Jonahs life seems to be going from bad to worst. Can you think
of a time when God has trying to get your attention and had to
use some drastic measures to wake you up?
I think of people having heart attacks due to poor health and
exercise. Or going bankrupt due to poor money management.
V: 17 The Lord provided a great fish. Some of your bibles say a
whale though the translation of that word “great fish” can be
translated sea monster. There have been reports of Dog sharks
known to swallow men with whole armor on and after being
caught were cut out of there bellies alive as well as horses.
You know when I look at God providing this great fish it shows
me that God can be so unique with His creativity in rescuing us.
We all know the greatest rescue for us has been Jesus. Trust in
Him with all your heart.
The sad thing with this story is Jonah did nothing to get right
with God; it was really God perusing Jonah. Oh, the mercy of
God, and the stubbornness of humanity. Again, let me remind
you that this story is not just about Jonah or a big fish or even
Nineveh but the love and patience of God with His creation.
Everybody wants the call of God to do great miracles only
without the full responsibility of why God gives us them. And
wonders yet every gift given to us is meant to be given away.
I was saying last week how I believe Jonah is a prophetic picture
of the church today. The world is perishing and the messengers
are asleep. Does it take unfortunate events like 9/11 to awaken
us here?
I wonder if Jonah knew God would rescue him from the sea.
Even in our rebellion and sin, God is always extending His
mercy towards us.
2
Some commentators believe that Jonah possibly died and was
raised back from the dead. You can draw this conclusion by the
wording of his prayer.
Just as Jonah is a type of the church, we will see that he needs
to be revived as we do to life.
V: 1 Here is the first indication of Jonah turning back to God
from his rebellion. But there still seems to be a selfish thread
running through his prayer life.
Romans 2:4 says the kindness of God leads us to repentance.
V: 2-9 Jonah uses “I” nine times “Me” seven times . The sad
thing I see about Jonahs prayer is that it was all still about him.
V: 3 All Your waves and breakers swept over me.
Is that how we pray and live our life making our prayers and
efforts all about us?
John Kilpatrick Pastor of the Brownsville said, “after thirty years
of ministry I realized most Christians didn’t like to be corrected
of things”.
He went on to say, “People love to hear it from the pulpit but
don’t give them in personal counsel”.
Have you ever thought of asking someone to speak into our
lives? Ask them what they see in you that could help your life.
Jonah loved everything on his terms like many of us.
Who owns the church Jesus does.
Rev 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because
you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God
members of every tribe and language and people and nation.
The biggest obstacle in Jonah’s life was Jonah.
V: 10 and the Lord commanded the fish to vomit and it did.
3
V: 10 I could not help but think of Rev.3:16 You need to be hot or
cold or I will vomit you out of my mouth.
Conclusion:
I’m reluctant to give you a few easy steps to obedience but let
me challenge you these areas.
1. You are not your own your calling is meant for others.
1Cor. 6:19-20 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of
the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from
God? You are not your own; 1Co. 6:20 you were bought at a
price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.
2. Surrender you complete heart and will to the Lord tonight.
Dt. 6:5-13 Love the Lord.
3. Be ready to be used out-side your own comfort zone.
Jonah thought he was called only to his own people. His own
prejudices blinded him from the bigger calling of God.
Ac 9:15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen
instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings
and to the people of Israel. Ac 9:16 I will show him how much he
must suffer for my name.”
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Jonah Series Pt.1 (The Prayer of A Desperate Man)
God cares about lost people and he cares about His church. God will go to
great lengths to save them both.
Asleep In The Light
Is this really a lesson on delivering a message or being delivered
from a message? Jonah reminds me so much of what is
happening in the body of Christ. God has and is speaking but
know one wants to deliver the message.
Is the book of Jonah really about a reluctant prophet failing to
do his job? Is it about an evil city on the verge of judgment? Or
is it about God and His patience with mankind.
The things we can learn from the life of Jonah. I believe that as
we start this series on Jonah we will see it really is a typology of
the church of Jesus Christ. Thank God for the book of Jonah it
is also a for shadow of the gospel being preached to the
gentiles. We find that with Gen 18: Sodom and Gomorra
No wonder Jonah was against it!
Nineveh was well known in the ancient Near East for the brutal
atrocities it inflicted on its war captives. Assyria was a ruthless
enemy that practiced brutality on men, women, and children.
