Victory Life KY

Think of what drives you to victory. What would you say is your ultimate source of strength?

Kids, career, friends, desire to succeed, anger

All of these are guaranteed to fail at some point.

-Question?

What if I told you about A source of strength you have and that regardless of how bad the situation might be, you would come out with the victory every single time.

-There are going to be situations in this life that you can do absolutely nothing about on your own.

Sickness, death, evil

-They will create hopeless situations

-Hopeless situations require hope in something greater than the situation. 

-As believers we need to place our hope in God because he is greater than any situation. He is undisputed in victory.

-In the book of Judges, we can see the Israelites faced a hopeless situation because they had turned from God.

-The Book shows the pattern of God’s people turning to idols and forgetting what God had done for them. They would become oppressed and cry out to God for help.

- Then God would send a leader to deliver them and one of those leaders was Gideon.

(Midianites oppressive over the Israelites, took everything) (Judges 6: 1-10)

Every Christian should have faith in God as their ultimate source of strength.

Because of three ways God shows that he triumphs regardless of the situation.

Key Word Triumphs

Rationale- God triumphs regardless

1. God triumphs despite human weakness. (Judges 6:11-16)

-Gideon was afraid of the situation he was in. He doubted God being with them because the situation looked bad. (Verse 13)

-Despite Gideons doubts God called him “a mighty warrior” When God says something about you, He is speaking it into existence. You are no longer afraid; you are a mighty warrior.

-God said, I will be with you. (Verse 16)

-God is true to his word. “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” Numbers 23:19

1. God triumphs despite human understanding. (Judges 7:1-8)

-God wanted to show that He alone is the one to bring victory and not for the Israelites to have faith in themselves.

-In human terms does not make sense to cut your army to 300 hundred men. 

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9

Faith in God alone is all we need.

1. God triumphs despite human odds. (Judges 7:9-22)

-Gideon could have looked at the size of the army and said “impossible.” In fact, God knew it was going to shake him, so he gave him a confidence booster.

Jesus replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, move from here to there, and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. (Matthew 17:20)

- Gideon had an “AHHA” moment and realized God was with him, what the odds looked like did not matter because he knew God had the victory.

-God caused the Midianites to turn on each other.

-God will not only even the odds, but he will turn them around.

-God always wins. God is undisputed.

Review

-It is important to realize where your source of strength comes from. It is God that brings the victory and not you. 

-The Psalmist says it like this, “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121

1. God triumphs despite human weakness

2. God triumphs despite human understanding

3. God triumphs despite human odds

-Ephesians 6:10- Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

-Know where your source of strength comes from.

-Know that God is greater than the impossible.

-Have faith that God will bring the victory.

-Jesus gives us some direction Having Faith in God.

“Have faith in God, Jesus answered. I tell you the truth if anyone Says to this mountain, God, throw yourself into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart but believe  that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.” Mark 11:22-24

But when you ask you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double minded and unstable in all they do. James 1:6-8

Make up in your mind to trust that God will triumph. You either believe, or you do not believe.

Once you believe then you truly lock into your source of strength.

Just like Iron man boldly knew who he was, you can boldly declare, “I am a child of God” , my Father is UNDISPUTED.

Ephesians 6:10, AMPBe strong in the Lord. Be empowered through your union with Him; draw your strength from Him.

So, if God tells us, we can have, we can do, we can be, instead of asking our carnal, human nature anything, on purpose believe Him.

We have to be open to this reality today, if God’s going to do something in the earth today, it’s going to be through someone that will say yes to Him.

The apostle Paul’s revelation of the church being Christ body is one of the Holy Spirit’s primary objectives for every believer.

One of the most significant revelations of Ephesians is our in Christ position.

Chapters 1-3, Our position in Christ

Chapters 4-6, Our responsibly in Christ

One of the first things being empowered by Christ demands is that we embrace being an expression of the fullness of Him.

Ephesians 1:22-23 (NKJV)And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

The second revelation we’ve got to be open to is being united as one people.

Ephesians 2:17-19 (NKJV) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.

The third phase of the Ephesian revelation is to mature, equip, and empower believers to advance Christ’s victory of darkness.

Ephesians 3:16-20 (NKJV) That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height,to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

Remember, first we’re empowered by Christ to be an expression of the fullness of Him.

