Victory Life KY

• Matthew 28, MSG,CEV- God authorized and commanded Me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you.

• Now as with everything pertaining to Jesus and His Kingdom, the only way any of this is a reality is through faith. We have to believe this stuff!!

• Think about it, Jesus commissioned each of us, given each of us an assignment. This assignment is ultimately about creating disciples that openly acknowledge our allegiance and reliance in Christ.

• I believe that everything Jesus did with His life on the planet was not only pointing to what He was about to accomplish on the cross, but showing us what humanity, anointed by the Holy Spirit is supposed to look like.

• Matthew 18, Who’s the greatest in the Kingdom?

• v.4, Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom. 
• v.11, The son of man has come to save that which was lost. 

• v.21, “Lord how often do I forgive my brother that sins against me?”When Jesus said up to seventy times seven, He isn’t actually giving a specific number, He’s really insinuating limitless forgiveness.

• Chapter 19, Jesus counsels the rich young ruler;

• v.21-24,NKJV- Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 
• 22, But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 
• 23, Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 
• 24, And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

• Chapter 21, Jesus cleanses the temple, then once again He heals al that come to Him.
• The lesson of the fig tree v.21,NKJV- “So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.”

• At the end of the day, we’ve got to believe this stuff!!
• Matthew 22, The parable of the wedding feast. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like...” A king who arranged a marriage for his son.

• Everyone invited all had excuses v.11-12, How dare you come in here with no wedding garment. In other words not clothed in righteousness.

• Matthew 23, Jesus hammers the Pharisees about their hypocrisy.

• Matthew 24:3,NKJV-  Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 

• This is a private teaching from Jesus to His disciples. (Jewish disciples)
• Many of the signs Jesus describes are religious deception, social and political turmoil, disloyalty, persecution...

• In 1 Corinthians Paul reminds us that there are 3 groups of people throughout the scriptures, Jews, Gentiles, Church and there are times that discernment will be necessary.

• Chapter 24, Jesus is talking about His return to the Jewish people, not the church going to Him. Read Revelation 6 along with this chapter.

• Jeremiah 30:7,  “Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, But he shall be saved out of it.

• Daniel 12:1,  At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. 

• v.15,  “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand),”

• In 2 Thessalonians Paul actually gives us a little further insight  concerning the coming of the Lord and our gathering to Him, he says I don’t want you to be shaken,
• That days will not come until the great apostasy and the man of sin sets in the temple showing himself to be God.

• Ive always with struggled with the “falling away” commentary on this passage, and after watching the documentary on the Galilean wedding, I was absolutely convinced.

• Think about it, it just doesn’t make sense that Christ would be returning for a bride that has fallen out of love with Him, not prepared for Him or looking for His return.

• I have a very old Oxford dictionary and this phrase falling away in the Greek is the word apostsia, is translated 2 ways, rebellion and departure.

• v.3, Geneva bible, Let no man deceive you by any means, for that day shall not come,except there come a departing first, and that that man of sin be disclosed, even the son of perdition.

• Before the Geneva bible, William Tyndale”s first translation also used the word departure in this passage.

• The Wuest translation, “Unless the departure of the church came first...”

• And I get it, this word, apostasia can be translated either way, departure or rebellion, but in the context of the chapter, it actually ties everything together.

• I personally think it’s simply more of a common sense interpretation.

• Matthew 25:1,NKJV- Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

• Live ready, v.7, trimmed their lamps, trimmed- (gr.kosmeo) where we get our word cosmetic- to beautify, adorn, arrange, to get ready.
• The point, its too late to get ready when He shows up. 

• v.31-32, When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.

• Matthew 26:1-2,NKJV-  Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples, “You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”

• Matthew 27, Jesus institutes the Lords Supper. Peter denies Jesus. Jesus is crucified. Then you know...

• Matthew 28:5-8,NKJV- “But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 
• He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 
• And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” 
• So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.”

• Matthew 28:16-20,NKJV-  “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 
• When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 
• And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 
• Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 
• teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”

• Now as with everything pertaining to Jesus and His Kingdom, the only way any of this is a reality is through faith. We have to believe this stuff!!

• Think about it, Jesus commissioned each of us, given each of us an assignment. This assignment is ultimately about creating disciples that openly acknowledge our allegiance and reliance in Christ.

• Matthew 13:55-58,NKJV- Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?
• 56, And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?”
• 57, So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.”
• 58, Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. 

• MSG, “We’ve known him since he was a kid; he’s the carpenter’s son. Who does he think he is?” They got their noses all out of joint.”

• Familiarity really does breed contempt (Scorn, disdain, depreciate, disrespect)   It’s a heart thing.

• In our culture today, information is a very slippery slope. We assume because we’ve acquired a little info that we know what we’re talking about. No humility = unteachable

• Think about it, because of the people’s familiarity with Jesus they allowed contempt instead of faith, they couldn’t see Jesus for who He was, because they had already concluded who He was and it limited what He could do miraculously.

• Let’s not kid ourselves, we will all be loyal to our conclusions just like they were.

• Here’s the thought we introduced last week, can the all powerful, almighty God be limited?

• Psalm 78:40-41,NKJV- “How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, And grieved Him in the desert! Yes, again and again they tempted God, And limited the Holy One of Israel.”      KJV, “they turned back”

• When God's people continually disregarded His guidance, not only does it grieve Him, but when we rebel with unbelief, we actually limit Him.

• Here’s the question we all need to consider; could our unbelieving, our ungodly thinking limit what God wants to do in our lives today?

• Secondly, are we even willing to let what God tells even get in the way our current beliefs?

• Seriously, since we serve a limitless God, maybe the first thing we should address is a change in our thinking. What would thinking  limitless thoughts look like?

• I promise you, God wants to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all we can ask or think.

• I believe God is patiently waiting for believers that will not only acknowledge the promised life He has for us, but be willing to take the necessary steps of faith to possess it.

• Philippians 3:12-14,NKJV- Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

• I realize we talk about our thought life a lot, but the reality is, our faith goes the way of our thoughts.

• And according to our Psalm 78 and Matthew 13, one sure way we limit  God is simply with wrong, unbelieving thinking.