Their armies destroyed and looted; they buried their enemies
alive and even skinned them alive; they impaled people on sharp
poles and left them to burn in the sun. This city was also known
for its idolatry; it had temples dedicated to many gods; the
Ninevites also worshiped Ishtar, a goddess of love and war.
V: 4 The Lord sent a great wind on the sea. The creativity of God,
in what He will do to win a city to himself. I wonder how many
storms do we need to go through that are really are wake-up
calls for us to return to what God has called us to do.
V: 5 The sailors represents a world crying out, while Jonah like
the church is passing out. Oh yes we’re saved, delivered, and
set free, But we don’t have the time or heart for anyone else.
The sailors cried out each one onto his own god. This is religion
without relationship.
These were hardcore sailors when you see them panicking you
can be sure this was a bad storm.
2
I always find myself after listening to some awesome miracle of
survival or rescue and hear no thanks mentioned to God.
V: 6 The world is asking the church “how can you sleep” when
Hell is being fueled by the souls of men and women.
Nineveh was an Assyrian Empire with a population of about
120,000.
Look at the signs Jonah is getting to obey (God spoke to him,
God sends a storm, the casting of lots fell on Jonah).
V: 10 what a great conversation piece to share with people your
running from the Lord. I believe there are many Jonahs around
us running from the Lord. How many of our sons and daughters
are running from the call of God on their life.
V: 11 It’s funny how disobedience will cause the heat to be
turned up in our lives. The sea around them was raging begging
for a response. Maybe your circumstances seem like a tossing
waves is God trying to get your attention.
V: 12 Here was the first time we see Jonah facing up too his
responsibility for others. You know God will even use the world
to rebuke us. Do you think that at times our sins or disobedience
affects more than maybe just us?
Look at Jonah’s downward spiral here.
Jonah went down to Joppa, down into the ship, down into the
sea, and down into the great fish. Disobedience always leads
downward.
V: 13 -15 These men still tried to find another way around other
than throwing Jonah over board. Sometimes the world seems to
have more compassion than we do.
V: 16 The world is watching as you go through your trials and
tribulations. Jonah ran from God but he could not run from
God’s presence.
Even though verse 17 is in the first chapter, it really should be
placed as the first verse in the second chapter.
great lengths to save them both.
Asleep In The Light
Is this really a lesson on delivering a message or being delivered
from a message? Jonah reminds me so much of what is
happening in the body of Christ. God has and is speaking but
know one wants to deliver the message.
Is the book of Jonah really about a reluctant prophet failing to
do his job? Is it about an evil city on the verge of judgment? Or
is it about God and His patience with mankind.
The things we can learn from the life of Jonah. I believe that as
we start this series on Jonah we will see it really is a typology of
the church of Jesus Christ. Thank God for the book of Jonah it
is also a for shadow of the gospel being preached to the
gentiles. We find that with Gen 18: Sodom and Gomorra
No wonder Jonah was against it!
Nineveh was well known in the ancient Near East for the brutal
atrocities it inflicted on its war captives. Assyria was a ruthless
enemy that practiced brutality on men, women, and children.
Their armies destroyed and looted; they buried their enemies
alive and even skinned them alive; they impaled people on sharp
poles and left them to burn in the sun. This city was also known
for its idolatry; it had temples dedicated to many gods; the
Ninevites also worshiped Ishtar, a goddess of love and war.
V: 4 The Lord sent a great wind on the sea. The creativity of God,
in what He will do to win a city to himself. I wonder how many
storms do we need to go through that are really are wake-up
calls for us to return to what God has called us to do.
V: 5 The sailors represents a world crying out, while Jonah like
the church is passing out. Oh yes we’re saved, delivered, and
set free, But we don’t have the time or heart for anyone else.
The sailors cried out each one onto his own god. This is religion
without relationship.
These were hardcore sailors when you see them panicking you
can be sure this was a bad storm.
2
I always find myself after listening to some awesome miracle of
survival or rescue and hear no thanks mentioned to God.
V: 6 The world is asking the church “how can you sleep” when
Hell is being fueled by the souls of men and women.
Nineveh was an Assyrian Empire with a population of about
120,000.
Look at the signs Jonah is getting to obey (God spoke to him,
God sends a storm, the casting of lots fell on Jonah).
V: 10 what a great conversation piece to share with people your
running from the Lord. I believe there are many Jonahs around
us running from the Lord. How many of our sons and daughters
are running from the call of God on their life.
V: 11 It’s funny how disobedience will cause the heat to be
turned up in our lives. The sea around them was raging begging
for a response. Maybe your circumstances seem like a tossing
waves is God trying to get your attention.
