Bakersfield First Assembly

Bakersfield First Assembly

Bakersfield First Assembly

Bakersfield First Assembly

Bakersfield First Assembly

The Book of ACTS

Bakersfield First Assembly

Job 42:7-17 (NIV) – [7] After the LORD had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. [8] So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” [9] So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the LORD told them; and the LORD accepted Job's prayer. [10] After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before. [11] All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him over all the trouble the LORD had brought upon him, and each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring. [12] The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. [13] And he also had seven sons and three daughters. [14] The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch. [15] Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers. [16] After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. [17] And so he died, old and full of years.

The Way of Redemption

1. Repentance

Job 19:13-14 (NIV) – [13] “(God) has alienated my brothers from me; my acquaintances are completely estranged from me. [14] My kinsmen have gone away; my friends have forgotten me.”

2. Restitution

Luke 19:8-9 (NIV) – [8] But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” [9] Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.

3. Reconciliation

4. Restoration

Job 2:9 (NIV) – [9] His wife said to him, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? CURSE God and die!”

Job 2:4-5 (NIV) – [4] “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. [5] But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely CURSE you to your face.”

Acts 4:29-31 (NIV) – [29] Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. [30] Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders THROUGH THE NAME OF YOUR HOLY SERVANT JESUS.” [31] After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Stretch Our You Hand to Heal

1. We can ask for ANYTHING in the name of Jesus.

2. No other name brings salvation or healing but Jesus.

3. We can’t expect healing if we have not been with Jesus.

4. Miracles are not a competition.

5. You must know the person behind the name.

Acts 19:13-16 (NIV) – [13] Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” [14] Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. [15] [One day] the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” [16] Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

Mark 14:51-52 (NIV) – [51] A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, [52] he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.

1 John 4:4 (NIV) – [4] You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV) – [9] Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

6. You must have a relationship with Jesus before you have a right to use His Name.

Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV) – [21] “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ [23] Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

7. What distinguishes a false prophet from a true one is obedience.

Matthew 24:24 (NIV) – [24] For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible.

8. True miracles make people believe; false miracles make people deceived.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 (NIV) – [9] The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, [10] and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

Stretch Out Your Hand to Heal

Acts 4:29-31 (NIV) – [29] Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. [30] Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders THROUGH THE NAME OF YOUR HOLY SERVANT JESUS.” [31] After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

John 14:14 (NIV) – [14] You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

1. We can ask for ANYTHING in the name of Jesus.

Acts 4:12-13 (NIV) – [12] “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” [13] When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

2. No other name brings salvation or healing but Jesus.

3. We can’t expect healing if we have not been with Jesus.

Mark 9:38-41 (NIV) – [38] “Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” [39] “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, [40] for whoever is not against us is for us. [41] I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.

4. Miracles are not a competition.

Acts 3:6-8 (NIV) – [6] Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” [7] Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. [8] He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

John 5:6 (AMP) – [6] When Jesus noticed him lying there [helpless], knowing that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, Do you want to become well? [Are you really in earnest about getting well?]

The Book of Job

Job Answers God

Job 40:1-5 (NIV) – [41] The LORD said to Job: [2] “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!” [3] Then Job answered the LORD: [4] “I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. [5] I spoke once, but I have no answer — twice, but I will say no more.”

Job 1:20-21 (NKJV) – [20] Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. [21] And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

Job 30:20-23 (NIV) – [20] “I cry out to you, O God, but you do not answer; I stand up, but you merely look at me. [21] You turn on me ruthlessly; with the might of your hand you attack me. [22] You snatch me up and drive me before the wind; you toss me about in the storm. [23] I know you will bring me down to death, to the place appointed for all the living.”

1. The longer God seems silent, the harder it is for us to trust Him.

2. When God speaks, we will be humbled.

3. When God speaks, we will be silenced.

Matthew 22:41-46 (NIV) – [41] While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, [42] “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” “The son of David,” they replied. [43] He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, [44] “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”’ [45] If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” [46] No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Proverbs 17:27-28 (TEV) – [27] Someone who is sure of himself does not talk all the time. People who stay calm have real insight. [28] After all, even a fool may be thought wise and intelligent if he stays quiet and keeps his mouth shut.

James 1:19-20 (NIV) – [19] My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, [20] for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

Job 40:6-8 (NIV) – [6] Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm: [7] “Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. [8] “Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?

4. We condemn God to justify ourselves.

Job 40:9-14 (NIV) – [9] “Do you have an arm like God’s, and can your voice thunder like his? [10] Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor, and clothe yourself in honor and majesty. [11] Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at every proud man and bring him low, [12] look at every proud man and humble him, crush the wicked where they stand. [13] Bury them all in the dust together; shroud their faces in the grave. [14] Then I myself will admit to you that your own right hand can save you.”

Job 10:3 – (Job speaking to God) “Does it please you to oppress me, to spurn the work of your hands, while you smile on the schemes of the wicked?”

Job 24:12 – (Job speaking of God) “The groans of the dying rise from the city, and the souls of the wounded cry out for help. But God charges no one with wrongdoing.”

Matthew 7:1-5 (NIV) – [1] “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. [2] For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. [3] “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? [4] How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? [5] You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

5. It is not our place to question God’s judgments.