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Lectures
Lesson 1
Walking
in Spiritual Power
How does one walk in
spiritual power? What are the prerequisites? Can an
individual actually have authority over sickness,
demonic spirits, powers of darkness? What about man
having authority over nature, the weather, the waters
and animals? What determines the level of authority one
walks in? Can we believe scripture in its entirety? If
the answer is yes, then we must believe that man has
authority over all these things mentioned, over nature,
over sickness, over demon spirits, over powers of
darkness. That may seem like a lot to swallow, but it
really is not.
First of all to break this
down, we must first understand how an individual gains
spiritual authority. Spiritual authority is much
different than worldly authority. It is not obtained by
being the most intelligent, the most capable, or the
most gifted. It is not earned. It cannot be purchased or
bargained for. It cannot be passed down through a family
blood line. Spiritual authority begins with the
understanding that we are under God’s authority. This
means submitting life, thoughts, actions, plans,
desires, family, finances obedience, and even death
completely in the hands of God. Many of us can say we
have done this very thing, but how many actually have?
Only God knows the answer to this question.
Secondly, we learn an
important lesson from Moses. The Bible tells us he was
the most humble man on the face of the earth. He met
with God. What made this man of flesh so powerful in the
supernatural that he could part the Red Sea, turn water
into blood, turn a rod into a snake, and then back into
a rod again? Could it have been as simple as his
attitude of humility?
Thirdly, it’s about total
surrender. Below are 10 Steps to Obtaining Spiritual
Power. I have purposely avoided churchy terms so that
this might be uses as a witnessing tool for the
non-believer.
10
Steps to Obtaining Spiritual
Power
1.
Divine power comes to those
who are willing.
2.
Willingness to walk in
divine power must accompany surrender.
3.
Surrender leads to an innate
desire for truth.
4.
A search for truth leads to
wisdom.
5.
Wisdom is the beginning of
understanding.
6.
Understanding opens one up
to the process of dying to self.
7.
Dying to self allows for
divine power to freely flow through.
8.
An open vessel (empty of
self) is ready to receive revelation.
9.
It is by revelation that one
can partake in divine power, move in divine
power and impart with divine
power.
10.
Divine power is given for
the benefit of others and not for selfish motives.
How do I walk in divine
power? Ask yourself this question, “Am I willing to
surrender?” If the answer is yes, then a spiritual
rebirth is the next process. You are born in the natural
realm with a biological father and mother, but now you
must be born of the Spirit. Man is spirit and the body
is its house or dwelling place, as you determine to walk
into this rebirth, your spirit man becomes alive to
things of the spirit realm. The body however, is
temporal. Once rebirth has occurred, the process of
death begins. It may seem ironic, but death is the place
of true spiritual power.
The death process must
include a burial. The burial will then be followed with
a resurrection. It’s like a seed which falls into the
ground. It dies, but when it dies, it produces much
fruit. The natural man must die first and then the
spirit man arises in resurrection power. The things of
this world hold no real obstacles for the man of the
spirit.
Once born a man of the
spirit, then the search for spiritual truth begins. The
search for truth will open man’s eyes to the fact that
there are many counterfeit powers, but only one true
source of divine spiritual power. Spiritual realities
supersede realities of the natural realm and as this
truth is understood, freedom to flow in supernatural
power becomes available. The realm of the spirit is a
new order.
Ability to flow in
supernatural power is granted as an individual empties
himself of the desires of his own natural flesh, his
love of this world and the things in it, and determines
to walk in a life separated to the one and only true
source of power.
If you want a life filled
with meaning and purpose, a life flowing with
supernatural power, a life free of the bonds and chains
that has kept you in the old man, then say yes and
simply surrender and become a new creature: and die to
self daily!
Pray this prayer: God, the
one and only true source of resurrection power, Make
yourself known to me. I choose to surrender. Help me
understand truth. Open my eyes that I might see. I
choose light over darkness. I choose truth over
deception. I choose freedom over bondage. I choose you
over every counterfeit. Let this day be a day of new
beginnings in my life as I choose to die to self,
surrender to the truth and walk in resurrection power.
Forgive me of a life lived to self. Forgive me of all my
sins.
Jesus is the way, the truth
and the light. He is resurrection power. He is the
source of love, peace and joy. He has dominion over the
natural realm as He walked on water, healed the sick,
opened blind eyes and made the lame walk again.
Lesson
2
Servant-hood vs. Servitude
What if
God chose to use you? First in the natural and then in
the supernatural, we see below an example of a
foreshadow of deliverance ministry. Observe the
similarities.
These are the ordinances that you shall
set before them: When you buy a male Hebrew slave, he
shall serve six years, but in the seventh He shall go
out a free person, without debt. If he comes in
married, then his wife shall go out with him. If his
master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or
daughters, the wife and her children shall be her
master’s and he shall go out alone. But if the slave
declares, “I love my master, my wife and my children; I
will not go out a free person,” then his master shall
bring him before God. He shall be brought to the door or
the doorpost; and his master shall pierce his ear with
an awl; and he shall serve him for life. Exodus
21:1-6
A.
Many Israelites were hirelings-service for pay, slaves
held as property, servants
To their Hebrew brethren; they were held in higher
respect than foreign slaves.
