Victory Life KY

At what point does what God say become the standard we use to evaluate our born again lives? Here’s the thing, the longer we reason against what God’s word says, the more comfortable we get with that lifestyle. So today, as we gather around the Lord’s table, let Jesus’ words settle into your thinking. John 14:1,NKJV- Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.v.27, Jesus repeats His point, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” There’s no better way to leave whatever’s been harassing you than gathering around the Lord’s table, and walking away with a renewed trust in Jesus. Remember last week we talked about how in Christ we are victorious overcomers in this world. 1 Corinthians 15:57,AMP- But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory making us conquerors through our Lord Jesus Christ. Seriously, if God, my Heavenly Father tells me I’m victorious, forgiven, blessed, prosperous, favored, healed, why wouldn’t I accept what He says as truth? Why shouldn’t I say what my Father says about me? Psalm 34:8,AMP- O taste and see that the Lord our God is good; How blessed, fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God is the man who takes refuge in Him. Unfortunately, human nature has made it very clear that as long as we can live without more of God, we will. Whether you’ve walked with Jesus most of your life, or you’re just starting your journey, Because of human nature, because we have an enemy, there will be times when we question God, our relationship with Him, His promises, our failures, things we don’t understand, etc... And it’s in those times that being able to come to the Lord’s table, free of all sin, made completely righteous by His sacrifice, can be an absolute life changer for us. Something every Christian needs reminded of from time to time is that communion is one of the most spiritual realities we can participate in. It’s a divinely inspired place of revelation from the Father. Allowing us to see that Jesus alone made us worthy to stand in His presence. He actually made us heirs to the Kingdom through what He suffered. Today as we gather around the Lords table, let the Holy Spirit help you see His crucifixion, His sacrifice as so much more than just our passage to Heaven. May the eyes of our understanding be enlightened, that we can embrace the hope of His calling, so that we can walk in the exceeding greatness of His power. John 6:51,NKJV- “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever...” John 10:10,(paraphrase), I came from Heaven to give you a rich and satisfying life. A better life than you've ever dreamed of. A life to enjoy in abundance, to the full, till it overflows. Communion isn’t just acknowledging Jesus’ sacrifice, it’s embracing and reverencing the fact that Jesus actually restored us to our rightful place with God. Today as we honor and reverence our King’s sacrifice, let His Spirit minister to you, embrace what Jesus did, what He said, and embrace who you are because of Him. This is why having moments like this, around the Lord’s table allow us the privilege of drawing closer to Him. Remember, Jesus has already made us alive together with Him and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Him. Understand, we’re not just citizens of Heaven, we’re heirs to the Kingdom, appointed ambassadors of our King, assigned here to establish His kingdom. And there is no better place to be reminded, no better place for fresh perspective, no better place to draw closer to Jesus than around the Lord’s table. In Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Corinthians we receive the very same revelation from Jesus concerning communion. The bread is His broken body and the cup is the blood of His new covenant. Regardless of what you may be facing, let today's communion encourage you that you are made whole in God’s sight by Jesus' sacrifice. That His broken body and shed blood are still declaring, "It is finished." As we worship Jesus today with communion, as we draw closer to Him, may our spirits see Jesus and all that He accomplished for us clearer than ever before. My prayer today is that everyone of us see Jesus with a fresh perspective as we partake of the cup and the bread. 1 Corinthians 10:16,NLT- When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? Let today’s talk helps us discern in a little more depth that there is a significant difference in the blood and the bread. 1 Corinthians 11:30,NKJV- For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.v.29, For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. MSG, If you give no thought (or worse, don’t care) about the broken body of the Master when you eat and drink, you’re running the risk of serious consequences. That’s why so many of you even now are listless

Mark 3:13-15,NKJV- “And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons.” Matthew 10:7-8,NKJV- And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Freely give what? Freely give it to who? Acts 1:1-2,NKJV- The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen. Jesus is absolutely expecting us to finish what He started. As His body on the planet, our assignment is to continue all He commanded us. Matthew 9:35-38 NKJV- “Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” NLT, v.38, “So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more workers into his fields.” Laborers, workers to do what? If we honestly believe the Bible is God’s word, that it is the Christians foundation of truth, that God’s word is a lamp unto our feet. A light for our path. If God’s word is forever settled in Heaven, and we’re suppose to pray His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven, if God never changes and His word is truth, At what point did the commission for His first disciples and disciples today change? Remember, “The things Jesus began to do and to teach.” Why do we have such a struggle with the subject of healing? We have to remember, faith for any subject comes from hearing the word of God on that subject. So unless we preach and teach healing, there’s no way there can be faith for healing. Think about it, if you were one of Jesus’ first disciples, you went everywhere with Him, and you were telling new people about Jesus, how would you describe Him? A major key here is moving from an informational approach to the word of God, to a transformational approach. To a spiritual, faith driven approach. Who’s honestly going to be willing to not only grow stronger in their faith, but stay in it, until? Remember, knowing Jesus is the healer and believing He actually heals is not the same thing. I believe that’s the question we need to ask ourselves, do we honestly believe that Jesus still heals, or are we waiting for a confirmation? In other words, are we still walking by sight instead of faith when it comes to healing? Remember what Jesus told Jairus? ONLY BELIEVE Luke 5:17,NIV- One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. But only the paralyzed man carried by his friends got healed.Think about this, if Paul told us that the accounts of the OT were written for our admonition and correction, why would the accounts of Jesus be any different? Maybe the question is, do we honestly believe the Word of God right in the face of symptoms, of the negative report? How much of a demand, an expectation, do we actually place on what God tells us in His Word? Remember the example we have from the centurion, "it will be done for you just as you believed." John 4:46-53,NLT-“As He traveled through Galilee, He came to Cana, where He had turned the water into wine. There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick. v.47, When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die. v.48, Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?” v.49, The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.” v.50, Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.v.51, While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well. v.52, He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, and they replied, “Yesterday afternoon at one o’clock his fever suddenly disappeared!” v.53, Then the father realized that that was the very time Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” And he and his entire household believed in Jesus.” Have you ever found yourself reasoning away something in His Word because of a negative experience? Because you haven’t seen the result you’re believing for? Seriously, if Jesus is our

