https://youtu.be/myfl8X81adU

“Which Archippus Are You?”

Colossians 4:15-18 New King James Version (NKJV)

15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and [a]Nymphas and the church that is in [b]his house.

16 Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

18 This salutation by my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

“Say to Archippus”- the church is entrusted with the duty of exhorting one of its ministers. It is generally supposed that the Archippus mentioned here is the same in Paul’s letter to Philemon

Philemon 2 New King James Version (NKJV)

2 to [a]the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

Archippus is Paul’s fellow-soldier and laborer in the faith. According to church tradition and the Apostolic Constitution, Archippus was the first bishop (overseer) of the church in Laodicea and Paul exhorts the church to give him a message from the imprisoned apostle. It seems odd that Paul would write a letter to Colossae and ask them to read it in Laodicea, but the church was only 12 miles away and a very common practice among the early churches.

“Take heed to the ministry” This word “ministry” in the Greek means a “laborious and painful work”; an obligation to do and suffer all things, to be the least and the servant of all.

“In the Lord”- Archippus had been appointed by the Lord, called and anointed by the Holy Spirit for this work and gifted with various gifts.

“That you may fulfill it”- That Archippus faithfully discharge all the duties of his calling with diligence and care, as the consequences for neglecting them will be infinitely dangerous and fatal, after having solemnly undertaken to fulfill them.

Little else is known about Archippus and his ministry. There are four possible scenarios:

Archippus knew his ministry, was faithful, but needed encouragement to keep going.Archippus knew his ministry, was faithful once, but had slackened and stopped.Archippus knew his ministry, but did nothing about it.Archippus did not know his ministry, and had to be prompted by Paul.

We all fall into one of the above scenarios. The question then, which scenario applies to you? The times are urgent and there is work to be done. WE have received an assignment from the Lord, but will we be faithful to complete it?

Proverbs 20:6 New King James Version (NKJV)

6 Most men will proclaim each his own [a]goodness, But who can find a faithful man?

1 Corinthians 4:2  “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”

WE want to be found faithful! I am coming from the position that Paul was encouraging Archippus to be diligent in his work and calling.

There are four characteristics of a faithful Archippus:

Almost Anonymous- The beautiful thing about Archippus is that he is only mentioned twice in the entire Bible. He is almost anonymous and yet mentioned by name. This is the season for nameless saints to arise and to take up their positions in the kingdom.

Quote “Preach the Gospel, die and be forgotten.”

Are you willing to be forgotten for the cause of Christ? A faithful ambassador does not care who gets the credit and ...

https://youtu.be/q6R_lySlavI

You thought you killed Goliath- 2 Sam 21:15-24As always- Great Bible Story- Probably not one that you hear about in Sunday SchoolWe’re getting close to finishing David in the Bible- Remember 1 sam 17 ? Everyone knows itDavid beats Goliath with a stone- It’s a story that is used all the time to build faithThe little Guy can beat the big guy. Slay the Giants of your life. Faith in God- All of itHere’s the problem tho- If you go and read that story- They chased the other giants awayAnd NOW we see that the one giant that David slayed- hasn’t ended the fight with the giantsAgain- Not a story that gets much play- but that’s what’s happening here-The philistines are once again at war with Israel and the son of the Giant that David killed shows up with 300 shekel weight spear to kill david- Avenge his father. They get into a fight, one of the sons of the Giant is killed, theres another war, a dude with 12 finges and 12 toes shoes up, davids brother kills him and eventually all 4 sons of the giant are killed by David and his servants.If I’m david- I’m in this thing thinking “I thought I Killed Goliath” I thought this thing was done.So much time had passed, you have to assume that David assumed that dealing with the giants was over- but apparently not. Goliath, Saul, Abasalom battle after battle and then MORE GIANTS

You thought goliath was dead? The enemy never gives up!

