BE STILL – 2

The Heart Of It All

Our heart posture matters in how we draw close to God.

Our heart is postured by being still!

Psalm 51:1-6 God, give me mercy from your fountain of forgiveness! I know your abundant love is enough to wash away my guilt. Because your compassion is so great, take away this shameful guilt of sin. Forgive the full extent of my rebellious ways, and erase this deep stain on my conscience. For I’m so ashamed. I feel such pain and anguish within me. I can’t get away from the sting of my sin against you, Lord! Everything I did, I did right in front of you, for you saw it all. Against you, and you above all, have I sinned. Everything you say to me is infallibly true and your judgment conquers me. Lord, I have been a sinner from birth, from the moment my mother conceived me. I know that you delight to set your truth deep in my spirit. So come into the hidden places of my heart and teach me wisdom.

AN OPEN HEART

Psalm 51:1-2 God, give me mercy from your fountain of forgiveness! I know your abundant love is enough to wash away my guilt.God does not see the relational barriers we have constructed.

A SUBMISSIVE HEART

Psalm 51:3 NLT For I know my transgression, and my sin is always before me.Anything that breaks the relationship with God is sin and the results are always the same. 

Restoration is in God’s wheelhouse. Doing it our way just makes things worse!Pride, stubbornness, and rule-based thinking will never draw us closer to God!Pride can not justify sin. 

The posture of our hearts must become humble and submissive to the Lord. God has supreme authority over mercy. Confessing to Him draws us to His forgiveness and confessing to others draws us to His healing! 

Simply admitting you can not do it yourself, simply relinquishing the ideas of self-justification, simply admitting you are not the hero, simply giving up the idea that you are the solution and the breakthrough, simply admitting where you are weak and humbly position yourself, you put yourself in the posture to receive restoration… 

Trying to supply what our heart needs most in our own strength, always results in the frustrations that cause us to take up the posture of aggression.

Psalm 51:7-9 Purify my conscience! Make this leper clean again! Wash me in your love until I am pure in heart. Satisfy me in your sweetness, and my song of joy will return. The places you have crushed within me will rejoice in your healing touch. Hide my sins from your face; erase all my guilt by your saving grace. Keep creating in me a clean heart.

AN EXPECTANT HEART

Mediocrity and melancholy are the enemies of hope!Our relationship HAS BEEN restored through Christ. Now we can become expectant that God will use us again, despite our past. God is not holding your past against you, why are you? You are not disqualified and you can expect good things!

Psalm 51:10-11 Fill me with pure thoughts and holy desires, ready to please you. May you never reject me! May you never take from me your sacred Spirit!

AN OBEDIENT HEART

We do not have the authority to define the conditions of our relationship with God or with others. Our relationship is what releases blessings into our lives and we have to simply trust and obey whatever God asks of us – Obedience

Psalm 51:12 Let my passion for life be restored, tasting joy in every breakthrough you bring to me. Hold me close to you with a willing spirit that obeys whatever you say.

A GIVING HEART

Psalm 51:13 Then I can show other guilty ones how loving and merciful you are. They will find their way back home to you, knowing that you will forgive them.If you live life to show off the abundance of God’s love, your life will be hard, you will have to take many risks, you will be taken for granted, but your life will be full.

A RESTORED HEART

No longer restless from the burden of unconfessed sin, an unresolved past, or an unbroken habit, we can praise God for the restoration of r

Learn to be still with God.

BE STILL

THE POSTURE OF PROXIMITY

Psalm 46:10

Surrender your anxiety. Be still and realize that I am God. I am God above all the nations, and I am exalted throughout the whole earth.

Psalm 100:4

You can pass through his open gates with the password of praise. Come right into his presence with thanksgiving. Come bring your thank offering to him and affectionately bless his beautiful name!

INTIMACY

Intimacy is what we call the experience of really knowing and being known by another person.

We frequently use spatial language when describing this experience. An intimate friend is someone we feel very close to; they know us at a deep level.

If something happens that damages the intimacy with our friend, they feel distant from us.

Our experience of God’s nearness or distance is not a description of his actual proximity to us, but of our experience of intimacy with him.

CLOSER

Intimacy is directly related to proximity

Intimacy with God is directly related to our spiritual proximity.

Psalm 73:28

But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

James 4:8

Move your heart closer and closer to God, and he will come even closer to you. But make sure you cleanse your life, you sinners, and keep your heart pure and stop doubting.

WE DON’T ALWAYS FEEL CLOSE TO GOD

Why didn’t God answer my prayer?

Why do bad things happen to good people?

Why would God use me?

How many of you have ever felt the presence of God?

How many felt the presence of God in church today?

How do you know? Tingly feelings, calming, goose bumps, tears.

