How To Receive From God

How To Receive From God

Gtcotr/ws102903

Please turn to The Book Of Hebrews, Chapter 4

Key Scripture: Psalms 84:11 For the LORD God is our light and protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will the LORD withhold from those who do what is right. (NLT)

I believe that: There is no problem with provision, but rather with possession.

“When it is all said and done, I would have been willing to give you more than you are going to get.”

Hebrews 4

1 ¶ God’s promise of entering his place of rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to get there.

2 For this Good News—that God has prepared a place of rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t believe what God told them.

3 For only we who believe can enter his place of rest. As for those who didn’t believe, God said, "In my anger I made a vow: ‘They will never enter my place of rest,’" even though his place of rest has been ready since he made the world. (NLT)

Four Steps To Receiving

I. Grace

* Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (AV)

A. Grace Provides

B. If God promised it and Calvary paid for it, you can possess it.

C. Over 7000 Promises (Including Some Of The Most Necessary)

1. Salvation

2. Continual Cleansing & Forgiveness Of Sins

3. Blessings For The Righteous

4. Healing

5. Purpose

7. Provision

* Hebrews 3:14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. (NLT)

II. Hope

* Romans 8:24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?

25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (NIV)

A. Hope Envisions

1. Hope Is A Visionary

2. Hope Says Tomorrow Will Be Better, But Does Nothing About It.

3. But Hope Is Not Bad … Hope Anchors Us

* Hebrews 6:19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

4. We Must Believe In Before We Can Believe For

B. Hope says, “One day, Some way, Some how …”

C. Hope will keep you smiling while your ship goes down.

* If we are going to receive from God, most likely it will demand some action on our part.

* This is where the next step comes in - remember:

* Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (AV)

III. Faith

* Hebrews 11:1 ¶ Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (NIV)

A. Faith Lays Hold On

B. Faith inherits and sees it as already accomplished

* Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (NIV)

C. You have just got to have faith in God.

* Simply trust that He miraculously ordained and preserved the scriptures in the manner and form He so chose to represent Him and that by them, He is telling you the truth.

D. Now trust Him and give Him a little time to do it His way

IV. Patience

* Hebrews 6:12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. (NIV)

A. Patience Possesses

* Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls. (AV)

B. The Concept Of Patience:

* Steadfastness

* Endurance

* Perseverance

* Consistency

V. Conclusion

* Grace Provides

* Hope Envisions

* Faith Lays Claim

* Patience Possess

If it can’t be gotten by these means, God simply has a different plan than we currently understand.

Remember to ask Him when you see Him, but until then, keep trusting Him and His word.

He knows what He is doing, and He knows best.

Examining The Foundation Continued - Healing

Examining The Foundation Continued

Healing

Gtcotr/ss102603

Many people will never experience the miraculous. It’s like electricity … billions of people will never experience electricity but that doesn’t mean it cannot exist and be enjoyed by millions of others.

If you would like to get ahead of me, turn in your bibles to 1 Timothy

Key Scripture: Luke 5:15 Yet the news about Him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. (NIV)

A big part of the healing is locked up in the hearing.

Isaiah prophesied and both Jesus and Paul quoted the prophecy which declared is found in:

Isaiah 6:10b Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.

Hearing opens a door of healing

In the days of Samuel the word of God was precious because it was rare that anyone heard from God since there was no open revelation (1 Samuel 3:1) I do not think heaven was closed, rather hearts & minds.

A few years later David restored honor and respect for God and His word and returned the people to the praise and worship of God in His holy sanctuary.

During David’s life he wrote many praise hymns, ballads and psalms to the Lord. Perhaps his life work is best reflected in Psalms 119

(Last Sunday) On Monday many of us began a daily adventure

Today’s bible reading verses are:

Psalms 119:49-56 (KJV)

Psalms 119

49 ¶ ZAIN. Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

50 ¶ This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

51 ¶ The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.

52 ¶ I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.

53 ¶ Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.

54 ¶ Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.

55 ¶ I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law.

