Impact Church London

SERIES: “This Is That”  —  SERMON: “Make Your Way Prosperous”

Acts 2:16 “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;”

(NLT) “No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:”

Some people read their Bibles in Hebrew, some in Greek; I like to read mine in the Holy Ghost.       Smith Wigglesworth

Mark 16:17-18 “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; …they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Charles Carrin “Tongues is the only spiritual gift deliberately designed to attack man’s ego and pride; it exposes insincerity, self-centeredness, falsity, and other negative traits in believers.”

Contrast First Pentecost with Acts 2 Pentecost: Exodus 19-32

1. 50 Days.

2. Flames and mountain shaking.

3. Law given tablets of stone. How to live.

4. Drunken party takes place.

5. 3000 people died.

6. People trembling in fear.

Acts 2 Pentecost:

1. 50 Days.

2. Flames (tongues) and a violent wind.

3. Spirit comes – Power to live.

4. Drunken party takes place.

5. 3000 people made alive.

6. People drawing near in awe and wonder

The Great Divide — Water has no choice which way it will flow.

Hebrews 8:13 (NLT) “When God speaks of a ‘new’ covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear.”

Wayne Grudem — Christian Ethics

“It is important to realize that the author of Hebrews is not saying that some old covenant laws are no longer binding on Christians (such as sacrificial laws or purity  laws, for example), … … but that the old covenant itself, that entire system of laws that defined the relationship with God and his people, is no longer in effect.”

New Covenant Has:

A New Commission  — Proclaim Gospel Of Grace

A New Commandment — Love As He Has Loved You

A New Empowerment  — Supernatural Life Of The Sprit

John 1:17 “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”       Are you going to trust Jesus for redemption or Moses?

Joshua = Jesus

As Joshua led God’s people to possess the promise Jesus will lead us to possess the promise.

Book of Battle — Drive out enemy.   Book of Faith — Receive Victory

Joshua 1:1-2  (NLT) “…Lord spoke to Joshua … He said,  “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them.” 

Joshua 1:8    “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

O.T. Stategy For Success.n Confess His Will over your life.

2 Corinthians 3:6 “He has qualified us [making us sufficient] as ministers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not of the letter [of a written code] but of the Spirit; for the letter [of the Law] kills [by revealing sin and demanding obedience], but the Spirit gives life.”

1 Corinthians 14:15 “…I will pray with my spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me], but I will also pray [intelligently] with my mind and understanding;…”

We pray to communicate with God. We expect to receive!

Praying in the Spirit engages the mind of the Spirit and engages the will of God.

1 Corinthians 14:18 “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you.”

Is there a purpose to speak in tongues more? How did this affect Paul’s ministry?

Advantages Of Tongue Talking

1 Corinthians 14:2 “For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.”  When Speaking In Tongues you’re in the Spirit.

Mysteries:– (mystērion) hidden thing, secret, mystery a) generally mysteries, religious secrets, confided only to the initiated and not to ordinary mortals.  b) a hidden or secret thing, not obvious to the understanding c) a hidden purpose or counsel

Vine Expository Dictionary

Mysteries:– that which, being outside the range of unassisted natural apprehension, can be made known only by divine revelation, and is made known … to those only who are illumined by the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 4:1 “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”

1 Corinthians 2:6-16 

“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,… But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.”

2 Peter 3:15-16 “…as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand,…”

Romans 8:26-27 (NLT) “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.” 

1 Corinthians 14:4  “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself;…” 

Edified:— build up, a building (i.e. the thing built, edifice) … manifest that you are a living breathing dwelling place of the living God. 

James 3:6-8 “And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. … corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, … but no one can tame the tongue.”

The Gift of tongues tames the tongue.

By practicing praying and singing in the Spirit (tongues) you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

You are speaking and living in harmony with God’s own will.

Carl R. Peterson, M.D.

I have had a number of inquiries concerning the efficacy of praying in the spirit (speaking in tongues) and its benefit to the human immune system, i.e., immunity enhanced by chemicals released from a part of the brain. I am attempting to clarify some information I have shared with a number of ministers. This is information that may be deduced from what we know about the way the brain functions. We do know the part of the brain affected most noticeably by extended prayer represents a significant portion of the brain and its metabolic activity. Therefore, voluntary speech during extended vocal prayer causes a major stimulation in these parts of the brain (mainly the hypothalamus).

The hypothalamus has direct regulation of four major systems of the body, mainly: a) the pituitary gland and all target endocrine glands;

In summary, a very significant percentage of the central nervous system is directly and indirectly activated in the process of extended verbal and musical prayer over a period of time. This results in a significant release of brain hormones which, in turn, increases the body’s general immunity. It is further enhanced through joyful laughter with increased respirations and oxygen intake to the brain, diaphragm and other muscles. This same phenomenon is seen in physical activity in general, i.e., running, etc.

 https://hischarisisenough.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/medical-facts-about-speaking-in-tongues-carl-r-peterson-m-d/

Romans 8:26-27 (NLT) “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.”

