NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

Someone once said..."I made 6 resolutions last year and I kept them all Year long. They are in an envelope on the top of my file cabinet." A boy told his father, "Dad, if three frogs were sitting on a limb that hung over a pool, and one frog decided to jump off into the pool, how many frogs would be left on the limb?" The dad replied, "Two." "No," the son replied. "There's three frogs and one decides to jump, how many are left?" The dad said, "Oh, I get it, if one decides to jump, the others would too. So there are none left." The boy said, "No dad, the answer is three. The frog only DECIDED to jump." Does that sound like last year's resolution? Great inspiration and great resolutions, but often times we only decide, and months later we are still on the same limb of do-nothing.

Ecclesiastes 5

4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. 5 It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.

Certain vows we should all make:
1. Vow to obey God
2. Vow to forget your failures
3. Vow to give up your grudges
4. Vow to be grateful to the Lord

It is always interesting to hear what people are making resolutions about as the new year begins. Ann Landers has made some good suggestions in her column. She writes, "Call up a forgotten friend. Drop an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories. . . . Free yourself of envy. . . . Resolve to stop magnifying small problems and shooting from the lip. . . . Lighten up. When you feel like blowing your top, ask yourself, ‘Will it matter in a week from today?' Be optimistic. . . . Read something uplifting. Deep-six the trash. . . . Walk tall, and smile more. . . . Don't be afraid to say, ‘I love you.'"

Some other resolutions I read are a little less serious.
• "I have resolved not to do drugs anymore, because I get the same effect just standing up really fast."
• "I have resolved to live in my own little world, because at least they know me here."
• "I have resolved to stay married, because it is so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life."
• "I have resolved to not make any resolutions, because nobody is perfect. I'm a nobody, therefore I'm perfect."
Some more vows we ought to consider are these:

I. VOW TO OBEY GOD THE WAY ABRAHAM DID.

Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
God came to Abraham one day. Abraham didn't know where he was going, he just knew God said go.

Why obey God?

1. Wicked men obey God out of fear, good men out of love.
2. Love should be the main reason for our obedience.
3. Jesus' mother gave good advice in John 2:4 - she said whatsoever he sayeth unto you, do it.

What are your priorities in life? And what are your priorities for any given day? What's your first order of business besides getting out of bed and cleaning up your body? Coffee? Breakfast? Read the paper? TV news? Or pray and read scripture or a devotional book?
Here was the priority of Jesus for morning time.

Mark 1:35 "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."
If Jesus needed to pray the first thing in the morning, what about us?

Whatever you do in life, PLEASE DO THIS:

1 Corinthians 10:31 "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
Matthew 6:33 "Seek first the kingdom of God..." If you always seek first in life to glorify and honor God you won't go very wrong in life.

II. VOW TO FORGET YOUR FAILURES

2000 years ago one the first Christian leaders, Paul gave this advice "Forgetting what is behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14
That advice from God's Word has stood the test of time. I don't know of any more relevant and practical advice for us at the start of 2010

III. VOW TO GIVE UP YOUR GRUDGES

I want you to listen to these words from the book of Colossians because in them you'll hear the second challenge I believe God wants you to rise to if you want to make 2010 a significant turning point in your life .

"Bear with each other and forgive each other whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you" Colossians 3:13

God in those words is challenging you directly and personally to give up your grudges. That is what he means when he says forgive each other whatever grievances you may have against one another.
What's a grudge? A grudge is a deep ongoing resentment that we cultivate in our hearts against someone else.

A grudge is an unforgiving spirit that leads to unforgiving attitudes and unforgiving actions.
Now I know you know what I am talking about.

Harbouring a grudge is about nursing a dislike for someone.
What you need to know is that grudges are dangerous because they are destructive.
• Grudges destroy marriages.
• Grudges break up families.
• Grudges ruin friendships.
• Grudges split churches.

IV. VOW TO BE GRATEFULL TO THE LORD

WAYS TO DEVELOP AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

1. REMEMBER THAT EVERYTHING WE HAVE IS FROM GOD.
Acknowledge that everything we have is God's and not ours. Psalm 24:1 says, "The earth is the Lord's and everything in it." When we do this, it reminds us that it is a privilege that God has loaned us everything we have.

1 Corinthians 4:7 says, "What do you have that you did not receive from God? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?"

The story is told of a poor man who was given a loaf of bread. He thanked the baker, but the baker said, "Don't thank me. Thank the miller who made the flour." So he thanked the miller, but the miller said, "Don't thank me. Thank the farmer who planted the wheat." So he thanked the farmer. But the farmer said, "Don't thank me. Thank the Lord. He gave the sunshine & rain & fertility to the soil, & that's why you have bread to eat."

2. AVOID COMPLAINING.
Dr. Dale Robbins writes, "I used to think people complained because they had a lot of problems. But I have come to realize that they have problems because they complain.
Complaining doesn't change anything or make situations better. It amplifies frustration, spreads discontent and discord, and can invoke an invitation for the devil to cause havoc with our lives." Complaining makes us miserable.

Psalm 77:3 - says, "I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed." Complaining is the archenemy of thanksgiving. The two cannot co-exist in the same heart. And so I challenge you to try to quit complaining for a whole month. Just try it. When you feel tempted to complain, instead of filing your complaint, file a praise. It will change your life.

Philippians 2:13 says, "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe."

3. DEVELOP THE DAILY DISCIPLINE OF GIVING THANKS.
In order to be thankful people we need to start to give thanks everyday. We need to discipline ourselves to find something each day that we should be thankful for and express our thanks to God.
Perhaps create a journal or a file on our computers where we list the things God has done for us. Call it a praise file. Thanksgiving must become a daily habit.

Let's remember certain vows we should all make:
1. Vow to obey God
2. Vow to forget your failures
3. Vow to give up your grudges
4. Vow to be grateful to the Lord

Our Children Christmas Cantata at GPPC

AWAKE THE VISIONARY IN YOU

I would like to approach the subject of our purpose in life by talking about Vision and Dreams. Usually Vision is an experience of seeing someone or something in a dream or trance. Dream is a series of thoughts, images, and sensations appearing in ones mind during sleep. When I will speak of dreams and vision in this message, I will be referring to the dreams and vision you see inside your mind while awake.