56 This I had, because I kept thy precepts.

David’s key to continual godliness and success was that he held on to what God had told him throughout the temptations, trials and tests of life. Even when he failed, he recovered himself by returning to the precepts of God’s word.

At times I believe the Christian underestimates the value of having heard a word from God and holding on to it.

Here, David asked God to remember the word which He had given him, which word had caused David to have hope in the first place.

This word:

Comforted David in his affliction

Kept David on God’s path

Became David’s mental & emotional strength

Was a constant companion for the journey through life

All because David adjusted himself to reflect God’s word

The book of Revelation says:

Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (KJV)

What has this got to do with healing? I‘m glad you asked!

Allow me to speak of that which I know:

My Immediate Family:

Late Summer, 1979

Brenda challenged our family to believe that miracles were available today when she was instantly healed of a fair case of pneumonia

God had given me a word early that same morning

Matthew 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

The story & the prayer of agreement

We respectfully reminded God of His word

1980 - April’s blindness

The Lord made me to know that it was demonic and had to be handled through prayer

1985 - Ashley’s burned feet

God gave us comfort and understanding … He told me:

“Cry unto Me and I will deliver you …”

But it will take faith and faithfulness to go on and go in

1997 - My erratic heart beat & loss of consciousness

After the doctors gave up, a word from God cured me

1986

My father died unexpectedly (unexpectedly to me, but not to God)

I heard a word from God sent me to see him and gave me a special last few days with him wherein he told me my future.

I did not realize that these would be the parting words of a father to his son.

I am following and living those words now. They have spoken to me so many times over the years and given me sound advice and strong guidance. Proverbs tells us to remember these kinds of words.

I could go on and on … but now let’s get on to the book of 1 Timothy

Key Scripture: Luke 5:15 … crowds of people came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses.

A big part of the healing is locked up in the hearing.

You know those scriptures

Mark 5:27 The little woman with the issue of blood

Mark 7:25 The woman with a daughter possessed with a devil

Luke 7:3 The centurion with a sick servant who heard …

They all experienced their miracle healing after they had heard

Have you found 1 Timothy yet? This will be from KJV/AV - reading

I. 1 Timothy 1 This is the Apostle Paul writing to his son Timothy

3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

18 ¶ This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

II. War A Good Warfare (We are at war against …)

A. Against The World

B. Against The Flesh

C. Against The Devil

D. Against Other Common Enemies Such As Sickness & Disease

III. Your Personally Assigned Offensive Weapon?

A. The Word Which God Has Spoken About You - logos & rhema

1. Hold onto it by faith

2. Which some having put away have made shipwreck

3. That still, small, almost whispering voice of God -

1 Kings 19:12

B. What Does The Word Say About Healing? Can You Hear It?

1. 1 Peter 2:24 & Isaiah 53:5 say that you were healed 2000 years ago when Jesus was bruised and beaten in your place.

2. James 5:15 The prayer of faith will save the sick

3. Mark 16:18 Believers shall lay their hands on sick people and the sick shall recover

4. Matthew 15:26 Healing is like bread which belongs to the children of God

5. Psalms 103 records The Basic Earthly Benefits of being a child of God: (it includes)

Psalms 103:3 [God] forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases

I encourage you to:

IV. Find What Has God Is Saying To You? Can You Hear Him?

A. Find it in His Word

B. Find it in your heart

C. Find it in Godly Counsel

D. Find it in your past, or where ever you lost it …

E. But for heaven’s sake, Find It!

Find The Word Of The Lord

I would be willing to bet you are going to need it.

Offerings

Offerings

Gtcotr/ws102203

Please turn in your bibles to Mark Chapter 12

Key Scripture: Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

The Sunday morning sermon which began this series was entitled:

A Chance To Hear & A Choice To Make

September 7, 2003

Three Categories Of People

* The Righteous

* The Unrighteous

The lukewarm group

Those most often given a chance to hear and a choice to make

* The Wicked

Three Indictments & Three Denials

1. You have gone away from and not kept My ordinances

Malachi 3:7 ¶ But you said, “Wherein shall we return?”