Joshua 6,MSG- GOD spoke to Joshua, “Look sharp. I’ve already given Jericho to you, Here’s what you are to do: March around the city. Repeat this for six days. On the seventh day march around the city seven times. What if God's trying to show you the next thing He's got for you, but it's on the other side of a whole lotta go again? Paul gives us some very helpful insight, “One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. The reason Paul could say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” is because he had gotten this revelation; GO AGAIN Philippians 4,MSG- I’ve learned by now to be content whatever my circumstances. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. Sometimes we simply need to be reminded to make room in our lives for the Almighty to lead, to speak, to encourage us in our faith. To transform us to be more like Him. The thing is, most of the time we don’t get spiritual realities the first time, still confined to our humanity. Mark 4:13-20,NLT- “Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? v.14, The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. v.15, The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. v.16, The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. v.17, But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. v.18, The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, v.19, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. v.20, And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”” We are the people of God. Heirs tho the Kingdom of Heaven, joint heirs with Christ. And as we behold Him we are being transformed into the same image, from glory to glory. Choose to believe that Jesus meant what He said when He told us all things are possible for him that believes. This means, refusing to allow our old, carnal, human nature, our past, and yes, our current situation to interfere with what God is saying, right in the face of what most are calling questionable circumstances. Let the Holy Spirit give you a fresh, yes I can, whole lotta go again, attitude. If God be for us, who can be against us. 2 Corinthians 2:14,NKJV- Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. Triumph is a victorious, successful outcome. This was Paul’s mindset as he continually encouraged the church to not give up, but stay in faith. To go again. Triumphant, victorious overcomes are regular people who continue trusting Jesus no matter what. Keep in mind, triumph is a successful ending to any conflict. Solomon said, “The end of a thing is better than the beginning.” 1 Corinthians 15:57-58,AMP- But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory, making us conquerors through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm, steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord... This kind of life is an on purpose life. This is how Paul could continually remind us that we can do all things, we can make it through all thinks. We actually have to believe the Lord’s words over whatever situation. Go walk around the massive city walls, go again, go again. Even though Jesus has made us His victorious people, we will never rise above our own understanding of who we are in Him. Overcomers or grasshoppers? The majority focused on everything except what God said. At what point does what God say become the standard we use to evaluate our born again lives? Here’s the thing, the longer we reason against what God’s word says, the more comfortable we get with that lifestyle. Keep in mind, God told Elijah in 1 Kings 18:1, “I am sending rain” I Kings 18,NKJV- Then Elijah said, “there is the sound of abundance of rain.” Thenhe said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked, and said, “ There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “GO AGAIN.” Joel 2, God says I will cause the rain to come, the former and the latter rain.Both Elijah and Joel prophesied out of severe drought. (A dry season) Former rain comes in planting season.Latter rain before harvest season. God tells us thorough Joel that He’ll send both rains as it was at the first. Acts 2, Peter is responding to a type of the former rain

Matthew 10:1,NKJV- “And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.” Mark 3:13-15,NKJV- “And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons.” Luke 9:1-2,NKJV- “Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” Acts 1:1-2,NKJV- The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen. He’s expecting us to finish what He started. Obviously He’s not referring to His finishing of the covenant with His work at the cross, but our assignment as His body concerning all He commanded us. Matthew 9:35-38 NKJV- “Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” In 1800, world population was 1 billion. 1900 was 1.6 billion. From 1900 to 2000, it jumped to 6 billion, current population 7.8 billion. Our current growth average is a little over 80 million a year. Approximately 2.5 billion confess to be Christian How many of you think Jesus still needs workers for the harvest? Solomon actually tells us, “The end of a thing is better than the beginning.” And contrary to popular religious beliefs, if it was just all up to God, why would Jesus tell us to pray to the Lord to send workers. Here’s the thing, to do what? We have to keep in mind exactly what Jesus was doing when He told us to pray for more workers. Matthew 9, Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and disease among the people. If we honestly believe the Bible is God’s word, that it is the Christians foundation of truth, that God’s word is a lamp unto our feet. A light for our path. If God’s word is forever settled in Heaven, and we’re suppose to pray His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven, if God never changes and His word is truth, At what point did the commission for His first disciples and disciples today change? Especially considering He would know the amount of people that would be on the planet during our time. “The things Jesus began to do and to teach.” Why is the subject of physical healing not part of the gospel message for a large portion of the church today? Why do we have such a struggle with the subject of healing? According to Isaiah and Paul, faith for any subject comes from hearing the word of God on that subject. So unless we preach and teach healing, there’s no way there can be faith for healing. And I personally believe this is where the change took place within the body of Christ. It’s kinda like the law of displacement, basically you can’t have two things in the same place at the same time. Matthew 10:1,7-8,NKJV- When He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. v.25, It’s enough that a disciple should be like his teacher. In Luke, Jesus said, A disciple, when He is fully trained will be like his teacher. Think about this, according to what Jesus said in Mark’s gospel, laying hands on the sick is part of the great commission. A major key here is moving from an informational approach to the word of God, to a transformational approach. To a spiritual, faith driven approach. Ephesians 4:23-24,NIV- Be made new in the attitude of mind; and put on the new self, CREATED TO BE LIKE GOD in true righteousness and holiness. Who’s honestly going to be willing to not only grow stronger in their faith, but stay in it, until? Peter said, God shows no partiality, no bias or favoritism Acts 10:34,MSG- Peter fairly exploded with his good news: It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. Hebrews makes it very clear, anyone who comes to God MUST BELIEVE that He is. And according to Romans, the only way to