• And the best way to change our thinking is by improving our relationship with Him and His word.

• Seriously, listen to what God says to us through His prophet Jeremiah, "The thoughts I think toward you are of peace, hope, and success, giving you an expected end."

• Think about it, what if God actually expects us to live beyond our humanity, to actually live supernaturally?

• What if we honestly, faithfully started praying for this kind of life?

• Believing God to help us to be more confident in the fact that something happens in the spirit world when we honestly, intentionally start believing God.

• This is why Jesus made statements like, "Whatever you ask for believing, you'll receive it."

• So back to one of our key points, the only way a person starts believing differently is by thinking differently.

• And make no mistake, this kind of limitless, God inspired thinking is a direct result of time with Him and His word. Remember, never out of an, “oh yea, I know Jesus” approach, but one of reverence and humility.

• Any of you like me, you find yourself so busy, so occupied with the  every days of life that it limits your ability to hear Him?

• Thing is, when we can't hear from our Father, it absolutely limits our faith, which once again results in us limiting Him.
• Keep in mind, it’s not that God isn’t speaking and leading, Jesus told us, His sheep know His voice. Most of the time it’s simply other things interfering.

• 1 Kings 19:11-12,NKJV- Then He said, Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD. And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire, A STILL SMALL VOICE.

• The normal revelation from the Lord isn't dramatic and spectacular, but subtle and simple. "A still small voice."

• Psalm 46 tells us, The Almighty is our protector and strength. The God of Heaven’s army is our fortress. Calm down, be still and know that He is God. Meditate that!

• This is a challenge for our modern, multitasking culture that we're use too.

• Truth is, making ourselves available to God, to spiritual realities isn't something that comes natural to our human nature.

• This is why we have to be proactive with our thinking. Making our soul available to the Lord is an absolute when it come to not only hearing, but proving out what His will is for our lives.

• I know I say this repeatedly, but free will is one of humanity's most powerful forces God gave His creation.

• And for the born-again, our new lives can only be found in Him, willfully giving our lives to Him is the key to our success.

• One of the greatest things the Psalm 46 revelation will do for us is simply keep us from ever getting to the place where our familiarity has made us complacent, “oh yea, I know Jesus”.
• “Be still and know Him”

• Here’s the harsh reality is, as long as we continue living, thinking, responding solely out of our human nature, we limit Him.
• We’ve got to be still in His presence long enough that our perspective of Him changes, because He doesn’t.

• This is why what Paul tells us is so vital to our life of faith, “As we behold Him, we are transformed into the same image as Him.”
• He takes us from glory to glory as we put on our new man in Christ.

• Romans makes it very clear, those who live spiritual, set their minds on spiritual things.

• Romans 8:11,NKJV- “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

• Why not make today the day you let what God says get in the way of what you currently believe? Are you even willing to let Jesus interrupt your routine? Interrupt your security? Your familiarity?

• Ephesians 1:11,MSG- It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, He had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose He is working out in everything and everyone.

• A truth every Christ follower has come to terms with is the fact that a life "In Christ" will never be discovered by passively waiting for Him to do His miracles, while we continue doing life the way we've always done it.

• God gave us three simply principles for success in the "In Christ”

• Psalm 37:3-5,AMP- Trust, lean on, rely on, and be confident in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed.
• Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.
• Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass.

• Ken Blanchard, One Minute Manager, wrote, "When you're interested in something, you'll only do it when it's convenient. When you're committed to something, you'll accept no excuses, only results."

• When we trust, delight, and commit our ways to God’s, our life becomes a little more Holy Spirit inspired each day. The Holy Spirit quickening our mortality so that we see transformation.

• Matthew 28, MSG,CEV- God authorized and commanded Me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you.

• Now as with everything pertaining to Jesus and His Kingdom, faith is the constant. At the end of the day, you’ve got to believe this stuff!!

• And it starts with this, we’ve been commissioned, entrusted with supervisory authority by Jesus Himself, for a specific action.

• This assignment is ultimately about creating disciples that openly acknowledge our allegiance and reliance in Christ.

• I believe that everything Jesus did with His life on the planet was not only pointing to what He was about to accomplish on the cross, but showing us what humanity, anointed by the Holy Spirit is supposed to look like.

• As we go into chapter 13, Jesus begins revealing one of the foundational principles of how the Kingdom of Heaven operates in the parable of the sower.

• Matthew 13:10-13,NKJV-  “And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 
• He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 
• For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 
• Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.”

• As Jesus explains this parable, in Mark’s version He says this, “He who has ears to hear, let him. 
• Then He goes on to say, if you don’t understand this parable, you won’t understand any of them.

• Luke’s writing of this account lets us know that the seed is the word of God.

• Matthew 13:19-23,NKJV-  “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 
• v.20, But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 
• v.21, yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 
• v.22, Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 
• v.23, But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

• Throughout this chapter Jesus repeatedly tells us through different parables about what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. Then in chapter 14 He once again displayed the Kingdom in operation.

• Matthew 14:16-20,NKJV- “But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 
• And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” 
• He said, “Bring them here to Me.” 
• Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 
• So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.”

• Jesus walks on water as well as Peter. And once again, “As many as were brought to Him were healed.”

• Matthew 15:11,NKJV- “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

• Matthew 15 also shows us the only other account Jesus referred to as “great faith.” v.28,“Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.”

• Once again in chapter 15, Jesus heals all the sick that came to Him.
• Matthew 16, Pharisees seek a sign. Jesus warns disciples about Pharisee’s teachings.

• Matthew 16:15, “He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

• v.19,NLT-“And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

• v.23,NLT- Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

• Then Jesus once again reminds everyone that when He returns He will reward each person according to their work.

• Matthew 17:1-3,NKJV- Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 
• and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 
• And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.

• V.5, “THIS IS MY SON, HEAR HIM!!”

• Matthew 17:14-20,NKJV- And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 
• 15, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 
• 16, So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.” 
• 17, Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 
• 18, And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. 
• 19, Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 
• 20, So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”

• V.27, Jesus paid their taxes supernaturally 

• Matthew 18, Who’s the greatest in the Kingdom?

• v.4, Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom. 