Enemies are enemies and they rarely change- they will not give up. David may have killed Goliath, but his 4 sons want to avenge the death of their father. They are not giving up.V 15 “David grew faint” V 16 The son Thought He could kill DavidV 18 “there was again a battle” V20 “Yet again there was a war”Do you see this? David had killed ONE Giant- and chased the others away- but that didn’t end itThe philistines are the enemies of Israel and they are not going to give up their attacksThey want Israel destroyed- they want their land and they want them destroyedMind you- Israel had been warring with the philistines since Saul- This enemy never gives upDavid wrote when he was captured by the philistines- Psalm 56:2 My enemies would hound me all day, For there are many who fight against me, O Most High.And that’s the truth isn’t it? HOUND ME ALL DAYPsalm 25:1 Plead[a] my cause, O Lord, with those who strive with me; Fight against those who fight against me.Read your psalms- you’ll see how many attacks David had to endure- Because enemies never stop- they are relentless to destroy you.1 Peter 5:8  Be ]sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.What does it mean to youBro- you got to wake up to the reality that the enemy doesn’t not take a day offHe wants and will do whatever he needs to do to discourage you, depress you and destroy youHe does not want you to win. To serve God. To prosper. To be happy. He wants destructionSo you better stay prepared! You may have slayed a giant- but he got 4 sons who didn’t forget

Ephesians 6:11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the [a]wiles of the devil.You know that scripture- but you have to live it on a daily basis- if you don’t- one day you’ll wake up and you’ll realize that the 4 sons of the giant you slayed are at the foot of your bedYou don’t have to be fearful or afraid- you have to be PREPARED- you cant let your guard down1 John 4:4  You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.David won- the giants were destroyed- Israel went forward- but wouldn’t no war be better?John 10:10  says The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.That’s what he DOES that’s all he doesJesus said in John 16:33 in the world you [a]will have tribulationAnd...

https://youtu.be/CNkV4iwAp7s

Beloved Brothers *Verses in NKJV*

- We are almost to the end of the letter that Paul wrote from prison, to the Colossians church.

- Paul writes from prison in Rome, and has never visited this church in person, but leads them through the help of the strong men serving in the ministry with him.

- In this part of his letter, he makes note of those men, his team serving the Lord with him in chains.

- No one can do ministry alone.

Read Colossians 4:7-14

POINT #1: You can’t do it alone. You need a team.

- Tychicus, longstanding partner of Paul in ministry.

- Onesimus, relatively new recruit and former slave.

- Aristarchus, seized by the rioting crowds on Paul’s behalf in Ephesus. Then travelled on the ship to Rome to see the Caesar, and was shipwrecked with Paul on Malta. (Acts 19, Acts 27)

- Mark (cousin of Barnabas), said to be one of the 70 Jesus sent out in Luke chapter 10.

- Luke 10:1-3, After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.

- Epaphras, the one who first brought the Good News to the Colossians.

- Luke, the doctor, author of the gospel of Luke, and the book of Acts.

- Paul wasn’t working alone. There are many others listed in scripture that served with him in his ministry.

- Example: I’m a firefighter. When there is a possibility of danger, people always say, “We’ll be okay, Jay is with us.” As if I can save the day by myself. I know what to do… call 911!

- At the warehouse, the time there was a T-bone at the intersection, “Who were you calling?!”

- Firefighters work in teams. We have special roles…. Just like in ministry.

- Eph. 4:11-12, And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

- There are many roles in the church that make ministry happen:

- “Equipping the saints for the work of the ministry.” That means you! Not a spectator sport.

- “Edifying of the body of Christ.” Building up their character and knowledge in the word.

- Eccles. 4:9-10, Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.

- Proverbs 27:17, As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

- Even the amazing Paul couldn’t do ministry alone:

- He was in chains much of the time. There were many cities needing the Good News.

- Paul had many faithful and beloved brothers and sisters serving by his side.

POINT #2: It’s not how you started; it’s how you’ll finish.

- Tychicus is the first person Paul mentions in today’s scriptures:

- He is spoken of in many books of the New Testament as one...

https://youtu.be/SUOycp-4jm4

2 sam 21:1-14 Interesting story here- There is a famine in the land, and David asks why to God and its because Saul was not nice to the Gibeonites. David wants to make it right with them, they say they don’t want gold and sliver- they want to kill 7 of Sauls descendants. David offers up 7, they kill them and then David takes all their bones, with Saul and Jonathans bones and buries them in the family grave of Kish. And then God lifts the famine from the land.What? What do we make of this? Where does this story come from and where does it Go?There’s a part of this story that really stuck out to me- And it was this idea of burying the bonesThe justification and explanation of the murder of 7 people as a means to appease the Gibeonites and God is not something I want to get into this morning- Honestly, parts of it make sense, and some doesn’tThe truth is that Saul was wrong and there was a blood penalty that needed to be executed to be made right- There was a covenant that Saul was supposed to keep that he didn’t and years after his death it still needed to be made right