Without a Vision for the future we cannot have any goals. Spiritual Blindness is much worse than Physical Blindness because the end result is death.
Proverbs 29:18
Where there is no vision, the people perish: (King James)
Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained (American Standard Version)
1 Samuel 3:1 we read, "The word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision."
Lamentations 2:9 "...her prophets also find no vision from the Lord," (that is, no message from God.)
Illustration
Walt Disney - The monarch of this magic kingdom is no man but a mouse -- Mickey Mouse. The Walt Disney Company is the world's #2 media conglomerate (behind Time Warner) with assets encompassing movies, music, publishing, television, and theme parks. Its TV holdings include the ABC television network and 10 broadcast stations, as well as a portfolio of cable networks including ABC Family, Lifetime Entertainment (50%-owned), and ESPN (80%). Walt Disney Studios produces films through such imprints as Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone, Pixar, and Miramax. In addition, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is one of the top theme park operators in the world, anchored by its popular Walt Disney World and Disneyland resorts.
Disney executives and shareholders gather every 5 years to watch a series of movies left by Walt Disney himself. Walt died many years ago in 1966 but he left a series of short messages that are kept in a vault where we sets goals and projects for future generations of leaders. Walt Disney was a visionary and his company has great success because they follow the goals of a visionary.
A vision can be political, religious, environmental, social, or technological in nature. By extension, a visionary can also be a person with a clear, distinctive and specific (in some details) vision of the future, usually connected with advances in technology or social/political arrangements.

A Visionary according to the Dictionary

• Characterized by vision or foresight.
• Characterized by or given to apparitions, prophecies, or revelations.
• Given to daydreams or reverie; dreamy.
• One who is given to impractical or speculative ideas; a dreamer.
• One who has visions; a seer.

Illustration
One of the greatest tragedies for people would be to live in darkness when they could live in the light... Rose Crawford had been blind for 50 years. Then she had an operation in an Ontario hospital. She said, "I just can't believe it," as the doctor lifted the bandages from her eyes. She wept - when for the 1st time in her life she saw a dazzling and beautiful world of form and color greeted her eyes and she could now see. The amazing thing about her story, however, was that 20 years of her blindness was unnecessary. She didn't know that surgical techniques had been developed, and that an operation could have restored her vision at the age of 30. The Dr. said, "She just figured there was nothing that could be done for her condition. Much of her life could have been different." (Sermon Central)
Your Life can be different if you start to have Spiritual Vision!
The reason why mankind has progress and society advances is because of visionaries. Without them society stops in History and in time.
Let me give you a very strong argument to prove the superiority of Jewish and Christians above all other religions. Just compare Hindu or Muslim societies with the Eastern World. Where do you see more progress and achievements? I don't want to diminish and culture or civilization, please do not interpret me wrong...but when we talk about great thinkers and achievers like Albert Einstein. 52% of all Pulitzer Prizes for Non-Fiction were awarded to Jews. Jews have won more than 50% of all music-related Academy Awards, and Tony Awards! Jews have won at least 20% of all Nobel Prizes. Jews have won 38% of all US National Medal of Science awards. Now let me tell you that Famous Christians have won almost the rest of all the awards.
Well just look at the dream that Muslim extremists have for society as we learn more about Afghanistan and the Taliban lifestyle. Compare it with Judeo-Christian societies and tell me where do you want to live? I am not saying that Christian and Jews are smarter. I don't believe they are. So what would be the determinant factor for this simple observation? My conviction is that the difference resides in GOD GIVEN DREAMS.

God gave us the Holy Spirit so we can become dreamers and people of vision
In Acts 2:17 we read,
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams."
1. Dream - What you see when you are imagining a hypothetical scenario.
2. Vision - What you see when you look to the future without hypothesizing, wishing or imagining.

HOW TO DIFFERENTIATE DREAMS AND VISIONS

1. In a dream you usually interact with the scene in some way.
2. In a vision you are the observer, you have no interaction.
We all have such dreams and vision; and both are an integral function of human consciousness. The dreams you see while asleep at night are a metaphor for the kind of thinking that happens when you fantasize while awake. We often call this "day dreaming" or creative imagination.
We need to have goals for God. The Bible says in Philippians 3:14, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." To have goals in life for God, to have personal goals, to have dreams to believe in, to have a vision to serve God, to be determined to see it through.
If we don't a vision, we don't have a focus. We perish for lack of drive. We perish for a lack of vision, and don't achieve things in life. To have a dream, to aim for a vision to believe in, to have something that so grips us that we will not let it go; to have that vision for God, to be purpose driven in God, to believe in a vision and see it come to pass.

YOUR DREAM IS GOD'S BEST FOR YOUR LIFE

Psalm 126:1
1 When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
1. A dream is a picture in your mind of God's best for your life.
2. You will never see God's dream clearly in your mind until your heart is healed and restored. The psalmist made a connection between the two things: "When the Lord restored his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!"
3. In your finances, family, health, and ministry, God wants to give you His dream. He wants to make what you see in your spirit to come true. The biggest obstacle, however, to seeing your dream fulfilled is rejection.
REJECTION IS A DREAM KILLER

7 STEPS TO BECOMING A VISIONARY PERSON

Now that you understand the basics of what a visionary is, it's time to transform the person you are today into a new person for brighter tomorrows! By following the steps listed below, you can become a visionary:
1. Be filled with the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit gives you dreams and visions (Acts 2:17).
2. If you don't have many dreams while asleep learn how to be a dreamer and a doer by meditating and thinking in your own goals and planning the ways to achieve them. Take action to make your dreams come true.
3. Appreciate people. This means ALL people - not just certain people you care about. Each and every person on Earth has a special mission or a unique purpose in life.
4. Accept responsibility. You should never accept the position that you're a victim of circumstance. You alone are responsible for the things you experience, the choices you make, and the outcomes of those choices and experiences.
5. Strive to learn and improve. You should know and understand that the job of self-improvement is never ending. It's a constant cycle, and it revolves consistently as we advance through life.
6. Fight the Spirit of Rejection. Rejection is a dream killer. A child who is never validated by a father is insecure. Validation results from discipline, affection, and acceptance. Acceptance is the opposite of rejection. He was despised and rejected that we might be accepted (Eph.1:6). That word, accepted, means to be "wrapped in the arms of." All believers must know that God the Father has accepted them, validated them, and pronounced them to be well-pleasing to Him.
7. Overcome opposition. You must understand and approach all situations as if they're a lesson and you should always strive to learn something from them. Make sure you surround yourself with men and women of faith and avoid people that are dream killers. If you have them in your family learn how to be quiet and don't share all your visions. Joseph was sold as a slave by his own brothers because he was a visionary person.
As you can see, you can learn how to become a visionary. Grab hold of your dreams and then get up and make those dreams come true. If you start to follow these steps in your everyday life, you'll soon find that you'll become well liked, happier, healthier, and more successful in every facet of life!

WE NEED CONTAGIOUS DREAMS AND VISIONS

No one ever accomplished anything without first having a vision. There are no exceptions. Not one invention. Not one artistic endeavor. Not one building. A vision; a dream; a hope is the foundation of all accomplishment.
Until we know God's dream for our life, we must obey his day-to-day will.
Contagious congregations act on the vision immediately.
Conform all your activity to the vision or dream
Place yourself and your resources at the disposal of God's vision.
When we're obedient, God reveals his vision!
Proverbs 29:18
Where there is no vision, the people perish: (King James)

THE BLESSING OF STRESS

STRESSED IS DESSERTS SPELLED BACKWARDS!
A. LEARN TO REST BY THE WELL
John 4:6 - And Jacob's well was there. So Jesus, tired as He was from His journey, sat down [to rest] by the well. It was then about the sixth hour (about noon).

