Sunday Bible Study 7/25/10 (I combined my notes from the AM and PM service).

Pastor Don spoke of how people are trying to figure out who the enemy of the Church is, who is Mystery Babylon. Some contend it is Islam, others have different ideas. There will be a great falling away, an apostasy. 

Why did Jesus ask, will I find faith on the earth? The problem is not outside the church, but internal. There is idolatry and false teachings within the Church.

Timothy, Titus, 1 & 2 Corinthians, and 1 & 2 Peter speak of this.

The following verses were written by Paul TO THE CHURCH. 

2 Timothy 3:1-5  But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!There are false teachers within the church. Erosion is occurring in people of faith.

2 Timothy 4:2-5 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

2 timothy 3:6-7 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

The Bible has stood the test of time – 3,000 years. People have lied about the Bible, deception and many attempts to disprove the prophesies.  People have stated that there has been tampering with the Bible, and that translations have altered the meaning of the text. But when the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, this was disproved. They found copies of the Pentateuch and the Prophets, and there were few differences in wording, just small things like the placement of a punctuation mark.

There is a movement afoot to change everything, and the attack on the church is not coming from outside the church but from within. When Jesus said, 
“When I come, will I find faith on the earth?”  He was speaking not only of unbelievers but of those in the Church. Everyone involved in the church is not involved the way the Apostle Paul was involved with the Church.

Locally there is a Bible club at Kingston High School because one of our members is a teacher and willing to be in the room when the kids meet. At Onteora there is no teacher willing to chaperone the meetings. 

Culture is not big on Jesus. In these last days there is an active attack on the Church. We see it in school, politics, the new age, false religions, and people trying to tear down Christianity. The devil’s move is to try in change what Christians believe. There are attacks on the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, stating that it did not happen. 53% of Methodist pastors do not believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead. They do not want to crack down on sin, believing that people are basically good and that we should love everybody, not condemning certain behaviors, and throwing out anything that offends people. If we raised our children without correction we would have spoiled brats that would not be a good contribution to society. The current trend is that if you love me, you won’t correct me no matter what I am doing wrong. That is not a good definition of love.

One of the newest false teachings is very dangerous it is called CONCEPTUAL-TEXTUAL INTERPRETATION. This lie eats away at the truth of the Scriptures. It says that Bible interpretation is subject to the context from which you came, that there is no actual truth.  That you can cause the Scriptures to be anything you desire. With this kind of interpretation they can argue for or against anything they want and find a basis for doing what they want to do. It states that there is no actual truth. 

If you accept conceptual-textual interpretation why serve God at all? What they want is a subjective interpretation of the Bible, but that is myopic and leads to confusion, for there is no absolute truth. In thousands of years no one has proved any part of the Bible wrong. New Agers want to change the definition of God, so that they can live without restraint. 

There is a move to seek Global peace, not peace as God gives it, but peace that is sought by accepting and doing anything (even unbiblical) to keep peace in our own power. 

The church needs to restore God, faith, obedience, and responsibility. Other religions and the false belief that all religions are compatible is eroding our faith. Not all religions are the same, even though they use some of the same terminology.  Allah is not God. If you change any part of the truth it is no longer truth. Many want to unseat Jesus, but without a King you cannot have a Kingdom. In some cults Jesus is not considered the Son of God, He is a son, or the brother of lucifer, so if you say Jesus to someone in the cult you would be using the same terminology but with very different meanings.

The Israelites speak of Isaiah 53 as speaking of the Nation of Israel, but the Nation of Israel never died.

Salvation is not salvation of works. Social programs cannot accomplish what Christ does in a life. What is the work that we are to do?  John 6:29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”  Our work is to believe Jesus. When we accept Jesus as our Savior it is a free gift, but once we are saved our works will show that salvation.  Show me your faith and I will show you my works.

The Great Commission is Matthew 28:18-20 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.

We are told to go and make disciples, not social programs.  Teach what Jesus taught. There is no food pantry mentioned in the scriptures. 

Pastor Don spoke about the course of miracles and noted that there were no miracles in it, the course taught many lies such as teaching people that we are all gods (little g).

John 6:40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

The Work of God is to believe, and the Work of God is to do the will of God. Everyone who believes has everlasting life.