here’s where I got caught up- The bones. Why bury the bones? Why honor the dead? Why?David wasn’t going to let circumstances change who he was- he was going to Honor GodSaul had done wrong- and the Gibeonites had been slighted- but David was going to be DavidHe had already decided way back in 1 Samuel 26:24 And indeed, as your life was valued much this day in my eyes, so let my life be valued much in the eyes of the Lord, and let Him deliver me out of all tribulation.”That he wasn’t going to Kill or dishonor Saul- God had chosen Saul, who had chosen David and David was going to come along side what God was doing- he wasn’t going to live for himself.And years after Saul was decapitated, burned and buried with his sons at Jabesh, David went and Got his bones and took them to the family plot of Kish in Benjamin Zelah.It takes a special type of person to have the grit to bury the bones- make it right

1. David wanted to do what was right

It was right to bury the bones because it would bring peace in Israel- The fighting needed to stop. The nation needed to move on. Things needed to be made right.It was right because it honored Saul- It brought him to his rightful resting place with his father.David- No one else will, I will. Everyone will think something bout me- that’s fine. I’ll bury the bones. Ill do the right thing because no one else will- but I will. I will bury the bones.It is the right and honorable thing to bury the bones- and even if those around me don’t understand it- I will do it because I am a man who follows YHWH. I will do it for himYou will notice- no one told David to bury the bones- He did it himself.James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.Often times when you do the right thing its to an audience of one- Sure this made it into scripture- but there wasn’t any fanfare of adulation from the masses- It was unto God..What does it mean to you?Do you desire righteousness in your life only when others are watching, or do you live unto the lord? What “bones” do you need to bury to move on in your life?Sure, David had to bury literal bones- think about this- 1 sam 31 talks about Sauls death- and he was decapitated, burned and buried and David had to go dig up those bones- by himselfIt was the right thing to do, but it wasn’t easy- we gloss over- but he was diggin it up!But if you’re going to do the right thing- its going to be messy and you wont want to do itDo it anyway. Go dig up the rotting bones and bury them in their rightful place. Its right.I get it- Its hard being a Christian. Its hard doing the right thing all the time.2 Peter 2:21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of right...

https://youtu.be/8mbpeNcI_94

Tonight, the finishing touches are being put on the section of this letter that has to do with practical teaching and commands for daily living. But before closing the door on that section and moving on, it's important to zoom out and see the wider picture.

Otherwise it’s so easy to take those commands for godly living out of context. And when they’re taken out of context they have a way of becoming burdensome pretty quickly.

Be honest now. Remember the word of God spoken to you a few weeks ago from chapter 3. Do not lie to one another. (3:9) and don’t lie to yourself. It’s ok. You can admit it, you find some of the commands here in Colossians to be burdensome. They don’t all come easily. you want to rebel against some of them. Some of them you may want to do but can’t seem to find the strength to actually do them. … Ask me how I know.

People need more than pure authority, more than baseless dictates. The functional, if not explicit motto of the average man is “It’s my life, I’ll do what I want.”

And that’s just it, people do what they want. You are ruled by your desires. Insincere obedience, never lasts. Just look at all these governors and their dictates. It’s a recipe for lawlessness. The people won’t comply, at least not for long. It’s sad to watch. That’s why the church reminds you every week that the Lord loves a cheerful giver. Someone who gives out of compulsion or guilt is just going to end up disillusioned and bitter. It’s no different when your king tells you, you must forgive one another. If your hearts not in it, you’re going to end up disillusioned and bitter. and its going to be a sad sight to see.

Your heart must be motivated to obedience. Self manufactured will-power is the worst, most ineffectual, shortest lasting fuel for godly living. That’s like putting diesel in a Tesla. The results aren’t going to get you far. And you’re going to ruin a beautiful creation.

That’s why when God commands right living, he also supplies the proper fuel so you can do it joyfully and endure hardships along the way. The Lord desires you to be happy in your faithfulness. And He Himself is more than happy to give your heart reasons to rejoice and obey. They are the context of God’s story and your part in it. And Paul is determined that you know and understand that context and not separate your goals for godly living from it.

