It Ain’t Over!! By Karen Schatzline
Text: Rev. 3:2, Phil. 1:6, Mark 5
I feel I must share a word straight from the heart of God.
There is something so powerful that takes place when you realize it isn’t over!
In Revelation Jesus says I have not found your deeds complete!
Revelation 3:2, Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
In other words he was saying- He’s not done! It Ain’t Over!
All of creation is groaning right now… Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Tornadoes, economic collapse, Middle East Spring, elections, mortgage crisis, deflated dollar, sickness, fear….. I have come to declare a word from the heart of God! IT AIN’T OVER!
Where is God? There is a push in our nation to make God obsolete. It is working. I have listened lately to the media and pundits as they spread terror and even spread falsehoods about God! Some say there is no such thing as sin. Others say God accepts all life styles. Others say God has given up on America. Others Just MOCK HIM.
Proverbs 14:34,(message) God-devotion makes a country strong; God-avoidance leaves people weak
I wonder if God gets tired of hearing all that he isn’t?
Malachi 2:17
(message) You make God tired with all your talk. "How do we tire him out?" you ask. By saying, "God loves sinners and sin alike. God loves all." And also by saying, "Judgment? God's too nice to judge
This is the hour where we must rise up with power and authority. It Aint Over!
For all those who feel your at the end, for all those who feel time is up,
For all those who feel forgotten and misplaced- It Aint Over!
For all those who feel relegated to the back of the room- It Aint Over!
I’m a lady, But I’m not fat! I am definitely not singing! The Fat Lady isn’t singing yet! IT AINT OVER! We are just beginning! I am ticked off at seeing the body of Christ act as if somewhere a long the way Jesus gave up his power to be all that you need!
I. The awesome awakening of you!
This morning I feel as if there is about to be a stirring! AN AWAKENING!
Almost the sound of feet hitting the floor in the morning light!
I feel as if God is saying ok this is your moment to realize I am not done!
There is nothing more powerful than when Gods people begin to stretch out of their slumber, call your families back to him, stir the flame which once burned so bright, and you yourself have a fresh revelation!
Ephesians 5:1 (message) Wake Up from Your Sleep! Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.
God knows when you’re weary. He is calling you to His presence.
Matthew 11:28, (message)
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
He has heard your worldless prayers, and deep sighs of exhaustion!
Romans 8:26, (message) Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
Bethany Hamilton (Soul Surfer) said “God did have something bigger planned for me – What we need to do is trust & believe. If I can help others find hope in God – then that is worth losing my arm for”
God has a massive plan! He’s Not asleep at the Wheel!,
Philippians 1:6, (message) There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.
He told me to come and tell you! It Ain’t Over!
Hebrews 12:2- 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
II. When Doubt screams It’s Over! Hold On!
Psalms 94:18&19 (NLT) “I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.”
***I want to read to you a passage of scripture that absolutely frustrates me. ***
My patience gets tested in this story.
I have learned that despite my whining, despite my complaining, GOD IS IN CONTROL!
Mark 5:21-30, (message) When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
Jesus is at the shore. He is multitasking! He is ministering to the people. The crowd is now a mob. They are pushing on him and shoving him!
Suddenly a man of prominence who probably, up to this point, didn’t like Jesus!
He was a religious ruler. He understood etiquette! He understood being proper!
But now his life had changed. His little sweetheart, his little girl, his relief from the pull of the world, his escape from reality, his pride and joy- His little princess was sick!
On his shoulders sat the weight of everything important!
Little girls have the power to turn a grown man into a dress-up partner, a tea party guest, and the prince at the ball.
Now she was in trouble. When he left the house, her fever was spiking, her breathing was shallow, and her body pale.
He suddenly had faith! He suddenly believed! He was willing to do anything to save his daughter!
He runs to Jesus! He grabs Jesus and says- Help me!
Mark 5: 24, So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him.
Then suddenly a woman touches him! The crowd interrupted this man’s miracle! It’s over! We only had a little time….
III. Maybe your miracle got lost in the crowd!
Just when you think it is your time….
Mark 5: 25-30, And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
Here is a man who is desperate! Is it really that easy to get Jesus off his game, distracted?!
I mean come on Jesus I was here first!
