Concerning Spiritual Things continued

Concerning Spiritual Things continued

Gtcotr/ws033104

If you are viewing our live stream via the web or by television, you may log onto cotr.com and click the link for archived messages and download, print out or simply view a complete copy of the sermon notes for this evening. For those of you here, follow along with me on the big screen as we turn to:

1 Corinthians 12 (NKJV)

1 ¶ Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:

4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.

6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

I. Would not have you ignorant of the things of the spirit.

A. Each Person Has Been Gifted By Grace For Specific Purposes

B. Some People Are Appointed To Perform Certain Duties

C. Other People Are Assigned Positions Of Administration

D. There Are Five Tools Jesus Uses To Build The Church

E. The Holy Spirit Accomplishes Some Things Working Directly Through People In Nine Discernable Ways

II. The Manifestations Of The Spirit

A. But - deh used 2870 times, 13 times - moreover - (additionally)

B. Manifestation - Phanerosis (fan-er’-o-sis) something made visible or made known that was previously hidden or unknown.

C. Profit - sumphero (soom-fer’-o) to contribute in order to help

8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,

9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,

10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

III. The Holy Spirit Working Through People In Nine Different Ways

1. Word of Wisdom - Sophia (sof-ee’-ah) “Noah build a boat”

2. Word of Knowledge gnosis (gno’sis) “Noah it’s going to rain”

3. Faith - pistis (pis’-tis) conviction of the truth

4. Gifts of Healings (curing; remedy; immediate or process)

a. Gifts - charisma (khar’-is-msh) divine grace enabled

b. Healings - iama (ee’-am-ah) healing or cure

5. Working of Miracles

a. Working - energema (en-erg’-ay-mah) operation

b. Miracles - dunamis (doo’-nam-is) virtue; power; ability

1. Acts 1:8 You shall receive (dunamis)

2. Mark 5:30 He felt virtue (dunamis) go out of Him

3. Acts 4:33 with great power gave the Apostles witness

4. Acts 6:8 Stephen, full of faith and power

5. Mt 6:13 thine is the kingdom, the power...

6. Mt 7:22 didn’t we do many wonderful works ...

7. Mt 22:29 you do err not knowing ... nor the power of

8. Acts 19:11 God wrought special miracles by the hands

9. Luke 1:35 the power of the Highest shall overshadow

10. Luke 4:14 Jesus returned in the power of the spirit

Note: dunamis is used 120 times in the NT, once for each person present in the upper room at the outpouring of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost when the world received the dunamis of God!

6. Prophecy - propheteia (prof-ay-ti’-ah) divinely inspired speech given through a person from God to reprove, exhort, comfort, direct or correct, in efforts to guide or forewarn an individual or group concerning the future and/or God’s present will.

a. 1 Co 14:6 4 ways we come with a message from God

1. Revelation

2. Knowledge

3. Prophecy

4. Doctrine

b. 1Co 14:22 a sign to the believer (tongues - unbelievers)

c. 1Th 5:20 despise not prophesying

d. 1Ti 1:18 remember the prophecies which went on before ... Use them to make war with

e. 1Ti 4:14 gifts (charisma) given thee by prophecy ... hands

f. 2Pe 1:20 no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation

1. Prophecy needs to be the whole counsel of God’s word and confirmed in the mouth of two or three witnesses

2. The only secure way to interpret scripture is with scripture

g. Rev 1:3 John called the book of Revelation prophecy

7. Discerning of Spirits

a. Discerning - diakrisis (dee-ak’-ree-sis) to judge

1. From diakrino (dee-ak-ree’-no) to doubt; hesitate; waver; stagger; judge; discriminate

a. Rom4 Abraham did not stagger (diakrino) at promise

b. James 1:6 nothing wavering (diakrino)

b. Spirits - punema (pnyoo’-mah) an efficient source of power, affection, emotion, influence and desire.