• Joshua 6:1-5,MSG- GOD spoke to Joshua, “Look sharp now. I’ve already given Jericho to you, along with its king and its crack troops.• Here’s what you are to do: March around the city, all your soldiers. Circle the city once. Repeat this for six days. Have seven priests carry seven ram’s horn trumpets in front of the Chest.• On the seventh day march around the city seven times, the priests blowing away on the trumpets.• And then, a long blast on the ram’s horn—when you hear that, all the people are to shout at the top of their lungs.• The city wall will collapse at once. All the people are to enter, every man straight on in. • What if God's trying to show you the next thing He's got for you, but it's on the other side of a whole lotta go again? • I’m sure most of us would be, come on God, why do we have to do it this way? • Maybe this is why in v.10, God said, tell them not to speak so much as a whisper. • So day one, they got up, went and obeyed the Lord, then went back to their camp. Then the next, go again. • The reason Paul could say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” is because he had gotten the revelation of, whole lotta go again. • Philippians 4:12-13,MSG- Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty.• Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. • Think about standing in front of this massive structure, I’m sure most of them have never seen anything like it. • And their leader tells them we’re going to march around the city 6 days, then on the 7th day we’re going to march around it 7 times. • Sometimes we just need to be reminded to make room in our thinking, in our lives for the Almighty to lead, to speak, to encourage us in our faith. • The thing is, most of the time we don’t get spiritual realities the first time, still confined to our humanity.• I Kings 18:41-43 NKJV- Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.”• So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees,• and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked, and said, “ There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.” • We are the people of God. Jesus meant what He said when He told us all things are possible for him that believes. • But we actually have to believe Him. Sometimes right in the face of uncertainty, maybe even impossible, but God specializes in impossible. • Once we make up our mind, it’s time for commitment and determination. And most of the time this means a whole lotta go again. • Ephesians reminds us that because we’ve heard Him and been taught by Him, we are to put off our former conduct, the old man, and be renewed in the spirit of our mind, so we can put on the new man which was created according to God. • Isaiah 43, This is what the Lord says, what I’ve done in the past is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new.• See, I have already begun! Don’t you see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. • Romans 8:11,MSG- It stands to reason, doesn’t it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, He’ll do the same thing in you that He did in Jesus, bringing you alive to Himself?• When God lives and breathes in you and He does, as surely as He did in Jesus, you are delivered from that dead life. With His Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ’s! • It’s in times like we’re in right now that we actually believe what God tells us; “Go Again” • At what point do we honestly believe, actually expect truths like this on Romans. Expect Him to do the same thing in us He did in Jesus. • Let the Holy Spirit give you a fresh, yes I can attitude. • Something God has helped me see over the years is successful, overcoming people allow challenges to stretch them, not stop them. • GO AGAIN • We are the people of God. Heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven, joint heirs with Christ. • This is Paul’s point in Philippians, regardless of the situation, we can do all things through Christ. • This means, if you’re saying, “I’m believing God, but,” it’s time for you to stop the double minded talk. • God said a double minded man is unstable in all his ways. • James teaches us that our tongue is the rudder of our ship, of our life. So what we’re saying matters. • Im convinced this is why God told Joshua to tell the people not to say a word while they were walking around the massive city. • In light of Paul’s challenging situation, he continues encouraging the church to follow his example. • This means, refusing to al