Second, we’ve got to be open to is being united as one people.

Third, we become mature believers empowered to advance Christ’s victory of darkness.

Now keep in mind the first 3 chapters deal with our position in Christ. The last 3 deal with our responsibility in Christ.

As we move into the last 3 chapters, stay open to this reality, our “In Christ” life comes with spiritual, moral and ethical expectations.

In other words, A Strengthening Process

Ephesians 4:1, 11-16, 21-24 (NKJV) I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:

that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

V. 24 NLT, Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Ephesians 5:1,8,15-17 (NKJV) Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.Now you are light in the world, walk as children of light.See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 6:10-12 (AMP)“In conclusion, be strong in the Lord. Be empowered through your union with Him; draw your strength from Him, that strength which His boundless might provides. 

Put on God's whole armor, the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies, that you may be able successfully to stand up against all the strategies and the deceits of the devil. 

For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood, contending only with physical opponents, but against the despotisms, against the powers, against the master spirits who are the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly supernatural sphere.

This assignment from God is our call to be a covenant guard. Not battling to get, but to occupy what has already been given to us.

Make no mistake, the world needs to see believers who know exactly who they are in Christ.

Because we live in a society that’s grown comfortable ignoring, refusing, denying God to the degree that they’re convinced they have no need for God.

And I’m more convinced than ever, that the Holy Spirit is still looking to empower believers to stand strong in their faith.

Paul makes it very clear, God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love and a disciplined mind. For a reason!

Proverbs tells us that those who reverence God are the ones that stand strong in Him.

Sometimes we need reminded that there will be times when our life in Christ will contradict everything humanity is screaming.

So I’m here today to declare over your life, you are strong in Christ. In His power.

Here’s a very simple summary of the book of Ephesians:

2:6, He has made us to SIT together in Heavenly places in Christ.

4:1, We are to WALK worthy of the calling He’s called us to.

6:11,13, That we’re able to STAND against all the enemy’s tactics, and having done all, we’re to STAND.

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.

Always remember, any spiritual reality related to God has to be supported by God's Word.

1 Corinthians 14 reminds us, God is not the author of confusion, but brings us into harmony.

Regardless of your view on this matter, something we should all keep in mind; spiritual language is God's idea. No man made it up.

The primary purposes of a spiritual language are:

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 14:32 (NIV)The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

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.

What about "tongues will cease?"

1 Corinthians 13:8 (NIV)Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

1 Corinthians 13:8-13 (NLT)Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!

Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture!But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child.

 But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 

Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

Paul's point in bringing up these spiritual benefits, and notice he didn't even mention all of them, are to remind us that they are temporary in comparison to love which is eternal.

As we said last week, according to the Bible, spiritual language is just as scriptural as the new birth, heaven, grace...

Regardless of your view on this matter, something we should all keep in mind; spiritual language is God's idea. No man made it up.

1 Corinthians 14:2 (NKJV) For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

1 Corinthians 14:4-5 (NKJV)He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

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

1 Corinthians 14:14-15 (NKJV)For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.

Paul makes it very clear that praying in his spiritual language is simply praying from his spirit, not his intellect.Let me also add this; spiritual language is not an escape from reality, or some self-induced state of mind.It is 100% spiritual, and completely scriptural.

1 Corinthians 14:18-19 (NKJV)I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

For anyone who speaks in a tongue is speaking to God. Speaking mysteries by the Spirit.

So when I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself.

Acts 2:4,6-8,11 (NKJV)And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?

We hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.

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.

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 laterActs 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 of Acts.

What we have to keep in mind is that God is progressive in His revelation of Himself to His followers.

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

There's so much confusion and reluctancy about spiritual language; one because we neglect to discus it as Christians.

Two, because we neglect to practice it once we've been privileged to take part in it.

1 Corinthians 14:10 (NIV) Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.

Currently there are over 6000 known languages in the earth, not to mention, "tongues of angels"

So, to judge someone else's faith life solely on religious opinion and tradition is nothing more than prideful ignorance.

Not to mention the blatant disregard for love.

At the end of the day, spiritual language is simply another dimension of communion between God and His creation.

Let me encourage you with this, that by faith, even starting with a few syllables, with a right heart, will produce results.

