Impact Church London

Series “David – King of Hearts”. Sermon. “A Heart For Worship”

D. Karl Thomas January 22, 2023

No one else had the title: “Man after God’s own heart.”

After Jesus no one else is mentioned more in the Scriptures.

66 Chapters outlining his life.

Named 59 x’s in the New Testament

God wants to teach from Davids life.

1 Samuel 13:8-9 “Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. So Saul said, ‘Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.’ And he offered the burnt offering.”

1 Samuel 13:14 “But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”

John 3:6  “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

Saul was the choice of man.

Saul represented the flesh life.

God Provided for Himself a King.

God Himself sought David out.

God was looking for certain qualities.

God produced these qualities in David.

God presented David to his destiny.  

1 Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

David (daw-veed‘) :–  beloved, loved one, loving, from the root to boil.

God is looking for lovers.

Bill Johnson: Intimate lovers make the best warrior.

Acts 13:22-23 “And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’  From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior Jesus.”

Psalm 36:7 (NLT) “How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.”

Amos 9:11  “IN THAT DAY will I raise up the TABERNACLE OF DAVID that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will BUILD it as in the days of old.” 

Acts 15:16-17  “After this I WILL RETURN, and will BUILD AGAIN the TABERNACLE OF DAVID, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up. So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the Lord who does all these things.’”       

Hebrews 9:8 (AMP)

“By this the Holy Spirit points out that the way into the [true Holy of] Holies is not yet thrown open as long as the former [the outer portion of the] tabernacle remains a recognized institution and is still standing,” 

David wanted the Ark of God to be in it’s resting place on Mt. Zion.

David knew that God wants to dwell without filters among His people.

David provided ALL PEOPLE unfiltered access to the Glorious presence of God.

Your private worship is preparation for public influence. 

Matthew 6:6  “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who in the secret  and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

1 Samuel 16:18  “Then one of the servants answered and said, ‘Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.’”

1 Samuel 16:14. “But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him.” 

James 4:7   “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

1 Samuel 16:21 “So David came to Saul and stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armorbearer.” 

Psalm 57 Triumphant Faith To the Pure and Shining One. King David’s golden song of instruction composed when he hid from Saul in a cave  To the tune of “Do Not Destroy”

“Please, God, show me mercy! Open your grace-fountain for me, for you are my soul’s true shelter. ….

Psalm 57:7 (KJV) “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.”

“fixed” (kûwn) :– to be firm, be stable, be established, to be ready, prepared.

Psalm 57:7 (MSG)  “I’m ready, God, so ready, ready from head to toe. Ready to sing, ready to raise a tune:”

“I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music.”    Albert Einstein

“Between the stimulus and response, there is a space. And in that space lies our freedom and power to choose our responses. In our response lies our growth and our freedom”  Victor Frankl

Isaiah 40:31   “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Psalm 62:5   “God, the one and only— I’ll wait as long as he says. Everything I hope for comes from him, so why not?” (Message)

“My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him.” (AMP)

Your private worship is  preparation for public influence. 

1 Samuel 16:18  “Then one of the servants answered and said, ‘Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.’”

Series “David – King of Hearts” Sermon “God Looks On The Heart 

D. Karl Thomas January 15, 2023

No one else had the title: “Man after God’s own heart.”

After Jesus no one else is mentioned more in the Scriptures. 66 Chapters outlining his life.

Named 59 x’s in the New Testament God wants to teach from Davids life.

No one is more in History has inspired so much art. David million visitors a year and brings in $7 million annually.     Son of David

1 Samuel 16:1-12

Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.”

Samuel is still grieving. God has moved on …. SEEING  :—  God sees the bright future and He is already at work to secure His purpose.   —  The best is in front of you … move on!!!

2 And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.”

When Insecurity gets power the people tremble.

But the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; you shall anoint for Me the one I name to you.”

Go out and have a BBQ and invite these folks and I’ll show you what to do

4 So Samuel did what the Lord said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, “Do you come peaceably?”

5 And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Sanctify[b] yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!”

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have [c]refused him. For[d] the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

“You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God” (Luke 16:15, NLT).

8 So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 

God Passed By David’s 7 Brothers.

Eliab:— strongman, human ability.       Not looking for ability.

Abinadab:— incite, moral pressure.     Not looking for hype.

Shammah:— desolation, waste.          Not looking for open wounds.