He is sure that knowing and understanding the context of your lives within God's story will powerfully cause you to grow and produce Godly, glorious, joyful living. Hence the title of tonight’s sermon: The Truth Sets You Free

Paul is so concerned for the church, that you would know the will of God and knowing him, have strength and security. Look back through this letter and see the importance of knowing and understanding God’s will (that is to say, who God is, what he does and why he does it.)

That's what he's talking about when he says know the will of God, not whether or not you should live in this city or another or whether you should major in mechanical engineering or philosophy. It's about knowing the character of God.

He starts off by giving thanks to God for the fruit that is accompanying the gospel throughout the world.

“as it is also among you” he writes, “since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth” knowing the grace of God in truth sets you free to grow great big tasty fruit.

Chapter 1, verse 9: for this reason we also since the day we heard it do not cease to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understan...

https://youtu.be/EU0ekwjw9Dk

Every Man to His Tent 2 Samuel 20

Summary

David is returning from a long-fought battle with his own son Absalom who is killed in the battleA trouble maker names Sheba from the tribe of Benjamin incites people to leave DavidBrew the horn and said “Every man to His tent “- Lets do what we want.Men of Israel desert David and Men of Judah stay with DavidDavid asks Amasa (an old general from Absalom’s army) to gather an army in 3 days but he takes his timeDavid sends Abishai and Joab to hunt Sheba who was trying to run to a fortified city for safetyJoab meets Amasa on his way back and kills himAbishai, Joab and their army arrive at the city Sheba is hiding and they start attacking the fortified cityA wise woman asks to speak to Joab and offers to redeem the city by handing over ShebaAnd so they do, they cut off Sheba’s head and throws it over the wall.Joab blows the horn and called his troop back and they “Every man to His tent”

This morning I want to talk to us about the call from and to our Tent’s – our homes, our dwellings.

Before this am, I am almost sure that, you don’t think much about the call you hearEvery Morning before you rise up, there is a call to your tentIt’s a call to leave your tent and be part of somethingYou can’t ignore it because its loud and a response is requiredAt the end of the day as we return to our tents, a question arises, what actions did you do and did they build your family, your church, your community?Our actions have a lasting implication to the things that we answer toIt could be a call from a friend to pray for something, listen to something, or do somethingHere we see two calls – one from Sheba to desert and another from Joab to regroupThis morning I am challenging you to rethink about the calls you hear and the respond to them and the implication of each one of them.We are going to look at 3 characters involved and see what kind of response they hadDon’t be mistaken, all of them heard their call and choose to leave their tent to a certain direction and that shaped the rest of their day

Sheba – A rebel

2 Samuel 20:1-2 - And there happened to be there a [a]rebel, whose name was Sheba the son of Bichri, a Benjamite. And he blew a trumpet, and said:

“We have no share in David,Nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse;Every man to his tents, O Israel!”

2 So every man of Israel deserted David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri. But the men of Judah, from the Jordan as far as Jerusalem, remained loyal to their king.

A RebelThere happen to be a worthless manA base and ContemptibleA wicked manA trouble MakerThat is not how I want to be introduced in the Bible

The Sad part is that he was a Benjamite –

Deuteronomy 33:12 (Of Benjamin he said:

“The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him,Who shelters him all the day long;And he shall dwell between His shoulders.”)

A man from a tribe beloved by God and unfortunately, he heads a call from the enemy and leads others to desert a man of God.A man who would have lived a life pleasing to God, a warrior of GodIt’s crazy that God has a plan for us and given us names – Yet we follow our own desires to go against that which we are naturally called to beWhere have you pitched your tent?Your location matters because it influences the voices you hearJust like Sheba, this season I see many people, take up their trumpet and go against the Church, against the leaders and folks as we read this chapter, we realized that a rebels will not prevailSpoil alert,

https://youtu.be/_x7Qtw891qA

Instructions for Christian Households

Colossians 3:18-25 New International Version (NKJV)

18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for[a] you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

Ephesians 5:22  “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.”

The apostle proceeds from those duties which related to them as church members one towards another, for their mutual good and edification, and the glory of God, to such as concerned them in their own houses and families, as in a natural relation to each other; as husbands and wives, parents and children, masters and servants; showing hereby, that the Gospel of Christ establishes the duties of common and civil life, contrary to popular belief.