Series: “This Is That”. Sermon: “Father Rejoices Over You”

Acts 2:16 “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;”

(NLT) “No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:”

John 17:13 “But now I am coming to You; and I say these things [while I am still] in the world so that they may experience My joy made full and complete and perfect within them [filling their hearts with My delight].”

JOY:– Intense and especially ecstatic or exultant happiness, or the expression or manifestation of such a feeling.

Joy 600x’s in the O.T.  The Hebrew language has 27 words for expressing joy.

“But in this world everything is upside down. That which if it could be prolonged here, would be a truancy, is likest that which in a better country is the End of ends. Joy is the serious business of Heaven.”     C.S. Lewis     (Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer 92-93)

1 John 3:1 (MSG)  “What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are.”

Acts 2:33 “Being therefore lifted high by and to the right hand of God, and having received from  the Father the promised [blessing which is the] Holy Spirit, He has made this outpouring which you yourselves both see and hear.” 

The Holy Spirit is the blessing of the Father. 

He poured out His Spirit upon us so that we can be supernaturally advantaged.

You can not fully function without the blessing.

Romans 8:15 “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear [of God’s judgment], but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons [the Spirit producing sonship] by which we [joyfully] cry, ‘Abba! Father!’”

FAMILY PIC. “Everything is going to be all right.”  J. Karl Thomas

Let me tell you how your Heavenly Father feels about you:    He’s nuts about you!

Zephaniah was a preacher during the time of King Josiah.

People were complacent and idolatrous.  His message was about Justice and Hope.

God’s justice is restorative. He restores His people, moving them from sorrow and oppression to joy and peace.

Zephaniah 3:8b “And let them feel the brunt of my anger, my raging wrath. My zeal is a fire that will purge and purify the earth.”

Zephaniah 3:14-17 “Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,O daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away your judgments,  He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;

You shall see disaster no more. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: ‘Do not fear;

The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save;  He will rejoice over you with gladness,  He will quiet you with His love,  He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV) “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

1. Father Is With You

Really deeply engaged in your life everyday. You can’t push Him away.

He’s not touchy and He’s never aloof.

1 Corinthians 1:17 “But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”

Hebrews 13:5  (AMP)

“He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]”

2. Father Is For You

Mighty To Save. What do you need to be saved from? His power is present to save you!

Romans 8:31-32 “What then shall we say to these things? If (SINCE) God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

3. Father Is Delighted In You

“He will take great delight in you.”

Isaiah 49:16 (AMP) “Indeed, I have inscribed [a picture of] you on the palms of My hands;”

My picture is in God’s wallet.

4. Father Is Embracing You

“… quiet you with His love.”

Brothers hugged me to freedom. I experience His peace in any situation.

The justice of God is restorative LOVE. Love never fails!

5. Father Is Celebrating You

“…rejoice over you with singing.”

Soos:— (verb) to display joy, leap, spin, to spring.

Rennaw:— a ringing cry, a shrill sound, a shout, proclomation of Joy

Isaiah 62:5 “…as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.”

Who doesn’t smile when the Bride enters the room.

1 John 3:1 (MSG) “What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are.”

You’re an especially loved child of your Heavenly Father.

Let that fill you with confidence.

Let that heal any father wound.

Let that release His love in and through you.

What’s a dad’s favourite kind of music?        Pop music.

What do you call a dad who loves to grill?          A meat-eorologist.

What do you call a father who falls through the ice?        A Popsicle.

What’s the difference between a dad joke and a bad joke?       The first letter.

A young woman brings home her fiancee to meet her well to do parents. After dinner, her mother tells her father to find out about the young man. The father invites the fiancee to his study for a chat.

“So what are your plans?” the father asks the young man.

“I am a biblical scholar,” he replies.

“A Bible  scholar. Hmmm,” the father says. “Admirable, but what will you do to provide a nice house for my daughter to live in, as she’s accustomed to?”

“I will study,” the young man replies, “and God will provide for us.”

“And how will you buy her a beautiful engagement ring, such as she deserves?” asks the father.

“I will concentrate on my studies,” the young man replies, “God will provide for us.”

“And children?” asks the father. “How will you support children?”

“Don’t worry, sir, God will provide,” replies the fiancee.

The conversation proceeds like this, and each time the father questions, the young man insists that God will provide.

Later, the mother asks, “How did it go, Honey?”

The father answers, “He has no job and no plans, but the good news is he thinks I’m God.”

SERIES: “This Is That”  —  SERMON: “Spiritual Drinking”

Acts 1:4-5    (Jesus last words!) “He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Three Baptisms: 

1. Spirit baptizes the believer into Christ / Body   

2. Disciple baptizes a believer in water

3. Jesus baptizes believer in the Holy Spirit

“Baptizo” :– to submerge, to immerse, to pickle, to saturate causing  a permanent change —not a dip!!! Be saturated with the nature and ability of Christ to fulfill His purpose in the earth. 

Practice Of Early Church

Acts 8:12-17  “Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done. Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received 

the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 19:2, 5-6 “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit. …  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.”

John 7:37-39  “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given,”

Pino:–to drink figuratively, to receive what serves to refresh strengthen, nourish

Ephesians 5:18 {MSG} “Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him.”   “…Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you.” {NLT}

Lawrence of Arabia in Paris after WWI with some of his Arab friends.