1. Jesus was tired of the Way and sat down close to the well of Jacob.
2. We need to sit close to the well whenever we are tired.
   
3. I've learned that the place to rest is not watching T.V. but by the well of Jacob (and we still have time there for a little bit of ministry)
   

B. LEARN TO SLEEP DURING THE STORM

Mathew 8:23-25
23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.
24 Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.
25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"
1. Jesus was able to sleep in the middle of the storm. Can you do it?
2. Storms will come into your life. Jesus was sleeping so well that he didn't wake up with the storm. He trusted that his 12 where able to deal with the situation.
3. Only supernatural peace will allow us to sleep during the storm.

C. LEARN HOW JESUS HANDLED STRESS

1. He was moving constantly - Mathew 8:19,20
2. Herod wanted to kill him as a child - Mathew 2:13
3. The Pharisees wanted to kill Him - Mathew 12:14,15
4. Herod (the other Herod) wanted to kill Him - Luke 13:31,32
5. Priests, Scribes and Politicians wanted to kill Him - Luke 19:47
How could we handle the stress of having so many people wanting to kill ourselves? This was a great amount of stress upon Him! If we follow His steps we will have to know how to handle stress in our life.

D. LEARN TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF STRESS

1. Stress is the way to achieve the greatest things in our life and ministry if we recognize it and learn how to make it work for us instead of against us! "Stress is a burst of energy," says psychiatrist Dr. Lynne Tan of Montefiore Medical Center in New York City. "It's our body telling us what we need to do." Moderate amounts of stress - the kind of short-term buzz we get from a sudden burst of hormones - can help people perform tasks more efficiently and can improve memory.
2. Jesus Worked on Saturdays because he lived on the limit of His human strength. (Mathew 7:19-26). Indeed, stress is a doubled-edged sword that affects everyone differently. It's mostly a matter of perception. A speeding ride on a roller coaster is torture for some, while others race for the next ride. Multi-tasking or living in a hectic urban environment is a thrill for some, a confusing sensory overload for others.
3. Our goal isn't an absence of stress. It's an unavoidable reality. Besides, without it, life would be a pretty dull existence. The key is channeling stress energy into productive action instead of feeling overwhelmed.
FACT 1: PRODUCTION INCREASES WHEN WE ARE UNDER STRESS
FACT 2: IF WE FEEL TIRED WE NEED TO REST BEFORE WE GET BURNED OUT

E. WE NEED TO REST AFTER A CYLE OF INTENSE WORK

1. After 6 Days God had His rest - Genesis 2:1-3
2. We need to rest in Him - Mathew 11:28
3. I have learned that Stress can be good for us. We don't really like it, but without stress we wouldn't be as much productive. I am not a workaholic but I trust in God to provide for my Sabbaths.

CONCLUSION

Romans 5
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
1. We have peace with God
2. We gain access to God using our faith
3. We rejoice in the Hope of the Glory of God (We rejoice when things go well but we also rejoice in our sufferings)
Suffering > Perseverance > Character > Hope > No Disappointment
When we have faith we don't look at the sufferings but we see the victories ahead of us. The way to Overcome Stress is to have peace, faith, and a rejoicing attitude.

HE TAKES AWAY THE FIRST THAT HE MAY ESTABLISH THE SECOND

HEBREWS 10:9  THE LIVING BIBLE : He then added, "Here I am. I have come to give my life."
HE CANCELS THE FIRST SYSTEM IN FAVOR OF A FAR BETTER ONE
NEW KING JAMES
Then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God."
He takes away the first that He may establish the second.

Heb 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
LUKE 5:37-38
37"And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. 38"But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved.
God wants to give you the best! He cancels the old in order to give you the new. He takes away the first that he may establish the second.
Genesis 1:5,8,13,19,23
So the evening and the morning were the first day
God established a Pattern: The days of God Start in the evening

1. First Darkness then Light
2. Evening Day
3. Death Life
4. Lose your life Have a New Life
5. Old Wineskins New Wineskins

A. GOD TAKES AWAY THE FIRST THAT HE MAY ESTABLISH THE SECOND.

1. Some of us came to Christ after a negative experience. God removes certain things in order to give something better.
2. Not all the bad things that happened in our life where really bad but God allowed those to happen so that he would give us something better. God takes away the first that He may establish the second.
3. The devil is to blame on the evil things that happen in the world but God is still in control. When something precious was taken rejoice because God takes away the first that He may establish the second. The devil will not take anything from a son of God without the permission of the Lord. With Jesus in our lives we will experiment problems, trials, persecution, but after the night you will have a new day.
4. When a problem comes don't ask God "What did I do wrong?" but you can face it confessing that God takes away the first that He may establish the second.

Even Satan is an instrument in the hands of God so we can be molded and perfected. God is interested in our character, not in our better home or in our favorite car. He removes things and He gives things. God gave and He can take it away, blessed be the Name of the Lord

B. WE NEED TO DESIRE THE NEW

Luke 5:39
"And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.'

• We don't like to change! We drive home by the same street.
  
• We ask our coffee the same way.
  
• We go to church and we seat on the same pew.
  
• Some Christians want to have church services always the same way.

God wants to make a change in our life because he has something better, something new!

C. THE BROOK OF YOUR LIFE HAS TO DRY OUT

1 Kings 17:1-7
1And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word." 2Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 3"Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. 4"And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." 5So he went and did according to the word of the LORD, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. 6The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. 7And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

1. The brook dried out! Elijah was feeling good in that place: Nice view and Pizza Hut delivery, but God takes away the first that He may establish the second.
2. Has the brook of your life dried out?
3. Verse 8 says 8Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying. Its after the brook dried that the voice of God comes.
4. It's after the river of our life dried that we are ready for a new thing. God takes away the first that He may establish the second.
5. If you have lost a good job, or a good position and you have God in your life, if you live according to His Word I want to tell you what you already now by now: God takes away the first that He may establish the second.

God gave a dream to a young man called Joseph. In that dream he was going to rule over his brothers. He said Hallelujah! What happened next? The brook dried out... God takes away the first that He may establish the second.