Nethaneel:— to employ, to put on.      Not looking for a hireling.

Raddai:— trampling, subjugate.          Not looking for a ruler.

Ozem:— to drive, I’ll hasten them        Not looking for a pusher.

1 Samuel13:11-13

11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest,(Small, insignificant, unimportant) and there he is, keeping the sheep.”

You can be rejected by your earthy Father and still have the selection of your Heavenly Father,  (Cinderella)

And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.” 

12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with [f]bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

Psalm 78:71-72    “…from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance.  And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.” 

David (daw-veed‘) :–  beloved, loved one, loving, from the root to boil.

God is looking for lovers. Bill Johnson: Intimate lovers make the best warrior.

This is the song David wrote after his anointing:

Psalm 139

(14) “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.”

Matthew 3:16-17  “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.  And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’”

Baptismal service: God chose you before the foundation of the world. He has plans for you. He is delighted with you. He wants to possess and animate you by His Spirit to fulfil your destiny.

Christmas Series “Home Alone” — Sermon “Put A Demand On Restoration”

Isolation  Invasion  Restoration

Impact people are committed to living in authentic community. 

1. Isolation Was Never The Plan                                                                      2. Isolation is rooted in selfishness                                                                                                             3. Isolation Fosters Deception                                                                          4. Isolation Is Resolved In Jesus

Kevin, in Home Alone, was ready for the robbers invasion. He made a battle plan. Didn’t show any fear.

Ephesians 6:11 “…take your stand against the devil’s schemes”.                                                                                                           “Methodeia”:— to journey behind, to study, craft.

Philippians 1:29 “Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself.”

The Incarnation is the introduction of a cosmic collision of Kingdoms.                                                                                                                    1 John 3:8 “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”

Kevin is believing for restoration. He tells Marley to not settle for a broken relationship with his son. His Mom is working behind the scenes to restore his connection with family.

Matthew 1:21 “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus (The Lord Saves), for He will save His people from their sins.”   Jesus 

Habakkuk 1:2, 2:1 “How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen!                                 I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost. There I will wait to see what the Lord says and how he will answer my complaint.”

Habakkuk 2:14 “For as the waters fill the sea, the earth will be filled with an awareness of the glory of the Lord.”

We don’t like broken things. Scratch and dent stuff is cheaper because people don’t like broken things.

If people do buy broken things it’s for the purpose of restoring them. We love restoration shows. Celebrate things that get put back together.

We are prewired to expect wholeness.

We don’t like broken things.

We long for things to be right.

We will not settle for less than what God has promised!

As it is in Heaven is our standard!

Genesis 1:2-3 “The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light”

Jeremiah 32:6-7 “But I will most surely heal the wounds of this city and restore it and its people to health. I will show them abundant peace and security. I will restore Judah and Israel and will rebuild them as they were in days of old.”

God comes to a hopeless, lifeless mess and He promises restoration. More than that, He keeps His word.

Jeremiah 33:15-16 “‘In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David A Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. … And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’”   Promise of the Messiah, JESUS.

Job 19:25-27 “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!”

Job 42:10 “When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before!”

Zechariah 9:11-12 “As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit. Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.”

Hebrews 6:17-18  “God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie.”

Mark 5:27-28 “When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, ‘If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.’”

Mark 10:47 “And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’”

God visits you when areas of your life that feel under attack or silent and desolate. He comforts you with His promise to restore. Supernatural intervention! But He isn’t just the promise maker … He’s the promise keeper.

Christmas Series “Home Alone” — Sermon “Be Prepared For Invasion”

Isolation  Invasion  Restoration

Impact people are committed to living in authentic community. 

1. Isolation Was Never The Plan                                                             2. Isolation is rooted in selfishness                                                                                                             3. Isolation Fosters Deception                                                                4. Isolation Is Resolved In Jesus

Kevin, in Home Alone, was ready for the robbers invasion. He made a battle plan. Didn’t show any fear.

Ephesians 6:11 “…take your stand against the devil’s schemes”.                                                                                                       “Methodeia”:— to journey behind, to study, craft.

Philippians 1:29 “Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself.”

The Incarnation is the introduction of a cosmic collision of Kingdoms.                                                                                                                    1 John 3:8 “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”

Luke 4:18  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;”

Acts 10:38   “… how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.           61x’s Gospels Jesus is dealing with devils.

We have a mandate: Mark 16:17   “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;”

Mark 5:1-20

Mark 1:39   “And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.”