I am a religious leader!
I do your work everyday! Surely
I am more important than that woman.
Remember this woman had been bleeding for 12 years. She was hemorrhaging.
This woman was cursed! I am the keeper of the temple! I stood outside her house once a week and announced her unclean!
Look what happens- while this unclean woman is being healed! This nuisance! This hindrance to his miracle! Didn’t Jesus know – My daughter is dying!
Mark 5:35, While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”
It’s over! Give up man! She’s gone! This lady has stole your miracle!
We will get back to this powerful moment! First lets talk about…
IV. Those that realized “It Ain’t Over!”
1 Corinthians 1:7-9,
Just think—you don't need a thing, you've got it all! All God's gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that
It really isn’t about those who start the race, but those who finish!
Those who refused to quit! Those who realized against all odds- IT AIN’T OVER!!!
Those who kept the faith regardless of the battle!
Can’t, never could do anything!
Don’t tell Noah no one ever built an ark!
Don’t tell Moses it’s over as the bush burns and his future is marked!
Don’t tell Esther it’s over as she marches into the kings chamber!
Don’t you tell Hosea it’s over as his wife Gomer slips out for the night!
Don’t tell Ruth it’s over as she gleans in the field of Boaz- her Redeemer
Don’t tell David it’s over as Goliath screams insults!
Don’t tell Nehemiah it’s over as he rebuilt the wall!
I am talking about the history makers!
Don’t tell Christopher Columbus there is no new world!
Don’t tell the founding fathers we cant govern ourselves!
Don’t tell Abraham Lincoln all men aren’t created equal!
Don’t tell Thomas Edison you cant make a light bulb!
Don’t tell Rosa Parks she cant sit in the front of the bus!
Don’t tell Dr. King his dream wont come true!
Don’t tell Nelson Mandela South Africa can’t be free from Apartheid.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Don’t tell Pat Schatzline he can’t win a generation!
Don’t tell Auburn that its over when the are down 24-0
Don’t tell ME, I cant go to a distant land and rescue my daughter!
You see history is full of people who should have thought it was over! The greatest was Jesus!
Hebrews 12:1-3, (message)Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!
V. Ignore the noise around you!
Mark 5:36-43 Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
Get your faith back today!
Your following the master!
Your miracle wasn’t ignored it was delayed!
It may be time for your miracle, but it’s just not your turn!
I believe Jarius had his faith activated by seeing someone else’s miracle!
VI. Change the atmosphere of the house!
Mark 5:37-40, He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was.
Everybody said she is dead! Jesus said she is sleeping! They laughed at him! You know your about to have a breakthrough when everyone around you is laughing at your faith! You have to put them out of the house! Clean out what is stopping your faith! Change your circle of friends!
Mark 5:41-43, He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.
He said give the miracle something to eat! Church we have to feed our faith!
In other words it is time to stand up and declare- IT AINT OVER!
He didn’t forget you! He was working it out!
Your marriage…
Your job….
Your children…
Your finances…
Your future….
He told me to tell you – It Aint Over!
Galations 6:9 (Message) “So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time, we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit!
VII. It’s Gonna Be worth it!
Monday, September 5, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Understanding Spiritual Authority
I wanted to take a moment and explain what it means to place yourself under someone else’s leadership and authority. This is the greatest key to going to the next level of ministry. It is also is the toughest and hardest to learn.
Romans 13:1-7, Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
*Recognizing: The law of the flesh vs. the law of authority
Understanding where your authority begins the enemy ends!
*You will never have power to change the atmosphere until you change your garments! Joel said it best when he said rend your garments!
I. The following is some guidelines concerning walking under and with those in Spiritual authority!
*When self runs into team- self will always search for an exit strategy
• Jesus gave you authority! He understood that authority is given and not stolen. He said everything he did was because His father allowed him to do it!
• Your authority is determined by your brokenness.
• Realize from the beginning of your life self preservation has been driven into you!
• Realize when authority is placed over you- rebellion is the natural reaction
• The mirror will always be your biggest enemy
• True disciples must live daily killing their flesh and resurrecting their Spirit
• The enemies number 1 goal is to make you feel isolated
• When your Spirit is tired your flesh feels free to roam
• Jesus gave us power to change every situation, but our flesh screams your not worthy!