CONCLUSION

Isaiah 44:3
For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground
In order for God to pour water in your life you need to be dried ground. If you are feeling that the river is not flowing as you want, rejoice because God takes away the first that He may establish the second.
1 Corinthians 2:9
9However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"

DAILY PRAYER COVERING

(This Prayer is an example; please modify it spontaneously as you pray it)

1. Address the Father and cover yourself with the Blood of Jesus

• Dear Heavenly Father, I pray this prayer in the power of the Holy Spirit.
• I thank you now for Jesus’ precious powerful blood, which has cleansing power, healing power and restoration power that cleanses, heals and restores my mind and my body. Your Word says (Hebrews 10:19) that I need "…boldness to enter into the holiest place by the Blood of Jesus". I take that precious and powerful blood, and by the Holy Spirit I pour it over my head and let it saturate my body from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet. 
• In the name of Jesus Christ and by the power of His Cross and blood, I bind the spirits, powers and forces of the earth, the underground, the air, the water, the fire, the netherworld and the satanic forces of nature. I rebuke any curses, hexes, or spells sent against me and send back from where they came from in Jesus Name. Thank you for your protection over my spirit, my soul and my body.
  

2. Put on the Armor of God

• I am God's child.  I resist the devil.  No weapon formed against me shall prosper.  I put on the whole armor of God. (Picture yourself putting on the armor of God described in Ephesians 6:11-18) 
• Lord I put on The Helmet of Salvation. I celebrate your salvation. I ask You to give me Your mind and thoughts.
• I put on The Breastplate of Righteousness. God I confess my sin and I ask for your forgiveness. I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.  I am God's property.  
• I put on The Belt of Truth. Lord I ask you to show me the truth about myself. I ask for discernment to know where I am going and what to do.
• I put on The Sandals of Peace. I invite the Holy Spirit to show me today anyone with whom I need to be reconciled. God, I pray for the ministry you have for me.  Anoint me God for all you have called me to do for you.  I call forth divine appointments, open doors of opportunity, God ordained encounters and ministry positions.
• I put on The Shield of Faith. I envision myself with a mighty shield, capturing and extinguishing all doubts and temptations sent by the enemy. Satan you are bound from my family, my mind, my body, my home, and my finances. I extinguish every fiery dart of the enemy in Jesus Name. 
• I put on The Sword of the Spirit. I cut myself free from anything that restricts me from living in faith and health. I take authority over this day, in Jesus name.  Let it be prosperous for me, let me walk in your love, Lord. The Holy Spirit leads and guides me today.  I discern between the righteous and the wicked.  I take authority over Satan and all his demons, and those people who are influenced by them.  I declare Satan is under my feet and shall remain there all day. I declare that the Word of God is in my heart and in my mouth and I will confess it through out this day.
  

3. Silence the enemy and bind evil spirits and curses spoken against you

• I now bind all interplay, interaction, and communication of evil spirits. I claim the protection of the shed Blood of Jesus Christ over me.
• In the Name of Jesus Christ I bind, rebuke and bring to no effect: all division, discord, disunity, strife, anger, wrath, murder, criticism, condemnation, pride, envy, jealousy, gossip, slander, evil speaking, complaining, lying, false teaching, false gifts, false manifestations, lying signs and wonders, poverty, fear of lack, fear spirits, murmuring spirits, complaining spirits, hindering spirits, retaliatory spirits, deceiving spirits, religious spirits, occult spirits, witchcraft spirits (including Jezebel, Delilah, and Apollyon), and spirits of Antichrist.
• I bind all curses that have been spoken against me.  I bless those who curse me, and pray blessings on those who despitefully use me.  I bind all spoken judgments made against me and judgments I have made against others.  I bind the power of negative words from others, and I bind and render useless all prayers not inspired by the Holy Spirit; whether psychic, soul force, witchcraft or counterfeit tongues that have been prayed against me.
• I confess that I am healed and whole.  I flourish, am long lived, stable, durable, incorruptible, fruitful, virtuous, full of peace, patience and love.  Whatsoever I set my hands to do shall prosper, for God supplies all my needs.  I have all authority over Satan, all demons, and beasts of the field.
• I now proclaim in Jesus' name that His Blood, which has cleansing power, healing power and restoration power now cleanses, heals and restores my brain, my conscious mind, my subconscious mind, my head, my central nervous system, my heart and all my body. (Name areas of your body that you have symptoms of weakness or infirmity)
  

4. Claim a Hedge of Protection around your Spiritual and Natural Family

• I claim a hedge of protection around my spouse and children (name). I thank you for Salvation, healing and deliverance over their lives. I thank you for the Blood of Jesus that is around my Church, Pastors and leaders throughout this day and night.  I ask you God, in the name of Jesus, to dispatch angels to surround spouse, my children and me today and to put them throughout my house and around our cars, souls and bodies.  
• I ask you to send your angels to protect my house from any intrusion and to protect me and my family from any harmful demonic or other physical or mental attacks.
• I thank you now for my disciples (mention individually the names of your [12] disciples and people that you are mentoring in Christ).
• I pray for the protection of your blood over their lives, families, and properties.
  

I now give to you and dedicate myself to you, to be obedient to you and my heart totally worships you, loves you and adores you my dearest God.

I ask this prayer in the name of Jesus.  Amen. (Finish with Praise and Worship, and speaking in tongues

12 CHRISTIANS WITH NO INHERITANCE

Galatians 3:9,29 We are spiritual descendants of Abraham
After the death of Sarah Abraham took Keturah as his wife. Isaac received the promise and the inheritance of Abraham. From this wife Abraham had 6 children and 7 grand children.
The meanings of their names represent sins of the church. Keturah means incense. According to Arab tradition she died close to Mecca.

Genesis 25:1-6
1 Abraham married another wife, whose name was Keturah.
2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.
3 Jokshan became the father of Sheba and Dedan. The descendants of Dedan were the Asshurim, the Letushim, and the Leummim.
4 The descendants of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All of these were descendants of Keturah.
5 Abraham deeded everything that he owned to his son Isaac.
6 To his sons by concubinage, however, he made grants while he was still living, as he sent them away eastward, to the land of Kedem, away from his son Isaac.

THE 13 DESCENDENTS OF KETURAH

SONS AND GRAND SONS - MEANING OF THEIR NAMES

• ZIMRAN Celebrated- but didn't leave descendents
• JOKSHAN Flesh used for bait
• SHEBAH Promises made to God
• DEDAN Low
• MEDAN Judgmental
• MIDIAN Challenger that makes judgments
• EPHA Obscure
• EPHER Deer -one who jumps
• HANOCH Dedicated *(only good name)
• ABIDA Father of knowledge - knows everything
• ELDAAH God Called me
• ISBHAK I'm leaving
• SHUAH Depressed

The names of these 13 descendants are all bad with the exception of one. This is a direct opposite of the spiritual descendants of Jesus. The 12 apostles of the Lord where in essence all good with the exception of Judas.
6 Children - Number six in the Bible represents the flesh, these six children where Abraham's kids but had no part in his inheritance.
7 Grandchildren - Number seven in the Bible represents perfection or establishing. The fact that they where seven children demonstrates that their families were established and that they prevailed as a people.

Zimran - Celebrated- but didn't leave descendents

Many Christians are like this; they accept and celebrate people around them but don't leave spiritual descendants. Even if you don't bring people to Christ you should take care of those that come to Church. We must be fruitful by sharing the gospel and bringing new people to the Lord.