V: 12 Here was the first time we see Jonah facing up too his
responsibility for others. You know God will even use the world
to rebuke us. Do you think that at times our sins or disobedience
affects more than maybe just us?
Look at Jonah’s downward spiral here.
Jonah went down to Joppa, down into the ship, down into the
sea, and down into the great fish. Disobedience always leads
downward.
V: 13 -15 These men still tried to find another way around other
than throwing Jonah over board. Sometimes the world seems to
have more compassion than we do.
V: 16 The world is watching as you go through your trials and
tribulations. Jonah ran from God but he could not run from
God’s presence.
Even though verse 17 is in the first chapter, it really should be
placed as the first verse in the second chapter.
Making A Dwelling Place For God
(The Attic) What Are We Hiding!
I don’t know about your attic but we have all kinds of stuff up
there. My wife rights on the boxes treasures. The attic
represents the place where we buried our memories of photo
albums, and other memorabilia over the years.
Some of us still have some funky clothes from the past. My
wife’s mom always told her hang on to it, it’ll all come back
around!
Jesus knows those places we keep hidden from the world
buried in the darkness. It is time to slay finally the things that are
holding us back from our new life in Christ.
The attic represents the place where we hide our past failings,
it’s the place we want know one to see. Our attic is staked up
with our past failings and disappointments.
The Bible has many examples of people who should have been
wrecked by their past.
Joseph betrayed by his brothers!
Look, what Joseph said to his brothers after all he had been
through, he saw God’s bigger picture of his life. This was all to
help preserve the Israeli race.
Gen 45: 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry
with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives
that God sent me ahead of you. 8 “So then, it was not you who
sent me here, but God.
Mary Magdalene demon possessed by seven demons!
Mk 16:9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he
appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven
seven demons.
Paul persecuting the church!
How would you like to be the Apostle Paul persecuting the Lord
?‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’ 8 “‘Who are you,
Lord?’ I asked. ”‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are
persecuting,’ he replied.
Peter denying the Lord could you picture yourself as Peter this
scene!
Luke 22:61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then
Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him:
“Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three
times.”
The Bible is full of people who had a past of disappointments.
But it did not stop them from accomplishing their destiny for the
future.
1Cor 6:9- 9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the
kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually
immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor
homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor
drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom
of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were
washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of
the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Lets read Heb 12:14-17 do not fall short of His grace.
When we fail to apply God’s, grace to ourselves and to others it
will cause a root of bitterness that defiles everyone around you.
With the church with God and with people around you. That
word defile means to pollute or contaminate. to soil, stain,
corrupt, or infect by contact or association the environment
around you. Its like a poison.
Jesus said in John 6:14-15 14 For if you forgive men when they
sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But
if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive
your sins.
John Wesley John Oglethorpe, a friend of John Wesley,
allegedly told Wesley, “I never forgive.” Mr. Wesley wisely
replied, “Then, sir, I hope that you never sin.”
Through our weakness, God’s strength can be revealed.
Joseph was jailed, David driven into hiding, Paul imprisoned,
and Christ crucified. But even in defeat. God’s servants are not
destroyed. Part of the miracle of grace is that broken vessels
can be made whole, with even more capacity than before.
This is
The sole condition on which this righteousness is imputed or
credited to the believer is faith in or on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Faith is called a “condition,” not because it possesses any
merit, but only because it is the instrument, the only instrument
by which the soul appropriates or apprehends Christ and his
righteousness (Rom. 1:17; 3:25, 26; 4:20, 22; Phil. 3:8–11; Gal.
2:16).
We need to live this life by faith and not just by our emotions.
Its time to stop playing that DVD of past sins over and over
again in our heads. If you have truly repented and asked for
forgiveness than receive it. 1John 1:9 If we confess our sin!
Conclude with Paul’s words about forgetting the past!
Phil 3:10-14
We can’t move into our future if we can’t leave our past!
I know there are people here tonight that are trapped by there
past. I Christ has forgiven you then you need to get over it and
move onto the things He’s called you to. Others depend on it.
I don’t know about your attic but we have all kinds of stuff up
there. My wife rights on the boxes treasures. The attic
represents the place where we buried our memories of photo
albums, and other memorabilia over the years.
Some of us still have some funky clothes from the past. My
wife’s mom always told her hang on to it, it’ll all come back
around!
