Upper Room - Ohio

Blessing Prayer - Steve Bowen - June 10, 2018 by Upper Room - Ohio

You are the Best of All Time

You can change the history of your family tree. You have been given a position of authority in your daily life. Legacy is passing down to a generation in a way that is better than you found it. What we leave in people is greater than what we leave to people.

John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

John 3:16 NKJV

Because of this, we can change the world.

Parable of seed and sower

We don't get to pick and choose who we love. Jesus loves us all.

We may not see the harvest of the seeds we plant and what we pour into. Look at what we do with people one a time. That makes us world changers.

We are meant to be poured into, then leak out to others around us. We can only pour out what we are filled with.

"Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded."

John 13:3-5 NKJV

Jesus knew his authority came from God.

"So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."

John 13:12-17 NKJV

Esther didn't compromise her values. She changed a nation on assignment from God. She was the least likely to change the nation, but God made her a hero.

God knows you for your destiny and not for your history.

"For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"

Matthew 16:26 NKJV

Is everything we do for Him?

Jesus is our example of how to live.

Will you stop for the one? Or is it only for the crowd? What did Jesus do?

"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."

Colossians 3:23-24 NKJV

Joy Of Surrender - Aaron Simmons - May 27, 2018 by Upper Room - Ohio

What does it mean to be a Christian?

Who can be a Christian?

"When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? "We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified."

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2:11-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/gal.2.11-16.niv

Cephas was "the rock" or Peter

At this time Paul would've been following Jesus for about 15 years.

Paul let the gentiles know that they could be forgiven by believing in Jesus Christ.

Antioch is between Turkey and Syria, had many christians and unbelievers.

Freedom is not comparing yourself to others!!

Your freedom begins when judgment and condemnation ends!!

Jesus has no desire to "climb the ladder "of the Trinity, He seeks the Father's Glory!

"So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants. Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. So the women sang as they danced, and said: "Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands." Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?""

‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭18:5-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

bible.com/114/1sa.18.5-8.nkjv

"So Saul eyed David from that day forward."

‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭18:9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

bible.com/114/1sa.18.9.nkjv

Prior to this, Saul was promoting everything that David had done. This was the moment when jealousy crept in!!!

When we us the word hate, it carries a lot of weight!!! Saul started to hate David.

Comparison is the thief of joy (Mark Twain)

What is this root of trying to measure up? It is "Identity"!!!

How do we view God, others, and ourselves:

View God

If God gives us good things, then why do we struggle with other's things!!! Do we struggle with other's opinion of us, because "how does God view us"? We need to be reminded of "Truths vs. Lies" "Compliments vs. Comparisons"

"Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?"

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭2:22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

bible.com/111/isa.2.22.niv

View Myself

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!"

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭139:13-17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

bible.com/111/psa.139.13-17.niv

"The orphan spirit is rampant in the church today and the world today, causing chaos and destruction. There is an answer to this spirit, which is the spirit of adoption and the spirit of Sonship."

-Leif Hetland, Healing the Orphan Spirit-

There is a place between declaration and demonstration called desperation.

The wonder and stories of God must continue to be shared

"So the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD which He had done for Israel.

When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel."

‭‭Judges‬ ‭2:7, 10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

bible.com/114/jdg.2.7,10.nkjv

If you want to see the face of God, go beyond the ordinary.

"One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple."

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭27:4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

bible.com/114/psa.27.4.nkjv

Our encounters are what shape us to shape the environment around us!!!!

We meet because we know there is more of Him. What keeps us here is His presence.

One encounter with the Father will change you forever, the Love of the Father gives you a new name, a son of the Father.

What if the world sees the face of God. What if they here how good they are vs how bad they are?

We were born to see the face of God, we were born for intimacy. Religion made it hard for this, it made it "how much or what have you done".

When Adam and Eve hid, God asked "Where are you" not "What did you do".

God "Emanuel is God with us" desires face to face encounters. We were created to hear His voice. Jesus gave it all so He is the Way to the Father!!!!!

"One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple."

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭27:4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

bible.com/114/psa.27.4.nkjv

"O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water."

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭63:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

bible.com/114/psa.63.1.nkjv

Isaiah 9:6-7 There is NO END to the INCREASE of His Government and Peace

God only knows increase

We are moving towards eternity, but many things in life are finite

Goal vs. Purpose...goals are often finite, but purpose usually continues

Becoming Christlike never ends

Matthew 22:34-40. Our goals should never get in the way of these commandments

What are things we can only do WITH Jesus?

What are things we can only do with OTHERS?

We must learn to be around and trust others

We must Rest (It’s not a goal). Maintain rest.

We need to learn patience

Romans 5:3-5. When there’s no struggle, we can lose hope

Values vs. Interests. Values should point us in the right direction and should continue to increase

Let our BEing lead our DOing

Infinite vision will always trump finite goals

Let the Lord give you a glimpse of eternity

FEASTING ON JESUS

He is everything that we need!!!!

"Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me." And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.""

‭‭Luke‬ ‭10:38-42‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

http://bible.com/114/luk.10.38-42.nkjv

Jesus is not a means to the end, He is the end. He is the means to the end where I find peace. No He is the Peace in the beginning and the end and through the situation.

Martha thought the way to Jesus was to serve, where Mary saw that it was sitting before Him.

If you will find Him, you find everything!!' He is so perfect!!! The goal is not results, rather it is your relationship. Sucess is not miracles, songs you have you released, Success is when you find Jesus.

The issue is not the issue, rather your Heart through the issue. Is what you are doing for God replacing God???!

""Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'"

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:21-23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

http://bible.com/114/mat.7.21-23.nkjv

"Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."

‭‭John‬ ‭17:1-3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

http://bible.com/114/jhn.17.1-3.nkjv

When you are in the place of intimacy, the only thing that matters is Him, not all of our successes or achievements, it is to know Him.

Intimacy is not an event, rather it is a continuous goal of a lifestyle.