God’s presence can give goosebumps, so can sitting next to girlfriend 

God’s presence can make you cry, so can cutting onions.

God can give you a warm sensation, so can going to bathroom in pool.

If you didn’t feel God today…

Is it your fault? God’s fault? The worship pastor’s fault?

TAKING A POSTURE OF PROXIMITY

PROXIMITY THROUGH PRAYER

THE PRACTICE OF PROXIMITY

THE PLACE OF PROXIMITY

IF YOU DON’T ALWAYS FEEL GOD’S PRESENCE, YOU’RE NOT ALONE.

Psalm 88:13-14

But I cry to you for help, O Lord; in the morning my prayer comes before you. Why, O Lord, do you reject me and hide your face from me?

WHY DON’T I ALWAYS FEEL GOD?

MAYBE YOU ARE OVER SENSATIONALIZING IT.

30 So they asked him, “What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? John 6:30

Spectacular. God often reveals himself…Sometimes peace.

Really charismatic church—Red bull. 

MAYBE YOU’RE SIMPLY DISTRACTED. 

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. Luke 10:38-40

Facebook, Tweeted, Soccer, Yard, Television show, etc.

Just got distracted…

MAYBE YOUR HEART HAS HARDENED.

You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Matt 13:14-15

God didn’t answer prayer 

Thought God showed you something

Someone hurt you

MAYBE YOU’VE BUILT A WALL OF SIN.

Isaiah 59:1-2

Listen! The LORD is not too weak to save you, and he is not becoming deaf. He can hear you when you call. 2 But there is a problem — your sins have cut you off from God. Isa 59:1-2 NLT96

Still married, but broken intimacy 

MAYBE YOU DON’T KNOW GOD.

John 7:28-29

You do not know him, but I know him because I am from him and he sent me.

Our proximity to God is directly related to the revelation of His image in ourselves. Knowing God in you! 

PRESENCE PROMISES

YOU WILL FIND GOD WHEN YOU SEEK GOD.

Jeremiah 29:13

HOPE IN ACTION

The Church is the hope of the world…

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1. We carry the only message of real truth in the world.

1 Timothy 3:15

But if I’m delayed in coming, you’ll already have these instructions on how to conduct the affairs of the church of the living God, his very household and the supporting pillar and firm foundation of the truth.

The truth of Jesus and His finished work on the cross is something that the world must hear. As a local church community, we have been divinely positioned to bring that truth to the people closest to us.

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2. We are super naturally empowered with gifts to step out of the limits of human judgement and limitations

2 Peter 1:3

Everything we could ever need for life and godliness has already been deposited in us by his divine power. For all this was lavished upon us through the rich experience of knowing him who has called us by name and invited us to come to him through a glorious manifestation of his goodness.

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3. We are the living proof of God’s existence and His love

Matthew 5:16

So don’t hide your light! Let it shine brightly before others, so that your commendable works will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven.”

The church is in relationship with the father by nature of their faith in Jesus Christ. As such we are the only ones who fully embrace His love and are best qualified to show it to others.

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4. We pray to a living God and see Him answer our prayers

Ezekiel 22:30

“I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.

…for tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer!

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5. We remain united, with no challenge breaking our resolve

Philippians 1:27

Whatever happens, keep living your lives based on the reality of the gospel of Christ. Then when I come to see you, or hear good reports of you, I’ll know that you stand united in one Spirit and one passion—celebrating together as conquerors in the faith of the gospel.

Whatever we have received or is revealed to us, we acknowledge that it is for others and not ourselves.

Ephesians 2:10

We have become his poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it!

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IT IS TIME FOR US TO UNLEASH THE POWER OF THE CHURCH:

Our Communities Are Sick

Proverbs 13:12

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.

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Unleash the truth

Go beyond our human capabilities

Demonstrate irrational love

See the real time change through prayer

Face challenges together

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1 Peter 1:13

So then, prepare your hearts and minds for action! Stay alert and fix your hope firmly on the marvelous grace that is coming to you. For when Jesus Christ is unveiled, a greater measure of grace will be released to you.

Being the Hope of the County is going to take action and a focus!

Choosing what you want most over what you want now!

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THE METHODOLOGY OF A GOOD VISION

 Nehemiah Story

Nehemiah:

He was a Jewish man in the service of the Persian King Artaxerxes.  He was the cup bearer, which meant he not only served the king wine, but more importantly tasted it to ensure it wasn’t poison.

After 70 years of exile the Jews were returning to their homeland.  Nehemiah had some friends that

Watch Pastor Craig Smee’s message on night three for Jubilee 2021!

Join us for night two of Jubilee 2021!