8. Different kinds of Tongues

a. Kinds - genos (ghen’-os) diverse types relating to kind

b. Tongues - glossa (gloce-sah’) the language or dialect used by a nation or people as different from other nations or peoples

1. Acts 2:3 cloven tongues of fire

2. Acts 2:11 speak in our own tongues

3. Acts 10:46 spoke in tongues in Ceaserea

4. Acts 19:6 spoke in tongues at Ephesus

5. Rom 14:11 every tongue shall confess

6. 1Co 12:30 do all speak in tongues?

7. 1Co 13:1 tongues of men and of angles

9. Interpretation of Tongues

a. Interpretation - hermeneia (her-may-ni’-ah) an explanation in words more understood by those listening

b. Tongues same as above

* Vs. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

Nevertheless

Nevertheless

Gtcotr/ss032804

If we don’t believe in it, we can’t believe for it.

If we don’t believe in it, we won’t work for it.

Key Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. (NKJV)

What a person believes will affect what they are willing to attempt.

I. Three Questions For Today

* What Are You Believing?

* What Are You Saying About What You Believe?

* What Are You Doing About It?

Our Text For Today: 1 Chronicles, Chapter 11

II. While You Are Turning, Allow Me To Briefly Share: My Story

I was born again in the summer of 1967 at age 12, between my 6^th and 7^th grade years. The first day of school that fall, in my first period home room class, a new girl, an 8^th grader, stepped into the doorway to pick up the class attendance slip. I saw her and fell in love. I never had felt that way before and it has lasted for all of these 36+ years since. I am still madly in love with this same girl.

That fall day, at lunch time, I ran to the lunch room and got first in line for the Junior High lunch. I allowed each person to skip up in line ahead of me until that girl came by. I let her pass on by me and then stepped in line behind her. I introduced myself and ask her name and if she would like to go on a date with me. She told me no and that she had a boyfriend and she told me his name.

I quickly realized that her boyfriend was older than her and that he would graduate before her so I told her. This, I said, would make it necessary for her to get another date for our combined Junior-Senior Banquet, (some years ahead). I ask if I could take her to that Banquet. She just looked bothered and said that I would have to ask her boyfriend. That was my cue. I left the line, found the guy, told him about our conversation and ask if I could take her to that function. He was a bit intimidating and I don’t know why, but he just said he didn’t care. So, for over 5 years I reminded her that we had a date coming up. She continued saying no and would hardly give me the time of day. I endured and finally she said yes. I took her to that Junior Senior Banquet and eight months later, January 19, 1973, we were married. Today we are in our 32^nd year of marriage.

* What a person believes will affect what they are willing to attempt and what they are able to endure.

After 7 years of marriage Brenda and I found ourselves with two young children, living back in the small community we grew up in, fully engaged in life and pursuing the things of God. I was credentialed with a mainline denomination and was finishing one degree hoping to be accepted to Seminary and continue my religious studies. Little did we realize that God had a different plan. A plan that would force us out of our comfort zone and into a wilderness of the unknown will of God.

From the hunger we both had to know the word and ways of God, came sincere prayers, “God, if there is anything more that you have for us, give it to us.” … “If there is any way we can be of better service to you, show us.” … “Lord, use us for your will, no matter the cost.” … “Our lives, our family, our future is in your hand.”

As a result of those simple, yet sincere prayers, God, in His own time and choosing, moved into the living room of our home late one night and baptized both Brenda and me in the Holy Spirit and we began to speak in tongues and glorify God in a way which we had never before done. This powerful experience shook the very foundations of our lives and beliefs. How could we explain it to others when we could not even begin to understand it ourselves. The only things we could say for sure were that we believed in it, we could not deny it, would not be ashamed of it and were not going to keep it to ourselves.

This brought about a separation between us and our family, our friends, our community and our church. Our names were removed from the church membership roles and we became the talk of the town, outcasts, shunned, ridiculed and even threatened for what we believed. However, the grace of God was abundant upon us and kept us strong, united in our beliefs, committed to our pursuits and able to endure the hardships.

We believed that we had received a vision of the future and a call from God to work toward that end. Whatever we had to endure for the cause of Christ and the souls that were in danger of hell’s flames was immaterial. We believed in what we were doing and that it was worth our life, our reputation, our credibility and our all.