• Spiritual authority is never activated over your life until you are in a position to rebel
• When asked to do what hurts your pride- then your pride will be louder than your humility
• When authority walks into the room the hidden desires try to scream louder
• The biggest moment of change for a disciple comes when they have a knife in their hands and they refuse to use it.
• Spiritual authority has the power to use, abuse, and refuse!
• Realize under spiritual authority is where you actually have freedom.
• Your future depends on those over you and their future depends on those under them.
• When confronted with an opportunity to serve Spiritual authority must recognize those under them as a part of the team.
• Spiritual authority is not removed when the disciple surpasses them, but when it is handed away.
Recognizing those over you! Will bring recognition of what God has done in you!
II. How to react to those in Spiritual authority over you:
1. Authority is only given to those whom have placed themselves in a place to grow.
2. When authority comes in conflict with self preservation there will be a battle.
3. Always ask yourself is there a reason for the direction being given.
4. When being asked to complete a task watch for a moment to take it to another level.
5. Understand the person in authority is also under authority.
6. The next level of ministry is always determined by the foundation of the earlier times of submission.
7. If authority rubs you wrong you must always ask is there something in me that has to change.
8. If authority rules incorrectly then know that God will expose that leader.
9. When asked to complete a undesirable task realize this is the moment for your Spirit to win and flesh die.
10. Remember those in Spiritual authority will always have to give an account before the heavenly father.
11. There is a harvest awaiting those who receive and handle spiritual authority correctly.
12. Once you learn that you must submit and walk under a covering then it opens doors for you to establish a life of authority!
III. Understanding how to walk in Spiritual power and authority!
A solid understanding of spiritual authority is vital to build your faith when casting out demons, healing the sick, and exercising your authority over the powers of darkness.
When we have been given authority to cast out demons, but instead we pray that God brings the demon out instead, we are basically asking God to do something that He gave US the tools to do ourselves! Jesus told US to cast out demons! Nowhere in the Bible does it tell us to ask God to cast out demons!
Mark 13:34, "For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch."
Matthew 8:8-9, 13, "The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it... And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour."
Romans 13:1-7, Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
*Recognizing: The law of the flesh vs. the law of authority
Understanding where your authority begins the enemy ends!
*You will never have power to change the atmosphere until you change your garments! Joel said it best when he said rend your garments!
I. The following is some guidelines concerning walking under and with those in Spiritual authority!
*When self runs into team- self will always search for an exit strategy
• Jesus gave you authority! He understood that authority is given and not stolen. He said everything he did was because His father allowed him to do it!
• Your authority is determined by your brokenness.
• Realize from the beginning of your life self preservation has been driven into you!
• Realize when authority is placed over you- rebellion is the natural reaction
• The mirror will always be your biggest enemy
• True disciples must live daily killing their flesh and resurrecting their Spirit
• The enemies number 1 goal is to make you feel isolated
• When your Spirit is tired your flesh feels free to roam
• Jesus gave us power to change every situation, but our flesh screams your not worthy!
• Spiritual authority is never activated over your life until you are in a position to rebel
• When asked to do what hurts your pride- then your pride will be louder than your humility
• When authority walks into the room the hidden desires try to scream louder
• The biggest moment of change for a disciple comes when they have a knife in their hands and they refuse to use it.
• Spiritual authority has the power to use, abuse, and refuse!
• Realize under spiritual authority is where you actually have freedom.
• Your future depends on those over you and their future depends on those under them.
• When confronted with an opportunity to serve Spiritual authority must recognize those under them as a part of the team.
• Spiritual authority is not removed when the disciple surpasses them, but when it is handed away.
Recognizing those over you! Will bring recognition of what God has done in you!