They were most impressed by the faucet in the hotel bathtub. They spent much of their time turning the faucets off and on. As they were preparing to leave Lawrence found them in the bathroom with wrenches trying to disconnect the faucets.

“Sahara Unveiled” Wm. Langewiesche Pair lost in desert drank Rad fluid. 

Thirsty enough they drink poison.  Progression of Thirst.

1. eudipsia: ordinary thirst,  2. hyperdipsia: temp intense thirst  3. polydipsia: sustained excessive thirst, drives one to drink anything.  4. uriposia: the drinking of urine,  5. hemoposia: the drinking of blood. 

A person may only survive a few days without water. Various factors affect how much water they need. For this reason, it is not possible to tell precisely how long a person can live without water.

(www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325174)

Signs Of Dehydration:

Extreme thirst. Headache.  Irritability. Dizziness. Less-frequent urination. Dark-colored urine    Fatigue. Confusion Muscle cramps. Dry mouth, lips,  Lack of sweat.   Elevated heart rate.        Low blood pressure

Psalm 46:4 “There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.”

Psalm 36:7-9 “How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give (Make) them drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.”

You and God are in a drinking relationship.

1 Corinthians 12:13 “…and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.”

We Have A Powerful Continuous Ministry. 

We Are To Personally Receive and Release Spiritual Favour.

Vitals For Holy Ghost Living

2. Release —oThe Spirit is a river of Divine life that flows to you to go through you. 

1. Rivers Of Worship

2. Rivers Of Witness

3. Rivers Of Ministry

4. Rivers Of Gifts 

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (MSG) “God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. … All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful:”

5. Rivers Of Intercession

6. Rivers Of Strength

1 Corinthians 14:4 “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself.” 

7. Rivers Of Fruitfulness

8. Rivers Of Revelation

9. Rivers Of Joy and Peace

Romans 15:13 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

I’m In A Drinking Relationship:

Matthew 10:8. “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”

SERIES: “This Is That”  — SERMON:  “Happy Birthday Church”

JOKE:     Billy Graham was returning from Charlotte where he was where he had a speaking engagement. When his plane arrived, a limo was waiting to pick him up and take him home. He stopped and spoke to the driver and he said, “You know what? I am 87 years old and I have never, ever in my life driven a limo. Will you give me a chance to drive this limo? I’ve never done this before.” The driver said, “No problem. Go ahead and get behind the wheel and we will just be on our way.”

Well Billy got into the driver seat and they headed off. A short distance down the highway, a rookie state trooper had set up his first speed trap. The block long, black limo passed them going 70 mph in a 55-mounted per hour zone. The trooper pulled out and easily caught the limo and pulled it over. When he walked up to the driver’s door, he was surprised to see who was driving. Immediately he excused himself and he called his supervisor. He said, “You know, I know we’re supposed to enforce the law, but I also know that we’re supposed to give courtesies to people that are in powerful places; important people”. Well the supervisor agreed and he said, “Is that the governor?” “No. He’s more important than that.” The supervisor responded, “Is he the president of the United States? The rookie cop said, “No, he’s even more important that”. The Super finally asked woman, “Well who is it? The young trooper replied, “I think it’s Jesus because he has Billy Graham as a chauffeur!”

Acts 2:16 “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;”

(NLT) “No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:”

PENTECOST:– Fifty, compound word, a combination of the #5 and, add a zero. 50

Fifty Days after the feast of Passover.

Three Major Feasts

1. Passover — Delivered From Egypt (1st Month)

2. Pentecost — The Giving Of The Law (3rd Month)

3. Tabernacles — Harvest (7 Trumpets and Atonement)

Passover — Jesus provides His righteousness.

Pentecost — Spirit enables the manifest of righteousness. 

Harvest — Jesus returns to gather the righteous.

The very day that Jews from around the world gather in Jerusalem to reaffirm their commitment to the Law of Moses, the Holy Spirit descends on them offering the Gospel, the promise of new life to all who will believe in Jesus.

The Law was skin deep but the Gospel of Grace goes right to the core.

Contrast First Pentecost with Acts 2 Pentecost:  Exodus 19-32

1. 50 Days.

2. Flames and mountain shaking.

3. Law given tablets of stone. How to live.

4. Drunken party takes place.

5. 3000 people died.

Acts 2 Pentecost:

1. 50 Days.

2. Flames and a violent wind.

3. Spirit comes – Power to live.

4. Drunken party takes place.

5. 3000 people made alive. 

Acts 1:4 “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;…” 

“When your baptized in the Holy Ghost, He takes over! All the preaching, counselling and Bible reading you can absorb will be dead to you unless you have the Holy Ghost living in you! He makes you to understand and know it is God speaking!”    David Wilkerson

Acts 2:39 “…and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off,(not distance but time) as many as the Lord our God will call.”