Wives submit to your husbands---as it is fit in the Lord; Subjection of wives to their own husbands is "fit" and proper in its own nature, by reason of the original creation of man, and of the woman from him: man was made first, and then the woman; and the woman was made out of the man, out of one of his ribs; and so, though not to be trampled under his feet, but to be by his side, and an help meet to him, yet not to be head, or to rule over him. Moreover, the woman was made for the man, and not the man for the woman; add to this, that the woman was in the transgression, and the means of the fall of man, which made the obligation to subjection to him the stronger: and it is also a "decent" and becoming thing for wives to be subject to their husbands; for as it is giving honor to them.

There are three governments that are Biblical on this earth: civil government, church government and family government.

In every family there should be a head - someone who is to be looked up to as the counselor and the ruler; someone to whom all should be subordinate. God has given that prerogative to man; and no family prospers where that arrangement is violated. 

The Gospel on the one hand recognizes and secures woman’s perfect spiritual equality with man, on the other hand recognizes and secures man’s responsible leadership.

Ladies, we are equals under the Lord, in our spiritual gifts and anointings, in salvation, in our work for Him; but in the house we are subject to our husbands as unto the Lord. God sees our submission to our husband as an obedience to Christ. Submission is yielding to my husband’s authority in love.

Proverbs 14:1 14 The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.

Proverbs 21:9 New King James Version (NKJV)

9 Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

Proverbs 12:4 New King James Version (NKJV)

4 An[a] excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.

What does submission look like? It is obeying when you do not want to. EX: I want red hair.

https://youtu.be/RkzAHf0rktM

Start a Civil War- 2 Sam 19:40-43

We are still dealing with King David returning to Jerusalem- Now we have the Kingdom of Judah and Israel arguing about who has more influence with the King- Who is the king here for and who has the rights to David as KingThere are two factions arguing- The 10 tribes of Israel with the men of Judah. They bothThey are grumbling against each other. Israel is mad at Judah for leading David. Jealousy and Envy are in their hearts. Israel is like “Who does Judah think they are? Why are they leading?Judah’s answer is simple- “we are his kin- and you’re not- so shut it” We’re related but we didn’t benefit from itIsrael - We represent 10 tribes- you only represent one- so we have 10 times as much of a claimApparently it goes from bad to worse with the mouth talk- so bad the author simply says- the men of Judah’s words were fiercer- ‘sharper’ harsherHere’s the issue- eventually, after david dies and Solomon takes over- there will be an embattled civil war between these two groups and this is the root of it.All division has a root somewhere- relationships, businesses, churches, families, countriesWe’re seeing a lot of division in the country right now- lots of it- even in this churchRacial division, disease division, masks, politics, schools, sports, there really isn’t any nuance anymore its only all or nothing. People are looking for a reason to be divisive.So the title of this message is “How to start a civil war” now no war is ever civil- but that’s the term you use when people who are supposed to be on the same team fight each otherYour marriage- family- church- business- country. All supposed to be on the same teamHere’s how you start one- its futile- and you shouldn’t do it- Start with yourself and look outward

How to start a civil war

Forgetting who’s team you’re on

41 Just then all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, “Why have our brethren, the men of Judah, stolen you away and brought the king, his household, and all David’s men with him across the Jordan?”These are their countrymen and blood realtives of Israel- it shouldn’t matter- the king is backBut people want what they want for their own benefitThe foundation of this war is forgetting “our brethren” and focusing on “stolen you away”Israel, Judah- they are both Israel. They are on the same team. There is no reason for their fighting. THEY HAVE FORGOT THE TEAM THEY ARE ON.Team Israel is God’s team. They are supposed to be fighting the enemy- not each other.Psalm 133:1  Behold, how good and how pleasant it isFor brethren to dwell together in unity!“who will be the greatest in your kingdom”Deuteronomy 20:1-4 READ. How have they forgot this is who they are and who’s team they onNo different in your life- People forget who they married, who is their family, who is their work, their church, their countrymen, their country. Somehow- they get sucked into it.What does it mean to you?Have you forgot who’s team you’re on? Have you been battling with your spouse when you are one flesh? Family? Church? Neighbors? Countrymen? We’re all on the same team here folksSome people frankly love to argue and cause division. I’ve seen it. No convincing them.