• Chapter 19, Jesus counsels the rich young ruler;

• v.21-24,NKJV- Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 
• 22, But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 
• 23, Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 
• 24, And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
• Chapter 21, Jesus cleanses the temple, then once again He heals al that come to Him.

• v.21,NKJV- “So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.”

• At the end of the day, we’ve got to believe this stuff!!

• We have to believe we’ve been commissioned, entrusted with supervisory authority by Jesus Himself, for a specific action.

• This assignment is creating disciples that openly acknowledge our allegiance and reliance in Christ.

• I believe that everything Jesus did with His life on the planet was showing us what humanity, anointed by the Holy Spirit is supposed to look like.

• Matthew 13:54-58,NKJV- When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 
• 55, Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? 
• 56, And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” 
• 57, So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” 
• 58, Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

• Familiarity really does breed contempt (Scorn, disdain, depreciate, disrespect)
• Think about it, in our culture today, information is a very slippery slope. We assume because we’ve acquired a little info that we know what we’re talking about. No humility = unteachable 

• I can’t help but wonder how many of us are guilty of this very thing when it comes to Jesus? Let’s help each other to not confuse information with faith. Let’s stay teachable.

• Think about it, because of the people’s familiarity with Jesus they allowed contempt instead of faith, they couldn’t see Jesus for who He was, because they had already concluded who He was and it limited what He could do miraculously.

• Here’s where I’m going with this, can the all powerful, almighty God be limited?

• Listen to Paul’s instructions from 1 Corinthians 10, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, but with most of them God was not pleased.
• Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

• Psalm 78 makes it clear that those of us that walk with God are to tell the next generation of His wonderful works so they won’t be like this stubborn, rebellious generation, that refused to trust God. In spite of all the miracles.

• It also reminds us of God delivering His people from Egyptian bondage, only to take them through the wilderness.

• The wilderness is that place where unbelief is sent to die.

• And at the same time, it’s the proving ground for our faith.

• Psalm 78:40-41,NKJV- “How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, And grieved Him in the desert! Yes, again and again they tempted God, And limited the Holy One of Israel.”      KJV, “they turned back”

• When God's people continually disregarded His guidance, not only does it grieve Him, but when we rebel with unbelief, we actually limit Him.

• Here’s the question we all need to consider; could our unbelieving, our ungodly thinking limit what God wants to do in our lives today?

• Obviously we all do this to some degree in our faith journey.

• v. 42 tells us that God's people simply forgot about His power that rescued them. Familiarity = contempt

• What if we started asking God to show us areas where we limit Him?

• Then believe Him for a new level of boldness and confidence to step into new areas of faith that He shows us.

• For most of us, this revelation starts with a willingness to change how we think.

• We serve a limitless God, so start thinking limitless thoughts.

• I promise you, God wants to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all we can ask or think.

• Just like any parent with their children, God wants His children to succeed in their lives.

• These great examples we read of in the Bible weren't written just to show us what God use to do back then.

• Remember Acts 10:34, Peter says, "I see very clearly that God does not show favoritism."

• Truth is, God is counting on every one of us being more of a reflection of His greatness.

• King David said, "We are fearfully and wonderfully made."

• So let's make our minds up that we're going to believe that God will stretch us, or in the words of Jabez; 1 Chronicles 4, Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory... and God granted him his request.

• Our key text in Psalm 78 clearly shows us that God wanted to do more than His people allowed Him to.

• Think about it, He wanted to bring them into the promise land that first year, not forty years later.

• But because of their unbelief it limited God from bringing them into the promise land.

• Listen to Hebrews 3, Don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled, and they tested me in the wilderness. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.

• Remember, the wilderness is where unbelief is sent to die.

• Unfortunately, the children of Israel show us that when unbelief doesn't die, it thrives.

• And the result is still the same today, it limits God.

• Numbers 13:1-2, 26-33,NKJV- Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.

• 26, Now they departed and came back to Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; they brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. 
• 27, Then they told him, and said: We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 
• 28, Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. 
• 29, The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan. 
• 30, Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it. 
• 31, But the men who had gone up with him said, We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we. 
• 32, And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. 
• 33, There we saw the giants ( the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.

• Every time we give place to the bad report it effects our faith, not only limiting the power of God that flows through us, but hindering us from accessing things God has already declared to be ours. Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel;

• I believe God is patiently waiting for believers that will not only acknowledge the promised life He has for us, but be willing to take the necessary steps of faith to possess it. 

• Romans 8:29,NKJV- For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

• Psalm 78, How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, And grieved Him in the desert! Yes, again and again they tempted God, And limited the Holy One of Israel. Did their familiarity breed contempt? Think about all they saw. 

• So let’s not let the enemy deceive us into thinking that simply being born again is all there is to the Christian life. None of that generation got to go in and experience God’s promised land.

• Philippians 3:12-14,NKJV- Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

• In a talk like this it’s very important that we emphasize and focus on the reality that we are under the new covenant.
• Which hangs under the banner of God’s love. Unlike under the old covenant, He’s not mad at us.

• That being said, its still up to us to step into what He’s promised.

• Remember our example with Jesus and the people’s familiarity with Him? they allowed for contempt instead of faith, they couldn’t see Jesus for who He was, because they had already concluded who He was and it limited what He could do in their lives.
• I can’t help but wonder how many of us are guilty of this very thing when it comes to Jesus? 

• Matthew 10, Jesus sends out His first disciples. “You go preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”

• 10:37, “He who loves father or mother, son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who loses his life for My sake will find it. 
• He who receives you receives Me

• Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 
• Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 
• For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

• The legalistic, religious system of that day was a severe burden, but Jesus is introducing a brand new way of living.

• Let's be honest, we've all experienced stress, anxiety, worry, and fear.

• And the world we live in thrives on whatever will add to these.

• The real question we've all got to be honest about is, are we willing to make the necessary changes to not get trapped in these unGodly emotions?

• Let’s face it, staying focused on the negative is a guaranteed path to just the opposite of, “My yoke is easy, My burden is light.”

• Don't misunderstand me, I realize making a change in your thinking doesn't automatically change your situation.

• But until there is a change in our thinking, overcoming any obstacle will continue providing stress, worry, and anxiety.