The final deception (the devil is slick) is to try and deceive the faithful.  If the foundation of faith is destroyed what shall the righteous do? False teachers are increasing. 

In the United States 84% say that they are Christian but only 4-5% are actively participating.

An Islamic person is born a Muslim, a Jew is born a Jew but Christians are not born to be born again believers – they must choose to be Born Again. 

For a believer born into Christ, there is fruit and a life change.  You have an experience with God, with an open heart and choose to come to Him, standing before the assembly and the congregation.

The 84% that call themselves Christians may not have had this experience with God, and they are “cultural Christians,” with no spiritual connection.

Some who say that they are Christians but don’t believe all that is in the Bible, but the truth is that God puts HIS WORD above HIMSELF.  Everything that God said would happen has happened or will happen.

Today the focus is more on love and peace than on faith and righteousness.  But that is an incomplete picture of God. In these last days people are changing the Gospel to suit their needs. They believe that if you love me you will accept me and my foolish ideas and sin.  That is not the Gospel message, we do love the sinner, but we do not have to love or accept the sin.  Love must be accomplished by faith and righteousness.  Is it real love if we leave the alcoholic and pedophile in their mess.  True love says that I will love you and accept you, but at some point ask you need to ask God to get you right. It is loving to warn people of the outcome of their behavior.

Acts 13 and 15 speaks with what to do with Gentiles. The Judaizers wanted the Gentiles to fully convert to Judaism and circumcision, but after a counsel of elders, came to the following conclusion:  Acts 15:28-29 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:  that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.

We love the sinner, but do not condone the sin. The love of God will compel the person to righteousness and win them over. The mercy and righteousness of God will compel you.  Is it real love if God did not love us enough to provide correction if we are on a wrong path?

If a person does not teach the whole of God’s truth and only focuses on the love of God without the correction of God, they are placing themselves above the Word of God. 

Everyone who sins will find passages and interpretations of scripture to justify their position, but at the expense of the whole truth of God’s Word. They will stray from holiness and righteousness.  Those who seek to justify their behavior by ignoring parts of scripture will say we are dogmatic, arrogant, and intolerant. We are intolerant, we don’t tolerate sin in our lives.

Some churches are now claiming that God is doing a new thing. God is not going to do something new.  He will fulfill what He said, it is people doing the new thing. He doesn’t have to do anything new.  God does not forget one aspect of His Word, and it doesn’t change because of society changing. These mystical teachings are out of balance because they are placing their personal revelations higher than the Word, and that distorts the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must agree.

Charity needs to be concerned about the whole man, not just man’s physical needs, but teaching, correction, and the gospel message.

You can’t have an experience with God that doesn’t agree with the Word, for the Spirit and the Word MUST agree. It only takes one false concept to be apsotasy. 

If the church takes an untenable position that does not agree with the Word, it causes sin to go underground. For example, if celibacy is forced on all the priesthood, it can lead to secret sexual sins. Paul never said that all priests should practice celibacy, but only those given the grace to be called to that.

The world is defining tolerance differently than it used to be defined. Before we tolerated those with different beliefs, but did not have to accept their beliefs as true. Now we are told that we have to accept all beliefs as true, not only agree with them, but promote them. 

We are seeing the end results of these beliefs in our schools where the standards are being reduced so that the students can pass the tests. Rather than helping the students grow into the standards, we reduce the standards.

Soon churches are going to have to face a new challenge with the new tolerance laws.  Will pastors preach the WHOLE truth of God’s Word if they stand to lose their tax exempt status for “hate speech?”

1 Peter 2:13-17 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.  Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

We are to submit to the government, unless it conflicts with the Word of God. We need to remember that we are in the world but not of the world. We want to be a good influence for them, not let them influence us with untruth.

People come up to Christians and tell them that we are not to judge them, misquoting the scripture that says judge not lest ye be judged. The truth is that we are to judge, as to agreement with scripture or not, but we do not judge to condemnation. We don’t know who will go to heaven or hell, but we are to judge behavior as being correct or not.

Love without righteousness is anarchy.

Praying your day is blessed

Heather

DISTRACTIONS TO FULFILLING YOUR DESTINY IN THE LORD. 