II. How to react to those in Spiritual authority over you:
1. Authority is only given to those whom have placed themselves in a place to grow.
2. When authority comes in conflict with self preservation there will be a battle.
3. Always ask yourself is there a reason for the direction being given.
4. When being asked to complete a task watch for a moment to take it to another level.
5. Understand the person in authority is also under authority.
6. The next level of ministry is always determined by the foundation of the earlier times of submission.
7. If authority rubs you wrong you must always ask is there something in me that has to change.
8. If authority rules incorrectly then know that God will expose that leader.
9. When asked to complete a undesirable task realize this is the moment for your Spirit to win and flesh die.
10. Remember those in Spiritual authority will always have to give an account before the heavenly father.
11. There is a harvest awaiting those who receive and handle spiritual authority correctly.
12. Once you learn that you must submit and walk under a covering then it opens doors for you to establish a life of authority!
III. Understanding how to walk in Spiritual power and authority!
A solid understanding of spiritual authority is vital to build your faith when casting out demons, healing the sick, and exercising your authority over the powers of darkness.
When we have been given authority to cast out demons, but instead we pray that God brings the demon out instead, we are basically asking God to do something that He gave US the tools to do ourselves! Jesus told US to cast out demons! Nowhere in the Bible does it tell us to ask God to cast out demons!
Mark 13:34, "For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch."
How authority works
Authority doesn't beg; authority doesn't ask; authority commands! We are not told to ask God to cast out demons, we are told to do it ourselves! We are not told to beg demons to come out, we are told to CAST them out!
Authority doesn't beg; authority doesn't ask; authority commands! We are not told to ask God to cast out demons, we are told to do it ourselves! We are not told to beg demons to come out, we are told to CAST them out!
Matthew 8:8-9, 13, "The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it... And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour."
Authority is exercised through our spoken word. The power of life and death are in the spoken word: Proverbs 18:21, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."
Jesus' own authority
One thing that made it clear that Jesus was the son of God, is because He exercised authority that nobody else had access to in history!
One thing that made it clear that Jesus was the son of God, is because He exercised authority that nobody else had access to in history!
He cast out demons using His authority: Mark 1:27, "And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him."
He cast out demons with His spoken word: Matthew 8:16, "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word..."
He healed the sick with His spoken word: Luke 7:7, "Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed." Also John 5:8, "Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk."
Jesus has been given authority over everything: Matthew 28:18, "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."
Authority to heal
Jesus said to, "Heal the sick"! Matthew 10:8, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." I think it's interesting how Jesus didn't tell us to pray and ask God to heal the sick, He told US to heal the sick!
Jesus said to, "Heal the sick"! Matthew 10:8, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." I think it's interesting how Jesus didn't tell us to pray and ask God to heal the sick, He told US to heal the sick!
I have never seen where Jesus prayed, "Father, please heal this person!" Instead, we see that Jesus healed people with His spoken Word! In John 5:8, Jesus told the man to, "...Rise, take up thy bed, and walk."
The early church healed people in this same manner. In Acts 3:6, "...Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." Notice in Luke 9:1 that He not only gave His disciples authority over all devils, but also to cure diseases: "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases."
Authority is exercised when there is a RIGHT to exercise it. They weren't praying and asking God to heal people, they had the authority to heal, and they were exercising it with a spoken word, just as Jesus did!
I want to clarify that I'm not saying that prayer can't heal people... because it can (James 5:14-15)... I'm just saying that we are taught to heal the sick using the authority that Jesus gave us! I have seen and heard of many healings that took place through prayer, so I'm not saying not to pray, or that prayer doesn't work. I'm simply saying that we have authority over sickness, and therefore we can exercise our authority to bring about healing in another person's life!
I also think it's interesting how Mark 16:17-18 tells us that healing can come through the laying on of hands: "And these signs shall follow them that believe... they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
I also think it's interesting how Mark 16:17-18 tells us that healing can come through the laying on of hands: "And these signs shall follow them that believe... they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
The laying on of hands can encourage the transferring of power from us into the person and heal them, just like the woman who felt power flow from Jesus when she touched the hem of His garment (Mark 5:30)! Jesus said that those who believe will have the Holy Ghost flowing out of their innermost being (John 7:38-39), and even Peter's shadow healed people (Acts 5:15)!
Authority to cast out demons
Notice that we are never told to beg or coax the demons to come out, neither are we told to pray and ask God to remove them, but we ARE told to cast them out! Matthew 10:8, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." And also look at Mark 16:17, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils..."