Proverbs 18:21 NLT tells us “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” I don’t see a third option there. Death or life….James 1:26 NLT If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.“I didn’t tell you to share your opinions or beliefs, I told you to share Jesus and the Good News.” If we are spending more time being right on Social Media, then we are not spending our time right by spreading the Love of Jesus! Proverbs 19:19 NLT “ An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars.”OUR WORDS MATTER!!!!!What are we creating with our words? Walls or bridges? Division or unity? Death or life? We need to think, talk, and act like citizens of Heaven. Bringing a glimpse of heaven to earth. Let’s live our lives as citizens of heaven and ambassadors on earth – as representatives of God’s kingdom right where we are. Today, Right Here, Out There! Matthew 13:54 – 56 NLT “He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, “Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?”55Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph,Simon, and Judas.56All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?”57And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.”Then Jesus told them,“A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.”58And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.What you call someone is how you see someone; is how you treat someone. His home town, called him the carpenters son, Since the people seen him this way they, called him by name this way, that’s what they received from Him. They missed out on the gift and blessings that He is, because they could not get past this. What you call your wife? What do you call your children? What do you call your Pastor? Your friends? Your Coworkers? Your government leaders? What you call someone, is how you see someone; is how you treat someone.Ask God what He says about them and speak that into their lives. We need to practice building them up and not tearing them down. Our families will never become something we don’t speak into their lives! James 3:3-6 NLT “We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth.4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong.5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.6 And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.”Although so small, the tongue or more importantly the words we choose to use can set those around us on the right path or we can set it all ablaze by the words we choose to use. I can only change me and when I change me I change us (Kate)We have to first understand how God sees us and what He calls us Names are important to God; otherwise why would he change names? Abram – Abraham = Father of many (Didn’t have any kids at the time and was OLD)Sarai – Sarah = Mother of nations (Didn’t have any kids at the time and was OLD)Simon – Peter = Rock (Wasn’t a rock he was hot and cold / Denied Jesus 3 times) We will dig into this more laterWhat is God calling you? What does he say about you? If you don’t know get in the Word! Matthew 16:13-14 NLT “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples,“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”Matthew 16:15-16 NLT “Then he asked them,“But who do you say I am?”16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”Matthew 16:17-20 “Jesus replied,“You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”20 Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.”Peter did thing and will do things that are not very rock or foundation like. But still Jesus calls him not by how the world sees him, but how God sees him. He is a rock, a strong foundation, and Jesus was letting him know to buckle up this is going to be the ride of a life time.It doesn’t matter what others say about you. It only matters

I CAN ONLY CHANGE ME; AND WHEN I CHANGE ME, I CHANGE US!Genesis 1:26-27 NLTThen God Said, ‘Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals that scurry along the ground. “So, God created Human beings in his own image. In the image of God, he created them; male and female he created them.When God created, he spoke – We are created to be like him – Our words create. They are containers for power.2 Cor 10:5 AMP – We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the true knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ…. Eyes and ears are like a portal to your brain, right? Yes! What we hear and see helps develop thoughts that we either disregard or keep and meditate on. But not all that enters our thoughts are from the natural. We can get thoughts from Satan too. That is why the Bible tells us to put on the helmet of Salvation so we can protect ourselves and our mind. It is also why we are told to take every thought captive. Asking- does this thought line up with the Word of God? Is this Truth?Proverbs 23:26 Amp – My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways. I believe that what we see directly affects our minds and thus our hearts – Same with our ears.Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast ( that is committed and focused on you – in both inclination and character, because he trusts and takes refuge in you with hope and confident expectation.2 Tim 1:7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but He has given us a spirit of power and of love and of sound judgement and personal discipline- abilities that result in a calm, well balanced mind and self-control.Romans 12:2NLT – Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know Gods will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.MSG – Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You will be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well informed maturity in you.Philippians 4:8 NLTAnd now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.Proverbs 4:23NLT – Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.MSG- Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that is where life starts.Matt 12:33 A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad.This scripture is talking about a heart and mouth connection. A heart and mouth connection.If you are thinking about something/ meditating on something it will come out and if you speak it, you can take it on. Your creating….James 3:1-12 Don’t be in any rush to become a teacher, my friends. Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards. And none of us is perfectly qualified. We get it wrong nearly every time we open our moths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you’d have a perfect person, in perfect control of like.A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything- or destroy it!It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.This is scary: you can tame a tiger, but you can’t tame a tongue- its never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and woman he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth!My friends, this can’t go on. A spring doesn’t gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don’t bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don’t bear apples, do they? You’re not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you?1 Peter 3:10 NLT – If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Ephesians 4:29(-32) NLT – Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and help