Jokshan - Flesh used for bait

People would put meat in traps in order to capture a prey. Some people in church don't understand we are called to be holy and they may cause others to fall into a trap. How many of us fell into the bait of Satan? Jesus said that we have to crucify our flesh in order to be disciples. If we walk in the flesh we may cause others to fall.

SHEBAH - Promises made to God

Some Christians will promise things to God and they quickly forget them. They promise giving their tithes and then they decide to keep it, they promise they will quit drinking but soon they forget. Be careful of what you commit doing for the Lord because He will hold you accountable for your own words,

DEDAN - Low

How many times we see Christians having bad attitudes and low standards. We need to raise to the full measure of Christ!

MEDAN - Judgmental

Our role is church is to love one another and to respect each other.
2 Peter 2:3,10

MIDIAN - Challenger that makes judgments

The Midianites were enemies of God's people. They practiced sexual immorality and destroyed the harvests of Israel. They hired a prophet named Balaham to curse Israel. Some people today try to judge, criticize and by doing so cause new Christians to backslide by their bad attitudes. They challenge the Pastors, talk bad about deacons and board members and cause many to stumble.
2 Peter 2:14-17 gives a warning about those who fall into the ways of Balaham.
The 5 Children of Midian are mentioned as descendants of Ketura because they where probably raised by her.

EPHA - Obscure

Some Christians do things in darkness but we are called to live in the Light.

EFER - DEER - One who jumps

This is typical of Christians that are always jumping from one place to another. Sometimes is not from Church to Church, but they are always going from place to place without finding any peace in what they do.

HANOCH - Dedicated *(only good name)

Finally a good name! This is the same root name as Enoch, the only man in the Bible that didn't die but was taken *(raptured) by the Lord.

ABIDA - Father of knowledge - knows everything

Have you ever met someone that knows everything? We will always come across people that think they know all things. The Bible tell us to be humble and not to desire knowing more than what we should.

ELDAAH - God called me

Many people in the Church claim that God called them but their call is never confirmed by any fruit. When someone is called there is always a confirmation of that calling by correspondent fruit and actions.

ISBHAK - I'm leaving

When we serve the Lord we will face many times some opposition. People are sometimes to quit doing things at Church. I wonder if they also quit their jobs if they don't like what the boss said or if they had an argument with a colleague.
John 6:60,66,67
Jesus verified that many of his disciples had the attitude of Isbahk, when they didn't like what they listened would easily leave.

SHUAH - Depressed

This is another sin of the Church. Many Christians are constantly depressed and they want everybody else to be like them. The Bible tells us to cast our burdens upon Him and He will take care of us.
Depression can be a disease but many times it's a spirit or spiritual attitude.

Conclusion

Matthew 14:24,30
We are not perfect people and this is not the perfect Church but we should try to be every day more like Jesus. I am sure we are all guilty of some of these sins but if we want to follow Christ we ought to be Christ-like. If we confess and leave our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us.
What is your choice?
Blessing - Inherit all the promises made to Abraham and his descendants
Curse - Be in Church and not receive God's grace into our lives
Choose the right thing!

Will you ever give up on the Lost?

The Titanic was called an "unsinkable ship." There were those who said, "Not even God Himself could sink the Titanic." Man had come to the conclusion that he was in charge of his own destiny.

After the great ship sinks, only a portion of the passengers survive in lifeboats. One crewmember decides he can’t give up hope and goes on a desperate search, looking for the slightest sign of life in the cold, icy waters. As the lifeboat floats through the sea of dead bodies, the surviving passengers are overcome by agony and despair.

(Show video clip about rescue after the Titanic shiwreck)

What is your real spiritual condition? Are you sinking? Are you going down with the ship? Today I want to challenge you to know your true spiritual condition and to get into the lifeboat that God has provided for you.

2 Corinthians 6:2 For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. l tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

1. Our goal is to make sure that people are truly repented.

What is true repentance?

Think of a husband and wife in a car, the wife tells her husband to turn right at the next junction and by mistake, he turns left. When he realizes what he has done, he says to his wife “I’m sorry love, I went the wrong way.” But if that is all he does, it isn’t enough. His saying sorry isn’t getting them any closer to where they want to be; it isn’t even stopping them getting further away. To get where they want to be, he needs to stop the car, turn it around and go back on to the correct road that his wife told him to take in the first place. That is repentance.

Feeling remorse is not repentance. Judas Iscariot was remorseful for betraying Christ, but he didn't turn to God asking for forgiveness. He lacked repentance preferring to hang himself.

Repentance is not basically a religious word. Imagine that you were going through the desert guiding a group of people. You know that you are lost but you don’t want to admit it and keep going in circles. What is repentance in this situation?

1. You need to admit: I’m going in the wrong direction. That’s the first act of repentance.

2. The second act of repentance is to go in an alternate direction. It implies that you not only do this but you admit it to your companions.

REPENTANCE

Involves a change in the way we think and act. It results in a change in lifestyle. The normal New Testament use of this word involves a change from a sinful way of life to a way of life that honors God.

REMORSE

May accompany the admission of wrongdoing, but it can also be present when nothing wrong has been done. It focuses on the consequences or effects of one's actions on others, but does not necessarily imply that those consequences were caused by wrongdoing. (In 2 Corinthians 7:8-9, remorse is contrasted with gladness or joy.)

A change in one's actions can be associated with remorse - though this does not always occur. When it does, the biggest difference between the words "remorse" and "repentance" might be the emphasis. (The one would emphasize the sadness, while the other would emphasize the changes in conduct.) Repentance is the more permanent of the two. Remorse can be temporary. The absence of remorse can be quite permanent.

2. A LOST SHEEP – A LOST COIN

Luke 15:3-10 Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

How does the scene from Titanic relate to lost souls?

⇨What is heaven like? What is hell?

⇨In the Stories Jesus told in Luke 15, what happened when the lost were found?

⇨What was the point Jesus was trying to make in parables like Luke 15?

⇨Will it ever be to late for people to receive the gift of Salvation?

3. HOW TO WIN SOULS: WITENESSING

Revelation 12:11

They overcame him (the Devil) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

Dr Bill Bright from “Campus Crusade for Christ” used to make these questions in order to help people to learn how to give a testimony:

1. What is the most important experience of your life?

• Answer: "Knowing Christ as my Savior is absolutely the most important experience in my life," is he inevitable answer.

2. What is the most important thing that you can do to help another person?

• Again, the answer is always the same: "Help him to know Christ."

To give our testimony we need to learn more the culture of the people you want to reach out to.

It is very important that we try to associate with non-Christians. In a multi-cultural community most Christians will be operating much like the Good Samaritan. He didn't wake up thinking "Today I will start a ministry to Jews". He was simply being sensitive to the people God brought across his path. Where do you normally meet non-Christians? At the corner shop? At the bank? At the café? In your neighborhood? At the petrol station? When you order pizza?