* captives of
war
*
poverty
* born into
slavery
*
restitution
for theft
* unable to be
independent
B. Bond-servants
were to be treated with respect and kindness. The
impoverished man was to work 6 years but the 7th
year, the year of jubilee the man was to be freed,
released from bondage. --- Leviticus 25:40-43
C. At that time, the slave
was to choose freedom or become a bondservant, no longer
a slave. The piercing of the ear was a covenant
made on the doorpost (which was considered sacred)
between servant and master. This covenant was a promise
of perpetual servant-hood instead of servitude,
1. Love of the master
2. To stay in the master’s house and care
for it
3. To stay under the master’s care
Why…because the love of the
master and allegiance of love was more valued in the
eyes of the slave, than his own personal freedom.
3 Ways to Obtain
Freedom
1. The year of
jubilee
2. Redemption- a
relative may be redeemed at any time (bought for a
price)
3. Becoming an
Heir
We’ve been sold into
slavery, bought with a price and redeemed by the Blood
of the Lamb!
a. For
we know that the law is spiritual; but I am of the
flesh, sold into slavery under sin. Romans 7:14
b.
c.
…he entered once and for all
into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats
and calves,
but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal
redemption. Hebrews 9:12
d.
…it is the very Spirit that
bears witness with our spirit that we are children of
God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and
joint heirs with Christ---if in fact we suffer with him
so that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8:16
e.
Let each of you look not to
your own interest, but to the interests of others. Let
the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus… he
“emptied himself taking the form of a slave… Philippians
2:4
Bondservants
a.
For you were called to
freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your
freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but
through love become slaves to one another. Galatians
5:13
b.
Bear one another’s burdens,
and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2
c.
Philippians 1:1:
Paul and Timothy,
bondservants
Titus 1:1: Paul a bondservant
James 1:1: James, a bondservant
Peter 1:1: Simeon Peter, a bondservant
Jude 1: Jude, a bondservant
We are
to be more than a servant, but a bondservant, submitted
to our Master and Father out of love instead of
obligation, desiring His will over our own personal
desires.
Jubilee-Hebrew--yobel--a blast of a trumpet---Leviticus
25, After the Sabbatical year, 6 years of working
the land, on the 7th the land shall rest,
COMPLETE REST, lie fallow---Exodus 23:10-11
1.
Complete rest for the soil---no sowing, reaping,
gathering, man was freed from the labor of sowing, man
was free to enjoy God’s provision
2.
Reversion of the landed property--- any land or property
that one was forced to sell because of poverty was to be
returned to him, revert without payment to its original
owner or its lawful heirs
3.
Manumission of Israelites--- Israelites sold self
through poverty, go out free with his
children, ownership became matter of hire, all persons
in bondage for debt were released
All
landed property of debtors freely returned
Jubilee
* Year of freedom
*
Deliverance from lack
*
Provision from the Lord
* Oppression lifted, ceased
*
Covenant blessings for God’s
people
* Restoration for family and
return of property
Lesson 3
The
Supernatural
Can there really be
supernatural activity: angels, demons, powers and
principalities? The New Unger’s Dictionary states,
“The denial of the existence of angels, as that of a
personal devil and demons springs from the
materialistic, unbelieving spirit, which in its most
terrible form denies the existence of God.
Today’s youth and young
adults are enthralled with the search for power and the
supernatural. We see the interest when we look at the
weekly lineup on television. Shows like Hero’s,
Supernatural, Medium, Ghost Whisper, not to mention the
barrage of movies which focus on evil and the powers of
darkness. What have these writers touched upon?
The blend of science,
technology and the use of communication media have
heightened the ability to enjoy a more realistic escape
of reality, if only for a brief time. Teens can be
transformed in their minds as being strong, powerful and
dynamic without leaving their home. They can join in the
illusion of manipulating reality and creating their own
desired outcome. They can be the hero or the villain
without suffering any consequences.
This may seem a little over
the top, but is it? I write articles on the web and on
one site I have had approximately 1350 viewers with more
than 1/3 interested in spiritual power and the
supernatural. These movies and weekly television shows
are little more than a skillful trap into paganism and
the occult. They have added to the allure of the days of
old when the Ouija boards and tarot cards were on the
slumber party game lists, along with bloody Mary and
séances.
What is the draw and why is
it so hard then, for this culture to embrace the truth?
Take a challenge. Call together three or four friends
and do a survey. Ask family members, friends, colleagues
at work, or acquaintances if they really believe that
there are such things as angels or demons. Ask them if
they have ever seen them. Ask them to tell their
personal experiences of such an encounter. Compile and
discuss your data with each other and with me via
virtual classroom.
God has placed in every
individual an innate desire to be used of the Lord. He
has placed in us a desire to move in His supernatural
power by giving us gifts of the Holy Spirit. When we
refuse to know God in a personal, intimate way, then we
are denying our own deep-seated desires. In an effort to
overcome that void, we reach out to other means of
achieving what seems like the same result and we become
entangled with the occult. Powers of the occult block
the flow of the Holy Spirit from coming upon us.