• Let me ask it like this, how big of a role would you say our thoughts play when it comes to stress, anxiety, and worry?

• 2Corinthians 10:4-5,NIV- “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 
• We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

• God designed us so that His word will transform our thinking, which will transform our faith, which is how we're designed to live.

• But when we're in the middle of things not going right, that’s where stress and worry try taking over.

• Because when we're stepping out in faith, following Jesus, discovering our new life of faith, usually it's the challenges, the difficulties that trip us up. 

• How many can related to this, you're running your race, you’re stepping out on your faith, you're focused on Jesus, and your motive is for Him to change you circumstances, but His motive is to CHANGE YOU!!

• Hebrews 12:1-2,NLT- Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.

• I can't help but wonder how many of us have been guilty of allowing whatever we've been going through to define us instead of keeping our eyes on Jesus?

• The faith question is, are we going to come to the place where we trust Him in the middle of the storm, the challenge, when everything isn’t going the way we wanted?

• Could it be, that if we continually stress and worry over something that it's actually revealing an area in our own life that we've haven't completely given to Him.

• Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 
• Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 
• For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

• But the minute we come to the place where He actually becomes our shepherd, things like stress, anxiety, worry, and fear stop having the same kind of influence over us.

• Once again in Matthew 12:15, a great multitude followed Him and He healed them all.

• Later in the chapter Jesus is still teaching about the Kingdom and He says things like: A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. And a tree is know by its fruit. From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Just kidding...)

• v.36-37, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

• As we go into chapter 13, Jesus begins revealing one of the foundational principles of how the Kingdom of Heaven operates in the parable of the sower.

• Matthew 13:10-13,NKJV-  “And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 
• He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 
• For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 
• Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.”

• As Jesus explains this parable, in Mark’s version He says this, “He who has ears to hear, let him. Then He goes on to say, if you don’t understand this parable, you won’t understand any of them.

• Luke’s writing of this account lets us know that the seed is the word of God.

• Matthew 13:19-23,NKJV-  “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 
• v.20, But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 
• v.21, yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 
• v.22, Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 
• v.23, But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

• Throughout this chapter Jesus repeatedly tells us through different parables about what the Kingdom of Heaven is like.

• Matthew 14:16-20,NKJV- “But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 
• And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” 
• He said, “Bring them here to Me.” 
• Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 
• So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.”

• Jesus walks on water as well as Peter. And once again, “As many as were brought to Him were healed.”

• Matthew 15:11,NKJV- “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

• Matthew 15 also shows us the only other account Jesus referred to as “great faith.” v.28, “Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.”

• Once again in chapter 15, Jesus heals all the sick that came to Him.
• Matthew 16, Pharisees seek a sign. Jesus warns disciples about Pharisee’s teachings.

• Matthew 16:15, “He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

• v.19,NLT,“And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.””

• Remember, everything about this series is driven from Jesus’ commands in chapter 28, commissioning us to go do these things He’s teaching, because He’s given each of us with supervisory authority.

1 Corinthians 15:12-14,NLT- Tell me this, since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.

Everything about eternity, heaven, Christianity, Jesus, all hinge on this one reality, there is a resurrection. JESUS IS ALIVE! *

And the second a human chooses to believe Jesus is alive and exercises faith to be born again, they are raised with Christ. Their new life begins.

The first thing humanity has to come to terms with is the fact that God designed everything connected to Him to be discovered through our beliefs. That’s what free-will is. “All things are possible...”

Acts 4, Let it be known to all of you, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. And there’s no other name among men by which man can be saved.

Easter, resurrection, Christianity, is all about acknowledging this one reality, Christ left His world and took on humanity, born of a women. His name is Jesus. And He became the sacrifice for humanity to have a way back.

Philippians 2, Jesus, even though He had equal status with God refused to cling to the advantages of that status. When the time came, He set aside the privileges of deity and became human! Having become human, He stayed human. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, He lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death.

THEN HE GOT UP!! 

All anyone has to do is take a step of faith and choose to believe this simple message about Jesus.

Here’s the thing, because humanity has been separated from a relationship with God because of sin, God sent Jesus into the human race, sacrificed Him and raised Him from the dead.

It had to be this way because of eternal law. God couldn’t just make up a new exception for His new creation because eternal beings are subject to spiritual law just like we are. So by following spiritual laws already in place, He sent a sacrifice to atone for humanity’s sin.

What the prince of darkness didn’t know was that from the beginning, God’s plan was to raised Jesus back up.

This is why in Ephesians, Paul prays that we grasp the utter extravagance of God’s work in us who trust in the fact that He has raised Jesus from the dead.

Ephesians 2, God, immense in mercy and with incredible love,  embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. Then He raised us up and sat us down in the highest heaven, in company with Jesus, our Messiah. Now God has us right where He wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. All we have to do is trust Him enough to let Him do it. Jesus is God’s gift from start to finish!

Remember las week as we were following Jesus, He’s recruiting His disciples and after calling Matthew, He goes to hang out with Matthew and his sinner friends, where He makes this radical statement from the prophet Hosea, “Go learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Luke 15:1-2,NKJV- Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”

The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were openly critical of His association with sinners. And the fact that Jesus recruited one to be a disciple really frustrated the religious of the day. (Not much has changed.)

But Jesus makes it clear that He will always be going to and calling the ones that are away from God.

Sometimes I think the enemy isn’t so concerned about us coming in here, but when we start going out there, he’s gonna do everything he can to distract and disrupt.

In Luke’s view from Jesus’ time at Matthew’s house, Jesus makes His point very clear with 3 different parables. (The lost sheep, lost coin, lost son) “He came to seek and save those who are lost.”

Today’s title, “Running Back To You” was inspired from the father’s perspective about his son, from the parable of the prodigal son.

This revelation of restoration absolutely releases the Kingdom of Heaven into humanity, and by design spark revival.

There was a man who had two sons. The younger said to his father, I want my inheritance right now.  So the father divided the property between them.

The younger son packed his bags and left home. There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had. After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt.

He signed on with a citizen there who sent him to slop the pigs. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corn-cobs in the pig slop.