Psalm 57:7-10 (NLT) My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises! Wake up, my heart! Wake up, O lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn with my song. I will thank you, Lord, among all the people. I will sing your praises among the nations. For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.Where we hear praise, He hears faith.Psalm 150 "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."The very first thing we have to acknowledge is that; worship was given to us by God as a spiritual avenue to connect on a more authentic level with His presence.It's really not so much about style and preference. It should never be about what kind of mood we're in, or what we think we might need from Him.When we worship in those times when we don't feel like it, it's even more treasured - AW TozerYou see, it's in those times that we take a step of faith and offer our sacrifice of praise. When we hear praise, He hears faith.It's about us using our voices to exalt our God through a song. It's a place where we get to honor God with our words and our heart. Worship is one of the most spiritual things a Christian can take part in.John 4:24 (NLT)“For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”Make no mistake about it, although we are not to rely on emotion, worship will absolutely impact us emotionally. After all, we're emotional people. When your spirit connects on a spiritual level with your Creator, there's no avoiding emotion.Throughout the scriptures we see that God's people are emotional people when it comes to worship. They would worship so loud that surrounding cities would not only hear them, they would feel it.Psalm 67 Let the peoples praise You, O God; LET ALL THE PEOPLE PRAISE YOU. Then the earth shall yield her increase and the Almighty shall bless us.And just in case you think it’s not for you, or maybe you struggle engaging in a deeper level of worship, why don't you ask God to help you in your worship. At the end of the day, we’re simply bringing something to God from our hearts, connecting with His presence.Awake my soul! Be exalted O God above to heavens.Psalm 100 Come into His presence with singing. Know He made us and we are His people. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.One of the wonderful privileges of gathering for worship is the awesome opportunity to create such an atmosphere that when new people show up they actually feel His presence when they walk into the room.“There’s a sound I love to hear, it’s the sound of the Savior’s robe as He walks into the room.” Hillsong Worship - Awake My SoulRevelation 4:11 (NLT)“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”This is why worship was given to us by God as a spiritual avenue to connect on a more authentic level with His presence.So often it’s our sacrifice of praise that’s the on ramp to our breakthrough.I pray our talk inspires a more authentic, intentional heart of worship in all of us. Awake our souls, O God! So that it not only impacts our personal life, but that it becomes so contagious that it changes impacts who we are as a church. Truth is, at the end of the day, worship is a heart thing.1 Samuel 16 For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.This may take a minute to sink in, but the reality is, the way we are with people is the way we are with God.So for those of us that have some understanding of worship, when we come together for worship, let’s be aware that we’re helping others by setting the best example we possibly can. But because today's society has become so spectator driven, it easy for us to attend worship service on Sunday's like we're attending a concert.A big part of worshipping together is being aware that any Sunday could be someone's first real experience in authentic worship with their Heavenly Father.I can tell you from experience, the more I practice worship in my private life, the more comfortable I am in public worship. Just like with anything else in life, the more we do something, the better we are at it.The more worship is a lifestyle for us, not only will our public worship be more influential, but more enjoyable.Don’t kid yourself, if you’re not enjoying your own worship, what makes you think He is.Romans 12 (MSG) So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life, your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside ou

Think of what drives you to victory. What would you say is your ultimate source of strength?Kids, career, friends, desire to succeed, angerAll of these are guaranteed to fail at some point.-Question?What if I told you about A source of strength you have and that regardless of how bad the situation might be, you would come out with the victory every single time.-There are going to be situations in this life that you can do absolutely nothing about on your own.Sickness, death, evil-They will create hopeless situations-Hopeless situations require hope in something greater than the situation. -As believers we need to place our hope in God because he is greater than any situation. He is undisputed in victory.-In the book of Judges, we can see the Israelites faced a hopeless situation because they had turned from God.-The Book shows the pattern of God’s people turning to idols and forgetting what God had done for them. They would become oppressed and cry out to God for help.- Then God would send a leader to deliver them and one of those leaders was Gideon.(Midianites oppressive over the Israelites, took everything) (Judges 6: 1-10) Every Christian should have faith in God as their ultimate source of strength.Because of three ways God shows that he triumphs regardless of the situation.Key Word TriumphsRationale- God triumphs regardlessGod triumphs despite human weakness. (Judges 6:11-16)-Gideon was afraid of the situation he was in. He doubted God being with them because the situation looked bad. (Verse 13)-Despite Gideons doubts God called him “a mighty warrior” When God says something about you, He is speaking it into existence. You are no longer afraid; you are a mighty warrior.-God said, I will be with you. (Verse 16)-God is true to his word. “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” Numbers 23:19God triumphs despite human understanding. (Judges 7:1-8)-God wanted to show that He alone is the one to bring victory and not for the Israelites to have faith in themselves.-In human terms does not make sense to cut your army to 300 hundred men. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9Faith in God alone is all we need.God triumphs despite human odds. (Judges 7:9-22)-Gideon could have looked at the size of the army and said “impossible.” In fact, God knew it was going to shake him, so he gave him a confidence booster.Jesus replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, move from here to there, and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. (Matthew 17:20)- Gideon had an “AHHA” moment and realized God was with him, what the odds looked like did not matter because he knew God had the victory.-God caused the Midianites to turn on each other.-God will not only even the odds, but he will turn them around.-God always wins. God is undisputed.Review-It is important to realize where your source of strength comes from. It is God that brings the victory and not you. -The Psalmist says it like this, “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 1211. God triumphs despite human weakness2. God triumphs despite human understanding3. God triumphs despite human odds-Ephesians 6:10- Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. -Know where your source of strength comes from. -Know that God is greater than the impossible. -Have faith that God will bring the victory.-Jesus gives us some direction Having Faith in God.“Have faith in God, Jesus answered. I tell you the truth if anyone Says to this mountain, God, throw yourself into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart but believe that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.” Mark 11:22-24But when you ask you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double minded and unstable in all they do. James 1:6-8Make up in your mind to trust that God will triumph. You either believe, or you do not believe.Once you believe then you truly lock into your source of strength.Just like Iron man boldly knew who he was, you can boldly declare, “I am a child of God” , my Father is UNDISPUTED.