This was fulfilled and ongoing.   Acts 8, 9, 10, 19   And my experience …

The Experiences of:

D.L.Moody — R.A.Torrey — Charles Finney —  Stephen Olford  —  Billy Graham

D. L. Moody

Moody also said that in a sense, he was satisfied. He was in a comfort zone. But these two praying women rocked the boat. They told him that they were praying for an anointing by the Holy Spirit for D.L. to have a special service to God. He could not get this off his mind and he said, “There came a great hunger in my soul. I did not know what it was and I began to cry out to God as never before. I felt I did not want to live if I could not have this power for service”.

After the great fire of Chicago, DL was working to raise money to rebuild a tabernacle. He said his heart was not into it because he kept crying out to God to fill him. He withdrew and prayed during a visit to New York to raise money and he cried that God would fill him with His Spirit. DL describes it this way:

R.A. Torrey gives his testimony:

As I studied the subject still further, I became convinced that they described an experience which I did not myself possess, and I went to work to secure for myself the experience thus described. I sought earnestly that I might “be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” I went at it very ignorantly. I have often wondered if anyone ever went at it any more ignorantly than I did. But while I was ignorant, I was thoroughly sincere and in earnest, and God met me, as He always meets the sincere and earnest soul, no matter how ignorant he may be; and God gave me what I sought, I was “baptized with the Holy Spirit.” And the result was a transformed Christian life and a transformed ministry.

Charles G. Finney

Billy Graham said that Stephen Olford had a powerful influence over his life. Stephen prayed with Billy until he was baptized and then God exploded Billy Graham’s evangelistic ministry.

7 Observations From Pentecost

1. They Were Invited

Acts 1;4 “He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise…” 

Pentecost is a command for every believer to enter into.  This is not to be an optional experience.

2. They Were United

Acts 2:1“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”

Wait — Test — 10 days from ascension. United in obedience to “WAIT”

3. They Were Excited

Acts 2:2 “…suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.”   This was a miracle from heaven.

4. They Were Ignited

Acts 2:3 “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.”  

Whenever God identifies a new place of His fixed habitation He sends His fire.

Inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth power for performing miracles,  moral power and excellence of soul  the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth, power and resources arising from numbers,  power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts

Power:– {dunamis} inherent power, explosive.

1. Miracles        2. Morality    3. Money           4. Multiplication    5. Movement 

5. They Were Empowered

Acts 2:4 “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,…”    You are nothing without the Holy Spirit. 

filled (pimplēmi):– to furnish, to fill, to accomplish, to be fulfilled.

6. They Were Gifted

Acts 2:4 “…and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” 

Holy Spirit wants to testify of the presence of Jesus through you. You are gifted to manifest the Kingdom.

Acts 2:18-19 “I will pour out of My Spirit, and they shall prophesy [telling forth the divine counsels and predicting future events pertaining especially to God’s kingdom]. And I will show…” 

7. They Were Ejected

Acts 2:6,14 “Now when this was noised abroad, …But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice,…” 

True Pentecost will always lead to a strong witness to the lost.   Must leave the upper room!!!

The church is born! A body of believers, filled with the Spirit, with Christ as their head.

The only normal Christian life is Pentecostal. Being Pentecostal is not a denomination or an experience – it’s a lifestyle – it’s a destiny – it’s a command from God

1. Accept the promise of Holy Spirit.

2. Ask For Baptism Of Holy Spirit.

3. Confess You Have Received  Holy Spirit

4. Act On Your Confession Of Faith.

SERIES:  “This Is That”  SERMON #4:   “You’re The Hero”

Acts 2:16 “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;”

(NLT) “No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:”

Acts 10:38  “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

Luke 23:5 (The Message) “But they were vehement. ‘He’s stirring up unrest among the people with his teaching, disturbing the peace everywhere, starting in Galilee and now all through Judea. He’s a dangerous man, endangering the peace.’”

1 John 2:20, 27 “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.”

(AMP) “But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction) which you received from Him abides [permanently] in you;”

We are anointed! 

The world needs what is in us to get upon us so that they can see the evidence of the superior kingdom that we operate in.  The anointing is how we establish the flora of heaven on earth.

“They thought they got an experience. They kept trying to get another experience like that one … it was Someone – a Divine Personality – who came to live in them. He is a Heavenly Being: the Holy Spirit”   Kenneth Hagin

Acts 1:8 (AMP)  “But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.”

Revelation 1:5 “To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Revelation 3:11 “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.”

The Christian is a holy rebel loose in the world with access to the throne of God. Satan never knows from what direction he will come.    A. W. Tozer

Sense knowledge has gained supremacy over Christianity and dominates it. Civilization has failed because the type of Christianity we have given it has failed. It was a sense-ruled type that was stripped of miracles.    E. W. Kenyon

Daniel 11:32  “…but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” 

Exploit:– An act or deed, especially a brilliant or heroic one. (American Heritage Doictionary)

Psalm 16:3  NLT “The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them!” 

PICTURE OF MY BATMAN SUIT

Judges 13:5 “For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”

Judges 14:3-4 “And Samson said to his father, ;Get her for me, for she pleases me well.’ But his father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord—that He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines. For at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.”