Matthew 8:16   “When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,…”

Matthew 10:1, 8 “And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. … Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”

Let’s Cover These Four Things: 1.There are demons 2. They really can influence us   3. Jesus has set us free     4. Our most effective weapon

C.S. Lewis — Screwtape Letters

Jack Hayford “You can’t cast out the flesh and you can’t disciple a demon.”

Matthew 12:22  “Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.”

Can light dwell with darkness?

Ephesians 5:8 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.”

Buick commercial … “Did you lock the car?” Locks car with app.

3 Pronged Attack Of Enemy:                                                                                                        Deception – lies vain imaginations. Temptation – follows deception. Accusation – rubs it in your face.

John 8:32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Luke 13:10-13, 16 “But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, ‘Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.’ And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. … So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound …for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”   LEGAL EXPERT … YOU OUGT TO BE FREE!!!

John 8:36 “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

Good News!!!   If you are experiencing any form of bondage … Jesus sets you completely free!!!

Luke 10:17-20 “Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

Best method of Deliverance Ministry!!!

1 John 4:18

1 Corinthians 12:31, 13:8  “But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way … Love never fails.”

Ephesians 4:15  “Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.”

Grandmother and granddaughter … Up on Grosvenor … Just hugged her and said Jesus!!!

Brothers embraced me … I went limp … disembodied voice … what happened?

Never minister without the motivation of love … not some power trip … PEOPLE who want dignity and freedom!!!

Christmas Series “Home Alone” — Sermon “Isolation Is Not Good For You”

Three week outline of sermons:   Isolation    Invasion     Restoration

Movies are a powerful medium to speak to the human condition … like parables “CRY”

Watch the movie … Some interesting observations … Notice the Neighbour! … PICTURES

Matthew 1:18-19 “Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.”

The first Christmas must have been awkward. Virgin girl pregnant by the Holy Ghost?!?!?!

Picture Of Christopher Knight

Christopher Knight   “I became very introspective … without others I found no need to define my self … I became irrelevant.”   He didn’t find himself he actually lost himself!!!

Christopher Thomas Knight (born 7 December 1965), also known as the North Pond Hermit, is a former hermit who lived almost without human contact for 27 years in the woods in Maine.[1] He survived by committing approximately 1,000 burglaries against houses in the area,[2] or approximately 40 per year. Apart from the fear and notoriety his many burglaries created in the local area, Knight’s unusual life also attracted widespread international media reports upon his capture.

Knight entered the woods in 1986, aged 20, without saying goodbye to anyone, and was captured during a burglary in 2013. His only human contact in that time was one exchange of a trivial greeting with a hiker.   “Hi!”

Mother Teresa   Loneliness is the leprosy of the modern world.  I have come more and more to realize that it is being unwanted that is the worst disease that any human being can ever experience.

Dr Dean Ornish  Ornish Lifestyle Medicine  “Love and intimacy — our ability to connect with ourselves and others, is at the root of what makes us sick and what makes us well, … People who feel lonely and isolated have a 300-500 percent greater risk of premature death due to physical illness.”

Impact people are committed to living in authentic community. 

You cannot fulfill the purpose for God outside of community.

You can know God without community and get to heaven without community, but you can’t manifest God’s 

fullness.

1. Isolation Was Never The Plan

Genesis 2:18  “And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone;”

Hebrews 10:21-25   NLT “…And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water…”

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

Connecting Is Mandatory!

A. Together We Approach

“…let us go right in to the presence of God…”  vs.22

Revelation 5:9 “…your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”

B. Together We Stand

vs. 23 “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm,” 

Holding on is a group activity!!! Hold on to each other as we hold on to the promises. He is FAITHFUL!!!

C. Together We Act

vs 24 “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.”

Join me in….  Help me with….  This has worked for me…

59 One Another Commands In New Testament.   21 Involve “Love.”

D. Together We Remain

vs.25 “…let us not neglect our meeting together…”

Social media is NOT real human interaction. It’s edited!!!  How many of you have secretly unfollowed me?

2. Isolation is rooted in selfishness

Proverbs 18:1  “A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.”

3. Isolation Fosters Deception

Genesis 3:8 “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.”