Back in the day, when I was
a college student, I played a simple game called
Dungeons and Dragons. I didn’t see the harm in it,
although I grew up as a PK, that’s right, a preacher’s
kid. My father was evangelical and I was never taught
about the fullness of the Holy Spirit and the
importance of being both in-dwelt and in-filled. I did
not understand that God’s gift to me fulfilled an inward
longing. One afternoon I was reading an article about
the dangers of the occult (including D&D) and I stopped
and prayed. Immediately after confessing my involvement
with the occult, the Holy Spirit released in me the gift
of tongues. A whole new world opened up to me. It was at
that moment when my desires lined up with God’s desires
that He so graciously blessed me with the gifts from on
high. I began flowing in prophecy and gifts of healing.
What a tremendous blessing! My lesson to you today…if
you have not yet received the gifts of the Holy Spirit,
repent of sins, repent of any occult involvement, repent
of rebellion and dishonoring you parents and expect to
receive!
Lesson 4
Yoga, Is it dangerous?
Where
does yoga originate? Yoga originates out of India. It is
a practice commonly integrated into many false religions
such as Hinduism and Buddhism, and is considered to be
an ancient path of obtaining spiritual growth through
the worship of sun-gods. It is a practice over 5000
years old and is first documented among the Indus Valley
Civilization which is an ancient civilization which
flourished primarily in Pakistan, but extended into
parts of India, Afghanistan, and Iran. Yoga is one of
the six schools of Hindu Philosophy which focuses on
obtaining self-knowledge and liberation.
The
Washington Post reports in an article Yoga, The Power
to Heal, “Brought to the United States in the early
part of the 20th century, yoga was introduced to baby
boomers when swami Satchidananda taught the crowd to
chant "om" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969. Today the
ancient art is experiencing a renaissance, with an
estimated 12 million Americans now practicing yoga,
double the number just five years ago.
The
word yoga has many meanings but at the Indian root, the
Sanskrit word originates from the word “Yuj” which means
to control to yoke, or to unite. One claim of yoga
hopefuls is the control of the mind, the body and the
spirit. In an article by Richard Rosen Here Comes The
Sun the Yoga Journal states, “That most familiar of
asana(yoga positions) sequences, Surya Namakar (Sun
Salutation) is rich in symbolism and mythic overtones as
it is in physical benefits.” These sun salutations are
a means by which the practitioner offers homage to the
sun, which explicitly states in the spiritual realm a
uniting with and yoking to the demonic forces behind
this type of idolatry. Rosen continues to write,
“Moreover, since everything that exists originated from
the sun, as Alain DaniZlou wrote in The Myths and
Gods of India (Inner Traditions, 1991), it ‘must
contain the potentiality of all that is to be known.’”
I hope
you are seeing the urgency of this topic. Is yoga
dangerous? Yes! Even if those involved do so under the
guise of ignorance, it is still a practice of idolatry
which will bind and insure bondage.
Lesson 5
Distorted Images and Anorexia
According to statistics, 20%
of people who do not receive treatment eating disorders
die for anorexia. Only a little better than half make a
full recovery and only about 20% recover to the point of
maintaining a job or a few superficial relationships.
Many suffer with potentially fatal medical conditions.
Only 1 in 10 people with eating disorders ever receives
treatment. That means the numbers could be staggering.
The typical in-patient treatment cost for anorexia is
$1000.00 per day and lasts anywhere from 3 to 6 months.
The church must learn to
deal with spiritual issues. This class is inevitably one
of the most important classes you may take this session.
Why? Because distorted images are prevalent in our
culture and even in our churches. Distorted images are
built upon layers of lies the enemy has fed an
individual. Healing begins with discovery. The path to
healing and wholeness requires true introspection. Often
an individual who has dealt with distorted image issues
has accepted in the core of their being, feelings of
worthlessness. Every individual ever born has value in
the eyes of God. Worthlessness is vicious tool the devil
uses to keep as many individuals trapped in this
devastating cycle of self-rejection, self-loathing and
self-destruction. According to Anorexia Nervosa and
Related Eating Disorders, Inc.,
-
Anorexia is the third
most common chronic illness among adolescents.
-
40 – 60% of high school
girls diet.
-
50% of girls between the
ages of 13 and 15 believe they are overweight.
-
80% of 13 year old girls
have dieted.
-
40% of 9 year old girls
dieted.
The average onset is 17 and
it is rarely diagnosed in women over 40, however, those
women may or may not have had interest in treatment so
once again, the numbers are very difficult to pinpoint.
Anorexics often have a profoundly distorted body image.
Often they vehemently reject the opinions of others that
they are not over-weight.
With such an astounding
number of individuals who are dealing with this issue,
the church has a responsibility to become educated on
spiritual principle application. The secret to their
healing, is to find the lies, replace them with the
truth of God’s word and then disciple them with the
written scripture to replace the stronghold of lies with
which they have been inundated with.
Lesson 6
Masonic Lodge:
Many good people have been
touched in some way with the group of the masons. The
Masonic lodge offers good deeds to the community. They
support one another in a true bond of brotherhood. They
encourage patriotism. Most men who are involved in a
Masonic brotherhood are successful business men of the
community. So what’s the problem? Biblically, there are
numerous issues with this organization. Due to the
brevity of this article, one must research the
complexities of such an organization to fully comprehend
the dangers independently. Below is a list of Biblical
objections to having any association with the
organization:
1.