Judges 16:1-3 (NIV) “Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.”  (40mi)

PICTURE OF MUSCULAR SAMSOM … Picture of what he probably looked like.

Judges 15:14-15 “Then the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him; … He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached out his hand and took it, and killed a thousand men with it.”

Judges 16:20 “And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.”

Judges 16:30 “Then Samson said, ‘Let me die with the Philistines!’ And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life.”

Hebrrews 11:32-34 “ and Samson … who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.”

Hebrews 11:40 (AMP) “Because God had us in mind and had something better and greater in view for us, so that they [these heroes and heroines of faith] should not come to perfection apart from us [before we could join them].”     

“I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom.”  Bob Dylan

“The ordinary man is involved in action, the hero acts. An immense difference.”   Henry Millar 

“Nurture your mind with great thoughts; to believe in the heroic makes heroes.”  

                 Benjamin Disraeli

Philippians 4:13 (AMP) “I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]”

1 John 4:4 (NLT) “But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.”

Mark 16:15  “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’”

SERIES:  “This Is That”  SERMON #2:   “Exercise Your Super Powers”

Acts 2:16 “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;”

(NLT) “No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:”

Ezekiel 36:25-27 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”

Revelation 1:5 “To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Revelation 5:9-10 “For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”

Revelation 3:11 “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.”

Romans 5:17 “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”

Acts 10:38  “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth (A MAN LIKE YOU AND I WAS SMEARED WITH GOD TYPE ABILITY AND POWER!!!) with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” 

Anointing:– The person and power of Holy Spirit working through humanity to accomplish the or a divine purpose.   The unction to function.

Inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth power for performing miracles,  moral power and excellence of soul  the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth, power and resources arising from numbers,  power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts

Power:– {dunamis} inherent power, explosive.

1. Miracles        2. Morality      3. Money           4. Multiplication      5. Movement 

1 John 2:20, 27 “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.”

“But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction) which you received from Him abides [permanently] in you;”

This life is ours legally because of the blood and vitally because of our relationship with Holy Spirit. 

John 14:12 “I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father.”

We are anointed! 

The world needs what is in us to get upon us so that they can see the evidence of the superior kingdom that we operate in. 

The anointing is how we establish the flora of heaven on earth.

You can’t be more or less anointed but you can have more revelation on the benefits of the anointing.

You can also position yourself to be more effective in the flow and operation of the anointing … be more intentional.

Numbers 11:29 “Then Moses said to him, ‘Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!’”

Numbers 14:24  “But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.”

Joshua 14:6-15 “…but I wholly followed the LORD my God. So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.’”

Anointing Captures Your Sight

(7) “the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out  (SEE get a vision) the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart.”

Anointing Quickens Revelation

(9) “Moses swore…be an inheritance to you…” 

I have the title deed to this property! Now, get out!

Anointing Arouses Passion

(12) “Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day” 

Proverbs 10:24 “…what the righteous desire will be granted.” 

Desire:– of the father … What possesses you fathers your desire.

Anointing Instills Patience

(11) “I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in.” 

Stayed fit. Unshakable Expectation. 

Anointing Secures Results 

(14) “So Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb…” 

“God never works anything independently of you that concerns your life”   Yonggi Cho

SERIES:  “This Is That”  SERMON:   “Holy Fire”

Acts 2:16  “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;”

(NLT) “No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:”

Acts 2:17 “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;”

John the Baptist summarised Jesus purpose for coming as:

Matthew 3:11  “… He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:”  

“Baptizo” :– to submerge, to immerse, to pickle, to saturate causing a permanent change.

Picture of the “Fire Fall,”  Began inadvertently in 1872 James McCailey pushed remnants of campfire over the hill … 3200 feet … waterfall of fire. People began to ask for it nightly

Stopped the practice  Jan 28, 1968.  “It was a manmade spectacle in a Natural park.”

Fellow went back to visit Yosemite Park. Went as a child and he remembered the “Fire Fall”.

He asked park Ranger: “When does the Fire Fall.” The Ranger responded: “The fire doesn’t fall here anymore.”

Very sad when people visit the house of God to see the fire fall, only to find out, “the fire doesn’t fall here anymore.”

The only thing that distinguishes the people of God is the FIRE FALL!!!

“You might as well try to hear without ears, or breathe without lungs, as try to live a Christian life without the Spirit of God in your heart.”    D.L. Moody

Acts 1:4  “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me;’”

1 Thessalonians 5:19  “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire;” (GW)   “Do not quench the Spirit.” (NKJV)

quench (sbennymi) :— to extinguish, of fire or things on fire, to stifle Divine influence.

I see everything a failure except that which is done in the Spirit. Many are brought into this new life through the power of the Spirit of God, … they try to perfect themselves on the lines of legalism. They go back from the life in the Spirit to a life on natural lines. God is not pleased with this, for He has no place for the man who has lost the vision.     Smith Wigglesworth

Galatians 3:3 “Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” (NKJV)

“How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?”  (NLT)

Fire — a symbol of acceptance and approval. 

Fire fell on the tabernacle.     Fire fell on the temple.       Fire fell on the church.

The fire prepares and identifies God’s dwelling place on earth. 

