FAITH WANTS MORE

Ephesians 3:20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, (NIV)

Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, (NKJV)

JACOB WANTED MORE - Genesis 32:27-30But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27“What is your name?” the man asked. “Jacob,” he replied. 28Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men, and you have prevailed.” 29And Jacob requested, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed Jacob there. 30So Jacob named the place Peniel, saying, “Indeed, I have seen God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”

ELISHA WANTED MORE - 2 Kings 2:9-10When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “What can I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of the prophetic spirit that energizes you.” 10Elijah replied, “That’s a difficult request! If you see me taken from you, may it be so, but if you don’t, it will not happen.”

ZACCHAEUS WANTED MORE - Luke 19:1-4Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

MARY WANTED MORE - Luke 10:41-4241“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

GOD NEVER GIVES YOU LESS THAN HIMSELF.  
God Knows That Only He Can Satisfy Us.
Wanting more of God always leads to getting more from God.  
But, just wanting more from God gets you neither more from Him or more of Him.

Jacob Wrestled With God.
What Are You Wrestling With?
God Is In The Wrestling. 
Wrestling For Blessing.

Elisha Chased After God.  
What Are You Chasing? 
God Is In The Chase. 
Chasing For Spiritual Power. 

Zacchaeus Climbed To See God. 
What Are You Climbing To See? 
God Is In The Climb. 
Climbing To See Him.

Mary Chose God’s Presence. 
What Are You Choosing?

THE SINFUL WOMAN WANTED MORE - Luke 7:37-38

37A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

JABEZ WANTED MORE - 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.

FAITH PUSHES THROUGH  

MARK 5 24...all the people followed, crowding around him. 25A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. 26She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse. 27She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. 28For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.”

Matthew 9:20 ESV “came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment”

Mark 5:29-34  29Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition. 30Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?”
31His disciples said to him, “Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask, ‘Who touched me?’”
32But he kept on looking around to see who had done it. 33Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of him and told him what she had done. 34And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.”

PUSH THROUGH DISAPPOINTMENT
12 Years Gotten Worse When I Young… Why tired, sad, angry | PUSH THROUGH DIS-EASE
Constant bleeding.  Unclean. Leviticus 15 Suffered from Doctors, Spent Everything, 

Leviticus 15:19,25,27 v19″If a woman has a discharge, and the discharge from her body is blood, she shall be set apart seven days; and whoever touches her shall be unclean until evening.

v25 “‘If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, other than at the time of her customary impurity, or if it runs beyond her usual time of impurity, all the days of her unclean discharge shall be as the days of her customary impurity. She shall be unclean.'”

v27 “Whoever touches those things shall be unclean; he shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.”

According to the same account in the Gospel of Mark, she had an issue of blood for 12 years (Mark 5:25). According to Leviticus 15:28 “‘But if she is cleansed of her discharge , then she shall count for herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.”

 Matthew 9:21 “…”If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.”” What was it about the garment of the Lord that she had such faith, that if Jesus was really the Messiah that she would receive healing?

Malachi 4:2   “But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings’…”  The word “wings” used here is the same as the word “borders” seen in Numbers 15:38. So the woman knew that if this is the Messiah, then surely if I can just get close enough to touch the hem or the borders of His garment, I can surely receive healing. She was embracing the promise that the Messiah had healing in His wings. She looked upon Jesus and believed that He was who He claimed to be. When she had touched the hem of His garment, it was the same as touching Him. She looked to Him by faith and when her faith touched His grace she was healed. 

FAITH WORDS   

The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. John 6:63      So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  Romans 10:17

Luke 1:5-20 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.