4. Isolation Is Resolved In Jesus

1 Corinthians 15:22  “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”

Romans 5:10  “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” 

Colossians 3:13 “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”

BECAUSE WE ARE COMMITTED TO AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY:

1. Everyone is welcome.      Your background doesn’t matter. 

2. Nobody is perfect.          Bring a Bible and your problems. 

3. Anything is possible.      Simon can become Peter.

All Out Sunday — “God Is Good”

1 Chronicles 16:34 “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”

Psalm 86:5  “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.”

Who am I? I googled myself to see, who is D Karl Thomas. It was interesting.

Any Concept of God that is built through a preconceived filter will limit your ability to connect with God. 

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”   A.W. Tozer  (The Knowledge of the Holy)

So many things in our world contribute to hoe we see God. Media – Education – Parents – Friends

On Good Friday in April 8, 1966,  Time magazine published its famously controversial cover story, “Is God Dead?

Moses was called by God to lead a people out of 400 years of slavery. Generations of defeat and mistreatment. Authority figure a brutal ruler. Pharaoh.

Even when they we released they had difficulty connecting with their God. Moses you talk with him for us.

“He’s trying to kill us!”

Moses and the people of Israel spent their whole lives seeing God through this Pharaoh filter.

Exodus 33:18 “And he said, ‘Please, show me Your glory.’”

Exodus 34:6-7  (NET)  “The Lord passed by before him and proclaimed: “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and abounding in loyal love and faithfulness, keeping loyal love for thousands, 

forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. But he by no means leaves the guilty unpunished, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children and children’s children, to the third and fourth generation.”

Hebrews 1:1-3 “Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets.  And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son …. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God,…”

It’s much better if we allow God to define Himself for us.

The Lord

Yahweh:— Self Existent One, whatever I am, I will be. In other words, whatever this God is like, he’s that way consistently…24/7.”  Whatever he is, he always is.

Compassionate

Realated to the word “Womb” A strong, deep emotional bond between a parent and child.

Luke 7:13 “When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’”

Gracious

Mercy is not getting what you deserve.  Grace is getting what you don’t deserve.

John 1:14, 16 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us …And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.”

Grace (charis):– good will, loving-kindness, favour. The merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles virtues.

Ephesians 1:6-7 “…to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace…”

Galatians 2:21 “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

John 8:10-11 “Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

Slow To Anger

Hebrew word picture long nosed.  Long suffering or Patient.

Luke 24:14, 30 “Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. … He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him;…”

Loyal Love

“ḥeseḏ” :— combining the ideas of love, loyalty, and generosity. 

An unconditional expression of enduring character, Inner conviction. God loves for His own sake. He is!

Hebrew Dictionary (Hesed) God’s commitment to do a generous and surprising amount of good in another person’s life over the long term, not based on their performance but based on his own promise.

Faithfulness

Fixed, True, Stable, Reliable. Related to another common untranslated Hebrew word “Amen” 

:— That’s Truth!   He is not fickle. He is my ROCK!

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.

Accepting what Jesus did at the cross removes the filter so that you can know God as He really is!

John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:”

Sermon Notes – The Mandate

Recap: The Method — Tree climbers are all around you! Be Aware – Share – Prayer – Care. Tree climbers are looking to see Jesus!

Intro : The Mandate

“An official order or Commission to do something.”

Matthew 28:18-19 (NIV)

This Great Commission is the restoration of the original Commission given to humanity.

Genesis 1:26-28 (NIV)

They failed! But “when they fell they didn’t loose a religion, they lost their place as rulers “ (Ps. Karl).

Now instead of ruling and reigning, because of the guilt, shame, and destruction of sin humanity became subservient to the very things we were supposed to rule.

The authority humanity had, by coming under the lie of the devil and exchanging God’s truths for his lies, that authority was lost and given to the devil.

Luke 4:6-8 (NIV)

Adam and Eve lost dominion because the image of God in them was marred, they lost authority to rule because they gave it away, and they lost their confidence and standing before God because of their sin. They didn’t lose his love. He set about to restore them, but they did lose their spiritual and eventually their physical lives as well. Death came by sin!

Jesus came as a human to restore what humanity had lost.

Matthew 9:6-8

John 5:27

Hebrews 2:14-15 (NKJV)

This is where the great commission comes back into play. Because Jesus freed us from being dominated by devil and death, sin and curse, and has restored to humanity that authority we gave away, that is now the basis for the new commission, reconnecting us to the original commission.