Luke 15:17-19,NLT- When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, at home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.

verse 20, So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he RAN TO HIS SON, embraced him, and kissed him.

Remember what Jesus told the Pharisees at Matthew’s house, you go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.

This resurrection Sunday, let the REVELATION OF RESTORATION settle in our spirits just like the father was toward his son.

Take a second, use your Holy Spirit inspired imagination and see the farther running to you.

verse 21, His son said to him, Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. 

Make no mistake, “I’m not worthy”  is one of the enemy’s most successful tactics against believers that have messed up. And this is the ultimate reality about being raised with Christ. He has made you righteous. As a matter of fact, Colossians makes it very clear, “Christ made you alive, when He forgave all our sins. God wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses. He took them away and nailed them to the cross.”

You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

verse 22-24, But his father said to the servants, Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found. So the party began.

Every year Christians make such a big deal about Easter because on the other side of anyone making the choice to believe in Jesus is alive today, "you shall not perish but have everlasting life."

The harsh reality is that the landscape of our society today is skeptical, even critical. And regardless of where you stand today, you stand there based on beliefs you have established in your own life.

And to some degree, whether they are actually truth or not is irrelevant because you've accepted them as truth.

Everyone human on the planet lives this way because God created us this way. We live within the boundaries of our God given freedom of choice.

Deuteronomy 30:19,NLT-  “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!"

Jesus said, "I am the Way and the Truth" and it’s Truth that'll make you free.

All I'm asking you to do today is that you give Jesus the same consideration you give your current beliefs. Because the truth is, every human is going to exist forever.

Eternity is part of humanity, but only eternal life comes through Jesus.

For the one listening today and thinking, "I'm not sure I can accept this stuff as truth." By design, the life of faith will never be discovered through intellectual confirmation, but a spiritual revelation.

On this resurrection Sunday, my prayer, just like with the prodigal son, is that the REVELATION OF RESTORATION settle in your spirit about the Father just like he did toward his father.

Here’s the deal, just like the prodigal, everyone fo us have that God given power to choose.

The life He gave you is exactly that, the one He gave you. And until you choose to give it back to Him, it's all yours.

This is why we've got to tell people about Jesus. This is why Paul tells us that the gospel is the power of God to salvation.

He said if you'll just talk about me I'll show up and reveal myself right in the middle of a conversation about Me.

Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand new life, including a future in Heaven, and THAT FUTURE STARTS NOW!

• Matthew 28, MSG,CEV- God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you.

• Now as with everything pertaining to Jesus and His Kingdom, faith is the constant.

• Remember, we’ve been commissioned, entrusted with supervisory authority for a specific action.

• This assignment isn’t just about telling people that Jesus offers humanity eternal life, it’s creating disciples that openly acknowledge our allegiance and reliance in Christ.

• I believe that everything Jesus did with His life here was not only pointing to what He was about to accomplish on the cross, but showing us what humanity, anointed by the Holy Spirit is supposed to look like.

• Remember, Jesus told His first disciples to go and teach others to do everything He told them.

• In Matthew 9, Jesus goes back to His home town and right away, guess what’s the first thing He does? He heals a paralytic. I like Marks version of this passage.

• Mark 2:1-12,NKJV-  And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 
• Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them.
• Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 
• And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. 
• When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” 
• And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 
• “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 
• But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 
• Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘ Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 
• But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” —He said to the paralytic, 
• “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 
• Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

• Then He calls Matthew to be a disciple and immediately goes to hang out with Matthew’s sinner friends, where He makes this radical statement from the prophet Hosea in v.13, “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

• Matthew 9:17 Jairus comes to Jesus about his daughter and is interrupted by the women with the issue of blood.

• Once again Mark gives us much more detail. Jesus tells Jairus, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.”

• v.29, He tells two blind men, “According to your faith, let it be done to you.”

• Matthew 9:35-38,NLT-  Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 
• When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 
• So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

• Matthew 10:1,NKJV-  And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

• v.7-10,“And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 
• Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”

• He warns them of persecution, He also tells them they’ll be brought before kings as a testimony.
• v.25, It’s enough that a disciple be like his teacher. 
• v.27, Then he says whatever I tell you in the in the dark, speak in the light and preach from the housetop.

• Don’t be afraid, I know the number of hairs on your head.

• 10:37-40, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 
• And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 
• He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. 
• He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

• In chapter 11, John the Baptist asked if Jesus was the Christ or do we look for another? 

• v.4-5, “Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.”

• Remember, Jesus told the 11, it’s to your advantage that I leave.

• v.11, “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” 

• v.28-30, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 
• Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 
• For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

• The legalistic, religious system of that day was a severe burden, but Jesus is introducing a brand new way of living.

• Matthew 12:7-8,NKJV- But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 
• v.8, For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” 

• v.15, a great multitude followed Him and He healed them all.

• Later in the chapter Jesus is still teaching about the Kingdom and He says that any kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.

• A tree is know by its fruit. This is a heart thing. Remember, from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

• v.36-37, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

• As we go into chapter 13, Jesus begins revealing one of the foundational principles of how the Kingdom of Heaven operates in the parable of the sower.

• Matthew 13:10-13,NKJV-  “And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 
• He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 
• For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 
• Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.”

• As Jesus explains this parable, in Mark’s version He says this, “He who has ears to hear, let him. Then He goes on to say, if you don’t understand this parable, you won’t understand any of them.

• Luke’s writing of this account lets us know that the seed is the word of God.

• Matthew 13:19-23,NKJV-  “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 
• v.20, But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 
• v.21, yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 
• v.22, Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 
• v.23, But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

• Throughout this chapter Jesus repeatedly tells us through different parables about what the Kingdom of Heaven is like.

• Matthew 14 Jesus feeds the five thousand, v.16, “But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
• Jesus walks on water as well as Peter. And once again, “As many as were brought to Him were healed.”

• Matthew 15 shows us the only other account Jesus referred to as “great faith.” v.28, “Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.”

• Once again in chapter 15, Jesus heals all the sick that came to Him.
• Matthew 16:15, “He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

• Over the years, something I've recognized is that many wonderfully born again Christians are simply not comfortable praying. Especially publicly.

