I.
Weekly Scripture: “So faith comes from hearing
[what is told], and what is heard comes by the [preaching of the] message
concerning Christ.” (Romans 10:17 AMP)
A.
Many times this verse is quoted from the King
James Version, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of
God.”
A.
The Amplified gives us a bit more precise
information. It isn’t just any word. Hearing what the Word says about the
grace, power and authority that we have through Jesus is what causes faith to
come.
B.
Focus
this week on the fact that Jesus is the one who does everything, our job is to
ask for it to be here on Earth.
II.
(CH 9) Pastor Durham teaches us the
“child-like faith” opens Heaven. (Matthew 2:18-24) We need to ask ourselves,
“How does a child act?”
A.
A child knows that all things come from Mom
and Dad.
1.
One of the first things I had to teach my
children is how not to constantly ask for things when they are in a store. It
gets real annoying when you continually hear, “Can I have candy… can I have
chips… can I have new shoes…” Even before they have complete sentences,
children ask, for “some” or “more” instinctually.
a.
We need to be unafraid of asking God for
things.
B.
Children are persistent: if they don’t get it
the first time, they ask again and again until you tell them to stop asking. If
Mom says no, they will ask Dad (unless you put consequences in place…)
1.
“Ask and keep on asking and it will be given
to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking
and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)
C.
A child will ask for a new bike or a pony
without ever considering where these items will come from. They really don’t
want to know, all they need to know is that it comes from Mom and Dad. As kids
grow older, many will begin to reason these things out, but small children who
know that their parents love them, like the one Jesus sat in His lap, just ask
and expect that Mom and Dad will be able to get if for them.
1.
This is one of the reasons why we give
testimony and listen to the testimony of others about what Jesus has done. This
way we have examples of what God has done with others so that faith for the
same thing can come to us.
a.
God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34,
Romans 2:11) What He does for one, He will do for another, because we are all
covered by the same blood of Jesus and that is what He sees, His Son, Jesus.
b.
Can you do anything better than what Jesus
did? No one can. This is why we all look the same to God. Jesus is perfection
and that is what God is looking at when He sees us through the sacrifice of
Jesus.
2.
This is one of the reasons we are not to
forsake the assembling together of believers, so that we can share what God is
doing and each be encouraged by it. (Hebrews 10:25)
D.
Children fear their parents as God instructs
us to fear Him, “Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God;” (Deuteronomy 10:20 King
James)
1.
The Amplified version gives a more insight: “You
shall fear [and worship] the Lord your God [with awe-filled reverence and
profound respect];”
a.
One of the most typical words that refer to
the fear of God is “yirah” and can
have several different meanings including: awe, wonder, amazement, mystery,
astonishment, gratitude and worship.
b.
We should fear the wrath of God, because of
His mightiness, but remember that wrath was poured out on Jesus, and we have
taken Him as our Savior from that wrath.
2.
I remember the first time I blew a bubble with
my gum in front of my kids. They were so amazed… how did I make that happen
from the gum!
a.
This is what the Word is talking about when we
“fear” God, but to a much greater degree. Our response when we think about God
with childlike amazement at how great He is compared to what we know of the
world should make us tremble at His greatness.
E.
Little Children love to spend time with their
parents. They want to do EVERYTHING with them.
1.
God has sent the Holy Spirit to us, to walk
with us each and every moment of the day. He is just waiting for us to
acknowledge Him, then He will move in greater and greater measure in our lives.
a.
“In all your ways know and acknowledge and
recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing
obstacles that block your way]” (Proverbs 3:6 AMP)
III. (Ch
10) Durham
A.
God is always the same
1.
Jesus Christ is [eternally changeless, always]
the same yesterday and today and forever.
B.
We take refuge in Him where we find
protection.
1.
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no enemy
can withstand]” (Psalms 91:1-2)
C.
Sin gives Satan an opportunity to bring
charges against us in the courts of Heaven so that he has a right to send bad
things into our lives.
1.
“Be angry [at sin—at immorality, at injustice,
at ungodly behavior], yet do not sin; do not let your anger [cause you shame,
nor allow it to] last until the sun goes down. And do not give the devil an
opportunity [to lead you into sin by holding a grudge, or nurturing anger, or
harboring resentment, or cultivating bitterness]” (Ephesians 4:26-27 AMP)
2.