Any Christian that will take the time to allow God's Word to shape their thinking can enjoy their Heavenly language.

Psalm 119:130 (AMP) The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding, discernment and comprehension to the simple.

Put into practice saying, "in Jesus name" I speak these words in my spiritual language.The Holy Spirit doesn't speak through you. You speak, inspired.

1 Corinthians 14:14 (NLT)For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying

But for the sceptic, even if you refuse to put away the religious unbelief; listens to Paul's words in 14:39, So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues.

Ephesians 6:10, AMP

Be strong in the Lord. Be empowered through your union with Him; draw your strength from Him.

So, if God tells us, we can have, we can do, we can be, instead of asking our carnal, human nature anything, on purpose believe Him.

Seriously be open to this reality today, if God’s going to do something in the earth today, it’s going to be through someone that will say yes to Him.

The apostle Paul’s revelation of the church being Christ body is one of the Holy Spirit’s primary objectives for every believer.

He’s actually counting on us discovering and exercising our authority over the powers of darkness.

As we make ourselves available to the Ephesian letter, our in Christ position is a key revelation.

Here’s the thing, our positional authority in Christ cannot be executed without a practical understanding how His grace, presence, and empowerment affects our everyday lives.

Ephesians 1He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings.He has predestined us as sons and daughters.In Him we are redeemed.He has made known to us the mystery of His will.In Him we have obtained an inheritance.In Him we are sealed with the Holy Spirit who is our guarantee.

One of the first things being empowered by Christ demands is that we embrace being an expression of the fullness of Him.

Ephesians 1:15-23,(NKJV)Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,Do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

Remember, one of the first things being empowered by Christ demands is that we embrace being an expression of the fullness of Him.The second revelation we’ve got to be open to is being united as one people.

Ephesians 2:1,4-10 (NKJV) And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:18-19 (NKJV)For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.

Remember, first we’re empowered by Christ to be an expression of the fullness of Him.

Second, we’ve got to be open to is being united as one people.

The third phase of the Ephesian revelation is to mature, equip, and empower believers to advance Christ’s victory of darkness.

Ephesians 3:8-12 (NKJV)To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

Ephesians 3:14-20 (NKJV)For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height, to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

Remember, first we’re empowered by Christ to be an expression of the fullness of Him.

Second, we’ve got to be open to is being united as one people.

Third, we become mature believers empowered to advance Christ’s victory of darkness.

Now keep in mind the first 3 chapters deal with our position in Christ. 

The last 3 deal with our responsibility in Christ.As we move into the last 3 chapters, stay open to this reality, our “In Christ” life comes with spiritual, moral and ethical expectations.

In other words, A Strengthening Process

Ephesians 4:1 (NKJV) I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

Ephesians 4:21-24 (NKJV)If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 5:1 (NKJV)Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. Now you are light in the world, walk as children of light. See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.

In Watchmen Nee’s book, “Sit, Walk, Stand, He covers these 3 key principles in Ephesians for spiritual development:

2:6, He has made us to sit together in Heavenly places in Christ.

4:1, We are to walk worthy of the calling He’s called us to.

6:11,13, That we’re able to stand against all the enemy’s tactics, and having done all, we’re to stand.

So let’s dig into it, and with anything related to the Christian life, the Word of God has to be our final authority.

Psalm 18:30 (NKJV)As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven.

Psalm 19 God’s word is perfect, sure, right, true, everlasting, to be desired more than gold.

Psalm 119:89 (NKJV)Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.

Psalms 119:105 (NKJV)Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

John 6:63 (NKJV)The words I speak to you are spirit and they are life.

John 15:7 (NKJV)If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

One of the first things a Christian has to embrace is that our born again nature is spiritual. We literally become a new creations in Him. But we still express ourselves through our human nature.

1 Corinthians 14 reminds us, God is not the author of confusion, but brings us into harmony.

So as we break down this truth, first things first, God's rule when it comes to any truth in the bible that we're unsure of;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.

At the end of the day, as with any other truth from God, there is an element of faith involved.

The overwhelming majority of everything concerning spiritual language comes out of the Apostle Paul's writings. Which by the way, are all 100% inspired by the Holy Spirit.And for all those who think tongues is nothing more than some emotional state of mind for some small, out of balance, uneducated, radical group, the apostle Paul, who covers this subject extensively, graduated from one of the most recognized educational programs of his day. An elite Pharisee. One of history's most respected and quoted thinkers. Writing more than half the New Testament.

