A JOURNEY LIKE NEVER BEFORE TWO
PAUL
TIMOTHY
APOLLOS
JOHN
WHAT DO THESE MEN HAVE IN COMMON?? THEY ACTUALLY PASTORED/MINISTERED IN THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS!
REV. 2 VS 1-5
Revelation 2:1-5 (NKJV)
1 "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, 'These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:
2 I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;
3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary.
4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent.
*AS WE START OFF 2016, I WANT TO START OFF HOT RATHER THAN COLD OR EVEN LUKE WARM, DON’T YOU??
*IF THAT IS THE CASE I WANT US TO TAKE A SPIRITUAL EVALUATION OF OUR LIVES INDIVIDUALLY AND CORPORATELY AND LET THE HOLY SPIRIT SHOW US – TEACH US- CONVICT AND CHALLENGE US TO GET HOT FOR GOD!
1. REMEMBER:
A. REMEMBER THE PRICE THAT WAS PAID FOR US BY OUR REDEEMER:
Luke 23:33 (NKJV)
33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.
Isaiah 49:16 (NKJV)
16 See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.
*JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED FOR US- THE MOST CRUEL FORM OF PUNISHMENT THAT MAN COULD COME UP WITH- OUR SAVIOR WITHSTOOD THAT WE COULD GO FREE, THAT WE COULD BE ETERNALLY SAVED, THAT HEAVEN COULD BE OUR HOME, THAT WE COULD HAVE THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO COME LIVE WITHIN US, TO HELP US TO TRULY KNOW WHAT LIVING IS ALL ABOUT!
B. REMEMBER THE TIME WHEN YOU WERE THE CLOSEST WITH GOD—PLEASE TAKE THIS MOMENT AND CLOSE YOUR EYES AND THINK ABOUT HOW YOU FELT, WHEN THE VERY PRESENCE OF GOD FLOODED YOUR ENTIRE BEING, WHEN ALL YOU COULD THINK ABOUT WAS HIM—NOW WHAT IF I TOLD YOU THAT TODAY—GOD WANTS YOU CLOSER TO HIM THAN EVER BEFORE—HE IS CALLING YOU AND ME INTO A MORE INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP THAN EVER TO HIM.—THAT IS WHY I HAVE PERSONALLY INVITED SOME OF YOU HERE TODAY, I BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART THAT GOD HAND PICKED EACH OF US TO BE HERE TODAY TO WITNESS THE WONDER AND AWE OF HIS PRESENCE!
Psalm 34:8 (NKJV)
8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
2. REPENT- NOW THAT WE HAVE REMEMBERED THESE THINGS, IT IS TIME FOR US TO REPENT OF WHAT IT IS THAT CAUSED US TO MOVE AWAY FROM JESUS, TO SOME IT MAY BE WORK, TO OTHERS, IT MAY BE PLAY, AND TO OTHERS IT MAY BE HARDSHIP OR TRIAL HAS CAUSED US TO DOUBT THE GOODNESS OF GOD (THAT IS ONE OF OUR ENEMY’S OLDEST TRICKS). AND TO OTHERS IT MAY SIMPLY BE THAT WE TOOK OUR EYES OFF JESUS AND NEED TO GET REFOCUSED:
*THE WORD REPENT MEANS A CHANGE OF MIND THAT LEADS TO A CHANGE OF HEART, AND THEREFORE A CHANGE OF DIRECTION—IT DOESN’T MEAN TO SIMPLY SAY I AM SORRY (WHICH IT DOES INVOLVE THAT) IT MEANS TO GO THE OPPISITE DIRECTION THAT TOOK YOU WHERE YOU ARE!!
Revelation 2:5 (NKJV)
5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent.
3. RETURN- NOW FOR US TO GET WHERE GOD WANTS US TO GO, FOR OUR LOVE FOR HIM TO BE HOTTER THAN EVER WE NEED TO RETURN THE LOVE TO HIM AS HE HAS SHOWN TO US- HOW DO I DO THAT PREACHER?? I AM SO GLAD YOU ASKED- WE DO IT BY SHOWING LOVE TO OTHERS, BY SHARING OUR FAITH WITH OUR TALENTS AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS:
A. PRIVATE AND CORPORATE PRAYER- I PRAY THAT GOD SHOWS EACH OF US SOMEONE THAT WE NEED TO PRAY FOR, FOR SALVATION AND OTHERS THAT NEED A SPECIAL TOUCH AND THAT WE WILL GET ON OUR KNEES AND DILIGENTLY CALL OUT THEIR NAMES UNTIL WE SEE GOD MOVE IN THEIR LIVES-
• I AM ASKING THAT AS GOD SHOWS YOU THE NAME OF THAT SPECIAL PERSON, THAT YOU WILL WRITE THE PERSON’S NAME DOWN TWICE, ONCE FOR YOU TO KEEP AND PRAY OVER DAILY- THE SECOND TIME TO PUT IN OUR CORPORATE “PRAYER BOX” THAT WE WILL PRAY OVER AT LEAST WEEKLY.
James 5:16 (NKJV)
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
John 15:7 (NKJV)
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
Matthew 18:19 (NKJV)
19 Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
*I AM ASKING THAT SOMEONE WITH WOODWORKING SKILLS GET WITH ME AFTER THE SERVICE TO DISCUSS CONSTRUCTION OF A PRAYER BOX
B. PREPARE- I PRAY THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL CHALLENGE EACH OF US TO GET INTO OUR DISCIPLESHIP PROGRAMS HERE- SUNDAY SCHOOL, SUNDAY AND WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDIES, AND OUR FELLOWSHIP TIMES. EACH OF THESE ARE GEARED TO PREPARE US TO SHARE “OUR STORY” WHICH IS “HIS STORY”
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV)
17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
C. PREACH- THIS WORD SIMPLY MEANS TO PROCLAIM- WHICH IS PROMISED TO CHANGE THE HEART:
Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV)
11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Isaiah 52:7 (NKJV)
7 How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"
*WE HAVE THE PROMISE FROM GOD THAT WHEN WE SPEAK HIS WORD THAT IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE, AND IF HE HAS PLACED SOMEONE ON YOUR HEART, AND YOU SPEAK HIS WORD, THEN THE RESULTS ARE GUARNTEED!!
**GOD’S RECIPE FOR AN EXCITED CHRISTIAN/CHURCH IS FOR NEW BELIEVERS TO BE ADDED.
**WILL YOU COMMIT TO DAILY INDIVIDUAL PRAYER/BI WEEKLY CORPORATE PRAYER??
**WILL YOU COMMIT TO GETTING ENGAGED FOR JESUS IN 2016??
