The Secret of His Appearing
October 17, 2010
Introduction
A Over the last several weeks (months), we’ve revealed the secrets of the Most Holy Place.
1 We’ve learned...
a To worship here so we don’t have to play catch-up in heaven
aa That love draws us closer to Jesus; easier to break a rule than cheat on a lover
bb God isn’t looking for things from us; He wants only us (small & bare), no fig leaves are big enough
cc We can’t save, heal, change...only He can
dd Spiritual warfare-the war is won!
ee Our works in the flesh don’t impress God...works done in the Spirit
ff He uses us to display His glory
gg You are blessed & highly favored, by His grace/mercy
hh Inheritance...but you don’t die to get it...He already died
ii God is a Rock, & sometimes He can’t be moved
jj We can fool men, but never Him
kk We’re not saved just to go to heaven, minister & serve His Kingdom
ll Jesus is building His Church...with broken hearts, willing to be changed
mm Jesus wants to sit on the throne of our hearts (our veil must be torn)
nn The love of God is stronger than my willpower
b Tonight ends the first part of my teaching on the Secret of the Most Holy Place with His appearing.
2 The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him, and He will make them know His covenant. Psalms 25:14 (NASB)
a God wants to let us in on the secret things.
b Over the past several months, I’ve been introduced to deep truths that have opened my heart.
B I remember a few years ago, Larry King was interviewed & asked what he would ask God. His answer: “Do you have a Son?”
1 What would you ask God? My question: “When will You come back?”
a A year ago, that was a big question, but I know now there is a bigger question.
b There will be a second coming, but I see a responsibility for this generation to see Him isn’t God’s responsibility...it’s mine/ours.
2 Each generation is responsible for His appearing in that generation.
a 'I am the God of Abraham , and the God of Isaac , and the God of Jacob '? He is not the God of the dead but of the living. Matt 22:32 (NASB)
aa Abraham, Isaac, Jacob-ALLDEAD!
bb “I Am” (God’s name since the beginning) God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.' " Ex 3:14 (NASB)
b He’s not the God of the dead (yes), but not just Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob!
aa We’ve been taught there is a kingdom coming, in the sweet by and by, when we all get to heaven.
bb There is a kingdom here...now. Today
c From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."Matt 4:17 (NASB)
aa So did John the Baptist. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way; 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight .' "4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Mark 1:1-4 (NASB)
bb Jesus didn’t plagiarize a message...the message doesn’t change.
3 God is going/wants to use us to reach our generation.
a while it is said,"Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked Me." Heb 3:15 (NASB) TODAY God has a message!
b I thank God for 1937/1939, but God is still speaking & has a message for us!
C One of the questions I ask at Pizza with the Pastor: “What would folks from 1937 think about our church today?”
1 I believe they may well say, “What are you doing for the Kingdom of God in your generation?”
a God has a word/work for us today (our own chapter in the history of His Kingdom).
b Your ministry will build upon their work, as the next generation builds upon yours.
2 What about today?
a We want our young people to be:
aa Faithful, love/worship the Lord, operate in the Holy Spirit, tithe, pray for/anoint the sick, visit the widows, care for orphans, read the Word, break strongholds, wait tables, come to & teach Sunday School.
bb I think my (our) generation is in error by demanding a level of faith & revelation that we have not been willing to find ourselves.
b God has not simply invited us into the Most Holy Place, He’s demanded that we teach the next generation how to live there.
3 How much joy, power, peace have I missed out on because I was told the Holy Spirit was for charismatics or Pentecostals?
a I was 35 years old before I really had an encounter.
aa I was told God doesn’t expect me to get emotional, raise hands, do the things He did in the early Church.
bb I thought that stuff was for heaven! Wrong! It’s for here!
b Each generation has an appearing.
aa 1937...late70's/early 80's...2005...almost a 40-year cycle
bb Sometimes we memorialize those appearings with walks, traditions, denomination, doctrine. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.28 "So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.29 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous...Matt 23:27-29 (NASB)
cc I believe if the saints of old could talk to us they’d say, “Let God do something new in you!”
c I sense it! I feel it!
aa We want Jesus!
bb My generation, my generation, my generation
d But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret...Matt 6:6 (NASB) There’s a reason that God tells us to “...shut the door, pray...”
aa There is a destiny on your generation
bb There is something wrapped up in the heart of God that He has set aside for this generation to do.
• 1900: Ellis Grove had people join that had a vision to start a work near the Mill.
• 1937: Start a church
• 1950: Build a horse of worship
• 1980: Revival and birthed Grace
• 2005: Holy Spirit struck here & stuck around.
• What does God want to do now?
e We’re not going to respond to men, but to Him.
aa Truth is progressive
bb I know more about Him today than I did 5 years ago, or in 1978.
cc Every time I see Him, I’m changed a little bit more/look like Him a little bit more.
Conclusion
A Jesus wants to appear to our generation, & He’s going to do it through you.
1 Have members give names of saints who have gone home.
a Before they left, they spoke into us...now it’s our turn.
b Go to your closet, shut door...listen (my generation, my generation, my generation).
2 “Lord, do not let me breathe my last breath until I have accomplished all that is on Your heart for me! I love Your appearing, but I love Your appearing most fully when You appear in the Church, Your people, & me.”
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