1. BROKEN FOCUS

You can lose your focus.  

Matthew 14:22-27 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” 

If you are in fear you are not operating in faith. God is present and peace prevails, but it’s up to you if you want to focus on God or focus on the circumstances.

Matthew 14:28-31 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”  So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”  And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Notice, he was BEGINNING to sink, he didn’t sink all the way under. He called to God at the beginning. 

Obstacle to greatness are overcome by our walk  - Walk OUT of the boat, Walk ON the water, and Walk TO the Lord

He stepped out and started to go where He needed to go, but distractions of the wind and waves caused him to break his focus. But he REACHED UP to take a HAND to get up and GO ON. Peter was brave. When Jesus corrected his faith, it was because he had already experiences a tremendous amount of miracles that Jesus did, and his faith should not have been so easily shaken. We want to do what we can, as fast as we can, so that we do not lose focus.

2. PEOPLE – People can be a distraction.

Matthew 14:26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. 

If we want to keep pleasing people we can be distracted. If we are only interested in the opinions of others, we will not be focused on God. If Jesus says, “DO NOT BE AFRAID”  we know that He will not tell us to do something we are incapable of doing. We need to believe Jesus and respond differently.  Had Adam obeyed God and responded to Eve by telling her to put the fruit down and repent, and then Adam smacked the devil down, the outcome of the Garden of Eden situation would have been changed. 

The Spirit of God helps us to see the things that are distractions for us.

Someone mentioned that Peter was standing on the water – and we know that the Water is the Word. He stopped focusing on the Word, and focused on the World. the world is a distraction, and he needs to walk on the Word. 

3. OFFENDED HEART

Mark 6:2-5 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Himwere astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.

Mark 6:2-5 AMP And on the Sabbath He began to teach in the synagogue; and many who listened to Him were utterly astonished, saying, Where did this Man acquire all this? What is the wisdom [the broad and full intelligence which has been] given to Him? What mighty works and exhibitions of power are wrought by His hands! Is not this the Carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not His sisters here among us? And they took offense at Him and were hurt [that is, they disapproved of Him, and it hindered them from acknowledging His authority] and they were caused to stumble and fall. But Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor (deference, reverence) except in his [own] country and among [his] relatives and in his [own] house. And He was not able to do even one work of power there, except that He laid His hands on a few sickly people [and] cured them. 

 There are those who do not want you to change. It is a distraction. People looked at Jesus in light of his human history, and judged Him that way. They were also upset that He did not get their permission first. Pastor Wendell told us to not let anyone cause you to dumb down on you. People judge by appearances. Remember in American Idol in England the woman Susan who looked frumpy but had an incredible voice? 

People will get offended at you, because of who you are.  Be great for God.

4. DOUBLE MINDED

The Antidote to doublemindedness

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

James 1:5-8  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James 1:8 AMP  [For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides].

Luke 18:18-27 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”  So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”  And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”  when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”  But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For 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.”  And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?” But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” 

The rich young ruler did not like Jesus’ answer. He wanted an easy answer and did not want to forsake anything. He wanted to add to his riches the prospect of being perfect in the eyes of God and man. He was busy pleasing people and building up his riches. He felt that greatness had to do with possessions.

If he had chosen to obey Jesus and follow Jesus he would have had greatness in the earth. But he was not willing to let go of his stuff.  We have no way of knowing if Jesus would not have returned the riches to this young man. But the man chose to place riches above Jesus. Who knows what would have happened had he chosen to make Jesus Lord over his life.  

Mark 10:29-31 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Instability causes us to miss the opportunity to be great for God.  

Pastor Wendell spoke of Joseph in Potiphar’s house.  Mrs. Potiphar tried to seduce him, but he kept himself pure – running away. He did not get himself into a predicament because he made up in his mind that he would not compromise. Once his mind was made up he did not turn back. He placed his stability in God, not in circumstances. 

We get so caught up in institutional religion when God wants us to move into relationship with Him. 

If you keep doing what you are doing you will keep getting what you are getting. We don’t want to face life hiding our heads in a hole. Instead we want to be guided to the place that God wants us to be, and the way we get to that place is through relationship with Him. Riches dictated what he did. His desire for relationship with God was not strong enough to tear him away from his riches. 