Jesus knows those places we keep hidden from the world
buried in the darkness. It is time to slay finally the things that are
holding us back from our new life in Christ.
The attic represents the place where we hide our past failings,
it’s the place we want know one to see. Our attic is staked up
with our past failings and disappointments.
The Bible has many examples of people who should have been
wrecked by their past.
Joseph betrayed by his brothers!
Look, what Joseph said to his brothers after all he had been
through, he saw God’s bigger picture of his life. This was all to
help preserve the Israeli race.
Gen 45: 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry
with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives
that God sent me ahead of you. 8 “So then, it was not you who
sent me here, but God.
Mary Magdalene demon possessed by seven demons!
Mk 16:9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he
appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven
seven demons.
Paul persecuting the church!
How would you like to be the Apostle Paul persecuting the Lord
?‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’ 8 “‘Who are you,
Lord?’ I asked. ”‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are
persecuting,’ he replied.
Peter denying the Lord could you picture yourself as Peter this
scene!
Luke 22:61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then
Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him:
“Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three
times.”
The Bible is full of people who had a past of disappointments.
But it did not stop them from accomplishing their destiny for the
future.
1Cor 6:9- 9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the
kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually
immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor
homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor
drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom
of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were
washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of
the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Lets read Heb 12:14-17 do not fall short of His grace.
When we fail to apply God’s, grace to ourselves and to others it
will cause a root of bitterness that defiles everyone around you.
With the church with God and with people around you. That
word defile means to pollute or contaminate. to soil, stain,
corrupt, or infect by contact or association the environment
around you. Its like a poison.
Jesus said in John 6:14-15 14 For if you forgive men when they
sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But
if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive
your sins.
John Wesley John Oglethorpe, a friend of John Wesley,
allegedly told Wesley, “I never forgive.” Mr. Wesley wisely
replied, “Then, sir, I hope that you never sin.”
Through our weakness, God’s strength can be revealed.
Joseph was jailed, David driven into hiding, Paul imprisoned,
and Christ crucified. But even in defeat. God’s servants are not
destroyed. Part of the miracle of grace is that broken vessels
can be made whole, with even more capacity than before.
This is
The sole condition on which this righteousness is imputed or
credited to the believer is faith in or on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Faith is called a “condition,” not because it possesses any
merit, but only because it is the instrument, the only instrument
by which the soul appropriates or apprehends Christ and his
righteousness (Rom. 1:17; 3:25, 26; 4:20, 22; Phil. 3:8–11; Gal.
2:16).
We need to live this life by faith and not just by our emotions.
Its time to stop playing that DVD of past sins over and over
again in our heads. If you have truly repented and asked for
forgiveness than receive it. 1John 1:9 If we confess our sin!
Conclude with Paul’s words about forgetting the past!
Phil 3:10-14
We can’t move into our future if we can’t leave our past!
I know there are people here tonight that are trapped by there
past. I Christ has forgiven you then you need to get over it and
move onto the things He’s called you to. Others depend on it.
The Anemic Church (Breaking The Fear of Man)
I believe one of the biggest lies we have swallowed hook line and sinker is that if we exercise the gifts in pubic worship settings people will be offended. Why is it that we see so little of the gifts manifested in our churches and I am talking about churches that call themselves Spirit-Filled, Charismatic or Pentecostal churches? We are so driven by the deception of seeker sensitive services that I believe we have grieved the Holy Spirit right out of His church. When is the last time you heard a tongue and interpretation given in your church? When is the last time Sunday service was taken over by such a powerful manifestation of His presence that you just worship and allowed God to rule and reign as He wishes?
This not meant to bash our churches but there has been such a major shifting away from the manifestations of the Spirit that we are in danger of falling into a backslidden state and we are not even aware of it. To most of us it’s just church as usual “’ that statement in itself is an oxymoron”. There was never such a thing as church as usual in the New Testament. There were signs and wonders happening and people were in a state of awe. (Ac 2:43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.) When they had prayer meets the place shook. Look at
Ac 4:29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Ac 4:30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” Ac 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
I don’t know about you but I do not want to be satisfied with anything less than His Church being all it was created to be on the earth. The word I kept getting in my spirit this morning was anemic. So I looked it up and here is what it is in its simplest form.