Members join themselves with
followers of false religions, financially, socially, and
spiritually, which Christians are warned not to do.
2.
Members must go through a
mock baptism in a name other than the name of Jesus.
3.
The god of the Masonic Lodge
is an object of syncretism where the God of Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob, is linked with mythological demonic
deities, thus instituting idolatry.
4.
Members curse themselves,
(physical harm to their bodies), and their families with
an oath of harm to come upon them if they ever leave the
organization.
5.
Masonic members are to quote
by proclamation, that they are coming into the
light as a result of joining the organization, instead
of the truth of the Bible which
emphatically states that
Jesus is the only way. He is the true light.
6.
Members are required to
participate in a mock communion which is, biblically, a
path to sickness and even death.
7.
Members curse themselves
with a curse of poverty if the ever leave the
organization.
8.
The organization is clothed
in secrecy and ritualistic, pagan symbolism which is
very dangerous to the non-suspecting, uneducated
attendee.
9.
The organization gives their
god his own name, and their heaven its own name also,
where believers of many religions are welcomed to bow
down at the same altar in the same sanctuary, under the
same Grand Arc
10.
At the highest levels, they
are to confess Lucifer as God.
Healing from the detrimental
effects of such an ungodly entanglement starts with
confession of breaking the first commandment, and then
proceeding with confessing the sins of the forefathers.
Renouncements at every oath or level or involvement is
the next step, and lastly, reclaiming the individual to
the lordship of Jesus Christ alone. Break in the name of
Jesus all curses, and demand back all that has been
stolen through this ungodly union. It is strongly
advised that as one walks with an individual who has
been involved or whose father, or grandfather has been
involved, to always have at least two prayer partners
together, as is standard in any prayer session. Also,
daughters and wives are encouraged to go through the
same cleansing as the actual member.
Lesson 7
Mediums,
Psychics, Spiritual Healing
In a recent Time Magazine
article, “Crossing Over with John Edwards” was rated as
the most watched television
show on the sci-fi channel. Mediums are no more than a
credit card away. Psychics are deified on national
television as the way to solve a crime. You may
think…Oh, that doesn’t say much…Oh, yes it does! It says
that today’s teens, as well as America as a whole, are
enthralled with the supernatural and this wide-spread
dabbling is anything but harmless.
What’s really the harm? Well
the Bible distinctly states that participation in such
activities is an abomination before the Lord. Where do
Christians stand on these topics? Too often the local
church is taking the low road, refusing to preach on the
dangers of such actions. Years ago I was a member of a
church where the pastor had an open forum for the youth,
on a Sunday night. The discussion was regarding Harry
Potter and whether or not Christians could safely read
the series. The discussion had progressed and it was
time for the bottom line. Pastor stated his position, “I
do not recommend it for kids under 13.” There was a hush
over the congregation, and then, …the entire youth group
stood up and marched out of the church! Their
frustration was evident and very tangible. They had
attended the meeting expecting to hear biblical truth
and left very disappointed after receiving a secular
response. The role of every pastor, teacher, or
evangelist is to uphold the gospel and preach the
uncompromising truth. People young and old crave it!
Oprah is another good
example of how dangerous it is to mix truth with other
religions. Christian women all over the country have
joined classes, which equate to nothing more than
syncretism, old paganism dressed up in a New Age
package, such as “The Green Earth.” Many are being led
astray because the fundamental principles of Old
Testament doctrine have given way to a weak theology set
up and orchestrated by man. Syncretism is the mixing of
religions. It was an issue that the nation of Israel was
constantly challenged with. Not much has changed. Our
society is still facing this age-old tactic of the
devil. We are moving away from our Christian-Judeo roots
at an astounding rate. It’s time we get back to truth
and refuse to stray from it. Here are some steps to help
you:
1.
Do not mix truth with false
religions.
2.
Do not seek to learn from
teachers who get their information from Buddhist,
Muslim, Hinduism or other pagan religions.
3.
Refuse to participate in
programs or teachings which are affiliated with other
world religions under the guise of tolerance.
4.
Do not fall for the trap
when the accuser of the brethren says that you are
closed-minded or a bigot.
5.
Accept the truth of the
scripture that says there is but one way to heaven and
that is through the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord
and Savior and know that all other roads lead to
deception and destruction.
Warn others about these
dangers. Words are seeds and when we take in words that
are false, they can take root and have fruit, but it
will be bad fruit!
Lesson 8
Sins of
the flesh
Slander, gossip, and
internet harassment:
Last year the nation was
faced with a new dilemma. A 47 year old woman pretended
to be a 16 year old boy over the internet, and a 13 year
old girl ends up dead. Is slander and gossip harmful?
Yes, most often the root of such actions is based on
jealousy and envy. The book of James tells us that such
things are evil and demonic.
Althouse web site reports:
After a
month of innocent flirtation between Megan and Josh, Ms.
Meier said, Megan suddenly received a message from him
saying, “I don’t like the way you treat your friends,
and I don’t know if I want to be friends with you.”They
argued online. The next day other youngsters who had
linked to Josh’s MySpace profile joined the increasingly
bitter exchange and began sending profanity-laden
messages to Megan, who retreated to her bedroom. No more
than15 minutes had passed, Ms. Meier recalled, when she
suddenly felt something was terribly wrong. She rushed
to the bedroom and found her daughter’s body hanging
in the closet.