We have to let go of things to move forward, become fools for Christ. Sometimes when we act as God wants us to act we look foolish to the world. We can look like fools for Christ – BUT GOD. When things seem foolish and you are doing God’s will, go ahead and believe anyway. When the wind is blowing and the waves are high, our foot will not slip, for we are grounded on the truth of the Lord.

5. LACK OF DIRECTION

Pastor Wendel shared about Telemachus, who was a priest on the island of Malta, and he went to Rome. He heard cheering and flowed with the crowd into the Colosseum where there was gladiators. He saw the spectacle, and screamed out, “STOP! FORBID!” He walked down to the floor of the Colosseum and ended up being knocked down. He yelled out, “Stop, in the name of God.”  Ultimately he died as he tried to stop the game. The story continues with the people in a hush filing out of the Colosseum. The games stopped shortly after. 

Pastor Wendell suggested that we ask God:  What would you have me do?  When? With whom?  Sometimes it is appropriate to ask Why?

THE IMPOSSIBLE IS IMPOSSIBLE. Establish your goal, find the information. Keep your vision before your eyes so that you are focusing on your goal. Set clearly attainable goals, and don’t let distractions pull you from your goal. When you are given the specific direction, don’t let anyone pull you off course.

6. TIME – Know what time it is.  

Nehemiah 6:3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” 

Nehemiah received an invitation from the enemy to pull him away from rebuilding the wall. Nehemiah knew it was time to rebuild. When God sets us on a path or project we will always get an invitation from the enemy to try and pull us from God’s will. We need to have a ready answer. Nehemiah said that he couldn’t come because he was doing a great work.

What is a great work? It is doing what God has called us to do. We can do a great work changing diapers in the nursery, teaching Sunday school, cleaning the church. It is not only speaking in the pulpit that is a great work. In rebuilding the wall each person had their specified spot to rebuild. In the Church we all have a place where we contribute to the whole, and together we build the Kingdom. 

Jesus told the people that He had to be about His Father’s business.  Our assignment is to do what Jesus did.  John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

We are to LOVE – and are sent to reach others. 

Hebrews 2:10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 

It is time to take the personal revelation of how God loves us and share it as much as possible with others. 

The Bereans were praised because they read the Word and knew what time it was. Acts 17:10-11 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures dailyto find out whether these things were so. 

Knowing what God has done in our lives, we have to tell others about Jesus. Pastor Wendell told us that we should be ready with a two-minute testimony. He suggested writing it down and practicing it so that when the opportunity presents itself we can share our testimony. After you share your testimony, ask the person, Have you ever experienced anything like this? Then share what He (Jesus) did for me, and invite them to come to church.  

Show the people what a life well lived in Christ is like and that can open the doors to people asking what it is that you have, that gives you the peace and joy you are exhibiting. That opens the door for you to share your testimony. Your credibility opens the door to reaching people. 

Your credibility comes by how you live your life – not only the life that others see, but what you do in private. What you do in the light and in the dark is the bread and credibility is the meat of the sandwich.

When you see people give an intentional, “God bless you. 

7. COMPARISON TRAP 

2 Corinthians 10:12-13 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.  We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you. 

We looked at the same passage in the Amplified.

2 Corinthians 10:12-13 AMP  Not that we [have the audacity to] venture to class or [even to] compare ourselves with some who exalt and furnish testimonials for themselves! However, when they measure themselves with themselves and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding and behave unwisely. We, on the other hand, will not boast beyond our legitimate province and proper limit, but will keep within the limits [of our commission which] God has allotted us as our measuring line and which reaches and includes even you.

We are not to compare ourselves with each other, but rather to compare ourselves with Jesus. Comparing ourselves with others can lead to us thinking we are greater than we are or else it can raise jealousy in us for we are not having or doing what others are doing. Comparing yourself to others can cause you to beat yourself up and it leads to destruction. 

He who is greater than us, resides in us. God compared us to parts of the whole Body of Christ, and each part is necessary. Each part has its specific task. we can’t all be hands, or eyes, or feet, we need the whole body. 