Open your eyes and see who God leads across your path today.

Be friend of non-Christians. Here are some suggestions to get you started in befriending non-Christians: Invite someone over for afternoon tea or for dinner; Give each other cooking lessons; Watch a video, game, movie together; Find out what hobby they enjoy and do it together; Do a loving action for them; Invite them to your parties. As you befriend people you will have many opportunities to learn about their specific culture. Then you need to create an interest in the Gospel. Your testimony can help to bring salvation to the people that listen to you.

How to Witness:

1. Before I received Christ, I lived and thought this way…

a. What were your attitudes, needs, problems, world view?

b. What did your life revolve around? What was most important to you?

c. How did you look for security, peace of mind, happiness?

d. What was your small god? How did you find your activities unsatisfying?

2. How I received Christ

a. When did you first hear the gospel? How? Or, when were you first exposed to dynamic Christianity?

b. What were your initial reactions to Jesus Christ?

c. When and why did you begin to feel positive about Christianity?

d. What was the turning point in your attitude? What mental barriers did you face?

3. After I received Christ, these changes took place

a. What changes did you see in your life, actions, attitudes, problems (use specific examples).

b. How long did it take before you noticed changes (be honest and realistic)?

4. (OPTIONAL) Memorize a pertinent or a favorite Verse:

a. What Bible verse do you think would challenge your hearers the most?

b. What Bible verse has helped you the most in life?

c. Please don't give the reference when speaking (most non-Christians do not know what a "Deuteronomy" is). You can introduce the quote with "The Bible says" or "Jesus said".

Conclusion

ILLUSTRATION by Theodore Wedel: On a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often occur, there was once a little life-saving station.

The building was primitive, and there was just one boat, but the members of the life-saving station were committed and kept a constant watch over the sea. When a ship went down, they unselfishly went out day or night to save the lost. Because so many lives were saved by that station, it became famous. Consequently, many people wanted to join the station to give their time, talent, and money to support its important work. New boats were bought, new crews were recruited, a formal training session was offered. As the membership grew, some of the members became unhappy that the building was so primitive and the equipment outdated. They wanted a better place to welcome the survivors pulled from the sea. So they replaced the emergency cots with beds and put better furniture in the enlarged and newly decorated building. Now the life-saving station became a popular gathering place for its members. They met regularly and it was apparent how they loved one another. They hugged each other, and shared with one another the events of their lives. But fewer members were now interested in going to sea on life-saving missions; so they hired lifeboat crews to do this for them. About this time, a large ship was wrecked off of the coast, and the hired crews brought into the life-saving station boatloads of cold, wet, dirty, sick, and half-drowned people. The beautiful meeting place became a place of chaos. The carpets got dirty. So the property committee immediately had a shower built outside the house where the victims of shipwreck could be cleaned up before coming inside. At the next meeting there was rift in the membership. Most of the members wanted to stop the club’s life-saving activities, for they were unpleasant and a hindrance to the normal fellowship of the members. Other members insisted that life-saving was their primary purpose and pointed out that they were still called a life-saving station. But they were finally voted down and told that if they wanted to save the lives of all those people who would be shipwrecked, they could begin their own life-saving station down the coast. And that’s what they did. As the years passed, the new station experienced the same changes that had occurred in the old. It evolved into a place to meet regularly for fellowship, and for special training sessions about their mission, but few went out to the drowning people. History continued to repeat itself. And if you visit that seacoast today, you will find many meeting places with ample parking and plush carpeting. Shipwrecks are frequent in those waters, but most of the people drown.

Spiritual Awakening

SPIRITUAL AWAKENING

E. C. McKenzie said, “A good sermon helps people to two ways: Some rise from it greatly strengthened; others wake from it greatly refreshed.”

 Ephesians 5:14* New King James:
 Therefore He says:
    t“Awake, you who sleep,
    Arise from the dead,
    And Christ will give you light.”

 Wake means to arouse from sleep, to cause to appear, bring before the public, to raise up, stir up, against one.

A. AWAKE, YOU WHO SLEEP
 "Awake you who sleep"
1.    The world is asleep Spiritually: They read books, watch TV, go to movies, but ignore the Bible because they are asleep.
2.    Christians can also fall asleep spiritually. There are spiritual seasons in wish we can become cold and loose the desire to pray, the desire to worship. We can loose our hunger and our thirst for the Word of God.
3.    Spiritual sleep is the equivalent to spiritual indifference. When a spiritual season touches our life we can become like frogs *(show movie about the frozen wood frog)

 
 One of the most amazing examples of freeze tolerance is the wood frog (Rana sylvatica). This common frog is found across Canada and all the way north to the tree line. Wood frogs winter on land, hiding under the leaf litter on the forest floor. By hibernating on land, the frogs can get active as soon as the snow melts and breed in the temporary ponds and ditches formed by meltwater. Their soft, water-permeable skin is no barrier to ice and so, whenever frost penetrates into their winter home, they freeze. Ice penetrates though all of the fluid compartments of the animal and within just a few hours a mass of ice fills the abdominal cavity encasing all the internal organs. Large flat ice crystals run between the layers of skin and muscle, and the eyes turn white because the lens freezes. Their blood stops flowing and as much as 65% of the frog's total body water is converted to ice. Breathing, heart beat, and muscle movements all stop and the frozen "frog-sicle" exists in a virtual state of suspended animation until it thaws.

Best of youtube Episode 85
http://www.bestofyoutube.com/story.php?title=5562084

 Wikipedia:
Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate. Hibernation conserves energy, especially during winter. Hibernation may last several days or weeks depending on species, ambient temperature, and time of year. The typical winter season for a hibernator is characterized by periods of hibernation interrupted by sporadic euthermic arousals wherein body temperature is restored to typical values. Hibernation allows animals to conserve energy during the winter when food is short. During hibernation, animals drastically lower their metabolism so as to tap energy reserves stored as body fat at a slower rate.

Illustration
Some people are asleep because they have never been awake. I am familiar with that state because I was once in it myself. I attended church, heard God’s Word preached, sang the great hymns, listened to others pray — but with no depth of comprehension. I was simply present where others worshiped. I was on the outside. I was not alive to spiritual things. Perhaps you derive some vague comfort from being with religious people and doing Christian things, but inside you understand very little of what is going on. The pity is, it is possible to pass from this life into eternity without recognizing your slumber until it is too late. It is possible to be damned even in the church.

B. SPIRITUAL HIBERNATION

1.    Many times our hearts are hardened with the ice of disappointment but the Lord wants to touch you today and and give you a new heart, a heart of flesh.