Hebrews 10:25 states “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together”, but what does this mean? During Jubilee 2021’s first night, Andrew Wommack dives into how just attending church services and “assembling ourselves together” might not be the same thing, and shows us just how important the assembling of ourselves is.

STOP TRYING AND START TRAINING

Successful people do consistently what others do occasionally.

Trying never achieves consistent results. Training does.

TRYING is an attempt to change with the least possible commitment or only a half-hearted motivation.  

TRY read bible—TRY to be nice—TRY not to order dessert.

“Trying” gives you plenty of room to fail!

TRYING is an attempt to change with the least possible commitment

BUT

TRAINING is a wholehearted commitment to achieving a specific result. The result? Gal 5:22-23

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KNOW THE DIFFERENCE (Trying vs. training)

Training speaks to the journey of the transformation of our character. Trying speaks to a fleeting moment of success.

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When you’re TRYING—Show up, with a flesh-based desire and a failure-based vision!

TRAINING—You arrive with a God-inspired game plan and a Word-backed strategy!

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1 CORINTHIANS 9:25

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. 

Greek—to contend for victory, to strain every nerve toward the goal.

We need to cause our flesh some agony. We need to get it trained to listen to our spirit.

Our reactions, habits, and responses are no longer governed by how we feel in the moment but what Jesus has done with our eternity.

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1 TIMOTHY 4:7

Train yourself to be godly.

(Didn’t say, Try godly)

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Training is doing what I can do today, to enable me to do even more tomorrow. 

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You may not be able to run a marathon today, so walk a mile today!

Get out of debt by next month? Bring coffee to work don’t get Starbucks.

Spiritual powerhouse by noon? Open your Bible today!

Not trying better marriage—Great marriage—In Training!

Not trying better parent—Godly parent—In Training!

Not trying to avoid porn—Ambassador of Jesus—In Training!

OF GOOD CHARACTER 6

Analyze the Promise

THE NOISEMAKERS

Getting people confused about Jesus.

Galatians 5:19-23

1. The spirit at work amongst those who do not believe what Jesus CAN do. (Ephesians 2:1-2)

Still under Satan’s authority

2 CORINTHIANS 4:4

…for their minds have been blinded by the god of this age, leaving them in unbelief. Their blindness keeps them from seeing the dayspring light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the divine image of God.

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2. The shame, blame, and fear of the unknown that exists in believers causes them to doubt what Jesus HAS done. 

COLOSSIANS 1:13-14

He has rescued us completely from the tyrannical rule of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom realm of his beloved Son. For in the Son all our sins are canceled and we have the release of redemption through his very blood.

Free from Satans authority but not walking through faith in the fullness of our God-given authority

How do we hold on to what God has already done in our character so it can start to prevail and not be undermined?

ACTS 26:18

And you will open their eyes to their true condition, so that they may turn from darkness to the Light and from the power of Satan to the power of God. By placing their faith in me they will receive the total forgiveness of sins and be made holy, taking hold of the inheritance that I give to my children!’

Taking Hold: the focussed and constant conviction or belief of the truth, respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust in God’s promises with holy fervor born in faith.

That sounds like a great definition for the Arena of Peace.

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We take hold by being focussed, holding to a constant conviction, train ourselves in the unwavering trust of God by pressing back the shame, blame, and the fear of the unknown.

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Through our faith in Jesus, we remove our distractions and excuses to see others lose their confusion about Jesus.

I want to have a good character so I can look like Jesus to others who may not believe what he can do OR what he has done!

Your good character, when coming together with others who are also in training with Jesus, is the hope of the world!

We prove that we can conquer the spirit of this world, we prove what Jesus has already done

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HUMILITY, FAITH, AND STRENGTH

We operate in vulnerability, transparency, and revelation. We seek feedback from others, we manage our thought lives and we read scripture until the revelation of God results in our immediate obedience to His promises.

1 PETER 5:6-8

If you bow low in God’s awesome presence, he will eventually exalt you as you leave the timing in his hands. Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you. Be well balanced and always alert, because your enemy, the devil, roams around incessantly, like a roaring lion looking for its prey to devour.

DEVOUR?

If we are so intoxicated by today’s culture or the culture of our minds that we are not even aware that we are under its influence

CHARACTER DETERIORATION

Movies we watched when we first fell in love with Jesus…

Language changes we made…

Attention to our marriages…

Attentions to morals, dignity, biblical principles of engagement…

If our character is slipping so is our attention to God’s promises.

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GODS PROMISES ARE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR CONFIDENCE, CONSISTENCY, AND GROWTH

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BECAUSE OF YOUR WORD

LUKE 5:4-5

Jesus sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished, he said to Peter, “Now row out to deep water to cast your nets and yo