Ephesians 6:10, AMPBe strong in the Lord. Be empowered through your union with Him; draw your strength from Him.So, if God tells us, we can have, we can do, we can be, instead of asking our carnal, human nature anything, on purpose believe Him.We have to be open to this reality today, if God’s going to do something in the earth today, it’s going to be through someone that will say yes to Him.The apostle Paul’s revelation of the church being Christ body is one of the Holy Spirit’s primary objectives for every believer.One of the most significant revelations of Ephesians is our in Christ position.Chapters 1-3, Our position in ChristChapters 4-6, Our responsibly in ChristOne of the first things being empowered by Christ demands is that we embrace being an expression of the fullness of Him.Ephesians 1:22-23 (NKJV)And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”The second revelation we’ve got to be open to is being united as one people.Ephesians 2:17-19 (NKJV) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.The third phase of the Ephesian revelation is to mature, equip, and empower believers to advance Christ’s victory of darkness.Ephesians 3:16-20 (NKJV) That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height,to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.Remember, first we’re empowered by Christ to be an expression of the fullness of Him.Second, we’ve got to be open to is being united as one people.Third, we become mature believers empowered to advance Christ’s victory of darkness.Now keep in mind the first 3 chapters deal with our position in Christ. The last 3 deal with our responsibility in Christ.As we move into the last 3 chapters, stay open to this reality, our “In Christ” life comes with spiritual, moral and ethical expectations.In other words, A Strengthening ProcessEphesians 4:1, 11-16, 21-24 (NKJV) I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.V. 24 NLT, Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.Ephesians 5:1,8,15-17 (NKJV) Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.Now you are light in the world, walk as children of light.See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.Ephesians 6:10-12 (AMP)“In conclusion, be strong in the Lord. Be empowered through your union with Him; draw your strength from Him, that strength which His boundless might provides. Put on God's whole armor, the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies, that you may be able successfully to stand up against all the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood, contending only with physical opponents, but against the despotisms, against the powers, against the master spirits who are the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly supernatural sphere.This assignment from God is our call to be a covenant guard. Not battling to get, but to occupy what has already been given to us.Make no mistake, the world needs to see believers who know exactly who the

1 Corinthians 13:1 (NKJV)Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. Always remember, any spiritual reality related to God has to be supported by God's Word. 1 Corinthians 14 reminds us, God is not the author of confusion, but brings us into harmony. Regardless of your view on this matter, something we should all keep in mind; spiritual language is God's idea. No man made it up. The primary purposes of a spiritual language are:1. Personal praise and worship.2. Self-edification. (Jude 20, Building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.)3. Praying out divine secrets.4. Public exhortation. 1 Corinthians 14:32 (NIV)The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.Here's the thing, after God introduces this spiritual reality, there's not one scripture suggestion it was only for a season, or that it wasn't to continue until He returns for His church.What about "tongues will cease?"1 Corinthians 13:8 (NIV)Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.1 Corinthians 13:8-13 (NLT)Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture!But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.Paul's point in bringing up these spiritual benefits, and notice he didn't even mention all of them, are to remind us that they are temporary in comparison to love which is eternal.As we said last week, according to the Bible, spiritual language is just as scriptural as the new birth, heaven, grace...Regardless of your view on this matter, something we should all keep in mind; spiritual language is God's idea. No man made it up.1 Corinthians 14:2 (NKJV) For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.1 Corinthians 14:4-5 (NKJV)He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.This passage simply distinguishes the public and private application of a spiritual language.1 Corinthians 14:14-15 (NKJV)For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.Paul makes it very clear that praying in his spiritual language is simply praying from his spirit, not his intellect.Let me also add this; spiritual language is not an escape from reality, or some self-induced state of mind.It is 100% spiritual, and completely scriptural.1 Corinthians 14:18-19 (NKJV)I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.For anyone who speaks in a tongue is speaking to God. Speaking mysteries by the Spirit.So when I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself.Acts 2:4,6-8,11 (NKJV)And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?We hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.Peters first sermon was to a group of confused people who just witnessed spiritual language. And the first thing he does is take them back to the Word.Always remember, any spiritual reality will always be proven through God's Word.Now 10 years after Acts 2Acts 9:17-18 (NKJV) And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and wa

Ephesians 6:10, AMPBe strong in the Lord. Be empowered through your union with Him; draw your strength from Him.So, if God tells us, we can have, we can do, we can be, instead of asking our carnal, human nature anything, on purpose believe Him.Seriously be open to this reality today, if God’s going to do something in the earth today, it’s going to be through someone that will say yes to Him.The apostle Paul’s revelation of the church being Christ body is one of the Holy Spirit’s primary objectives for every believer.He’s actually counting on us discovering and exercising our authority over the powers of darkness.As we make ourselves available to the Ephesian letter, our in Christ position is a key revelation.Here’s the thing, our positional authority in Christ cannot be executed without a practical understanding how His grace, presence, and empowerment affects our everyday lives.Ephesians 1He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings.He has predestined us as sons and daughters.In Him we are redeemed.He has made known to us the mystery of His will.In Him we have obtained an inheritance.In Him we are sealed with the Holy Spirit who is our guarantee.One of the first things being empowered by Christ demands is that we embrace being an expression of the fullness of Him.Ephesians 1:15-23,(NKJV)Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,Do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”Remember, one of the first things being empowered by Christ demands is that we embrace being an expression of the fullness of Him.The second revelation we’ve got to be open to is being united as one people.Ephesians 2:1,4-10 (NKJV) And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.Ephesians 2:18-19 (NKJV)For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.Remember, first we’re empowered by Christ to be an expression of the fullness of Him.Second, we’ve got to be open to is being united as one people.The third phase of the Ephesian revelation is to mature, equip, and empower believers to advance Christ’s victory of darkness.Ephesians 3:8-12 (NKJV)To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.Ephesians 3:14-20 (NKJV)For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height, to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do ex