 7But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.    All Say…  Identity = Believe about Self

Faith Words or Fear Words. Victim Words or Victory Words.   |  “Fear Is Present Where Faith Is Absent.” | “Fear Vocalized Has The Power To Immobilize.”   | For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. Romans 14:23 ESV

8Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13But the angel said to him: 

“Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”   

18Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

• “My Description Is Not My Destiny”  
• Thoughts create Words, But words also create thoughts. You live in a house of thoughts.
• “If you want to change your life, you have to change your confession.”
• Faith words are like a verbal crowbar used to generate faith leverage.  
• Logos: General Biblical Word Of God   Rhema: The word the Holy Spirit quickens to a specific person for a specific situation.
• Not Afraid, Prayer Heard, Call Him, Joy & Delight, Rejoice, Great, Filled, Bring Back, Go On, Spirit & Power, Turn Hearts, Make Ready, Prepared For The Lord.

I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13

• When You Say What God Says About You, You Activate What He Put On The Inside. 
• Faith Gives You The Ability To Do What God Has Called You To Do. 
• Faith Words Agree With Your Identity.

19The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20And now you will be silent and not able to speak 

FAITH MULTIPLIES

Would It Be Ok With You If God Multiplied Your Financial Resources? 

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand - John 6 

1Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4The Jewish Passover Festival was near. 5When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” 8Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” 10Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. 12When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

Three Acknowledgements:    

1. God Always Starts With What You HAVE.  
2. The Miracle Happened IN The HANDS of Jesus.
3. Multiplication Always Produces A Party - In God’s Honor!

One Principle: Everything Has To Be RETURNED To It’s Creative Source BEFORE It Can Be Multiplied.

• I Am Believing That God CAN And WILL Multiply The RESOURCES I Return To Him. 
• The Only Alternative Belief Is That God DOES NOT LOVE ME & SHOULD NOT BE TRUSTED With The Resources He Created.
• It’s Either One Or The Other!

Tithing Is God’s Financial TRAINING WHEELS (10%) For Us To Learn The Principle Of Multiplication As A WAY OF LIFE in ALL THINGS! 

Tithing Isn’t Giving, It’s RETURNING. 

• We RETURN Everything We Have To MULTIPLY Everything He Touches. 

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. 11“Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes,” says the LORD of hosts. 12“All the nations will call you ble

FAITH EYES

1As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7“Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam.”  So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. John 9:1-7

Faith requires me to count on something I can’t see.   What unseen answer from God are you counting on? 

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)

SUBSTANCE - Greek: “hupostasis”                 
Literally: From the compound root words “stand” and “under.” That which is real or actually exists. Setting or placing under; thing put under, substructure, foundation. To possess or stand under a guaranteed agreement. A "title-deed"   
 | HOPED FOR                                                                     
May God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace by means of your faith in him, so that your hope will continue to grow by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13 The confidence that a negative circumstance will produce a positive purpose in my life. What if He is doing in your life exactly what you asked him to do, but just not the way you want it?
EVIDENCE - Greek: “elegchos”                       
 | NOT SEEN
We walk by faith, not by sight.  2 Corinthians 5:7 Disappointment can be a prison or a portal. Disappointment can cause you to set your expectation at the level of your experience and miss the purpose of God in your life.  “I thought I'd be farther along by now.”  -  That’s the prison of disappointment that keeps you from seeing how far you’ve come.  God is not limited by your level of faith!
35Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36“Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” 37Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” 38Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.  John 9:35-38                                                                     

GOD IS IN A GOOD MOOD!

Romans 8:38-39

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus.

Genesis 12:10-13
Genesis 20:2
Genesis 26:6-7
John 8:4-5,7,10-11
John 21:15-17
2 Timothy 1:7

My Hands For Your Battle

Exodus 17

You Can’t Always Pick What Battles You’re In, But You Can Pick Who’s Corner You’re In. 

8The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the rod of God in my hands.” 

I. Find Someone In A Fight Worth Winning.  History Slaves. Act Like Victims. No Water.  

It’s one thing to get the PEOPLE out of EGYPT, but it’s another thing to get EGYPT out of the PEOPLE.   

 Not those people... Joshua, Choose “””some”””

10So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.