Anemia is a condition that develops when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells. These cells are the main transporters of oxygen to organs. If red blood cells are also deficient in hemoglobin, then your body isn't getting enough iron. Symptoms of anemia -- like fatigue -- occur because organs aren't getting enough oxygen. http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/understanding-anemia-basics[1]
We know that the body of Christ is made up of many parts and each part has its function but when it is not functioning properly we all suffering from it. Please read 1 Corth. Chapter 12,13,14. You will see that the gifts are meant to be used in public worship and if there is an unbeliever in your midst God will use prophecy to expose their heart look at
1Co 14:24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 1Co 14:25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”
The Holy Spirit is the healthy red cell that helps to bring oxygen to the rest of the body. We are cutting off our blood source when we fail to allow the gifts to manifest in our church services. I did not receive Christ to become popular but to be a History changer. The greatest witness and unbeliever can have is coming to a church service where Jesus is moving and manifesting in our midst. We need to trust that God knows what He is doing and the pattern He has set-up for His church. Go back again and read the Book of Acts and see how for we have strayed. America is ripe for the next great harvest, if you are a minister of the gospel preach Christ unashamedly and become the most radical worshiper in your church. Let us encourage each other to move more and more towards the gifts and not away from them.
The lost are waiting for us to walk in the fullness of His Spirit that is available to us if we would only ask Him. Lk 11:13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Application: So what do we do with this information?
1. Pray for the eyes of our leader’s hearts to be open to what the Holy Spirit is doing and join with Him. (Eph 1:18 ( By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones)[2]
2. Pray for the fear of man to be broken 2 Tim 1:7( For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.
[3]
3. Pray for a refreshing over your leaders and church 1 Thess. 5:19-22 19 Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil. [4]
[1]
[2]The amplified Bible, containing the amplified Old Testament and the amplified New Testament. 1987 (Eph 1:18). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[3]The amplified Bible, containing the amplified Old Testament and the amplified New Testament. 1987 (2 Ti 1:7). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[4]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (1 Th 5:19-22). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
This not meant to bash our churches but there has been such a major shifting away from the manifestations of the Spirit that we are in danger of falling into a backslidden state and we are not even aware of it. To most of us it’s just church as usual “’ that statement in itself is an oxymoron”. There was never such a thing as church as usual in the New Testament. There were signs and wonders happening and people were in a state of awe. (Ac 2:43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.) When they had prayer meets the place shook. Look at
Ac 4:29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Ac 4:30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” Ac 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
I don’t know about you but I do not want to be satisfied with anything less than His Church being all it was created to be on the earth. The word I kept getting in my spirit this morning was anemic. So I looked it up and here is what it is in its simplest form.
Anemia is a condition that develops when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells. These cells are the main transporters of oxygen to organs. If red blood cells are also deficient in hemoglobin, then your body isn't getting enough iron. Symptoms of anemia -- like fatigue -- occur because organs aren't getting enough oxygen. http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/understanding-anemia-basics[1]
We know that the body of Christ is made up of many parts and each part has its function but when it is not functioning properly we all suffering from it. Please read 1 Corth. Chapter 12,13,14. You will see that the gifts are meant to be used in public worship and if there is an unbeliever in your midst God will use prophecy to expose their heart look at
1Co 14:24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 1Co 14:25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”
The Holy Spirit is the healthy red cell that helps to bring oxygen to the rest of the body. We are cutting off our blood source when we fail to allow the gifts to manifest in our church services. I did not receive Christ to become popular but to be a History changer. The greatest witness and unbeliever can have is coming to a church service where Jesus is moving and manifesting in our midst. We need to trust that God knows what He is doing and the pattern He has set-up for His church. Go back again and read the Book of Acts and see how for we have strayed. America is ripe for the next great harvest, if you are a minister of the gospel preach Christ unashamedly and become the most radical worshiper in your church. Let us encourage each other to move more and more towards the gifts and not away from them.
The lost are waiting for us to walk in the fullness of His Spirit that is available to us if we would only ask Him. Lk 11:13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Application: So what do we do with this information?
1. Pray for the eyes of our leader’s hearts to be open to what the Holy Spirit is doing and join with Him. (Eph 1:18 ( By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones)[2]
2. Pray for the fear of man to be broken 2 Tim 1:7( For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.
[3]
3. Pray for a refreshing over your leaders and church 1 Thess. 5:19-22 19 Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil. [4]
[1]
[2]The amplified Bible, containing the amplified Old Testament and the amplified New Testament. 1987 (Eph 1:18). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[3]The amplified Bible, containing the amplified Old Testament and the amplified New Testament. 1987 (2 Ti 1:7). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[4]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (1 Th 5:19-22). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
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