What lesson can we learn
from such an atrocity? One good lesson is that we, as
the church, cannot take sin lightly, even the sin of
gossip or slander. This woman chose to torment, harass,
lie to, humiliate, and embarrass a child, which she did
admit to, but pled not guilty in a court of law.
Regardless of her plea, an innocent child is dead. Young
pastors, teachers and leaders, make the most of the
instilled word of God and choose not to downplay or
overlook sin. Consequences will always follow, and
sometimes the price is just too high to pay.
Slander or defamation of
character is an untruthful oral statement about a person
that harms a person’s reputation or standing within the
community. Can these actions take place in the church?
Yes they can. Slander can be a cause for division in the
church setting. Whispering tongues can set a fire ablaze
within any community or church and the damages can be
irreversible.
In 2004 a man
was awarded $800,000 in a civil trial as he claimed his
priest at the time, had “abused his office as spiritual
director for his parishioners" when he counseled his
now-ex-wife without his consent and outside his
presence. He also claimed that the priest "ordered" him
to undergo psychiatric evaluations, then published
libelous statements about his mental condition to other
church members.
This man also
claimed that the priest sent a letter to about a dozen
people which contained "false, malicious and defamatory
statements." regarding his situation which caused “great
division within (his) family."
Those in church leadership must
lead with great dignity for the sake of the Gospel.
Cases of liability can arise from breaking confidences.
Once trust has been violated, everyone loses.
Lesson 9
Build My Church
Sanctuary, Temple, Tent of
Meetings---a sign that God is present among His people
1.
The temple is for God.
King
David said to the whole assembly, “my son Solomon, whom
alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and
the work is great for the temple will not be for mortals
but for the Lord God. I Chronicles 29:1
2.
The temple is God.
Jesus answered them,
“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it
up.” The Jews then said, “This temple has been under
construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it
up in three days?” But he was speaking of the temple of
his body. After he was raised from the dead, his
disciples remembered that he had said this; and they
believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had
spoken. John 2:19-21
3.
We are also the temple.
Do
you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s
Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s
temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple
is holy, and you are that temple. I Corinthians
3:16
The temple was comprised of
three parts: the outer court, the inner court, and the
Holy of holies. We too are comprised of three parts: the
body, the soul and the spirit.
Jesus walks us through this
temple to His grace and abiding presence.
I. Outer Court
a. Bronze Altar
A type of
Christ’s cross---a place of sacrifice, burnt offerings
to the Lord
Flesh hooks
and fire pans
Symbolic of
dying to self, destroying the flesh, purification, the
place of atonement.
We are to be
refined in the fire of trials and adversity. I Peter
4:1-2
In this you
rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to
suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of
your faith---being more precious than gold that, though
perishable, is tested by fire---may be found to
result in praise and glory and honor when
Jesus Christ is revealed. I Peter 1:6
b. The Laver
§
* The priests
would wash before entering the Holy Place
§
* Symbolic of a
repentant life before the Lord as Jesus Christ cleanses
us from the defilement of sin
§
* We are to be
washed in the blood of Jesus and the Word of God.
If we confess
our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us
our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I
John 1:9
2. Inner Court
a. The Golden lamp stand.
§
* We are to walk
in the light.
§
* Typifies
Christ as the light of this world, our light in a dark
world.
Again Jesus
spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but
will have the light of life.” John 8:12
But if we
walk in the light as he is in the light, we have
fellowship with one another, and the blood of
Jesus His son cleanses us from all sin. I John 1:7
b. The table of showbread
§
* Typifies Jesus
Christ as our sustainer of life.
§
* We are to eat
of the Word of God daily.
§
* We are to eat
the bread of eternal life.
Jesus said to
them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will
never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never
be thirsty. John 6:35
“I am the
living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats
of this bread will live forever; and the bread
that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
John 6:51
c. The Altar of Incense
§
* Represents
Christ as our intercessor and High Priest
§
* We are to pray
without ceasing.
§
*
First in the
natural, then in the spiritual, our prayers go up before
the Lord.
Consequently
He is able for all time to save those who approach God
through him, since he always lives to make
intercession for them. Hebrews 7:35
When he had
taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the
twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each
holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which
are the prayers of the saints. Revelation 5:8
3.
The veil Matthew 27:51
§
* At that moment
the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to
bottom.
§
* Jesus grants
access to the throne of God and ends all legality which
demands
works of the law as a means
of obtaining righteousness.
§
*
We can now
stand before a holy God because of this access, and not
based on our own righteousness
4.
The Holy of Holies
1. The Ark of
the Covenant
a.
The law
Obedience is better
than sacrifice.
b.
The mercy seat, which represents the throng of grace,
throne of judgment
c.
The Cherubim, which represents the protection of the
things of God,
guarding the holiness of the mercy seat of God.
d.