So let’s dig into it, and with anything related to the Christian life, the Word of God has to be our final authority. Psalm 18:30 (NKJV)As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven. Psalm 19 God’s word is perfect, sure, right, true, everlasting, to be desired more than gold. Psalm 119:89 (NKJV)Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. Psalms 119:105 (NKJV)Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. John 6:63 (NKJV)The words I speak to you are spirit and they are life. John 15:7 (NKJV)If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. One of the first things a Christian has to embrace is that our born again nature is spiritual. We literally become a new creations in Him. But we still express ourselves through our human nature. 1 Corinthians 14 reminds us, God is not the author of confusion, but brings us into harmony. So as we break down this truth, first things first, God's rule when it comes to any truth in the bible that we're unsure of;1 Corinthians 13:1 (NKJV) Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. At the end of the day, as with any other truth from God, there is an element of faith involved. The overwhelming majority of everything concerning spiritual language comes out of the Apostle Paul's writings. Which by the way, are all 100% inspired by the Holy Spirit.And for all those who think tongues is nothing more than some emotional state of mind for some small, out of balance, uneducated, radical group, the apostle Paul, who covers this subject extensively, graduated from one of the most recognized educational programs of his day. An elite Pharisee. One of history's most respected and quoted thinkers. Writing more than half the New Testament. 1 Corinthians 14:18 (NKJV)I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all. What's really sad is that most of the people that so strongly oppose speaking a spiritual language, quote Paul's writings in all there other Christian beliefs and teachings. Keep in mind, with any other truth from God, there is an element of faith involved. Mark 9:23 (NKJV)Jesus said to him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.(MSG) “Jesus said, “If? There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.Every biblical account of tongues was done through the cooperation of believers. The same Holy Spirit that came to empower The Church at its birth is still here and hasn't changed.Peters first sermon was to a group of confused people who just witnessed spiritual language. And the first thing he does is take them back to the Word. Always remember, there is no spiritual reality outside the support of God's Word. Here's the thing, after God introduces this spiritual reality, there's not one scripture suggestion it was only for a season, or that it wasn't to continue until He returns for His church.If you think about it, according to the Bible, spiritual language is just as scriptural as the new birth, heaven, grace...Regardless of your view on this matter, something we should all keep in mind; spiritual language is God's idea. No man made it up. 1 Corinthians 14:1-2 (NKJV)Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.(MSG) If you praise Him in the private language of tongues, God understands you but no one else does, for you are sharing intimacies just between you and Him. The primary purposes of a spiritual language are:1. Personal praise and worship.2. Self-edification. (Jude 20, Building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.)3. Praying out divine secrets.4. Public exhortation.1 Corinthians 14:4-5 (NKJV)He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.This passage simply distinguishes the public and private application of a spiritual language. 1 Corinthians 14:13-16 (NKJV)Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? Paul makes it very clear that praying in his spiritual language is simply praying from his spirit, not his intellect.Something else I would point out here, individually or corporately, we see no si

Chapter 10, a once again we’re going to see the same vision revisited again. Daniel 10:2-3 NKJVIn those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. One of the most recognizable qualities of fasting is a humble, focused, reverent state of awareness of God. Reinforced with a confidence readiness for God. Daniel 10:10-13,NKJV “Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. • v.11, And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. • v.12, Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. •v.13, But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.” Daniel 10:18-21, NKJV“Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me.•And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”•Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come.•But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince.” Isaiah 14:12-15, NKJV How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High. Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit. Luke 10:18, NKJVAnd He said to them, I saw satan fall like lightning from heaven. 2 Corinthians 4, even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded.Luke 10:19, NKJVBehold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.Revelation 13:16-17, NKJVHe causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Chapter 12, wraps up the last three and half years of tribulation.v.7, Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.v.10-13, Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.•And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.•Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.•But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 (NKJV) Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Gabriel speaks to Daniel.v.17, So he came near where I stood, and when he came I was afraid and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end.” v.18, Now, as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me, and stood me upright. v.19, And he said, “Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be. Then the vision begins describing the one that will be empowered by the dragon in Revelation 13:2 and he will introduce himself as the prince of peace.v.23, And in the latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise, Having fierce features, Who understands sinister schemes. v.24, His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; He shall destroy fearfully, And shall prosper and thrive; He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. v.25, “Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; And he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; But he shall be broken without human means. v.26, “And the vision of the evenings and mornings Which was told is true; Therefore seal up the vision, For it refers to many days in the future.” Daniel 9:20-24,NKJV- “Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God, v.21, yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. v.22, And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. v.23, At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision: v.24, “Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.” v.24-27, The 70 weeks, 70 years of 7’s (490 years)70 sabbath years, or weeks of judgment.v.25, In Nehemiah 2, Jerusalem is commissioned to be rebuilt.The 70 weeks in this passage is the first 49 years from King Artaxerxes decree until Nehemiah renews God’s covenant within the city.The 62 weeks, 434 years from the dedication until the resurrection of the Christ.Total 483 yearsv.26-27, the last week, 7 years is yet to come. It is the time of the end.Daniel 9:25-27 (NKJV) Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times. v.26, And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined. v.27, Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (NIV) For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amos 3:7 (NIV) Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NLT) And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. v.14, For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. v.15, We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. v.16, For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. v.17, Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be cau