If we compare ourselves to others we end up accepting a lower standard for our life.

8. FEAR

Psalm 27:3 Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident. 

1 John 4:17-18 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

Psalm 46:2-7 Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.  Selah  There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.  Selah  

No matter what trouble confronts us we don’t have to be afraid for God has promised to never leave or forsake us. He is going to give us a refuge and strength. He will build us up. The grace of God (empowerment) and gentleness of God cause us to have no need to fear.

Our enemy is time.

John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 

Keep your focus on what God is calling you to do. God came to give you greatness, and the enemy wants to steal the greatness God wants you to have. Don’t be pulled aside by distractions. 

Praying your day is blessed.

Heather

Notes from Pastor Wendell William’s Bible study July 9, 2010 Pastor Wendell is pastor of Good Ground Family Church.  

When Pastor Wendell visited Pastor Yonggi Cho’s church in Korea an associate pastor from Australia was also ministering there. This pastor came up to Pastor Wendell and said, “Mate, there’s greatness in you.”  That was a word in season for Pastor Wendell that turned on a switch and increased his faith and expectancy for God. It was a transition point in his thinking that caused him to move up to another level. 

The essence of life in God is to have a life that is pleasing to God, to live a life of humility. Paul writes about being able to be content when he was abounding and when he was abased. Paul was beaten, stoned, left for dead, shipwrecked, and still held his love for God and trusted God no matter the circumstance he was dealing with.  

GOD IS FOR YOU!  Don’t let your circumstances or situations dictate your relationship with God. Whether you feel it or not, God is with you. If you can find a circumstance where God is not with you you would be the first person to do so.

You may choose to take steps that are not the direction God wants you to go, or do something contrary to God’s will for you. If you are out of God’s will, He is not required to cover you in your disobedience, and may take His hands of protection off from you. But that does not mean that He leaves you or forsakes you.  Let God do what God wants to do.

DESTINY TO FULFILL 

We read through John 4 which covers the Woman at the Well and the harvest that is coming.

1. TO COME TO JESUS. The Woman at the well in John 4 was in a tough situation. Jesus knew that he had to got to Samaria, because He had this divine appointment.  John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 

GOD SO LOVED – this is God’s motive for doing everything. Sometimes God chastens us (takes us to the woodshed), but he would much rather be able to say to us, “‘atta boy,” We are only aware of a small portion of His vast love that He has for us. We want to share the truth and the Gospel with others, not with condescension, but in the love of God. God wants to see us grow and fulfill our divine destiny. We can only fill this destiny through God when we come to a saving knowledge of Jesus CHrist. While we were yet sinners Christ loved us and began to seek us and draw us to Himself. The end result of this process is the number one destiny – that we are Born Again, coming to Jesus.

2. GOD DID NOT SAVE YOU FOR YOURSELF ALONE, HE WANTS YOU TO TAKE THE MESSAGE OUT INTO THE WORLD.

Winning souls is wise, it is the Great Commission. when we seek to help others come to Jesus we are in agreement with the purpose of God.

God fills you and calls and equips you because He not only loves you but He loves others, and wants others to come to Jesus. 

John 4:4 But He needed to go through Samaria.  John 4:7  A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”

Jesus needed to go to Samaria to have a conversation with a certain woman.

John 4:17 The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ 

Jesus started out speaking to the woman about water, and drew her out until she was able to be brought to the point of revelation. Jesus filled her so full of the living water that she had to run and tell the Samaritans that they needed to come and get some for themselves.

John 4:18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.” 

Jesus had a Word of Knowledge about this woman

John 4:19-20 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” 

She moved the subject to talk about her understanding of religion.

John 4:21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 

Jesus corrects her errant religious views.

John 4:22-26 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”  The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

Jesus tells her that He, the Messiah, is standing in front of her.  God is on a mission for worshippers and wants us to make disciples, to reproduce disciples and worshippers. 

Jesus did not leave the woman like He found her, He changed her.  He could have made the conversation all about physical water, but He chose to take her to a new place. We can’t do it for anyone else, our heart has to be willing to come to the truth. We are to GO TELL IT, but the person has the choice of whether they receive it or not.  If you know Jesus, you want to let someone else know about Him too.