“Be
sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times.
That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely
hungry], seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
a.
The word “enemy” in the original Greek is “antididos” meaning “one who brings a law
suit.
b.
Jesus is referred to as our “advocate” meaning our legal
representative (Hebrews 12:24, 1 John 2:2)
c.
God is called our Judge (Hebrews 4:5, Dan
7:10)
3.
We have already won all the cases, because we
have been covered by the blood. However, just like here on Earth, if no one
shows us, the accuser wins.
4.
This is why we “plead the blood.” In court you
plead guilty or not guilty, we plead, “Because of the blood of Jesus all cases
in Heaven against us must be dismissed.” (1 John 2:2)
5.
God sent me a dream one night to reinforce that this is
how it works in Heaven: A group of us arrived by boat at a cute little town.
Many of us took shelter in a local inn, others chose to camp in a tent. As soon
as the sun went down, everyone in the town when straight to bed. Our group
stayed up chatting and joking.
I wondered outside where lampposts were stationed at
regular intervals. I saw a little great blob-ish monster slither over to a post
and it
slid up to the top. At first I was concerned that it would attack, but all it
did was watch as I hurried to where a couple had put up a tent and were singing
by the campfire.
Morning came and we prepared to leave. As be marched
toward the beach, a police officer approached. “Hold up a minute,” he said,
“There are a few charges you must see to before you go.”
“What charges?” I asked, “We were told the stay was free?”
Flipping open a pad of paper he began to read a list of
ridiculous charges, “Talking after sunset, walking after sundown, singing after
sunset…” and so on.
As he gave the total price on these items, I knew the few
coins we had in the boat would never be enough and told the officer so. “You
will have to appear before the Judge in the morning to see if you can get them
dismissed,” he informed me.
The officer escorted us back to the inn and I noticed an
area set apart by a chain-linked fence. It was full of worn and tired looking
people locked inside. It was a shabby looking compound with rundown buildings.
I knew that this is where we would be if we couldn’t get the judge to dismiss
those charges.
a.
The small town is Earth
b.
The Inn is
our time here
c.
The green monsters are demons sent to watch
each and every one of us: they report to Satan in Heaven
d.
The charges are charges, bogus cases, Satan
files against us in Heaven
e.
Unless we go before the Judge and “plead the
blood” of Jesus over any cases against us, we are imprisoned by our sin
6.
This is why bad things happen to good people.
They perish for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). They don’t know they have cases
against them and they don’t know they have to plead the blood. It gives Satan access
to them.
7.
This verse confirms that Satan is in Heaven
accusing us before God night and day and during the tribulation, he will be
cast out of Heaven.
8.
Pastor Roland Buck confirmed this in his book
Angels on Assignment when the Archangel Michael appeared to him and told him
that for now God only lets him disperse buildups of Satan’s army, but the day
is coming when God will let him kick Satan and every demon out of Heaven – no
one knows the day or the hour but God, but he looks forward to it coming. Michael
also told him that Satan puts charges against God’s people night and day and
Satan doesn’t really comprehend that he has already lost those cases because of
the blood of Jesus.
D.
Take time to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal if
you have any of these in your heart. He is our helper, many times He is the
only way we can get these out of our lives.
1. “But
the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby),
the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to
represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things.
IV. (Ch
10) Blessing others each and every day
should be a habit for all Christians. It can be as easy as breathing if you
will ask the Holy Spirit to help you. The following are some types of blessing
A.
Wishing someone well
B.
Giving someone heartfelt thanks
C.
Giving a gift
1.
Blessing someone by giving them a parking
space even though you were there first
2.
Helping watch a neighbors kid
D.
Giving of our time to help others
1.
Opening a door for someone
2.
Carrying a heavy bag for someone
V.
Next Week: Read Chapters 10 & 11
A.
Don’t forget to invite the Holy Spirit to
teach you
1.
JOHN 14:26 (NKJ) "But the Helper, the
Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all
things…”
2.
Prayer: “Heavenly Father, I thank you for the
Holy Spirit. Your word says that He is our Helper who will teach us all things.
I ask, Holy Spirit, be with me as I read. Reveal Jesus to me. Show me what I You
would have me know. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”
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