The Shekinah glory, the place of residence, manifest
presence of God, it
is the cloud in which Jehovah appeared
2. Presence of
the Lord:
* Sanctified by His glory
* Weightiness of His presence
(In the tent of
meetings) It shall be a regular burnt offering
throughout your generations at the entrance of the tent
of meeting before the Lord, where I will meet you, and
speak to you there. I will meet with the Israelites
there, and it shall be sanctified by my glory. Exodus
29:42-43
And when the priests came
out of the holy place, a cloud filled the house of the
Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister
because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled
the house of the Lord. I Kings 8:10
Lesson
10
Does God
punish a nation?
What role does the prophetic
play in national judgment? Hint Amos 3:7
A comprehensive look at the
Book of Amos answers this resounding question our nation
is faced with after every natural disaster or after
attacks such as 9/11. Amos was a burden-bearer. He was a
writing prophet. A sheep herder by trade, he did not
claim to be a prophet, only that he was just called by
God to deliver a word. He was known as the prophet who
prophesied harsh words in a smooth, prosperous season.
He was called to prophesy an uncompromising message,
which would have him expelled from the royal sanctuary
at Bethel. Amos was in conflict with the religious
leaders of the day, especially Amaziah who commanded him
to leave and never prophesy there again “For it is
the Kings sanctuary, and it is the royal residence.”
Amos 7:13
His message:
God was greatly displeased
with this nation and its neighbors. Punishment was
inevitable unless true repentance would occur, and
justice and righteousness would run down like water Amos
5:24. Israel had broken covenant with God and for this
there would be a great shaking of the House of Israel.
A sifting would occur. Amos 9:9
To look at Amos, is to look
at the prophetic:
Amos was said to have
stammering lips and slow of speech. His style was plain
and rustic. We learn important lessons from Amos
concerning the life and mission of the office of a
prophet:
-
There is a specific
group targeted to receive the word of the Lord.
-
There is a specific time
or season for that word to go forth.
-
There is a specific
message that goes forth.
-
There are differences in
style of oracles. There is order, however, the
priest did not have authority over what the Lord
commanded this prophet to do, and there were
consequences to him for trying to stop the word of
the Lord from going forth. Are there consequences
today for stopping the prophetic voice of the Lord?
What are the safety measures put in place by the
written word?
-
The office of the
prophet today still requires a heart to bear the
burden of God.
How do we
see this in the typical church setting today?
God’s heart and
the heart of a burden-bearer:
Therefore I
said: Look away from me, let me weep bitter tears; do
not try to comfort me for the
destruction of my beloved people. Isaiah 22:4
Commanding the
prophet not to speak was a common occurrence in the OT.
What does the NT
say about receiving prophetic word for you today?
-
The office of the
prophet today calls for repentance and reformation.
Does this
scripture line up with our understanding of NT
definition of a prophet?
-
God does nothing without
first revealing it to his prophets.
How does society
as well as the church view this truth?
Does the church
readily accept judgment on the land as prophesied by
today’s prophets?
Nation
-
Does God bring judgment
on the land?
-
Does God bring judgment
through fire, drought, pestilence, and famine?
-
Does God use foreign
nations to bring punishment to His own people?
-
If you believe this is
so, how then can you believe God is still a loving,
caring God?
-
What are some of the
sins that brought about judgment to a nation?
Why did judgment come to the
Israelites?
1. They thought they were
immune.
2. False mindsets of being
“Chosen”.
To be chosen means
what?
To whom much
has been given from him much will be required…
Luke 12:48
3. They took their
relationship with God for granted, and expected to be
blessed in the middle of their mess.
How does this statement
relate to your own life and actions?
Covenant
breaking is explicitly discussed in Deut 27-29.
What
implications does this have for us today?
Are there areas
of your life you need to repent from your own actions?
Oppression---3:3-8
Catastrophe---3:11-15
Understanding statements
found in the first 7 judgments
1. The Lord roars from Zion
a.
The Lord is angry with His
people.
b.
There is righteous judgment,
but there is also mercy.
c.
In Zion, there is a mercy
seat.
d.
God warns us before He
strikes.
2. Fire for refinement or
judgment. Chastisement it meant to bring us to
repentance
On that
day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and
glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the
pride and glory of the
survivors of Israel. Whoever is left in Zion and
remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who
has been recorded for life in Jerusalem once the Lord
has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and
cleansed the bloodstream of Jerusalem from its midst
by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning.
Isaiah 4:2
3. 3 transgressions, no
4---meaning many
4. “I will not revoke
it”---for the sin of persecution, God has given long
reprieve, and has often turned away their punishment
but He will turn away no more. Justice will take
its course.
5. “I will cut off”, and I
will turn my hand against….Who does these things?
God is God over
the whole earth. --- Isaiah 2:4
Thus said the
Lord, against all My neighbors that touch the
inheritance of my people Israel. Behold I pluck
them out. Jeremiah 12:14
Recently the Jews were
removed from the Gaza strip. Does this have any bearing
on the catastrophes, earthquakes, plagues, and floods
the world has experienced?
Sins of the foreign lands
Damascus
* Threshing
instrument, cruel, torturous, and inhumane
*
Royal palaces
were on defense against God’s judgment, even if strongly
fortified.
*
Idolatry
* Sensuality
brought on captivity
Gaza, City of the
Philistines
* Known for
carrying away entire cities into captivity
* Attempted to
cut off the name of Israel
* God will
avenge those who attempt to destroy Gods church and his
people.