 Ezekiel 11:19
And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

2.    Moses spent 40 years in the desert but as the Lord revealed him in a burning bush he came out of his spiritual hibernation. After Paul was saved he went through a “sleeper season” in Arabia.
3.    Disappointments, traumas and bad experiences can bring a season of winter into our lives and we must understand it knowing that the Lord will bring a new fire.


 Have you slipped into spiritual hibernation? Do you need a boost of caffeine for your soul? God wants to see you "wake up" to a life uncommon!

Similarly, we also experience that aspect of spiritual winter in our lives when there seems to be silence and inactivity.  It’s what I call “spiritual hibernation.”  There’s a sense of stagnancy, inactivity, fruitlessness, dryness, coldness, and even depletion and regression.  Despite all our fervent efforts to make things happen and progress, it’s an effort of utter futility.  Also, whatever spiritual gains we’ve made, it now appears as if it’s being all spent and depleted.  Now we’re at our low reserves with no break in sight.  We seem to be spiritual hibernating and things are being expended and depleted while we’re not seemingly replenishing and refueling enough to keep pace.  Have you ever felt this way in your walk with God?  Have you ever hit this wintry hibernation moment in your spiritual journey?

Ephesians 5:14* New King James
Therefore He says:
    t“Awake, you who sleep,
    Arise from the dead,
    And Christ will give you light.”

As the wood frog wakes up with the spring sun rays we need to be enlightened by the anointed Word of God in order to come back to life

C. "I WILL ARISE AND GO TO MY FATHER"

 The Prodigal Son said "I will Arise and go to my father"

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

1.    Notice first that the Light is a gift from Christ.
2.    Notice than the Light of Christ is called the light of Life, meaning if you receive Christ, you will have eternal life.
3.    You will understand where you are going, why you were born and how you should walk.

 2 Cor 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 2 Cor 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

The God of this world system is Satan, he blinds the minds of the lost so that they are: Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 2 Tim 3:7

Only Christ can help you to understand Spiritual things. He may be speaking to you tonight. His is a still small voice, His knock at the door of your heart is gentle. If you believe, take the first step tonight. Salvation is a free gift of God but a gift has to be received, God loves you, He is pleading for you to come to Jesus, but you must accept His Offer.

Conclusion
1.    Is your heart cold for spiritual things?
2.    Where you hurt by something or someone and you are not able to feel God’s presence?
3.    Wake-up and receive God’s Holy Spirit, He will meltdown the ice in your heart!

7 Functions of the Blood

There are 7 life functions in the blood of the lamb – JESUS CHRIST!

Oxygen - Life The red blood cells transport oxygen from respiratory structures (lungs) to the cells of the body.	The blood of the lamb transports the breath of life into out spiritual cells so we can truly live and continue living for all eternity.	Leviticus 17:11 “For the life of the creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.”
Cleansing The blood transports metabolic wastes from each cell to organs that excrete them, even drugs.	The blood of the lamb cleanses us spiritually and removes all poisonous wastes from the world that will kill us.	1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[ 1:7 Or every] sin
Nutrition - Nourishment The blood transports nutrients from the digestive system and from storage depots to each cell of the body.	The blood of the lamb transports food to our spiritual cells and keeps us from starving to death for all eternity.	John 6:53 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
Hormones - Joy The blood transports hormones from endocrine glands to target tissues.	The blood of the lamb transports hormones- excitement-joy to our spiritual bodies.	Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
Balance The blood helps to maintain fluid balance in the body.	The blood of the lamb will maintain balance in our life so we do not fall off one side or the other.	1 Peter 1:18 18 Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
Heat - Safety The blood helps to distribute metabolic heat within the body and to maintain normal body temperature.	The blood of the lamb will distribute heat to us in the midst of the storms to keep us warm and secure and it will help us stay at peace in the midst of the storms of life.	Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by theblood of Jesus,
Defenses - Protection The blood (white blood cells) defend the body against invading microorganisms.	The blood of the lamb will defend us against the powers of darkness and keep us safe in battle.	Hebrews 12:24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Kings and Priests

Introduction:

We can sometimes have pre-conceived ideas about God, the Bible, religion, etc. and have our minds closed, unable to change our way of thinking.

For centuries people believed that Aristotle was right when he said that the heavier an object, the faster it would fall to earth. Aristotle was regarded as the greatest thinker of all time, and surely he would not be wrong. Anyone, of course, could have taken two objects, one heavy and one light, and dropped them from a great height to see whether or not the heavier object landed first. But no one did until nearly 2,000 years after Aristotle's death. In 1589 Galileo summoned learned professors to the base of the Leaning Tower of Pisa (in Italy). Then he went to the top and pushed off a ten-pound and a one-pound weight. Both landed at the same instant. The power of belief was so strong, however, that the professors denied their eyesight. They continued to say Aristotle was right. 

Today I want to talk about who we are in Christ and ask you to be open minded and willing to receive a fresh revelation.

Revelation 1:4

4* John, to the seven churches, which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,

 5* and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,

 6* and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

A. HE HAS MADE US

When the Bible says “He has made us” we need to understand that we where not kings and priests but by his love and through the washing of his blood we received a new nature. Some translations have the word “Kingdom” instead of “Kings”. This because the translators wanted to understand the right meaning of this sentence (if you want the correct meaning read it on the King James)

1. Everything he does is perfect 
1. There are bad kings and good kings.
2. There are bad priests and good priests
3. We where made by Him...so we are the good ones! 
2. We where made into his image. In this passage Jesus Christ is seen in His threefold office as Prophet (faithful Witness), Priest (First-begotten from the dead), and King (Prince of the kings of the earth). Christ has made us a kingdom of priests, and this is the emphasis of Revelation. Today, Jesus Christ is a Priest-King like Melchizedek (Heb. 7), and we are seated with Him on His throne (Eph. 2:1–10).

Illustration

When I hold a basketball in my hands, it’s just a basketball. But when you place that same basketball in the hands of Michael Jordan, it turns into collegiate and professional championships. Put a paintbrush in any of our hands, and it’s just a paintbrush. But put a paintbrush in the hands of Picasso, and you get priceless works of art. If you put a guitar in a small kid’s hands, you’re going to get a lot of noise. But put that same guitar in the hands of John Mayer, and you’ll get beautiful music. 

The bottom line is that if you put what you have in the right hands, you will get amazing results.

We where made Kings and Priests in God’s kingdom, so when we use the power of this Gospel in our world the Holy Spirit confirms the Word of God with signs and wonders. We have the supernatural power of God in us and he will confirm the decrees of his children as we speak words of prophecy inspired by his Love.

B. WHO ARE THE KINGS AND WHO ARE THE PRIESTS?

Sometimes we do the mistake of making things outside of our natural God given gifts. God gave us natural abilities and different gifts so we can operate in them. The Bible reveals us that Jesus Christ made us KINGS and PRIESTS to his God and Father. I used to think that we could be both at the same time but the reality is that we can only operate in one of these positions at the same time. Of course that we serve a Sovereign God and in different seasons of our life we will accomplish different goals and we will obey God in different positions, calls or ministries.