Matthew 3:11 “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” 

“They thought they got an experience. They kept trying to get another experience like that one … it was Someone – a Divine Personality – who came to live in them. He is a Heavenly Being: the Holy Spirit”     Kenneth Hagin

2 Timothy 3:5  (NLT)  “They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!”

Strange Fire:– It is fire that you try to produce yourself rather than taking fire off the alter.

“Using carnal means to kindle devotion and praise.”  C.I. Schofield

“All not done in worship and service, in dependence upon the Holy Spirit of God and under His guidance, in obedience to the Word of God.”    A. Gabelein

Leveiticus 6:13   “The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.”

Leviticus 9:10, 21  “Then Moses said, ‘This is the thing which the Lord commanded you to do, and the glory of the Lord will appear to you.’ … Aaron waved as a wave offering before the Lord, as Moses had commanded.”

Leviticus 9:23-24  “Then the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people, and fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.”

Leviticus 10:1-2  “Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane (Strange) fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.”

You can’t be more or less anointed but you can be have more revelation on the benefits of the anointing.

You can also position yourself to be more effective in the flow and operation of the anointing … be more intentional.

Proverbs 1:23  (NLT) “Come and listen to my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you (pour my Sprit on you NKJV) and make you wise.”

Acts 13:52 (TPT)  “They left the new converts in Antioch overflowing with the joy of the Holy Spirit.”

Intentionally Lean Into Holy Spirit:

1. Be Rich In The Word

2. Commit To Learning 

3. Align With His Voice

4. Practice Divine Confidence

5. Fix Yourself In Joy

Series: Faces Sermon: “Face of Restoration”

Misnomer that it is our responsibility to be the pursuer in our relationship with God.

Our pursuit for God and our pursuit for intimacy with Him is a topic often preached about, however, the flip side of this scenario doesn’t always get as much airtime.

That is God’s pursuit for man and that he not only chases after us but he never takes His eyes off me.

God is engaged in an unmitigated pursuit of us…

There is a constant wooing from heaven… to call those who are lost… and to call those who got lost in the way…

Throughout Scripture, God reveals Himself as a seeker on a continual pursuit for something.

Despite our sin, our waywardness, our piety, our efforts, our failures, despite everything. From the complaining, Moses to the rejection of God as King, from idolatry under the monarchs to the compromise under the Romans, God across thousands of years has pursued His people.

God appeared in the flesh to knock on their doors, to sleep in their gardens, to eat at their tables, to call them back to Him.

He possesses reckless/uncontrollable wild devotion to his children.

Scottish Anglican theologian John Macquarrie says,  “We are the objects of a search directed towards us.”  God is always and everywhere reaching out for us, nudging us back into the sheepfold or on into our futures, gluing together shards from what was shattered to offer us something useful and beautiful, usually not on our schedule and not in ways we would imagine.

“We need never shout across the spaces to an absent God. He is nearer than our own soul, closer than our most secret thoughts” ― A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God

“Always, everywhere God is present, and always He seeks to discover Himself to each one”

We have a God who is seeking us.

We have a God who is after us.

We have a God who pursues us.    

Not just for the purpose of saving our souls but even more profound the King of the universe will come after us even when we walking away..

Today as we finish off our Faces Series let’s look at Luke’s Gospel and the two guys on the Road to Emmaus as we discover  like the psalmist, if I ascend to heavens he is there, if I make my bed in Sheol he is there, if I dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea he is there… If I am disappointed, discouraged, despondent he is there.

Because:

This story is reminiscent  of Paul bent on destruction encountering Jesus on the wrong road as well.

The story is about two men, and one of them was  named Cleopas, who found themselves in a spiritual conundrum. 

They had just witnessed the crucifixion of the one they hoped had been the Messiah. They had been taught as young men in the synagogue that the Messiah would bring about a political, social and spiritual change. They had hoped that the Messiah would overturn the rule and oppression of the Romans.  

However, they had seen something with their eyes that did not make sense- the crucifixion Jesus.

These two guys were so negatively impacted by what they had witnessed that they turned their and walked away. 

William Barclay’s Commentary says that when Jesus asked them what they were talking about, “they stood with faces twisted with grief” 

The hopes, the dreams, the expectations, that Jesus was the Redeemer, the Deliverer, the Saviour, the Messiah, came to a sudden and complete end. This Jesus who was to end the slavery, and rescue the least, the last, and the lost, suddenly and abruptly had died the death of a criminal hung between two thieves crucified on a cross.

They had lost hope

It has been said that, “A soul without hope is like a body without food.”

Can you identify with these disciples?

Do you know what it’s like to think of hope as a thing of the past?

Have you ever walked a lonely road with grief written across your face?

We have all kinds of hopes and dreams—

When dreams go unfulfilled or our hopes are shattered, it’s discouraging, and sometimes devastating.

Proverbs tells us, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick…

Proverbs 18:14 A man’s spirit will endure sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?