Tyre
* City of
strength and wealth
* Sold
Israelites into captivity, Edomites who had fled to them
for shelter, for financial gain
* Forgot the
brotherly covenant
* Violation of
friendship
* Has a
friendship been violated? How do you respond?
Edom, Posterity of Esau
* Unmerciful
pursuit of Gods people
* Taking all
advantage to do them mischief
*
Least
courageous, most cruel
* “Put on
fierceness of a beast of prey”
*
Pursued His
brother, whom he ought to have protected
* Esau hated
Jacob—generational curse of the bloodline
*
The fire of
anger against a brother will kindle the fire of God’s
anger against us.
Ammonites
*
Triumphed over
their calamities
*
Ripped open
pregnant women
* Stop Israel
from procreating—Jeremiah 49:1 (Israel had no sons or
heirs)
* Territorial
expansion at any cost, enlarge their own borders
“ Come let us
kill him and the inheritance shall be ours by occupancy”
Moab
* Burned bones
of Edom into lime
*
Desecration of
human bodies to appease their deity
*
Offered their
own son for burnt offering
Those who deal cruelly
will be dealt will cruelly. Isaiah 9:5
Judah
*
Nation that
has made itself like a heathen
* Mingled with
them, “ they are all alike”
*
Despised the
Law of the Lord
* Has not kept
his commands
*
Lies caused
them to err, for an image is the teacher of lies
And those that are led
away into the error of idolatry are by that led into a
multitude of other errors. Hab. 2:18
In idolatry, the truth is
changed into a lie, truth is repressed or disregarded.
Idolatry leads us into great deception. Nations suffer
greatly, primarily in 4 specific areas:
1.
Economic Exploitation
2.
Religious Hypocrisy
Sarcasm—Bethel
and Gilgal was a place to worship
Amos calls the
people to come there to sin.
* Sacrifices are
a sham
* Done to
impress, not to worship
* Bragging about
their spirituality
* Going to
church to sin
3.
Legal injustice
4.
Moral injustice
They hate the one who
points out their wickedness their singing and worship
was just noise. Amos5:10
God is a God of justice. He
is a righteous God.
Lesson 11
Prayer
Power
Jesus said, “So now Father,
glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I
had in your presence before the world existed.” John
17:5
There is glory in the
presence of the Lord! Have you had a God-encounter? Stop
and think: When was my last encounter with the Lord
There is a life-altering effect of being in His
presence. Salvation is the first step in having a
God-encounter. You may have had a visitation, but before
salvation there was no communication. There is an
abiding effect of being in His presence ---which is
practiced with day-by day commitment to the cause of
Christ. Abiding does not mean sitting idly by. It means
resting in the work, resting in the moment, resting in
the truth, resting in the confidence that God is your
provision, He is your sustenance. He is your protector
in the midst of every battle. The Abiding place is a
place of peace and joy. There is a radical and
transforming effect of being in His presence.
Salvation is the beginning,
from that point on God-encounters are to occur and
continue throughout the life of a believer, constantly
bringing each of us into a higher level of spiritual
consciousness, constantly sharpening our spiritual
senses, constantly challenging our complacency and
status quo mentality.
The Gospel is a message of
hope. To accept it is to look at the word of God and
find meaning and application to your personal journey.
Everything written in the Bible is your personal road
map. There is only one way to find your particular path
and that is to earnestly dedicate time, energy and
prayer into the process, and through that commitment you
will reach your intended destiny, and to have a life of
meaning and purpose along the way. This message is one
which is intended to help you break with the past,
practice the presence with God, establish a new
direction and commitment wherever you may be in your
journey. This message is to inspire you in finding the
true zeal and passion in spending time with the God, in
His presence.
There is no clearer picture
of being in the presence of God and the radical change
that comes along with such a visitation than the account
we find in Acts, chapter 9:1-22. Let’s explore the
radical transformation of the life of Paul through one
God-encounter, as he saw the glory of the Lord. Here we
see a man going about his business, on his own path, and
determining his own allegiance until he has a radical
God-encounter. He was very comfortable. He was an
educated man. We know this through scripture in that he
sat under the great teacher of the law, Gamaliel,
therefore he had developed tremendous respect for what
was written. He was on Roman citizenship, therefore
considered the upper crust of society, and his
citizenship superseded all others in law because of it.
He was highly regarding within the confines of the
religious system. His father was a Pharisee, meaning his
father was scholarly and well versed in scripture, as
was He. His father and mother were both native Jews. He
was a Hebrew among Hebrews as he referred to himself.
He also knew and understood the spirit of slavery and
the “spirit of adoption” because of his dedicated
studies of the law and then his dramatic conversion on
the road to Damascus. He brought to the church that
great insight though his writings to the Galatians.
There are some things that
are going to break off of Paul because of one
God-encounter
* There was a
new path determined by this encounter.
* There was a
new passion stirred through this encounter.
* There was a
new name given through this encounter.
* There was a
divine mission given through this encounter.
* There was a
clean break with religiosity through this encounter.
One Radical God-Encounter
---One experience with the living God---being in the
presence of the Lord we see that:
1.
Through the life of Paul,
visions of glories to come: life after death, the
resurrection, as He met with the living Savior
2.