2. You have said that it is useless and unprofitable to serve Me and keep My ordinances.

Malach 3:13 But you said, “What have we spoken so much against thee?”

3. You have robbed Me.

Malachi 3:8 But you said, “Wherein have we robbed thee?”

Tonight I am completing this series on Tithes & Offerings and tonight we will be specifically looking at the subject of:

I. Offerings

Mark 12

41 ¶ And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

Evidently Both God In Heaven And Jesus On Earth Are Taking Account Of How Much People Give

II. In Order To Make The Giving Of Offerings More Easily Understood, I Have Divided The Subject Into:

Three Easily Identifiable Categories Of Offerings

And Attached A Catch Phrase To Each Category:

A. The First Is:

* Follow The Lead

B. The Second Is:

* Meet The Need

C. The Third & Final Category of Offering Is:

* Sow The Seed

If you can remember these three things, you can quickly measure your life and adjust your giving where necessary.

III. Following The Lead

A. Genesis 4

2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

3 ¶ And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

6 ¶ And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

B. 1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

C. Luke 16

10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?

13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

D. 1 Kings 17:13 “Make me one first …”

E. John 14:15 ¶ If ye love me, keep my commandments.

God has not obligated Himself to accept just any old offering when He has already specifically spoken to a person what to give.

IV. Meeting The Need

Each and every person should have some benevolent deeds in their spiritual portfolio.

* Matthew 25:31ff

I was hungry, thirsty, homeless, naked, sick & in prison …

* Acts 10:4 Your prayers and your giving of offerings to help the poor have come up as a memorial before God

A. Planned Giving

* Deuteronomy 24:21 When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

* 1 Corinthians 16

1 ¶ Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

* 2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

* Nehemiah 10:32 Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God;

B. Spontaneous Giving

* Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Note: Pizza Hut I-30 & Hwy 8, New Boston, Tx

* 1 Timothy 6

17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

V. Sowing The Seed

A. Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

B. 2 Corinthians 9:6 ¶ But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

C. Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

D. Proverbs 19:17 ¶ He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

E. Proverbs 11:25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

F. Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

G. There is a return on sacrificial giving

* Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

* Mark 10 After the encounter with the young rich ruler:

25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?

27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.

29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,

30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

* Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

VI. Remember The Three Easily Identifiable Categories Of Giving?

A. Follow The Lead

B. Meet The Need

C. Sow The Seed

* Take inventory of your life and make sure you are not stealing from God by keeping back your tithes and withholding offerings, all in an attempt to get what you can and can what you get.

Trusting in uncertain riches will prove disastrous.

Not passing your wealth by the altar will leave it vulnerable.

Examining The Foundation Continued - Estimating The Scriptures

Examining The Foundation Continued

Estimating The Scriptures

Gtcotr/ss101903

Often it is not our interpretation of the scriptures that begs correction, but our estimation.

Please turn in your bibles to The Book Of Hebrews, Chapter 11

Every person filters information and considerations through some world view which they have adopted along life‘s way.

This filter enables each one of us to decide upon the rightness or wrongness of any matter in only a micro-second.

Our judgments are usually based solely on this world view without us ever feeling the need to investigate the matter further.

For instance, many people view most of their life, make decisions and judge others from the perspective of their own adopted world view.

An Individual Usually Adopts A Dominant World View Based On

Their current political party

Their culture

Their temperament and/or experiences

Their national heritage

Their religious affiliation

Their education and/or achievements

Few people break the mold and put themselves in the shoes of others, not like them, to see the bigger picture and sincerely attempt to understand opposing sides of an issue.

Fewer still have recognized the ultimate and embraced the fact that

There Is But One Correct World View

This sounds exclusionary and absolute. It is and I make no apology for it. There is but one correct world view … it is:

A Biblical World View

* You can only afford to be closed minded when you are right

I believe that all matters of life and community should be judged and decisions made in agreement with the word of God because God is right.