In fact the saddest death of all is the death of HOPE

Luke 24:13-33New King James Version (NKJV)

The Road to Emmaus

13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day (what same day? The day that the women went to grave/angels he is risen/ go tell/ come running but he is not there) to a village called Emmaus,( walk warm bath, medicinal springs)  which was seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, (perhaps  seeking for answers, shocked, confused, disillusioned, grief twisted faces) that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.( some translations say suddenly, out of no where, he pulled a Nanny Mcphee) 16 But their eyes were restrained,(restrained by God/restrained because their disappointment, it is to see, hard to see what you don’t expect, so devastated were they by what happened the last thing they expected was to see Jesus) so that they did not know Him.  

 17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” (sullen, gloomy, mournful) 18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, (you must be new, not from here) and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”(the whole world knows what happened, twin towers)

19 And He said to them, “What things?”

So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping (trusting, put all trust in, people had left life to follow Jesus, risk rejection of family) that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, (if that’s not bad enough) today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.” (could you imagine the roller coaster of emotion… he’s alive, he’s not at the tomb, where is he, what did the women really hear,  no wonder they were on their way back to medicinal springs, total despondency)

25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! (without understanding, dull, slow to apprehend, slow to be persuaded) 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?”(You can read something and believe in head but until it is experienced in the heart it is hard to apprehend. Jesus was about to give them an experience that would be etched in their hearts forever) 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

He would have proven through a tour of scripture that the Messiah was

28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they constrained (to compel and employ force) Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.

30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. (He Nanny Mcpheed them again)

32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together.”

There are so many observations one can draw from this illustration but for today we want to highlight that the FACE OF RESTORATION has joined himself to you and will journey with you come what may.

1. Join himself to us- Verse 14 “He drew near” that word drew near is  engizo- en/ge/zo— to join one thing to another, to be at hand. He positioned himself with them.

Like gluing two blocks of wood. – he is our gorilla super glue

A spiritual way to say this is we have union with Christ now and forever. We are in Christ-

Paul used this phrase in one form or another 164 times.

Union with Christ is indissoluble. It is rooted in the unconditional and immutable decree of divine election “in him [Christ] before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4

He has chosen to forever be in union with humanity.

God’s desire is to become the same as man and to make man the same as God…

Therefore, God Himself has been man-ized, and man is being God-ized; we will never become God in the sense of being worshipped but in the sense of having God’s life, nature, expression, and function, and ruling and reigning with God.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God… so Christ has made a decision to be joined with us. 

Which means He has decided that He will journey with us no matter our condition or position.

2. Journey with us– Verse 15 “he went with them” soom-por-yoo’-om-ahee- to journey together- he began to journey with them. 

Journeying with someone implies much more than just taking a walk. 

It was like a floodlight on the word that brought  clarification, explanation, and revelation and passion.

In the midst of our despondency, despair and disappointment Jesus will journey with you whether you are hot for him or hiding from him.

The Emmaus Road story reminds us that… we are loved, supported, and guided on our way. 

He is journeying with you even though you may not  recognize him.

3. Restores us– to return something to an earlier good condition or position

Verse 32 “did not our hearts burn” : (kah’-yo) kaió: to kindle, burn…, ignite…, light, set on fire, he fills us with great emotion…

After a 7 mile walk one way they headed right back, and probably much faster. When you have good news you can’t wait to go and tell someone.

Verse 33 “so they returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together.”

The went back and shared the news with the rest…

Verse 3 35- 36 as they were telling the story suddenly Jesus appeared/// verified their story

God sees our heart (1 Sam 16:7), He sees the hidden feelings and movements of our hearts, even the ones we are not yet aware of.

God knows who we are, He knows our frame (Ps 103:14). He is aware of our weaknesses and limitations and the frailty of our heart.

Jesus isn’t shocked by our weaknesses.

Jesus is walking that road with you listening to your sorrows. He has joined himself to you, he is committed to journey with you, fill you with passion, and restore you in mission and fill your heart with joy.

No matter how discouraging or depressing life gets, no matter how hurt or heartbroken you are or how lonely you feel; Jesus won’t make you walk that road alone. You may not see him, but he’s there. He will come alongside.

Jesus Will pursue the:

Conclusion

Nothing can ever extinguish the flame in God’s heart, it is his love for us that fuels his relentless pursuit of us, even when we mess up and get terribly lost.

Appeal 1- if you are lost and have not experienced Christ, open your eyes He is right here

Appeal 2- you and I are now Christ representatives on earth, and this story teaches us  to join others in their journey. 

The lesson of the road to Emmaus is to understand:

The importance of listening to others, especially as they share their pain and doubt. 

Is to help people see  that their story is caught up in God’s story.  

May our eyes be opened, so that we can recognize Jesus in our midst. 

May our hearts burn with joy as we see our story wrapped up in his. 

SERIES: Faces  SERMON:  “The Face Of Rejoicing”

Romans 4:25 (TPT). “Jesus was handed over to be crucified for the forgiveness of our sins and was raised back to life to prove that He had made us right with God!”

Romans 4:25 (YLT) “Who was delivered up because of our offences, and was raised up because of our being declared righteous.”

Jesus could not be raised if every sin was not forgiven. 

Full atonement!  Jesus covered it all. 