Notice that we are never told to beg or coax the demons to come out, neither are we told to pray and ask God to remove them, but we ARE told to cast them out! Matthew 10:8, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." And also look at Mark 16:17, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils..."
Luke 9:1, "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils..."
Luke 10:17, "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name."
Jesus distributes His authority
Mark 13:34, "For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch."
Jesus is given authority: Matthew 28:18, "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."
Mark 13:34, "For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch."
Jesus is given authority: Matthew 28:18, "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."
Authority given to Jesus' 12 disciples: Luke 9:1, "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases."
Authority given to Jesus' 70 disciples: Luke 10:17, "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name."
Through Jesus' name
Through Jesus' name
Notice that the authority Jesus gives His people is not to be used in their name, but Jesus' name:
Luke 10:17, "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name."
Mark 16:17, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils..."
Acts 3:6, "...Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."
To use somebody's authority through their name is quite an honor! It's like being able to go to the bank and draw out a million dollars on behalf of a wealthy businessman!
Authority has been given to "Them who believe"
To use somebody's authority through their name is quite an honor! It's like being able to go to the bank and draw out a million dollars on behalf of a wealthy businessman!
Authority has been given to "Them who believe"
Jesus gave His disciples authority to carry out His will here on earth, but they weren't the only ones. He also gave ALL believers authority to heal the sick and cast out devils as well! (Mark 16:17-18)
Authority to cast out demons: Mark 16:17, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils..."
Authority to heal the sick: Mark 16:17-18, "And these signs shall follow them that believe...they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
Mark 13:34, "For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch."
Mark 13:34, "For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch."
Authority is accessed through faith
It is also helpful to point out that our spiritual authority is accessed by faith. There is a lot to be learned from the story told in Mark 9:17-29 about how faith allows us to access our authority. When the disciples came across an unusually strong demon that wouldn't budge (verse 18), Jesus made it clear that they lacked faith by calling them faithless (verse 19). He also made it clear that some demons are so strong that a higher than usual level of faith is required to cast them out (verses 28 and 29), and that we can gain that higher level of faith through prayer and fasting (verse 29).
It is also helpful to point out that our spiritual authority is accessed by faith. There is a lot to be learned from the story told in Mark 9:17-29 about how faith allows us to access our authority. When the disciples came across an unusually strong demon that wouldn't budge (verse 18), Jesus made it clear that they lacked faith by calling them faithless (verse 19). He also made it clear that some demons are so strong that a higher than usual level of faith is required to cast them out (verses 28 and 29), and that we can gain that higher level of faith through prayer and fasting (verse 29).
Matthew 17:20, "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."
This is your moment to live a life of power and authority!
This is your moment to live a life of power and authority!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Is Jesus America's Mascot?
Recently, while praying I felt God lay on my heart that for so many years our nation has looked at God as our "mascot." I mean this with all integrity of heart. God has to be more than our mascot! Our currency say's "In God we trust." Do we really? This summer in America the stock market has acted like a roller coaster, the debt keeps growing, out of control flash mobs disrupt cities, unemployment edges towards 10%, our soldiers are dying in battle, and politicians battle each other for voting blocks. I think I am one of those voting blocks. Everyone loves their team mascot. Although, mascots do not win games! A mascot is a great cheerleader for a team, but doesn’t actually play. A mascot is someone we look too for motivation and one who stirs-up the crowd. A mascot looks great on bumper stickers, flags, and t-shirts. However, a mascot is just a symbol of an idea. God is not an idea! We have always been known as the land of opportunity! The richest nation in the world! On the inside of the statue of liberty is our nations invitation to the hurting, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free." Our Republic has stood for freedom, and liberty as we have restored democracy around the world, fought on the beaches of distant lands, and declared a better way of life. Most of all we have declared that God is who we trust in! That is a awesome mission statement, but do we really trust God? During the turmoil we are now living in, if God is whom we trust, I believe with all my heart the churches of America would be filled to the brim with a nation crying out for God. God must be so much more. He must be our Lord! Psalms 33:12, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance"
Throughout history, when things get rough, a nation can turn in one of two directions. The nation can head down the devastating road of secularism where elitist minded people declare that man can fix our issues, or we can turn to God as our answer. I believe we are so close to an awakening. I see desperation for Jesus in services. I see a generation that has had enough of no Salt and Light religion. There is a cry coming from the mountains, plains, and shores for an encounter with Jesus. We the church must rise up. It is time for a crying out from the pulpit to the pews, from the subway to the dirt roads, from the schools to the courts that Jesus is our Lord. Now is when we truly decide are we a nation that trusts in God, or do we trust in the corners of Wall and Broad Street. God loves America, but he loves all nations on the earth. What separates our nation is that we put God up in plain site. We call on Him for our answers. If we are to be the city on the hill, and the beacon of hope we must open the door for Him to come in. Rev. 3:20 declares He is knocking at our doors. Will we answer?