John 4:28-30 The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” Then they went out of the city and came to Him. 

We want to tell others and then when we stand in front of God, we want to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”  That is the essence of all that is. When you find out and realize that He loved you, you want to tell others about this love – that is commendable. Pastor Wendell reminded us of the woman who washed Jesusfeet with her tears and anointed him with expensive oil.  Jesus told those who questioned what she was doing that she had been forgiven of much and so she loved much.  

When we see people whose lives are miserable we want to let them know that there is a God and that they need Him to make changes in their lives.

3. GREATER IS HE WHO IS IN YOU THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD.

1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

2 Samuel 22:36 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your gentleness has made me great.

The greater one lives on the inside of you, and that is why we are great.

Acts 1:8 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.

The power is in us so that the greatness of God is manifested in us from day to day – the Greater one lives inside of you. The greatest message is inside of you. It is the message of the love and care of a BIG GOD. 

2 Samuel 22:35-36 AMP He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; and Your condescension and gentleness have made me great.

Gentleness.  He stooped down and came to our level, because of His great love.

2 Samuel 22:37 AMP You have enlarged my steps under me, so that my feet have not slipped.

You have made me feet so that they do not slip, my steps are secured and ruled. The heart of God is to lift me up, so that we do not fall, and then through us perform wonders to touch the lives of others.

Psalm 18:35 AMP You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your right hand has held me up; Your gentleness and condescension have made me great.

John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 3:19-21 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

The people love the darkness rather than the light. They are surrounded by darkness and people are slipping in the darkness. 

Then Pastor Wendell spoke about DISTRACTIONS TO FULFILLING YOUR DESTINY IN THE LORD. I will give you my notes on this in my next post.

Praying your day is blessed.

Heather

Taught July 9, 2010

Isaiah 36:1 Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.

King Hezekiah and the people of Judah were in big trouble.

Isaiah 36:2 Then the king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh with a great army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. And he stood by the aqueduct from the upper pool, on the highway to the Fuller’s Field.

Wanted to strike a deal.

Isaiah 36:3 And Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came out to him.

Recorders don’t get much credit. Jeremiah had four scribes to take down his prophesies. They recorders had signet rings to signify who they were. If they had not recorded the words of the prophets we would have not had the information we have.

Isaiah 36:4-5  Then the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say now to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: “What confidence is this in which you trust? I say you speak of having plans and power for war; but they are mere words. Now in whom do you trust, that you rebel against me?

The Rabshakeh was speaking for the king of Assyria.

Isaiah 36:6 Look! You are trusting in the staff of this broken reed, Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. 

The Israelites had been under the economic power of Egypt, so when they had pressure placed on their nation they looked to Egypt as if it would be the source of their salvation. Assyria was powerful enough to take Egypt down. The Israelites would say that they are trusting in the Lord, but they were looking for a fast escape under pharaoh.

Pastor Don asked us: WHO ARE YOU TRUSTING IN TODAY?  Are you trusting in the political system, the economy, your husband, your wife, are we placing them above God? 

He then added: WE USUALLY TRUST IN THE LORD UNTIL THE LORD IS IN DISAGREEMENT WITH WHAT WE WANT IN THE FLESH.  We trust what we see, what we know or think, but we say that we are trusting in the Lord. Why does that not work?  What prevents us from functioning in the will of God?  Having a dirty filter – not letting the truth of God in because our filters are clouded with what we see in our circumstances or in our thinking. Everything that comes to us goes through our filtering system. Our filters prejudice what we see, and where we succeed or fail. It clouds the way we approach God.  

There is a battle about to form, and the Israelites want to run to Egypt.  Isaiah and Jeremiah say that the Israelites should trust in God.

Pastor Don spoke about the Azusa Street Revival. He pointed out that during this revival there was no racism, blacks and whites came together to experience more of God. The revivals come when we need to realize who God is. The Azusa Street Revival came during a period where we were focused on industrialization, believing that if we built it, we can fix it, and our country had placed God on a shelf. People came to the realization that they couldn’t fix things, that they needed God. When the people sought God, the power of God fell in a big way, and the Assemblies of God church was formed. Another revival fell in the 1930′s and signs and wonders returned to the Church. 