Matthew 28:18-19

Ephesians 3:10-11 (NKJV)

Habakkuk 2:14

That’s not just filled in terms of geography, that’s filled in terms of there is no place or space, area or department where your life and being does not know the glory of God.

Dominion, rule, and the wisdom of God is not contained and expressed through rules, regulations, and a new religion. It is expressed in a new life. Fallen humanity doesn’t have the capacity to rule, only Christ does. Fallen humanity is still enslaved to evil, dominated by its power, captive to the devil, bound by curse and sin.

Ephesians 2:1-3

To be free from trespasses and sin, the course of this world, the power of the prince of the air, to begin to be able to manifest the wisdom of God in our lives and release his glory in every area of who we are and what we do, we must first be made alive.

We must, through the realities presented in baptism, understand ourselves to have died with Christ, our old selves buried, and be raised up into new life with Christ. Only that resurrected life is capable of manifesting the wisdom of God, and walking in the authority of God to make his rule known again in all the earth. You must be born again!

Luke 14:26-27 (NIV)

Hate your own life? Hate = miseó: (μισέω) It is a measurement word and a comparison word. It means “to detest (on a comparative basis); hence, denounce; to love someone or something less than someone (something) else, i.e. to renounce one choice in favour of another.”

Why hate your own life (psuché) in favour of embracing his (zóé) divine life?

There is no way to be a disciple, and no other way to make disciples.

That is why the mandate goes beyond the power of positive thinking and psychology and it is engaged in the realm of spiritual power.

Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)

Brian Simmons on Metanoia:

This is why education and a better way of doing things is not the answer, and why politics and religion are both so inadequate. The mandate is not to educate or create legislation.

One of the greatest delusions in the world is the hope that the evils in this world are to be cured by legislation. Thomas Brackett Reid

Our mandate is teach people to observe all that God commanded, to bring lives back to the obedience of faith that by living again in ways that express God’s nature and wisdom in every area of human experience, we might fill this earth and our lives with the knowledge of his glory and make his manifold wisdom known.

How does this relate to GOVEMBER?

GOVEMBER – The Mandate

Two fold mandate as seen in Genesis 1 and Matthew 28

To have domain and to rule. Religious humanity can’t do that, but neither can humanity disconnected from the Life and Wisdom of God in Christ. This is about Christ’s domain, life, and wisdom working in you and making you a witness.

Acts 1:8 (NKJV)

To multiply and fill the earth…. To reproduce according to kind. Not religious people obsessed with rules, but people who happily embrace the wisdom of God for our lives, who willing embrace the king’s domain, people who have embraced his authority and life and can lead others to that same experience, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost… and all that means.

GOVEMBER… go into all the world and make disciples of all people!

Series “GOvember” — Sermon “The Method ”

Vision Statement:     “Transforming Lives To Impact Their World.”    GLOBAL GLORY

Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth.”

See As Jesus – Value.   Accept As Jesus – Where they are 

Love As Jesus – Unconditional.  Touch As Jesus – Transformational

Matthew 4:19  “Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you ______________.’”

Circle the right answer below:

Spiritual    Kinder       Richer  Smarter    Stronger    Generous   Religious   Fishers Of Men

Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be____________” NOT my prosecutors. NOT my defence. MY WITNESSES – tell people your story.

Followers Fish!!! — Worshippers Witness!!!

Mark 16:15 “Jesus said to his followers, “Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone.’”

John 4:39  “And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, ‘He told me all that I ever did.’”      A Whole Town Comes To Jesus.

Called to IMPACT your world!

The Method: 1. Aware. 2. Share. 3. Prayer. 4. Care

2 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) “We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you.” 

2 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)   “…the area of influence God assigned to us is to reach you…” 

Rule (kanon):— a definitely bounded or fixed space within the limits of which one’s power of influence is confined.     You have a sphere of influence.

Acts 16:31 “So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’”

Household (oikos):— the place where one has fixed his residence, family, descendants of one.

Identify My Sphere:    My People, Place and Passion

Impact My Sphere:     My Manner, Moments and Message

1 AWARE

Identify My Sphere:

A. My People

Mark 5:19 “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.”

B. My Place 

Acts 17:26-27 “From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him…”

C. My Passion

Acts 9:39 “And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.”   The things you love to do place you in community.

Impact My Sphere

A. My Manner

Colossians 4:5-6 “Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.”

B. My Moments 

Psalm 37:23 (NLT) “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.”