• And until we take some steps of faith and try, not only prayer, but anything pertaining to the world of the Spirit is something we'll always be uncomfortable with.

• In its simplest form, prayer is fellowship with the Almighty, our Father. But at a closer look, it’s how a human, born of the spirit, navigates that world.

• So, wherever you're at currently in your faith journey, wouldn't you agree we should all stay open to what God has for us?

• And because God designed us to believe, faith has to be at the center of everything we do, especially in the area of prayer. Hebrews make it clear, it’s really the only way we can even come to God. According to Jesus, Moses, and Paul, it’s how we’re built to live our new lives in Him.

• I’m talking about functioning in a world beyond our natural one. The just shall live by faith.

• 1 John 5:14-15,NKJV-  “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

• John 15:7,MSG- If you make yourselves at home with Me and My words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon.

• And a big part of our prayer life is learning how to navigate the world of the spirit. A world you and I have been born into. This is why Paul tells us in Romans that those who live according to the spirit set their mind on things of the spirit.

• Hebrews 3:12,MSG- Watch your step, friends. Make sure there’s no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God.

• Remember these words from Jesus, “All things are possible to him that believes.”

• I know I probably come back to this point in almost every sermon, but if faith isn't a functioning part of our Christianity, chances are, our Christianity is pretty shallow.

• I can promise you this, you will continue being uncomfortable with a world you constantly question the realities of.

• Not to mention the fact that human nature can't help but fight against the things of God. The NT reminds us that they actually war against each other.

• This is why Hebrews tells us that our faith in God is the foundation under everything that makes life worth living.
•  
• Proverbs 3:5-6,MSG- Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD ’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to GOD! 

• A big part of a life of faith is accepting the fact that God's never going to ask us to do something we can't, or that He hasn’t already grace us to do.

• This is Paul's point to us from Galatians, "I live my new life, still in my humanity, by the faith in Christ."

• And the more we keep our eyes on Jesus, the more we are transformed into His image.

• Here's a revelation, what if we asked God to help us with our prayer life?

• And just like we develop natural communication skills, Christians can develop spiritual communication skills. To the point of spiritual language.

• But because of false teaching, unbelief, religious opinion, not to mention the stereotypes that exists, there is so much confusion on this subject. So talking about spiritual language is something we’ve got to get into.      

• Here’s something to keep in mind, God is not a God of confusion.
• So when it comes to any biblical truth that we're unsure of, here’s God’s basic rule;
• 1 Corinthians 13:1,NKJV- Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

• And when it comes to spiritual language, unfortunately there is so much confusing on the subject, that a big part of the body of Christ simply neglects its realities.

• Here’s the thing, as the born again, we are a new creation, a speaking spirit, currently confined to our humanity.

• At the end of the day, it's just like any other truth from God; it can only be appropriated by faith.

• Think about it, God is the designer and creator of His church. And I find it interesting that on its birth, He introduced spiritual language at the same time.

• And from that point there's not one scripture indicating that He changed His purpose for spiritual language, or that it's no longer necessary.

• The same Holy Spirit that came to empower The Church at its birth is still here and hasn't changed.

• Spiritual language is simply another dimension of communion with God and His creation.

• The Holy Spirit doesn't speak through you. You speak, inspired.

• Understand this, spiritual language is voluntary participation with the Holy Spirit. Every biblical account of tongues was done through the cooperation of believers.

• But for the sceptic, even if you refuse to put away the religious unbelief; listens to Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 14:39, So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues.
•  
• If you think about it, spiritual language is just as scriptural as John 3:16, or Romans 10:13, "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

• So as we dig into this subject of spiritual language, the overwhelming majority of everything around it comes out of the Apostle Paul's writings.

• He graduated from one of the most recognized universities of his day. 
• An elite Pharisee. One of history's most respected and quoted thinkers. And second only to Jesus in establishing Christianity globally.

• 1 Corinthians 14:18,NIV-  I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 

• What's really sad is that most of the people that so strongly appose speaking a spiritual language, quote Paul's writings in all their other Christian beliefs and teachings.

• Every biblical account of tongues was done through the cooperation of believers.

• Mark 9:23,NIV- “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

• The same Holy Spirit that came to empower The Church at its birth is still here and hasn't changed.

• Acts 2:4,NKJV- And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

• Peters first sermon was to a group of confused people who just witnessed spiritual language. And the first thing he does is take them back to the Word.

• Always remember, any spiritual reality will always be proven through God's Word.
• Here's the thing, after God introduces this spiritual reality, there's not one scripture suggestion it was only for a season, or that it wasn't to continue until He returns for His church.

• If you think about it, spiritual language is just as scriptural as everything else we've discussed concerning prayer.

• Now 10 years after Acts 2

• Acts 9:17-18,NKJV- And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. 

• Acts 10:44-46,NKJV- While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

• 20 years later

• Acts 19:1-6,NKJV- And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” 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.

• It's interesting that after God introduced spiritual language it   continued throughout the entire book at Acts. So regardless of your view on this matter, something we should all keep in mind; spiritual language is God's idea. 

• 1 Corinthians 14:1-2,NIV- Follow the way of love and eagerly desire (NKJV, pursue) gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 

• A few purposes of a spiritual language:
• 1. Personal praise and worship.
• 2. Self-edification. (Jude 20, Building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.)
• 3. Praying out divine secrets.
• 4. Public exhortation.

• 1 Corinthians 14:4-5,NIV- Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.

• This passage simply distinguishes the public and private application of a spiritual language.

• 1 Corinthians 14:14-15,NIV- For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do?  I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. 

• Paul makes it very clear that praying in his spiritual language is simply praying from his spirit, not his intellect.

• Something else I would point out here, individually or corporately, we see no signs of hysteria or abnormalities.

• Let me also add this; spiritual language is not an escape from reality, or some self-induced state of mind. As with any other spiritual reality, our God given will is something He will never override.

• Remember, Paul makes it very clear, “If I pray in tongues, my spirit prays.” Then he says, :I will pray with my spirit and my understanding.”

• 1 Corinthians 14:18-19,NIV-  I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. 

• 1 Corinthians 14:31-33, NIV- For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people. 