 I wasn’t always a preacher. I have operated as a Worship Leader, Youth Pastor, Sunday School Teacher, Evangelist, Bible School Teacher, Church Planter, by God’s grace I operated many years as a Senior Pastor.

God can change our call but we need to understand the position and the gifting that we have in the present so that we may prosper in everything we do.

God made us in one of these two groups (we don’t operate in both at the same time). You need to understand who you are in Christ and use your gifts and talents for his glory.

When we remember the story of Martha and Mary we can see that Mary had the attitude of the Priest and Martha was busy doing stuff (she had the positioning of a King on the light of this teaching). Jesus didn’t told Martha that working in the house while he was there was wrong but that Mary chose the best part.

Some people say that Martha wasn’t spiritual therefor she was wrong but that is not the lesson we learn from Jesus.

Revelation 5:9,10

9* And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

 10* And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”

KINGS	PRIESTS
Dominion	Glory
Provision	Vision

Throughout the New Testament the Bible calls us servants, helpers, prophets, apostles, pastors, disciples, etc.. Why does John bring this new revelation by calling us Kings and Priests?

I believe the Lord want us to understand what this means. Many times as Pastors have more vision then money...

Who are the Kings and who are the priests?

• Kings are businessmen. Marketplace People.
• Priests are ministers

When a King wants to be a priest or the opposite we will have problems. God doesn’t want Pastors to be businessmen and he doesn’t want the businessmen to be pastors.

Of course that this doesn’t mean that a pastor cannot have a business or that a businessmen cannot be a pastor. What I mean is that the focus of a Pastor is to take care of God’s flock and the purpose of a Businessman is to make sure that the pastor has enough money to accomplish his call.

Let me show you some Biblical foundations for this statement.

1 Chronicles 13:7-12

7 So they carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.

 8 Then David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets.

 9 ¶ And when they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled.

 10 Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzza, and He struck him because he put his hand to the ark; and he died there before God.

 11 And David became angry because of the LORD’S outbreak against Uzza; therefore that place is called Perez Uzza to this day.

 12 David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God to me?”

David was a KING and he wanted to bring the Ark of God to Jerusalem. As they put the ark on a chariot Uzza stretched his hand to hold the ark and God took his life. David became very fearful and asked “How can I bring your Glory to me?”

We know that King David was a prophet and a worshiper but he wasn’t a priest.

1 Chronicles 15:1,2,12

1 David built houses for himself in the City of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched a tent for it.

2 Then David said, “No one may carry the ark of God but the Levites, for the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of God and to minister before Him forever.”

12 He said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it.

On verse one we see that David built houses for himself because he was a King and not a priest. After he understood his call he then ordered the priests to bring the ark.

C. VISION AND PROVISION

Vision with no Provision will accomplish nothing at all. God will give vision to the Church but we will need money in order to reach His goals. The vision brings the Glory of God but the Kings need to bring money to the house of God.

2 Samuel 12:29-31

29 So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah, fought against it, and took it.

 30 Then he took their king’s crown from his head. Its weight was a talent of gold, with precious stones. And it was set on David’s head. Also he brought out the spoil of the city in great abundance.

 31 And he brought out the people who were in it, and put them to work with saws and iron picks and iron axes, and made them cross over to the brick works. So he did to all the cities of the people of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

David was a King and not a priest. God wants to use the businessmen to go to war and bring the finances to His house in order to establish his Kingdom and build His Temple. God calls the Pastors to be priests and not Businessmen.

Provision = Pro + Vision

Personally I prefer to pray and worship the Lord rather than be in a business meeting.

How can you know if you are a King or a Priest?

If you keep busy praying, studying the Word or going to a Bible School you are most likely a Priest. You can be a businessmen now and the Lord can call you to become a priest. When I was called I was afraid to speak in public, I would never sing loud and could never see myself as a pastor. However God changed this and called me to step down from being a businessmen and serve in His house.

Some people at the church listen about faith and healing and serving the Lord but the only thing they can think about is their jobs or their businesses. There is nothing wrong with this. You shouldn’t feel condemned if  you cannot pray for one hour like some people do but maybe you are a faithful giver and are serving the Lord as a King.

Illustration

We need to understand that God want’s us all to be givers. Some people don’t like to ear about finances at church. Let me do a small check on your spiritual health.

When you go to a doctor for your annual check-up, he or she will often begin to poke, prod, and press various places, all the while asking, "Does this hurt? How about this?" If you cry out in pain, one of two things has happened. Either the doctor has pushed too hard, without the right sensitivity. Or, more likely, there's something wrong, and the doctor will say, "We'd better do some more tests. It's not supposed to hurt there!" So it is when pastors preach on financial responsibility, and certain members cry out in discomfort, criticizing the message and the messenger. Either the pastor has pushed too hard. Or perhaps there's something wrong. In that case, I say, "My friend, we're in need of the Great Physician because it's not supposed to hurt there."

Kings are called to bring tithes and offerings to the House of the Lord

Priests do the spiritual work and labour in a different way.

A healthy church must have a balance. Kings bring their tithes and offerings and priests serve the Lord listening to His voice and bringing a sacrifice of praise before the altar

D. JESUS’ CALL

Who was present after his birth? Kings and Priests! The pastors where the evangelists that told everybody about Jesus. The Kings came and brought the Gold that enabled Joseph and Mary to have the finances to emigrate to Egypt.

John 6:15

Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

The Bible shows that the multitude wanted to make Jesus their King but he didn’t allow the people to dictate his future. Jesus did not accept a position for what the father didn’t call him. He came as a Priest. One day He will return as a King!

Hebrews 2:17

 17* Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

CONCLUSION

Revelation 1:4

 6* and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

• Are you a King or are you a Priest?
• I’m talking about the present time! What is your greatest desire?

Remember the story of Martha and Mary Jesus didn’t told Martha that working in the house while he was there was wrong but that Mary chose the best part.

Illustration

A rich man was determined to give his mother a birthday present that would outshine all others. He read of a bird that had a vocabulary of 4000 words, could speak in numerous languages and sing 3 operatic arias. He immediately bought the bird for $50,000 and had it delivered to his mother. The next day he phoned to see if she had received the bird. He wanted to explain  what the bird could do  "What did you think of the bird?" he asked. 

She replied, "It was delicious."

If we don’t understand purpose we may end up killing God’s plan.

You shouldn’t feel condemned if you cannot get involved in Church activities as others because you are busy making money that will provide finances to the Church.

We will close in prayer asking the Lord to reveal you who you are.

I will pray for all of those that have a calling to be Kings and after for those that feel called to be priests.

If you are here for the first time I have news for you: God wants to give you a purpose and a destiny. As he washes you in the blood of the lamb and receive forgiveness for your sins he will make you Kink and Priest.