Acts 8:27 “So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia,…”

C. My Message

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV) “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,…”

2. SHARE

Romans 10:13-14 “For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?” 

1 Corinthians 3:5-8

“Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.”

Sam Williams:  “Evangelism is helping people discover how God is already at work in their lives.”

3. PRAYER  — Pray The WORD!

Father Draw Them    John 6:44.   Blindness Must Go    2 Cor. 4:4 Encounter Believers  Eph. 6:19. 

Give Understanding  Eph. 1:17.   Personal encounter   Rom. 8:15

4. CARE

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NLT)

“I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. … Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.  I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.”

Luke 19:5 (NCV) “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down! I must stay at your house today.”

Tree climbers are all around you! Be Aware – Share – Prayer – Care

Series “Welcome Home” — Sermon “True Worship Is Rooted In Mercy”

Worship is not a Christian thing it is a human thing.

You are designed for it and you are world class.

The question is, “what do you worship?”

John 4:21-24 “Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.’”

Who was in charge of first worship experience?

Lucifer: archangel of worship

Isaiah 14:11 “Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, And the sound of your stringed instruments;”

Ezekiel 28:13 “The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes…”

3 essentials for every orchestra: Wind, Precussion, and Stringed Instruments.

Lucifer: a beautiful creation; A musical instrument covered with precious stones.

Led 1/3 of angels in revolt. 

Luke 10:18 “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.”

Three Arch Angels:

Gabriel — Announcing Word       Michael — Engaging Prayer      Lucifer — Expressing Worship  

3 Basic elements of our gatherings,

of our communion with God.

1. Devil Wanted Worship. Isaiah 14:13-15

“I will ascend into heaven…. I will exalt my throne…   I will also sit on the mount… 

I will ascend above the heights…. I will be like the Most High… shall be brought down to Sheol,…”

Author of all selfishness.

Ezekiel 28:12-16  “You were the seal of perfection,… You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: … The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created. … By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within.” 

“Trading” :— merchandising, I get a cut off of a transaction, middleman, it didn’t all get through right place.

Devil began to take some of the glory that was only to God.

He became proud and God cast him out of His presence.

2. Devil Still Wants Worship.

Matthew 4:9-10 “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”

3. We’re The New Worship Program

Romans 12:1 (ESV)  “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

God created some things and some things he made.

Create:— to form out of nothing. 

Genesis 1:3 “God said,‘Let there be light’; and there was light.”

Make:— to form out of something.

Genesis 1:11 “Then God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth grass,’”

We were created a beautiful musical instruments:

Vocal Chords — Strings.    Lungs — Breath (Wind).   Hands and Feet — Percussion 

Psalm 150:6 “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”

When God wanted to make something He spoke to where or what he wanted it to come from and be sustained by and to return to.  Earth, do this, and the earth did what it was told.

Genesis 1:11  “Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”

Tree comes from dirt, sustained by dirt and returns to dirt.

Genesis 1:20  “Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures,…”

Fish come from water , sustained by water, returns to water.

Genesis 1:24  “Then God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind:’”

Cow came from earth, sustained by earth, returns to earth.

We Come From God

Genesis 1:26  “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;”

Man is spirit. He came from God, sustained by God, return back to God.

Genesis 2:7  “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”

My body was made from the earth, is sustained by the earth and will return to the earth.

If anything that was made from something, tries to remove itself from what it comes from, it will die.

Genesis 1:17 “…for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Live independent of God.  I am my own source. SELF   PURPOSE IS RELATIONSHIP!!!

Spiritual death. Man died to his created purpose of relationship with God and reigning and ruling with God.

Ephesians 2:1 “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,…”

John 10:10  “…I have come that they may have life (zoe) ,…”

Worship: Absolutely Yielding To God

Romans 12:1 (ESV)  “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

Romans 11:28-32 (NLT) “Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn. Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead.

Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God’s mercy.  For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.”

By the mercy of God we have all been given access to the New Covenant worship program.

God’s eternal purpose is realized!

Ephesians 2:19.22 “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, …  in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Philippians 3:3 (NLT) “For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort,”

We don’t gather for worship.  We are a gathering of worshipers.   Worship is every day life.

Our gatherings are for edification … that does include word, singing, and encouragement.

1 Corinthians 14:26 “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.”

Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Romans 12:1 (Message) “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.”

We are the new worship program.