• MSG- If you choose to speak, you’re also responsible for how and when you speak. When we worship the right way, God doesn’t stir us up into confusion; he brings us into harmony. This goes for all the churches—no exceptions.

• Commissioned- Entrusting someone with supervisory authority for a specific action.

• Matthew 28, MSG,CEV- God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you.

• As a disciple, at what point do we embrace the fact that everything Jesus told His first disciples is just as much a reality for us today.

• When you’re open to His guidance, never underestimate what He'll do through you. So don't underestimate yourself.

• Here’s something we all need to take a closer look at as part of His body here and now; because the minute Jesus started His ministry, He stared with teaching, preaching, and healing.

• And when He’s commissioning His first disciples, He tells them to train everyone they meet to do everything He told them.
• And one of the first things He shows His disciples is teaching, preaching, and healing.

• But as we look at today’s church, we’re good at teaching and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom today, but what’s up with the healing part?

• Did Jesus change His mind? Did He change His will? Is healing just for certain people? Did God give the modern day church doctors to replace His power? Was it just for the early church? Did it go away with the last apostle? Was it just to prove who Jesus was?

• What is the Christians final authority of truth? So if we go strictly according to scripture, what’s it teach us concerning teaching, preaching, and healing?

• So why would He train His first disciples to live and minister a certain way,
• Then command them to train everyone they discipled to live the same way,
• Then He move back to Heaven and expect us to live a different way and not even say anything about it to His closest followers, not to mention something in His Word?

• Now as with everything pertaining to Jesus and His Kingdom, faith is the constant.

• Matthew 8:1-3,NKJV- When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I AM WILLING; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

• Matthew 8:7,NKJV- Jesus told the centurion, “I WILL come and heal him.”

• We’ve got to understand that repeatedly God reminds us that He shows favoritism or partiality to no one. The scripture also makes it clear that Jesus and His word doesn’t change.

• Matthew 8:14-17,NKJV- Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. 
• So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them. 
• When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, 
• that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.

• Remember, we’ve been commissioned, entrusted with supervisory authority for a specific action.

• And that action is to go and make disciples, teaching them to observe all things Jesus told them. So does that include healing?

• When we follow the life of Jesus, why do you think He healed everywhere He went?

• John 6:38,NKJV- For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

• He even said, "if you've seen Me, you've seen the Father."

• And according to the leper and the centurion, Jesus said, “I am willing”
• And God repeatedly lets us know in His word that He shows favoritism or partiality to no one. Not to mention the fact that neither Jesus or His word change.

• This assignment isn’t just about telling people that Jesus offers humanity eternal life, it’s creating disciples that openly acknowledges our allegiance and reliance to Christ.

• I think it’s important we have talks like this because there are so many different views on the life and ministry of Jesus, especially healing, unfortunately to the degree that we leave it out of the gospel message.

• Matthew 8:13, Jesus tells the centurion, “As you have believed, so let it be down for you.”

• Remember, Jesus told us, "if you've seen Me, you've seen the Father." So the whole if it be God’s will thing is out.

• I believe that everything Jesus did with His life here was not only pointing to what He was about to accomplish for all on the cross, but showing what humanity, anointed by the Holy Spirit is supposed to look like.

• Remember Matthew, You go and teachthem to do everything I have told you.

• Matthew 8:23-26,NKJV- Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 
• And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. 
• Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 
• But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

• Then they land in the region of the Gadarenes and some demon possessed men met Jesus and said, “have you come to torture us before our time?”

• In Matthew 9, Jesus goes back to His home town and right away, guess what’s the first thing He does? I like Marks version of this passage.

• Mark 2:1-12,NKJV-  And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 
• Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them.
• Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 
• And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. 
• When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” 
• And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 
• “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 
• But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 
• Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘ Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 
• But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” —He said to the paralytic, 
• “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 
• Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

• Then He calls Matthew to be a disciple and immediately goes to hang out with Matthew’s sinner friends, where He makes this radical statement from the prophet Hosea in v.13, “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

• Matthew 9:17 Jairus comes to Jesus about his daughter and is interrupted by the women with the issue of blood.

• Once again Mark gives us much more detail. Jesus tells Jairus, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.”

• v.29, He tells two blind men, “According to your faith, let it be done to you.”

• Matthew 9:35-38,NLT-  Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 
• When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 
• So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

• Matthew 10:1,NKJV-  And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

• v.7-10,“And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 
• Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 
• Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 
• nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.”

• He warns them of persecution, He also tells them they’ll be brought before kings as a testimony.
• v.26, It’s enough that a disciple be like his teacher. Then he says whatever I tell you in the in the dark, speak in the light and preach from the housetop.
• Don’t be afraid, I know the number of hairs on your head.

• 10:37-40, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 
• And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 
• He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. 
• He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

• In chapter 11, John the Baptist asked if Jesus was the Christ or do we look for another? 

• v.4-5, “Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.”

• v.11, “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” 

• v.28-30, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 
• Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 
• For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

• The legalistic, religious system of that day was a severe burden, but Jesus is introducing a brand new way of living.

• Matthew 12:7-14,NKJV- But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 
• v.8, For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” 
• v.9, Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. 
• v.10, And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him. 
• v.11, Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? 
• v.12, Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 
• v.13, Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. 
• v.14, Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.

• Later in the chapter Jesus is still teaching about the Kingdom and He says that any kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.

• v.31-32,“Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 
• Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.”

• A tree is know by its fruit. This is a heart thing. Remember, from the abundance of the heart... this is why v.37 tells us that by our words we will either be condemned of justified.

• In its simplest form, prayer is fellowship with the Almighty, our Father. But at a closer look, it’s how a human, born of the spirit, navigates that world.

• It’s so much more than simply asking God for something. Remember, our English word prayer is used a number of ways in the Hebrew and Greek language: intercede, petition, fellowship, worship, meditate, communion.

• Over the years, something I've recognized is that many wonderfully born again Christians are simply not comfortable praying. Especially publicly.

• Here's just a few reasons: I'm not use to it. It doesn't make sense. I don't know what to say. I'll do it if things get to serious. Everybody's listening to me. What if I mess up? God knows my heart.