II. See The Whole Story. (Helicopter, Chess) 

• I. Rod of God. Identity.  (Story)    Where Does Victory Come From? 
• II. Behind every blessing is an unexpected battle.
• They wanted comfort, God gave them conflict.  Change Them.  
• Should have been a bloodbath - no experience, First Battle.   BUT, GOD!  10 PLAGUES EGYPT, PHAROAH,  RED SEA, ARMY!   
• Have to have a fight to have a victory.   YEA!!!  -  WE HAVE A FIGHT!
• STAFF THERE - FOR EVERY VICTORY -  They needed the STORY OF THE STAFF TO FOCUS THE FIGHT.  

  12When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on.

III. Give Them Rest, Not Advice  

• THEY DIDN’T TRY TO TAKE OVER AND FIX IT ----- AND, THEY DIDN’T HAVE A BETTER IDEA -  GOD AT WORK HERE!

12...Aaron and Hur held his hands up — one on one side, one on the other 

IV. The Direction Is Up 

• Why Moses on the hill.  Old?  Proud?  Directing the battle?  NO - Everyone will see that strength for the battle comes from The Lord. 
  • Old Pastor Said - Columbus Mill Workers 
• UP - Needed the STAFF not the SWORD!  
• Strength didn’t come from the sword, it came from the staff.    
• Look to the staff, not the sword.  

— so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 

V. Be Steady    

13So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. 14Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.” 15Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. 16He said, “Because hands were lifted up against the throne of the Lord, the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”

• The Christian life is more than just commitment to Christ; it includes a commitment to other Christians.

Find Someone who Needs Their Hands Lifted up, and climb their hilltop with them, view the battle with them, take the gift God has given you, and support their hands. 

• Community Requires Commitment. 
• The Holy Spirit is the one who creates real commitment between believers, but he cultivates it with the choices we make.
• Times of crisis, honesty, bravery, and suffering weld suffering souls together into conquerors with a story to tell.

UNSEEN ENEMY - Week 1 - Unseen / Battle

WHAT YOU SEE IS NOT ALL THERE IS.

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Ephesians 6:11-12

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked. "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."  And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:15-17 

WHAT DOES THE DEVIL DO?

in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not unaware of his schemes. 2 Corinthians 2:11 

HE BLINDS THE MINDS OF UNBELIEVERS.  The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers…2 Corinthians 4:4   | HE FIGHTS TO STOP YOU.  For we wanted to come to you-certainly I, Paul, did, again and again-but Satan stopped us. 1 Thessalonians 2:18
HE STEALS GOD’S WORD FROM YOU.  “When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.” Matthew 13:19   | HE PLANS TO DESTROY YOU.    Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.   1 Peter 5:8

• HE SETS TRAPS TO ENSNARE YOU.   

…and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. 

2 Timothy 2:26 

EVERYONE YOU MEET IS FIGHTING A BATTLE YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.

• YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN YOUR BATTLES.

• WE DO NOT FIGHT FOR VICTORY. WE FIGHT FROM VICTORY.

• YOUR PRAYERS ARE FAR MORE POWERFUL THAN YOU KNOW.

You, dear children, 

are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

IN GOOD HANDS Week 3 Outline - 08.16.20 ~ He’s Still *Got The Whole World In His Hands Series

Jeremiah 18

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2“Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.”

3So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

 5Then the word of the Lord came to me. 6He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord.

But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8

SCRIPTURE“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  Hebrews 4:12
"It is written..."  Matthew 4:4, 7, 10
HOLY SPIRIT “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears,  He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14“He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. John 16:13,14
Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”  Acts 16:6-9
III. CIRCUMSTANCES: Opened And Closed Doors.But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.  1 Corinthians 16:8,9
And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household." And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:57, 58
IV.  WISE COUNSEL: Mature Christian Friends And Spiritual Authorities.For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it." Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, "I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith." Luke 7:8, 9

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:8

Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; Isaiah 59:1

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, 

Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 1 Peter 5:6