1 Corinthians 1:10  Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all [a]speak the same thing, and that there be no [b]divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.1 Peter 3:8 8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; Phil 2:2  fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 2 Cor 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell.

https://youtu.be/2rGJlcKVGnQ

A Puddle of Water Colossians 3:16-17

Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts.

17 And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in [dependence upon] His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him.

What are these Words?Matthew 6:33-34 -33 But seek ([a]aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness ([b]His way of doing and being right), and then all these things [c]taken together will be given you besides.34 So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.John 14:16 Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your [a]moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and [b]recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.Mark 11:24-25 For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it].  And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and [a]let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop.Matthew 22:37-39 - And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect -the capacity for understanding, thinking, and reasoning, as distinct from feeling or wishing). This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.

Have a home in your heart and mindLet ‘the Word Spoken by Christ have its home, prepare you heart as a:A place of safety, thriving, rest. (Home is a sanctuary …A place of refuge and safety), a place of rest- Don’t grieve the Holy SpiritPrepare your heart...John the Baptist...prepare the way for the KingDo whatever you can to prepare your heart – Even if it takes eating locust and wearing sheep skinPrepare your heart and Mind - Like a guest is coming to stay for a whileLet your actions be invitingGet rid of clutterRenew your mind- Consecrate yourself to ChristRomans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.Dwell in you in all its richnessRichness is a product of growthLet these Words that have found refuge in your Heart and mind Produce FruitJeremiah 17:7-8 Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not [a]fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.(Corona season)You become a fountain – That is full and water flows all around you. If you don’t have a pool of water – puddle of water around you, then you either not filled or there is an obstructionThe tree that doesn’t produce is cut – Matthew 7:19 - Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.And the byproduct of this is:…….and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things,

https://youtu.be/ZdK6JPuFPwU

Outbreak 2020 – Sermon One – We Flattened the Curve, and That’s Not a Good Thing.

Introduction - flatten

Acts 2:46-47 ESV  And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,  (47)  praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 5:14 ESV And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 

Acts 6:7 ESV And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. 

Acts 9:31 ESV So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. 

Acts 11:21 ESV And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 

Acts 11:24 ESV for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 

Acts 16:5 ESV So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. 

The churches increased in number daily…Can you imagine what would happen if CWO grew in numbers daily? How long until this beautiful building wouldn’t be big enough? A couple weeks? A month?And not just CWO, but what if every Bible believing Gospel teaching church grew in numbers daily? How long until the everyone in the world had a chance to hear and receive the Gospel?This is what happened directly after the ascension of Christ.The helper came, the Holy Spirit, came and there was a major outbreak of Christianity.There was a GLOBAL outbreak, it was spreading and spreading fast!Now the question the modern church should be asking itself is this: if the churches of God where adding to their numbers daily and the gospel was spreading quickly and globally… and this all started some 2000 years ago… then why isn’t the whole of earth saved by now?!Why is sin just as present and prevalent now as it was back then?Why are there still unreached tribes and people groups?WHAT HAPPENED?I will tell you what happened… the Enemy “flattened the curve”.That’s right, I will say it again… there was a global outbreak of faith across the world, and the devil didn’t want it to happen, the world didn’t want it to happen, our flesh didn’t want it to happen… so they flattened the curve.How? Well all the enemy had to do was convince the church to follow some very simple guidelines in the name of “Loving your neighbor”. Maybe these guidelines sound familiar…

Cover your mouth!Social Distance!Self-Quarantine!And whatever you do, don’t travel, especially not internationally!Do these talking points sound familiar to y’all? This is, at least according to the world, how you stop the spread of a global outbreak.This year the theme of the youth conference is Outbreak 2020, and it is my goal to make this youth as contagious as possible, amen?!I want them to spread the gospel faster than Menards sold out to the left!I want them to spread the gospel more often then Dr. Fauci changes his medical advice.I want them to spread the gospel more effectively then the media spreads fear and anger.I want these youth to be the ones that change society so much that the world has to prepare itself for a “new-normal”.A normal where abortion clinics are bankrupt.A normal where youth group means waring for Christ not just playing games and meeting girls.A normal where high school cafeterias look more like a church gathering than an eating ...