• Truth is, until we take some steps of faith and try, we'll always be uncomfortable with the unknown.

• And when it comes to the subject of prayer, it's going to be very difficult to be successful at something we're not sure of.

• So, wherever you're at currently in your faith journey, wouldn't you agree we should all stay open to what God has for us?

• This why we all need to continue growing in our prayer life.

• It's how we entered our new life in Christ. And it's how we're suppose to live our new lives in Him.

• Think about it, according to Hebrews we're told to come boldly to the throne of Grace.

• And because God created us to believe, faith has to be at the center of everything we do, especially in the area of prayer. Hebrews make it clear, it’s really the only way we can even come to God. According to Jesus, Moses, and Paul, it’s how we’re designed to live our new lives in Him.

• 2 Peter 1:12-13,MSG- Because the stakes are so high, even though you’re up-to-date on all this truth and practice it inside and out, I’m not going to let up for a minute in calling you to attention before it. This is the post to which I’ve been assigned—keeping you alert with frequent reminders—and I’m sticking to it as long as I live. 

• Until we get the faith part of our new life settled, when it comes to the things of the Spirit, like prayer, we will constantly question it’s realities.

• I cannot over emphasis maintaining a confident faith attitude in our prayer life.

• And make no mistake, our enemy knows this, and will be relentless at distracting us. This is why it is absolutely vital we have a clear understanding of the fact that we are 100% righteous in Christ.

• I believe Paul is giving us an excellent example of a proper faith attitude for an effective prayer life.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:16,NKJV- REJOICE always, PRAY without ceasing, in everything GIVE THANKS, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

• Philippians 4,MSG- Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!
• So don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. 

• Think about it, if our prayer life is established on faith, then we should be rejoicing because faith already has the answer. And if we know we’ve already got the answer, then why wouldn’t we be thankful? Why wouldn’t we celebrate?

• Now just like this natural world exists according to natural law, the spirit world exists according to spiritual law, according to God’s divinely instituted order. In other words, His Kingdom.

• And when it comes to anything pertaining to God’s Kingdom, including a healthy, successful prayer life, faith is the only way! Remember, Paul tells us, “the same way we got in is how we live in this new world.”

• Mark 11:22-25,NKJV- “So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 
• For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 
• Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. 
• “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.”

• Remember, unforgiveness hinders faith.

• Unfortunately, out of habit and religious tradition, instead of accepting our God ordained instructions, too many of us continue going to God about things He told us to deal with.

• v.23, For assuredly, I say to you, WHOEVER says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but BELIEVES that those things HE SAYS will be done, he will have WHATEVER HE SAYS.

• “Believe you receive it” this is faith, a heartfelt conviction based on the fact that we trust what God says.

• v.24, Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask WHEN YOU PRAY, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

• Now I’m not talking about some kind of mind game where we’re pretending something’s real that isn’t.

• I’m talking about functioning in a world beyond our natural one. The just shall live by faith.

• Hebrews makes it very clear, “those who come to God must believe...”

• 1 John 5:14-15,NKJV-  “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

• The moment the born again actually choose to believe we have divine access to God’s world, our faith goes into action.

• Remember, it didn’t profit them not being mixed with faith. Faith is what gives us the ability to bring the realities of God’s world into ours.

• Believing connects us to God’s ever existing power. That’s what faith is.

• Faith is the bridge between the two worlds. According to Hebrews, faith is substance of things, hoped for, evidence of things not seen.

• But because God only has imperfect people to work through, many times His power is hindered because of our unbelief.

• Truth is, many simply haven’t accepted the fact that it’s really this simple, “Only Believe”

• Seriously, as we’re transformed, our believing starts overriding doubt and we start seeing greater results.

• And this is why ultimately, an effective prayer life has to be built around our personal fellowship with our Father.

• John 15:7,MSG- If you make yourselves at home with Me and My words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon.

• Everything pertaining to the Kingdom of God has to be established and supported by God’s word. It is the believers source of truth. It’s God’s play book for an effective prayer life.

• There’s a real world in operation on the other side of our three dimensional world we live in.

• And just like there are natural laws, there are also spiritual laws that have been put in place by God.

• And a big part of our prayer life is learning how to navigate the world of the spirit. A world you and I have been born into. This is why Paul tells us in Romans that those who live according to the spirit set their mind on things of the spirit.

• And the only way into the spirit is according to what we believe, in other words, our faith.

• Remember in Mark, Jesus could do no mighty works in His home town and He marveled because of their unbelief.MSG- He couldn’t get over their stubbornness. 

• Hebrews 3:12,MSG- Watch your step, friends. Make sure there’s no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God.

• I’m convinced that Jesus’ instructions in Mark 11 are some of His foundational principles for exercising our born again nature.
• Speak to your mountain 
• Believe you receive

• Unfortunately, out of habit and religious tradition, instead of accepting God ordained instructions, too many of us continue going to God about things He told us to deal with.

• The moment the born again actually choose to believe, we have divine access to God’s world, with the ability to bring its realities into our world.

• So when it comes to our prayer life, it's going to be very difficult to be successful at something we're not sure of.

• I know I probably come back to this point in almost every sermon, but if faith isn't a functioning part of our Christianity, chances are, our Christianity is pretty shallow.

• Seriously, how can you pray to a God that you're not even sure about?

• I can promise you this, you will continue being uncomfortable with a world you constantly question the realities of.

• Not to mention the fact that human nature can't help but fight against the things of God. The NT reminds us that they actually war against each other.

• This is why Hebrews tells us that our faith in God is the foundation under everything that makes life worth living.

• It goes on to say, "Those who come to God must believe that He is, and that He's a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

• Proverbs 3:5-6,MSG- Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD ’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to GOD! 

• A big part of a life of faith is accepting the fact that God's never going to ask us to do something we can't, or that He hasn’t already grace us to do.

• This is Paul's point to us from Galatians, "I live my new life, still in my humanity, by the faith in Christ."

• And the more we keep our eyes on Jesus, the more we are transformed into His image.

• Here's a revelation, what if we asked God to help us with our prayer life?

• And just like we develop natural communication skills, Christians can develop spiritual communication skills.