One of Daniel’s major emphasis is what being separated and committed to the will of God will do for a believer.Another major component of Daniel is his clarity into the realities of the world of the spirit.Chapter 3 is the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and their faithful stand on their beliefs. Daniel 3:1,5-6,NLT- King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue. Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.Daniel 3:16-18,NKJV— “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. v.17, If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. v.18, But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”v.26, “Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here. ” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. v.27, And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them. v.28, Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! v.29, Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.” v.30, Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.” Daniel 6:6-7,NLT- “So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said, “Long live King Darius! We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions.” Chapter 7, Daniel has a vision. The beasts he sees represent the same empires that were revealed in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.Daniel 7:23-25,NKJV- Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces. The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; he shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings. He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time. Chapter 8, new symbolism, same message. Daniel 8:15-26,NKJV- “Then it happened, when I, Daniel, had seen the vision and was seeking the meaning, that suddenly there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. v.16, And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, who called, and said, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.” v.17, So he came near where I stood, and when he came I was afraid and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end.” v.18, Now, as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me, and stood me upright. v.19, And he said, “Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be. v.20, The ram which you saw, having the two horns— they are the kings of Media and Persia. v.21, And the male goat is the kingdom of Greece. The large horn that is between its eyes is the first king. v.22, As for the broken horn and the four that stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall arise out of that nation, but not with its power. v.23, And in the latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise, Having fierce features, Who understands sinister schemes. v.24, His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; He shall destroy fearfully, And shall prosper and thrive; He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. v.25, “Thr

Not only does the book of Daniel give us insight into the future of world events, but more importantly, the future of God’s people, all the way up until Christ returns and establishes His kingdom on the earth. The end of Daniel’s 70 weeks of years.One of the first things Nebuchadnezzar did was change their Hebrew names because every time they were spoken they were declaring their faith and allegiance to their God. Daniel- Belteshazzar, God alone is the judge.Hananiah- Shadrach, Jehovah is gracious.Meshach- Mishael, No one is like God.Abed-Nego, Azariah, Jehovah is our help. Daniel 1, God brought Daniel and his friends into favor with the ungodly.Not only did they prove their faithfulness to God, they maintained a humble and courteous attitude for their new, ungodly rulers.v.17, God honors they're faithfulness to the degree that these four get an audience with the king of the most powerful empire on the planet, not to mention their level of influence they have with him. Acts 1:8 (NKJV) “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Daniel 10:12-14 (NKJV) “Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.” Daniel 2:24-28 (NKJV) “Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; take me before the king, and I will tell the king the interpretation.”v.25, Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king, and said thus to him, “I have found a man of the captives of Judah, who will make known to the king the interpretation.”v.26, The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?”v.27, Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king.v.28, But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these:v.32-33 gives us the image of what Nebuchadnezzar saw:head of gold, Babylonchest and arms, silver, Persiansbelly and thighs, bronze, Greecelegs of iron, Roman Empirefeet of iron and clay, revised Roman Empire, European Union.v.41, “Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay.v.42, And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile.v.43, As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.v.44, And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.”Chapter 3 is the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and their faithful stand on their beliefs. Daniel 3:16-18 (NKJV) “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.v.17, If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.v.18, But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” v.26, “Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here. ” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire.v.27, And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.v.28, Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodie

We have found ourselves in a time in history that now more than ever the world needs to see believers who know exactly who they are in Christ.

Here are the scriptures/notes from todays sermon!Ephesians 6:10-11 (AMP) “In conclusion, be strong in the Lord. Be empowered through your union with Him; draw your strength from Him, that strength which His boundless might provides. v.11, Put on God's whole armor, the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies, that you may be able successfully to stand up against all the strategies and the deceits of the devil. v.12, For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood, contending only with physical opponents, but against the despotisms, against the powers, against the master spirits who are the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly supernatural sphere. v.13, Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day of danger, and, having done all the crisis demands, to stand firmly in your place.v.14, Stand therefore, hold your ground, having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God, v.15, And having shod your feet in preparation to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news of the Gospel of peace. v.16, Lift up over all the covering shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked one. v.17, And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.” Romans 4, God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobodyBecause he dared to trust God to do what only God could do, not based on what he saw but on what God said. He did not waver at God’s promise, but was strengthened in faith, because he was totally convinced that what God promised He would do. God doesn’t empower spectators!! Ephesians 6:12 (NLT) For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Galatians 6:9 (NLT) “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Colossians 3:1-2 (MSG) So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ, that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. Ephesians 3:20 (NIV) Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. 2 Timothy 2:1, My son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 1 John 2:14, You are strong and the word of God abides in you. Ephesians 6:10-11 (AMP) “In conclusion, be strong in the Lord. Be empowered through your union with Him; draw your strength from Him, that strength which His boundless might provides. v.11, Put on God's whole armor, the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies, that you may be able successfully to stand up against all the strategies and the deceits of the devil.