1 Corinthians 14:18 (NKJV)I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all.

What's really sad is that most of the people that so strongly oppose speaking a spiritual language, quote Paul's writings in all there other Christian beliefs and teachings. Keep in mind, with any other truth from God, there is an element of faith involved.

Mark 9:23 (NKJV)Jesus said to him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.(MSG) “Jesus said, “If? There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.

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

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

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, there is no spiritual reality outside the support of 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, according to the Bible, spiritual language is just as scriptural as the new birth, heaven, grace...

Regardless of your view on this matter, something we should all keep in mind; spiritual language is God's idea. No man made it up.

1 Corinthians 14:1-2 (NKJV)Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

(MSG) If you praise Him in the private language of tongues, God understands you but no one else does, for you are sharing intimacies just between you and Him.

The primary purposes of a spiritual language are:

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 (NKJV)He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.This passage simply distinguishes the public and private application of a spiritual language.

1 Corinthians 14:13-16 (NKJV)Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?

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. It is 100% spiritual, and completely scriptural.

1 Corinthians 14:18-19 (NKJV)I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

1 Corinthians 14:32 (NIV)The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.

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. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself.

Chapter 10, a once again we’re going to see the same vision revisited again.

Daniel 10:2-3 NKJV

In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

One of the most recognizable qualities of fasting is a humble, focused, reverent state of awareness of God. Reinforced with a confidence readiness for God.

Daniel 10:10-13,NKJV “Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. • v.11, And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. • v.12, Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. •v.13, But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.”

Daniel 10:18-21, NKJV

“Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me.

•And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”

•Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come.

•But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince.”

Isaiah 14:12-15, NKJV 

How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High. Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.

Luke 10:18, NKJV

And He said to them, I saw satan fall like lightning from heaven.

2 Corinthians 4, even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded.

Luke 10:19, NKJV

Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Revelation 13:16-17, NKJVHe causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Chapter 12, wraps up the last three and half years of tribulation.

v.7, Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.

v.10-13, Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.

•And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.

•Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.

•But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.

• 2 Thessalonians 2:3 (NKJV) Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

• Gabriel speaks to Daniel.
• v.17, So he came near where I stood, and when he came I was afraid and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end.” 
• v.18, Now, as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me, and stood me upright. 
• v.19, And he said, “Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be. 
• Then the vision begins describing the one that will be empowered by the dragon in Revelation 13:2 and he will introduce himself as the prince of peace.
• v.23, And in the latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise, Having fierce features, Who understands sinister schemes. 
• v.24, His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; He shall destroy fearfully, And shall prosper and thrive; He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. 
• v.25, “Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; And he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; But he shall be broken without human means. 
• v.26, “And the vision of the evenings and mornings Which was told is true; Therefore seal up the vision, For it refers to many days in the future.”

• Daniel 9:20-24,NKJV- “Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God, 
• v.21, yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. 
• v.22, And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. 
• v.23, At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision: 
• v.24, “Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.”

• v.24-27, The 70 weeks, 70 years of 7’s (490 years)
• 70 sabbath years, or weeks of judgment.
• v.25, In Nehemiah 2, Jerusalem is commissioned to be rebuilt.
• The 70 weeks in this passage is the first 49 years from King Artaxerxes decree until Nehemiah renews God’s covenant within the city.
• The 62 weeks, 434 years from the dedication until the resurrection of the Christ.
• Total 483 years
• v.26-27, the last week, 7 years is yet to come. It is the time of the end.
• Daniel 9:25-27 (NKJV) Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times. 
• v.26, And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined. 
• v.27, Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (NIV) For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

• Amos 3:7 (NIV) Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.

• 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NLT) And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 
• v.14, For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. 
• v.15, We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. 
• v.16, For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. 
• v.17, Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 
• v.18, So encourage each other with these words.

• 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 (NLT) But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!
• It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 
• For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

• In 1 Corinthians Paul reminds us that there are three groups of people God addresses throughout the scriptures; Jews, Gentiles, and the Church.

• In Daniel 9:27, the anti will come on the stage of the world with a peace treaty in the Middle East, specifically Israel.