Romans 3:4 … let God be true and every man a liar …

To hold a biblical world view will, from time to time, put one at odds with:

Their current political party

Their culture

Their temperament & experiences

Their national heritage

Their religious affiliation

Their education & achievements

Truth is not determined by a show of hands

Jesus does not belong to any one denomination

Your success in life is not the single aim of Calvary’s Cross

You can be wrong … God cannot

The bible was written without respect to nationality or ethnicity

Lying is Lying whether you’re a Democrat or Republican

This morning I hope to challenge your world view.

This is my sincere attempt to assist you in examining the foundation of your life. Have you recently asked yourself the question:

Why do I think what I think, feel what I feel and want what I want?

Why do I do what I do and get what I get?

Because you believe what you believe and

Because you choose what you choose!

But why, may I ask, do you believe what you believe & choose what you choose? It has to do with the filter you have adopted.

It is my hope as your pastor or teacher this morning, that you would make a quality decision to believe God’s word more than your other filters and be empowered by the scriptures to make tough decisions when the time comes for it.

Lets evaluate our estimation of the scriptures.

Text: Hebrews 11

1 ¶ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Faith in the scriptures is basically your trust, even more than that, your conviction that God is telling you the truth.

Faith is your conviction that God is telling you the truth.

It is through this conviction, this filter, that we understand the universe was formed by the word of God, so that what is now seen was not made out of what was seen when God first spoke His command.

What God believed and said was more powerful than what was. Nothing could then, nor can now, resist the word of God.

If we believe this, then we should raise our estimation of God’s word to equal that belief. We should adopt God’s Word as our filter.

Speaking of God’s Word

This week I made a search of an exact two word phrase in the KJV.

‘Thy Word…’

Found 59 times in the whole bible

Over half are in the book of Psalms

35 times in one chapter of Psalms

David must have known and had great respect for God’s word.

When I added a third word to that combination in efforts to narrow the search and bring specificity, I made the phrase to read

‘Thy Word Is …’

5 times in the whole bible

4 times in that same chapter of Psalms

David not only knew the word, he also had revelation as to what the word of God is.

Throughout this one single chapter in Psalms,

David reveals God’s Word, God’s Will & God’s Way

This Psalm is of course, Psalms 119 The longest Psalms in the bible.

Alphabetical Psalm

22 Letters In The Hebrew Alphabet

8 Verses To Each Letter

8 X 22 = 176

David’s Pocket Book (Youth to maturity)

9 Repetitive References To God’s Word

Law

Testimonies

Precepts

Statutes

Commandments

Judgments

Word

Saying

Way

Over and over again David speaks revelation concerning God’s Word

You remember I told you that I narrowed my search somewhat … allow me now to share the results of that study:

I. ‘Thy Word Is …’

12 A. Psalms 119:89 LAMED. For ever, O LORD, Thy word is settled in heaven.

14 B. Psalms 119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

17 C. Psalms 119:140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.

20 D. Psalms 119:160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

II. Adopting A Biblical World View

A. Believe (Accept that God is telling you the truth)

1. God’s Word Settles Every Issue

2. God’s Word Reveals The Path To Take

* there is a way that seems right but is not

* at times the path is narrow, costly & lonely

* the last verse of NUN is verse 112, it reads in NKJV

I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, to the very end.

* commit to the path all the way to the very end

3. God’s Word Plays No Favorites

* God does not love others and hate you

* God’s word is not unjust, uneven or uncaring

4. God’s Word Is Right For Every Generation

B. Choose To See Life & The World Through God’s Eyes

In order to develop a biblical world view one must study the word to know how God feels and how He expects man to respond to the varied situations in personal life and community affairs.

I challenge each one of you to make a commitment this morning to meaningfully enhance your daily personal bible time.

I suggest that you, along with me, Begin With Psalms 119 and attempt to accomplish the following 4 things:

1. Read 8 verses each day and see if you can discover what theme David had in mind when he wrote that particular stanza.

2. Pray that God would develop a deeper trust and renewed respect for His word in you as you meditate on these truths.

3. Watch for opportunities to incorporate that day’s theme in your personal, family and community life.

4. Remember, a true follower of Christ does not impose Christianity on others, but rather exposes Christianity to others.