Today, almost 25 years later, through the efforts of the churches and ministries we have raised up, though small in the big picture, we nevertheless affect our local communities, individual families and the whole world for the kingdom of God. Joined together with thousands around the globe we are feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, ministering to the sick and imprisoned, taking in orphans and strangers, bringing water to the thirsty and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to the poor. Brenda and I can definitely say that despite the cost, it was worth it all to live what we believed.

II. Three Questions

* What Are You Believing?

> What a person believes is affected by who they believe.

* What Are You Saying About What You Believe?

> What a person believes is defined by what they say.

* What Are You Doing About It?

> What a person believes is confirmed by what they do.

III. Nevertheless (Israel, 1048 B.C. - David is about 37 years old)

1 Chronicles 11 (NIV)

4 David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). The Jebusites who lived there

5 said to David, "You will not get in here." Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, the City of David.

* David did not believe about himself what the Jebusites believed about him - later the Jebusites changed their minds

* Paul evidently did not believe what others believed about him, in fact, Acts 28:6 … they changed their minds and decided he was a god. (NLT)

* We are not limited by what others believe about us or by what the circumstances say should happen, We are limited only by what we believe and do about God’s plan for our life.

IV. Life Application Of This Truth

A. It Is A Time To Examine Yourself

1. Your Attitudes

2. Your Actions

* Marriage (or other covenants of life)

* Ministry (Service to God)

* Community Commitments

> Employment Expectations

> Financial Contracts

> Moral Obligations

3. Your Future Plans

B. Ask Yourself These Questions:

1. What Do I Believe About ____ ?

2. Who Are The People I Am Allowing To Shape My Beliefs?

3. What Am I Saying? (listen to yourself - you will define yourself)

4. What Am I Doing? (judge what you do, not just what you intend to do - but what you actually accomplish)

C. Make Quality (Firm) Decisions To:

1. Believe God’s Word & Will

2. Speak God’s Word & Will

3. Live God’s Word & Will

D. Do Not Allow Anyone or Anything To Affect You Otherwise

What you believe will affect what you are willing attempt, what you are able to endure and what you are empowered to overcome.

Concerning Spiritual Things continued

Concerning Spiritual Things continued

Gtcotr/ws032404

If you are viewing our live stream via the web or by television, you may log onto cotr.com and click the link for archived messages and download, print out or simply view a complete copy of the sermon notes for this evening. For those of you here, follow along with me on the big screen as we turn to:

Ephesians 4 (NIV)

8 This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."

11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers

Tonight we are talking about the Diversity of Ministries and Administrations in the church. Specifically the:

Five Ministry Tools Jesus gave to the church in order to build her up, place her on a rock and make her victorious over the strategies of the devil. Each of these five ministries represent a facet of ministry Jesus performed Himself during His earth bound years.

1. Apostle apostolos (ap-os’-tol-os) a delegate or messenger, one that is sent with orders [ apostle-78; messenger-2; he that is sent-1]

a. 1 Apostle of God (Hebrews 3:1)

b. 12 apostles of the Lamb

* Revelation 21:14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

* Matthew 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

c. Many apostles of the Holy Ghost

* Philippians 2:25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.

* 2 Corinthians 8:23 Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

* In both cases, YLT translates messenger(s) as apostle(s)

d. There are also Apostles of the church - sent by the church to set in order, carry messages, begin works etc.