The resurrection is proof that I am righteous!!!

Acts 4:33  “And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.”  

Central Message of the early Church!

That Jesus Christ is risen from the dead is the central theme of the Christian faith.

If Jesus had only lived as a good example we would still be in our sin.

If Jesus had only died for us we would still be in our sin.

Jesus is risen from the dead!

1 Corinthians 15:17-19 “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.”

1 Corinthians 15:20-22 “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.  For since death came through a human, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human, for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ.”

Colossians 2:17  “These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”   

The old covenant. Special days … foods … sacrifices…

Psalm 89:15 (AMP) “Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are the people who know the joyful sound [who understand and appreciate the spiritual blessings symbolized by the feasts]; they walk, O Lord, in the light and favor of Your countenance!”

Jesus was raised on the 17th day of Nisan.    

(17 Overcoming Enemy – Complete Victory)

Day of the harvest of Firstfruits.                    Day Noah’s ark rested on the new earth.

Day passed through the Red Sea – New Life  Day manna stopped enjoyed New Land

Day Esther touch the sceptre of the King.

Leveiticus 23:10-11, 14   “When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest. He shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.”

… You shall eat neither bread nor parched grain nor fresh grain until the same day that you have brought an offering to your God; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.”   

The harvest is blessed when He is first.

Matthew 27:52-53 “…and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;  and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.”

John 20:1, 11-18   “Now the first day (First Fruits 17th) of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb… 

“Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”

Adam was a gardener who failed in his task and the world became a wasteland of war and sin. Second Adam (Jesus) will succeed in his task.  Christ will restore the ruined garden.

Revelation 22:2-4 “On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be there anymore. … They shall see His face,”

Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, …

… ’I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ” Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.”

Closing Lessons:

The victory is complete.

This broken world can’t shape you.

All injustice is eliminated.

You are marginalised NO MORE!

Look in His Face — Freedom

SERIES: Faces  SERMON:  “The Face Of Discovery”

Picture of Writing in blood on train chair. 

John Phipps — Jan. 26, 2013 on the Metrolink in LA —  Accident thought he was going to die!

Wrote this in his own blood.   “I (Heart) my kids I (heart) Lil”  His wife said;  “ “Hallmark is never going to top that,” she said. “It’s moving, it’s thoughtful and it’s chilling all at the same time.”

Rescue Worker: “ “I’ve seen some gruesome things on this job, but that moved me,” Rosario said at the news conference. “My only thoughts at that point was, I have to get this seat to his wife and kids.”

Picture Bloody Cross.

Mark 15:24-39

“Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross. They divided his clothes and threw dice to decide who would get each piece. It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. A sign announced the charge against him. It read, “The King of the Jews.” Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.

The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Ha! Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days.  Well then, save yourself and come down from the cross!”  The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself!  

Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe him!” Even the men who were crucified with Jesus ridiculed him. At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock.  Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

“My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” Jesus entered our human blindness to a Father who never abandons anyone, in order that our eyes may be open to see Him. Jesus asks our human question “Why?” fully empathizing with the core Adamic lie of our God-forsakenness.

“Sin-induced separation is ‘real’ to us, but is itself the delusion that continues to fuel our darkness. Jesus did not pay off God by dying for our sins. He is God. He became our sin and brought it to death in order to liberate us from sin and death. Jesus wasn’t changing God; He was changing you.”

                                    John Crowder

Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah.  One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. “Wait!” he said. “Let’s see whether Elijah comes to take him down!”

Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!”

What Convinced This Centurion?

1.  Composure

John 19:26-27 “He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!’”

2. Compassion

Luke 23:43 “And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’”

3. Confession

Luke 23:34 “While they were nailing Jesus to the cross, he prayed over and over, ‘Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.’”

4. Completion

John 19:30  “It is finished.” 

Mark 15:28  “Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” 

Ernest Borgnine —  “Jesus Of Nazareth” (1977)— He played the Centurion 

“As that centurion learned 2,000 years ago, I too have found that you simply cannot come close to Jesus without being changed.”

Then His cry rose against the desert wind. Not the voice of Zeffirelli, reading from the Bible, but the voice of Jesus Himself: “Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit.” In awe I watched Jesus’ head slump to one side. I knew He was dead. A terrible grief welled within me, and completely oblivious to the camera, I started sobbing uncontrollably.

“Cut!” yelled Zeffirelli. Olivia Hussey and Anne Bancroft were crying too. I wiped my eyes and looked up again to where I had seen Jesus—He was gone.

Whether I saw a vision of Jesus that windswept day or whether it was only something in my mind, I do not know. It doesn’t matter. 

For I do know that it was a profound spiritual experience and that I have not been quite the same person since.

I believe that I take my faith more seriously. I like to think that I’m more forgiving than I used to be. As that centurion learned 2,000 years ago, I too have found that you simply cannot come close to Jesus without being changed.

The cross of Christ proclaims you are never alone. 

God is present and powerful even when life is manifesting extreme pressure and pain.

Romans 4:25 (TPT)

“Jesus was handed over to be crucified for the forgiveness of our sins and was raised back to life to prove that He had made us right with God!”