesians 6:18

Challenge: Prioritize prayer, forgiveness, and love passionately everyone in front of you.
Men & Women who prayed in a crisis and God answered.
Moses Cry @ the Red sea
Abraham begging God for the righteous
Joshua’s march in silence
Gideon’s petition and re-petitioning
Naaman’s plea for healing
The nobleman request for Jesus to heal his child
The leper’s cry … if you are willing
Jonah’s agony of being digested
David’s caves of shame and shelter
Hezekiah’s request for a longer life
Elijah’s prayer to cease the rain
Jeremiah’s weeping & laments
Hagar’s cry for her son
Hannah’s request for Samuel
Jesus’ prayer for all of his children
Illustrated. "Say my name" fight ALI We beat our enemy and force Him to say the name of Jesus as Lord when we pray. Daddy... Abba