Through the life of Paul we
see the perfect triumph of good over evil
3.
Through the Life of Paul we
see the manifestation of sons of God
4.
Through this one
God-encounter we see transformation into the image of
God-
* Paul
as the Suffering servant
* Paul
as the Announcer of truth
* Paul
as the Conduit of the healing powers of God
* Paul
Persevering in the face of great tragedy
One God-encounter is all it
takes!
Lesson
12
Instruments of Radical Change
Can we really make a change,
to our homes, our churches, our neighborhoods? How can
we have an impact? Do we really believe we can influence
our surroundings in a positive way? Do we really have
that ability? “God knows those who are His” How do we
know “who is His?”How do we know if “We are His?”How do
we know when someone calls themselves a Christian
whether or not they are one? The religious landscape of
America is changing…Thanks to the movement of Pluralism
across this nation, the slumber of real Christians, and
the inundation of false teachers who defile the church
and pull others away from following hard after Christ
Jesus.
7
Litmus Tests of the fruit in
the life of a true believer
We
will know them by their fruit. ---What will our fruit
look like?
Litmus Test of Works
A litmus test is any kind of
social indicator used to classify someone either
favorably or unfavorably and this case it is a
measurement based on the biblical world view. As true
believers in Jesus Christ, we should walk in the gifts
of the Holy Spirit. Gifts will never override grace. Man
is been saved by grace alone, and not by works, lest any
man boast, however, faith without works is dead. James
wrote very clearly that faith without works is barren,
in other words, he argued that a man with true faith
will have a corresponding action to the faith he claims
to have, if indeed it is truly faith and not just lip
service. How do you measure up? Can you lay on hands the
sick and expect and receive a miracle? Do you flow in
prophecy, with a record of accuracy? Do you have
testimonies of miracles in your life or the life of
people you have prayer with or for? Has God given you a
word of wisdom, or a word of Knowledge for someone which
proved to be accurate? Do you have the gift of
discerning of spirits? Can you see the unseen forces,
angelic and demonic? Have you detected the voice of
error in someone’s theology?
Litmus Test of Character:
A True Christian will
reflect not only the works of the Holy Spirit, but also
the Character of the Holy Spirit in their own lives. How
should the fruit of the Holy Spirit be manifested in the
Life of a believer. Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit
is love, joy… Do you walk in love toward your neighbor,
co-worker, boss, other church members? Do you have peace
in your heart? Do you have joy in your spirit? I don’t
mean happiness, joy is much deeper. Do you have
patience? Do you act with kindness? Are your thoughts
and actions reflective of goodness? Would your loved
ones find you faithful? Are you lacking in self-control
in any area of your life? Litmus Test of Character
points out the fruit of the Holy Spirit being reflected
in the life of an individual
Litmus Test of Love
How is your love walk? Do
you bear the burdens of others, thru prayer, a simple
meal, a word of encouragement? Do you lay aside your
own agenda for others when they are in need? Do you care
for the well-being of others, more than for yourself? Do
you esteem others as better than yourself? Are you
rude, proud, boastful, self-seeking?
Litmus Test of Actions:
In other words, there must
be an action to correspond with our faith. If we say we
believe I healing, then we will pray for people to be
healed. If we say we believe in Jesus Christ, then, we
will want to share the message of the gospel. If we say
we’ve been delivered, then we will help others out of
their pit. Litmus Test of Actions is putting the Words
of Jesus into practice in our everyday lives, reaching
out and touching others with your faith, your
Litmus Test of Attitude:
Believers are to have the
same mind as the mind of Christ.
What is the mind of Christ?
How do we know what the mind of Christ is? Humility will
be resounding, servant mentality, sacrificial love: to
the point of death for the sinners and the saints alike.
“He died for us while we were yet sinners.” Do you a
desire to glorify the Father In this scripture alone we
see humility, servant-hood, a desire to glorify God,
Litmus test of Attitude is
putting on the very character, nature and virtues of
Jesus Christ.
Litmus Test of Obedience:
John 4:34 34 “My food,"
said Jesus, "is to do the will of Him who sent me and to
finish His work.” What does it mean to you to do the
will of the Father? It means laying down your will. It
means putting your desires below the desires God has for
your life. It means following even when there is no
benefit to be seen on this earth. It could mean …even as
unto death. It means intently following the scriptures,
God’s written will. His revealed will as written in
scripture. His will that we love one another, that we be
sanctified ,that we live a holy life, that we love one
another, that we are just in our actions and attitudes
Litmus Test of Discipleship.
What does it mean to be a
disciple? It means following Jesus’ lead. It means
following His teachings. It means doing His work and
will. It means making others disciples through sharing
the message of the Gospel. Are you willing to go into
all the world to spread the Gospel? Do you pray for the
sick? Do you cast out devils? Do you speak with in new
tongues? Do signs and wonders follow you? These are
marks of true discipleship! How do you measure up?
To Change a church, a city,
a nation, Change must start in our own hearts first! it
starts with being honest about who we really are, being
honest with ourselves, being honest before God and being
honest before man. We will see change take place in
ourselves and our homes, and our nation. Love, honor,
commitment to God and His word will allow us to move out to change our
world! |