God wants to re-introduce Himself to the people.  Are we bold enough to admit the truth about ourselves? Are we trusting God? God will not rescue us from our trials until we turn to Him.

Isaiah 36:7 “But if you say to me, ‘We trust in the LORD our God,’ is it not He whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and said to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar’?”’ 

The Rabshakeh blasphemed God. 

Isaiah 36:8-10 Now therefore, I urge you, give a pledge to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses—if you are able on your part to put riders on them! How then will you repel one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put your trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen? Have I now come up without the LORD against this land to destroy it? The LORD said to me, ‘Go up against this land, and destroy it.’” 

When defeat is speaking to you, you have to say, “Whose voice am I going to hear? The Rabshakeh’s god is not the Lord. Are you going to trust in chariots and horsemen or the Lord?

Isaiah 36:11 Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; and do not speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.” 

The Rabshakeh was speaking in common language so the people could understand him.  The recorders told him to speak in Aramaic because the people would not be able to understand what he was saying to them. They did not want the people to fear, but rather to have faith in God. But what the recorders were saying with this statement was that they did not trust in the faith of the people, that the people would have faith no matter what the Rabshakeh said.

People want to see those in the church as spiritual and having faith, but they are viewing the people with carnal eyes, attributing faith to those who may not have faith. ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS AND FAITH IS AN ACTION WORD.  You can talk faith but not act faith. We want to increase the level of faith.

Pastor Don told us that at times we need to let the devil speak so that we can discern his game plan. In order to not be victims we need, as Paul said, to discern the wiles of the devil, and we can sometimes find that out when he speaks to us.

Jesus did not silence the demoniac of the Gaderines until He ascertained his game plan, then He silenced the devil.

2 Corinthians 2:11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Our filters block our ability to hear the wiles of the devil, what he is speaking and what his plan is for we want to believe what we want in the flesh, not the Word of God. The devil comes in the front door and announces he is here, and tells you how he will do it, but we don’t pay attention to what he is saying, especially if it agrees with what we want to be doing. We need to discern if it is God or the devil making the suggestion.

We need to ask ourselves how is the devil trying to lead me? The devil makes a suggestion, if you accept that suggestion, then you give the devil permission to take more ground in your life.

Isaiah 36:12 But the Rabshakeh said, “Has my master sent me to your master and to you to speak these words, and not to the men who sit on the wall, who will eat and drink their own waste with you?” 

The Rabshakeh wanted to instill fear in the people, putting horrible images in their minds. The Assyrians were ruthless, and would cause the people to eat and drink their own waste. The image needed to be rejected, and the people needed to trust God.

When Pastor Don was on his death bed, the enemy made a suggestion to him.  The enemy said, “You don’t deserve to be healed. Your drug usage contributed to your dying condition. Had Pastor Don accepted these suggestions from the devil he would have agreed with death and opened up the way for that.

Fortunately, we have a mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ. If we refuse to agree with death, we can rely on our mediator.

Isaiah 36:13-14 Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out with a loud voice in Hebrew, and said, “Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria! Thus says the king: ‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you; 

Here the Rabshakeh is attacking the head. If the people believed the lies of the Rabshakeh it would eliminate the possibility of King Hezekiah’s leadership and that would curtail Hezekiah’s ability to bring deliverance.

Isaiah 36:15-17 nor let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, “The LORD will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.”’ Do not listen to Hezekiah; for thus says the king of Assyria: ‘Make peace with me by a present and come out to me; and every one of you eat from his own vine and every one from his own fig tree, and every one of you drink the waters of his own cistern; until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards. 

The lie of the Rabshakeh is that we should not trust the king or that God will not come to your rescue.  That the Israelites will have to fend for themselves. This is not true, for God has promised that He will not leave us or forsake us. Yet the Assyrians were a very brutal tribe, and they would kill dissenters by shoving a spike up their spine and letting them slowly suffer and die. Although they say that you will remain in the land, there is no truth in that. The people of Israel would become slaves, or be killed.

Isaiah 36:18 Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, “The LORD will deliver us.” Has any one of the gods of the nations delivered its land from the hand of the king of Assyria? 