2. Prophet prophetes (prof-ay’-tace) interpreter; spokesman; forseerer; foreteller - having the power and authority to instruct, comfort, encourage, rebuke, convict, stimulate, motivate and inspire as moved by the Holy Ghost.

a. Acts 11:28; Acts 21:10

b. Agabus was a New Testament Prophet

c. Acts 13:1 Prophets in resident ministry in NT Church

3. Evangelists euaggelistes (yoo-ang-ghel-is-tace’) a bringer of good news, used only 3 times in NT

a. Acts 21:8 Phillip was called an evangelist

b. 2 Timothy 4:5 Timothy admonished to do the work …

4. Pastors poimen (poy-mane’) shepherd-15; Shepherd-2; pastor-1. A herdsman shepherd under whose care and control sheep are entrusted.

a. Jesus was called the Poimen

* John 10:11&14 The Good Shepherd who knows His sheep and gives His life for them

* John 10:16 One Shepherd with one fold

* Hebrews 13:20 That Great Shepherd

* 1 Peter 2:25 The Shepherd and Bishop of your soul

* 1 Peter 5:4 The Chief Shepherd

b. The Gospels speak of false shepherds, hirelings and smitten shepherds. Without true shepherds sheep will scatter and be devoured.

c. Jeremiah 3:15 15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. (KJV)

5. Teachers didaskalos (did-as’-kal-os) Master-40; master-7; teacher-10; doctor-1. One who is fitted to teach others.

III. Some Common Questions About The Ministry Tools

A. What Are The Duties & Responsibilities Of The Minister?

* Ephesians 4:12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (NIV)

B. How Long Will They Be Necessary To The Process?

* Ephesians 4:13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fulness of Christ.

C. How Do We Judge Their Progress Or Success?

* Ephesians 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Note: A Fair Question: Should We Look For Another?

Luke 7

19 ¶ And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"

20 When the men had come to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’"

21 And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.

22 Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.

23 "And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."

Note: A Fair Answer: The Kingdom Work I Was Sent To Do Is Being Done:

* The Church Is Being Strengthened And Doctrine Is Established

* Saints Are Being Prepared For And Allowed To Do The Work Of The Kingdom

* Blessed Are Those Who Join In The Work

IV. UNDERSTANDING THE FIVE MINISTERY TOOLS

Apostle	Prophet	Evangelist	Pastor	Teacher
governs	guides	gathers	guards	grounds
discipline	deliver	demands	defends	disciples
stands over	before	stands out	understands	stands among
regard	revere	refreshed	rely	respond
sets in	sets straight	sets out	sets with	sets down
presides	points	promises	pleases	prepares
manages	measures	motivates	milks	molds
in charge	charges in	recharges	over-charged	instructs you how to pay what you have charged

Awaking The Command Of God

AWAKENING THE COMMAND OF GOD

Gtcotr/ss032104

Rarely does God work by Himself

There was that creation thing, but since then:

From Noah, “build a boat” to, Paul & Silas in the prison

God usually demands that we participate in our miracles

With that in mind our text for today will be found in 1 Kings 17

The year is about 910 BC

Ahab, the 7^th King of the Northern 10 Tribes of Israel, is reigning

Ahab had married Jezebel who was exerting evil influence over Israel

1 Kings 16:33 says that Ahab did more to provoke the Lord than all …

1 Kings 17 God sends the Prophet Elijah to prophesy “no rain” …

In order to protect and preserve Elijah, God speaks to him:

I. 1 Kings 17 (NKJV)

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."

5 So 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.

6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook.

7 And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

A. vs. 1-7

1. drink from the brook (this represents a natural supply)

2. commanded the ravens to feed (the supernatural supply)

3. God expects the natural and supernatural to work together

4. sometimes the natural supply is lacking or dries up

5. without the natural supply, God may not choose to continue the supernatural … God does not seem to like working all by Himself.

B. God often marries the natural and the supernatural, the practical and the spiritual to accomplish His purposes.

II. 1 Kings 17

8 ¶ Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying,

9 "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you."

A. vs. 8-9

1. there must have been something in Zarephath that was not available in Cherith, a well perhaps … (the natural supply)

2. “I have commanded a widow there to provide”

a. I would have expected a rich widow

b. Lets see who God chooses

B. 1 Kings 17

10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, "Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink."

11 And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, "Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand."

12 So she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die."

1. Notice here that God chose a woman doing all she could, where she was, with what she had.

2. When God wants to bless someone He often chooses someone who needs a blessing to bless them.

A. She was limited by what she saw

B. She was limited by what she expected

C. She was limited by what she planned to do with what she had.

* She had an ‘eat what I have and die’ mentality

* Elijah was about to wake her up

* Elijah was about to challenge her theory of life; what she believed about survival, blessing and increase.