• He will confirm this covenant for 7 years, the final week of Daniel’s vision.

• Beginning of 7 year tribulation.
• Three and a half years in he breaks treaty.

• Here’s the thing, God’s word as well as history establishes the first two parts of the vision fulfilled:
• 1. 7 weeks, 49 years 
• 2. 62 weeks, 434 years
• Totaling 483 years. Plus 7= 490 years.

• Make no mistake this last week will absolutely come to pass.

• One of Daniel’s major emphasis is what being separated and committed to the will of God will do for a believer.
• Another major component of Daniel is his clarity into the realities of the world of the spirit.
• Chapter 3 is the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and their faithful stand on their beliefs.

• Daniel 3:1,5-6,NLT- King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
• When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue. 
• Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.
• Daniel 3:16-18,NKJV— “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 
• v.17, If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 
• v.18, But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
• v.26, “Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here. ” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. 
• v.27, And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them. 
• v.28, Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! 
• v.29, Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.” 
• v.30, Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.”

• Daniel 6:6-7,NLT-  “So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said, “Long live King Darius! We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. 
• Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions.”

• Chapter 7, Daniel has a vision. The beasts he sees represent the same empires that were revealed in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.
• Daniel 7:23-25,NKJV- Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces. 
• The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; he shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings. 
• He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time. 
• Chapter 8, new symbolism, same message.

• Daniel 8:15-26,NKJV- “Then it happened, when I, Daniel, had seen the vision and was seeking the meaning, that suddenly there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. 
• v.16, And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, who called, and said, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.” 
• v.17, So he came near where I stood, and when he came I was afraid and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end.” 
• v.18, Now, as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me, and stood me upright. 
• v.19, And he said, “Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be. 
• v.20, The ram which you saw, having the two horns— they are the kings of Media and Persia. 
• v.21, And the male goat is the kingdom of Greece. The large horn that is between its eyes is the first king. 
• v.22, As for the broken horn and the four that stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall arise out of that nation, but not with its power. 
• v.23, And in the latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise, Having fierce features, Who understands sinister schemes. 
• v.24, His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; He shall destroy fearfully, And shall prosper and thrive; He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. 
• v.25, “Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; And he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; But he shall be broken without human means. 
• v.26, “And the vision of the evenings and mornings Which was told is true; Therefore seal up the vision, For it refers to many days in the future.”

• Not only does the book of Daniel give us insight into the future of world events, but more importantly, the future of God’s people, all the way up until Christ returns and establishes His kingdom on the earth. The end of Daniel’s 70 weeks of years.One of the first things Nebuchadnezzar did was change their Hebrew names because every time they were spoken they were declaring their faith and allegiance to their God.

• Daniel- Belteshazzar, God alone is the judge.
• Hananiah- Shadrach, Jehovah is gracious.
• Meshach- Mishael, No one is like God.
• Abed-Nego, Azariah, Jehovah is our help.

• Daniel 1, God brought Daniel and his friends into favor with the ungodly.
• Not only did they prove their faithfulness to God, they maintained a humble and courteous attitude for their new, ungodly rulers.
• v.17, God honors they're faithfulness to the degree that these four get an audience with the king of the most powerful empire on the planet, not to mention their level of influence they have with him.

• Acts 1:8 (NKJV) “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

• Daniel 10:12-14 (NKJV) “Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.
• But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.
• Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.”

• Daniel 2:24-28 (NKJV) “Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; take me before the king, and I will tell the king the interpretation.”
• v.25, Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king, and said thus to him, “I have found a man of the captives of Judah, who will make known to the king the interpretation.”
• v.26, The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?”
• v.27, Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king.
• v.28, But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these:
• v.32-33 gives us the image of what Nebuchadnezzar saw:
• head of gold, Babylon
• chest and arms, silver, Persians
• belly and thighs, bronze, Greece
• legs of iron, Roman Empire
• feet of iron and clay, revised Roman Empire, European Union.
• v.41, “Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay.
• v.42, And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile.
• v.43, As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.
• v.44, And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.”
• Chapter 3 is the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and their faithful stand on their beliefs.

• Daniel 3:16-18 (NKJV) “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
• v.17, If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.
• v.18, But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

• v.26, “Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here. ” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire.
• v.27, And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.
• v.28, Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!
• v.29, Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.”
• v.30, Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.”