The Rabshakeh could not discern that the Lord is different from pagan gods. The pagan gods could not deliver the people, but that does not mean that God is not able to deliver. There is a distinction between God and the pagan gods. We need to play back the videotapes of our lives and remember all the times God has delivered us. Get our focus on God, not on the circumstances. Get to the altar, get to church, listen to testimonies of others, give your testimony. Don’t lose hope as the others have lost hope. In spite of lies and confusion, the people did not listen to Rabshakeh’s lies. As we look at our lives, playing back our videotapes we can see places where God acted and we did not see him at the time, but in retrospect we began to see that although we did not feel God’s presence He was there. He may have came differently from what you expected. And God can help you achieve a greater victory over our circumstance than we could think or imagine. It is all in our perspective. Our challenges will be used by God to help us become strong so that we can be used more effectively.

DEVELOP A PURPOSEFUL POSITIVE HEART. Make sure to thank God and see the stuff in your life in a positive light. We have the choice of what perspective we want to take. God has provided an open door for us on the other side. Try to see God’s purpose in your situation, and learn from it, so that you do not stay there for longer than necessary. As you see it from this perspective you will not become immobilized and the enemy will not stop your growth.

Pastor Don told the story of two children – one very positive, the other very negative.  The parents wanted to even out the children’s reactions to situations. The story goes that the father put manure into the positive child’s room, and later heard gleeful sounds coming from the boy as he dug through the manure. When questioned he said, “With so much manure in here, there has to be a pony in my room.” Instead of moaning about the manure, the boy had a positive outlook.

Isaiah 36:19-21 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Indeed, have they delivered Samaria from my hand? Who among all the gods of these lands have delivered their countries from my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem from my hand?’”  But they held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.” 

They did not debate with the enemy and his lies. The didn’t answer him. If you keep silence you do not add your OK to what the devil has been trying to attack you with.

Isaiah 36:22 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of the Rabshakeh.

The recorders tell the king what the enemy is saying.

Isaiah 37:1 And so it was, when King Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD. 

Hezekiah had the right response, repent and go to God.

Isaiah 37:2-3 Then he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz.  And they said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah: ‘This day is a day of trouble and rebuke and blasphemy; for the children have come to birth, but there is no strength to bring them forth. 

NO, this is not the truth, they are looking at the circumstances, but not the truth of God.

Isaiah 37:4 It may be that the LORD your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words which the LORD your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.’”

He is saying that his faith is weak, and is asking Isaiah to speak to YOUR God – not his God. The lesser appeals to the greater. Isaiah stands as the greater so can Isaiah appeal to God on their behalf. We do this all the time, thinking to go to a pastor or elder, or ask someone else to pray for us. We have the right to go before God and petition God. We think that others have stronger faith than us, when we have all been given a measure of faith. Some exercise their faith more, but we all can achieve great faith. Some preach the Gospel, but don’t believe all the Gospel, they feel that signs and wonders are no longer applicable in this day and age. Even after all that God has done, we believe the lie that God will chose to do things that are not to our advantage. We can cling to life and circumstances and kill our faith, or we can choose to take God at His Word. If we do need to ask another person to pray with us in agreement, do not go to someone who is weaker in faith than you, seek someone who has succeeded in the area you need prayer in, or someone who is strong in their faith. When we are tested in our faith, remember to remind the devil of what God has said. Jesus kept telling satan, “It is written.”  The devil left Jesus until A MORE OPPORTUNE TIME. Jesus had other temptations, and succeeded in fending off the devil. we can stay faithful in the midst of trials.

Isaiah 37:5-7 So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah. And Isaiah said to them, “Thus you shall say to your master, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Do not be afraid of the words which you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me. Surely I will send a spirit upon him, and he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.”’”

Don’t shorten God’s hand and limit the possibilities because of past failures or your declaration that a situation is too tough for God. God will deal with the situation in ways that we may not even imagine. When you limit God you are playing god yourself. God will deal with the circumstance in the correct time and place. God is God. Don’t bank on your pastor not making mistakes, or other believers not making mistakes. Encounters with God will go better if you believe in divine appointments. Pray with the faith of Isaiah, and do what the Lord tells you to do.

Praying your day is blessed.

Heather