The wickedness of this world is increasing. The clock is ticking on liberty and justice for all! Israel is waiting for us to rise up while Islam knocks at their doors. From Beijing to Moscow they are watching to see if we truly believe what we have declared for over 200 years. The question is this, is God just our mascot that we parade out to motivate an electorate or is He our King? There are millions in our great nation who are ready to see God pour out His Spirit. From pulpits to bible studies, to students at flag poles, there is a cry for heaven to invade earth. I still believe that “In God We Trust”, but we must not just parade him out to motivate the electorates, and try to win another moral victory. He must become our very breath!
God spoke five things to my heart:
1. We must get our joy back! Psalms 45:7, "You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." The joy of the Lord truly is our strength. No Joy means no strength!
2. We must exercise our God authority! Col 2:10, "and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority."
3. We must realize that we are overcomer's! Luke 10:19, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." An overcomer always makes sure to insert their influence in all situations.
4. We must pray and cry out! II Chronicles 7:14, "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." We must seek Him and will we find him!
5. Give Him access to move in our daily routines of life. Acts 17:28, "For in him we live and move and have our being!" He wants to interrupt us. That doesn’t mean we have to lose excellence in place of anointing. I love what a dear pastor and mentor named George Sawyer told me about his church "We believe in anointed excellence." We must give him access to the inner sanctums of our offices, living rooms, bedrooms, cars, and sanctuaries.
God is calling all of His pastors, influencers, and churches, with the hand of God upon them, to call for a Holy Spirit revolution! Together we can take our nation back! It first must start on our knee's! For too long the media, the pundits, the philosophers have set the spiritual climate. We must declare Jesus from the roof tops. This is the moment the church has been awaiting! We must be the statue of liberty! Our mantra must be "Give me your tired (Matt 11:28), your poor (James 1:30), your huddled masses (Acts 1:8)yearning to breathe free (Acts 2:4)." Let the breath of God breathe life into the lungs of all believers! He breathed into the lungs of man in the garden and will do so again in their garages! It's great to have God on our t-shirts and money, but even greater to have him on our thrones! Remember to keep your eyes on Jesus! Matthew 24:12-14, "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."
Let's stand together! We love and appreciate you so much! Pat and Karen Schatzline
Patrick H. Schatzline
Mercy Seat Ministries, Inc.
PO Box 1150, Trussville, AL 35173
Office: 205-680-9241
www.mercyseatministries.com
www.forerunnerschoolofministry.com
Throughout history, when things get rough, a nation can turn in one of two directions. The nation can head down the devastating road of secularism where elitist minded people declare that man can fix our issues, or we can turn to God as our answer. I believe we are so close to an awakening. I see desperation for Jesus in services. I see a generation that has had enough of no Salt and Light religion. There is a cry coming from the mountains, plains, and shores for an encounter with Jesus. We the church must rise up. It is time for a crying out from the pulpit to the pews, from the subway to the dirt roads, from the schools to the courts that Jesus is our Lord. Now is when we truly decide are we a nation that trusts in God, or do we trust in the corners of Wall and Broad Street. God loves America, but he loves all nations on the earth. What separates our nation is that we put God up in plain site. We call on Him for our answers. If we are to be the city on the hill, and the beacon of hope we must open the door for Him to come in. Rev. 3:20 declares He is knocking at our doors. Will we answer?