1 John 4:19 “We love Him because He first loved us.”

Series “Welcome Home” — Sermon “Worship Is A Big Deal”

Wayne Gretzky — From a small child he manifest extraordinary skill

Mozart — composed songs at age of 5 … first orchestra when he was 8 … Prodigy

Prodigy:— a person, especially a child or young person, having extraordinary talent or ability. 

Matthew 21:16 “Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise” 

(AMP) “Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have prepared and provided praise for Yourself” 

Worship is not a Christian thing it is a human thing.

Matthew 4:10 “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” 

You will become a servant to what you worship. 

Worship :— (Proskuneo) compound word — towards and to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand. 

Worship :—to be devoted to and full of admiration for, to have or express feelings of profound adoration 

Worship :— a response to what we value most. 

John 4:23-24 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

God is after your heart!

Matthew 15:8-9 “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me,…”

Ephesians 5:18-19 (AMP) “…but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit. Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices and instruments and making melody with all your heart to the Lord,”

Psalm 81:1 “[To the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. A Psalm of Asaph.] Sing aloud to God our strength; Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.”

Gittith:– a stringed instrument that David got from Gath.

Habakkuk 3:1 “A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. On shigionoth .” (NKJV)

“A PRAYER of Habakkuk the prophet, set to wild, enthusiastic, and triumphal music.” (AMP)

Title of Psalm 7 a shigionoth:-wild, irregular, enthusiastic strain.

Seven Elements of Music

2. Harmony: Two or more tones

4. Dynamics: Volume / properties

6. Text: The words / message

Top schools in America all place a great emphasis on music and the arts. 

Hungary, Japan, and the Netherlands, the top three academic countries all place a great emphasis on music education and participation in music.

Napoleon “Give me control over he who shapes the music of a nation, and I care not who makes the laws.”

“Pentagon’s School of Music” it takes 15 months of instruction to produce one bandleader. By contrast the Air Force takes 13 months to train a jet pilot.

Albert Einstien — His parents were told he was too stupid to learn in Grade school.

His parents got him a violin. 

G.J. Withrow “The way Einstein figured out his problems and equations was by improvising on the violin.”

Martin Luther   “The devil takes flight at the sound of music, just as he does at the words of theology…After theology I give the highest place and greatest honor to music.” 

How Do I Praise The Lord?

“Halel” – to rave, boast, celebrate.

Psalm 22:26 “…they who seek the LORD will praise him.”

“Yadah” – acknowledge in public.

Psalm 138:1 “I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart.”

“Barak” – to bless by kneeling, bowing.

Psalm 103:1“Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.”

“Tehilah” – exuberant singing.

Psalm 34:1“I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will  always be on my lips.”

Psalm 98:4  “Shout joyfully {roo’ah} to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing {zaw mar’} praises.”  “Ruwa” :–to shout, give a blast a war-cry, joy, triumph

“Zamar” :– to sing, make music

“Shabach” – to address in a loud tone, to shout.

“Towdah” – to lift hands in adoration. 

Psalm 63:3-4 “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.”

“Giyl” – to spin around, under the influence of any violent emotion

Psalm 32:11 “Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!”

Psalm 118:24 “This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Why Should I Praise The Lord?

Psalm 106:1  “Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”

Praise Him for all the good thing he has done. Praise Him for His faithfulness and mercy. 

2 Chronicles 20:21-22 “…those who should sing to the LORD, …they went out before the army … when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, …and they were defeated.”

When we SURROUND OURSELVES with praise that glorifies God we are actively putting ourselves into the very manifest presence of God. And God literally lifts us up and changes both US, OTHERS and OUR CIRCUMSTANCES.

Changes You:

Physically … heal your body.

Mentally … make you smart.

Emotionally … shift attitude

Music can rearrange your whole inner world. Who designed it that way?

1 Samuel 16:23  “… David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.”

Changes Others:

Colossians 3:16 “…teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing…” 

Your song impacts others

Changes Circumstances

Acts 16:25-26  “…midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God,… prisoners were listening … Suddenly there was a great earthquake … immediately doors were opened… everyone’s chains were loosed.”

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,

Leaning on the everlasting arms;

What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning,

Safe and secure from all alarms;

Leaning, leaning,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Praise Overcomes Your Preference

…. I don’t feel like it right now

…. I prefer to complain and whine

Don’t declare the problem introduce it to our great God.  Suddenlies will happen!!!

John 4:23-24  “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”