III. 1 Kings 17

13 And Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son.

14 "For thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.’"

A. This woman had an “eat what I have and die” mentality

B. Elijah challenged her to change her “eat what I have and die” mentality to ‘share what I have and live’ mentality

C. What type of person are you? Does it take all you have for you?

D. Have you ever wondered?:

1. Where did Elijah get that boldness to ask for her last meal?

* it was not his word nor his boldness

* 1 Kings 17:16 The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah.

2. Why did this woman believe him?

* Something miraculous happened in that widow woman’s spirit!

* Something that happens to people all around you all the time.

* Something that can happen to you and will give you courage and confidence beyond your circumstances, in spite of your situation, without regard to your limitations.

* That something …

The spoken word of God awakened the sleeping command of God in her life.

* she could have missed the miracle

* she might have said, “we will fix ours first and then if your God can increase what is left over, we will make you one from the miracle.”

* she would have died believing that Elijah was wrong

IV. Awakening The Command of God

A. The story of leading the waiter in Cancun to the Lord

1. why was it so easy?

2. Acts 17:30 God had already commanded him to repent & be saved

3. The story of leading the waitress in Louisiana to the Lord

4. why?

a. the Lord has already commanded them

b. all I did was awaken the command of God in their lives.

(1) some aren’t ready (ripe for the picking)

(2) don’t bruise the green, unripe fruit! be gentle!

(3) leave people with a good witness experience

B. Jeremiah 1:5 Before God formed you He knew you & called …

1. Job 33:14 God speaks but man does not always perceive

2. In God’s time He speaks to awaken those commands

a. Don’t miss the day of your visitation

b. Mark 10:22 don’t go away sad like the young rich ruler

c. John 6 don’t claim that the word is too hard

d. Luke 14 all with one accord began to make excuses

C. God has commanded and is commanding His church

1. We are not always aware when He speaks to us

2. Believe me, He has a plan and He will awaken us to His Will

a. Like the little widow woman,

b. The word of God awakens us to greatness

c. God calls greatness out of obscurity

d. God has commanded nobodies to become some bodies

e. What it takes is to Hear The Word Of The Lord

f. Where can a person hear the Word of God?

(1) Moses on the backside of the desert heard it in a bush

(2) David as a little boy heard it from a prophet

(3) Daniel while in captivity heard from an angel

(4) Joseph as a young man heard it in a dream

(6) Samuel separated from his family heard a voice in the night

(7) Ester while a queen, heard it from her cousin

(8) Ruth, a widowed foreigner, heard it from her mother-in-law

(9) Saul of Tarsus on his way to Damascus, heard it in a light

(10) Millions upon millions have heard it from:

(a) fishermen

(b) shepherds

(c) housewives

(d) former prostitutes and drug addicts

(e) athletes

(f) from all who will dare to speak what God has spoken.

3. Hear the word of the Lord:

4. God is awakening His command in you for this last days revival, this great harvest of souls for the world which is to come.

V. Conclusion

A. God has plans for your life

B. He has already laid those plans in your heart

C. He has commanded you to play a part, & you may not know it

D. Open your ears to the voice of God’s word

E. Instead of hearing my voice this morning, Hear the voice within the voice

F. Does not your heart stir within you, yearning for spiritual things

G. The inspiration of the Holy Spirit is upon you

1. What is He saying

* Repent - Confess - Witness - Love - Forgive

* Surrender To The Calling Of God On Your Life

* Sow a seed in faith to break yourself free from financial distress, demons of darkness and overwhelming odds

* Hear the word of the Lord

2. Take a step of faith

3. Do it … Do it … Obey God and live!

4. Adopt a ‘share what I have and live’ mentality.

VI. Two Things We Can All Do

A. Get Right With God - confess your sins - tell God your are sorry

B. Then do the very next thing the Holy Spirit inspires you to do

God demands we participate in our miracle