The wickedness of this world is increasing. The clock is ticking on liberty and justice for all! Israel is waiting for us to rise up while Islam knocks at their doors. From Beijing to Moscow they are watching to see if we truly believe what we have declared for over 200 years. The question is this, is God just our mascot that we parade out to motivate an electorate or is He our King? There are millions in our great nation who are ready to see God pour out His Spirit. From pulpits to bible studies, to students at flag poles, there is a cry for heaven to invade earth. I still believe that “In God We Trust”, but we must not just parade him out to motivate the electorates, and try to win another moral victory. He must become our very breath!
God spoke five things to my heart:
1. We must get our joy back! Psalms 45:7, "You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." The joy of the Lord truly is our strength. No Joy means no strength!
2. We must exercise our God authority! Col 2:10, "and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority."
3. We must realize that we are overcomer's! Luke 10:19, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." An overcomer always makes sure to insert their influence in all situations.
4. We must pray and cry out! II Chronicles 7:14, "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." We must seek Him and will we find him!
5. Give Him access to move in our daily routines of life. Acts 17:28, "For in him we live and move and have our being!" He wants to interrupt us. That doesn’t mean we have to lose excellence in place of anointing. I love what a dear pastor and mentor named George Sawyer told me about his church "We believe in anointed excellence." We must give him access to the inner sanctums of our offices, living rooms, bedrooms, cars, and sanctuaries.
God is calling all of His pastors, influencers, and churches, with the hand of God upon them, to call for a Holy Spirit revolution! Together we can take our nation back! It first must start on our knee's! For too long the media, the pundits, the philosophers have set the spiritual climate. We must declare Jesus from the roof tops. This is the moment the church has been awaiting! We must be the statue of liberty! Our mantra must be "Give me your tired (Matt 11:28), your poor (James 1:30), your huddled masses (Acts 1:8)yearning to breathe free (Acts 2:4)." Let the breath of God breathe life into the lungs of all believers! He breathed into the lungs of man in the garden and will do so again in their garages! It's great to have God on our t-shirts and money, but even greater to have him on our thrones! Remember to keep your eyes on Jesus! Matthew 24:12-14, "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."
Let's stand together! We love and appreciate you so much! Pat and Karen Schatzline
Patrick H. Schatzline
Mercy Seat Ministries, Inc.
PO Box 1150, Trussville, AL 35173
Office: 205-680-9241
www.mercyseatministries.com
www.forerunnerschoolofministry.com
Monday, April 4, 2011
I am Undone! By Karen Schatzline
I Am UNDONE!
By Karen Schatzline
Dear Friends and Leaders, I am so excited about all that God is doing. He has been blowing our minds as we travels the world touching lives. The ministry is just exploding and we are so honored to touch and minister to lives for Jesus! Last weekend was out annual Forerunner Campus Days. It was called “Undone.” We had an amazing outpouring from God. I wanted to use the months newsletter to let you experience a little bit of our campus days. Below is an unbelievable message from Karen that she shared last Sunday while I was ministering in Indiana. This message rocked lives to the core, and I believe Karen has tapped into the heart of God for people’s lives. This message can also be heard on our podcast. Check it out! It is fire! Please check out our upcoming schedule.
Sincerely, Pat Schatzline
I am Undone! For so long my heart has been this one cry- “God make me what you want me to be, and don’t let there be anything of me left when you’re done with me!” I understand that for God to truly change and use someone they must first have an encounter with the Savior! A one on one with God! Where you finally say-WOE IS ME! Where you realize that outside of God, There is nothing good in me. I am talking about a Face to face encounter! Look at 2 Corinthians 3:18, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” I want my selfish flesh to die so that God Sprit can take over and live in me. Here is Isaiah having a supernatural encounter. Isaiah 6:5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined (UNDONE)! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty." “Ruined- Undone”- in the Hebrew- damah (daw-mam'); to be dumb or silent; hence, to fail or perish; trans. to destroy: cease, be cut down (off), destroy, be brought to silence, be undone from past, utterly reduced. I am convinced today more than anything else we do not need just a nice visitation of the Holy Spirit, but we must have a habitation. We all want to experience the Fire of God – but we don’t need in our churches just a “comforting, feel good fire” but rather an “All consuming Fire”. We’ve made church so comforting that people are falling asleep in God’s presence and there is no change. My focus is not on the angels crying holy, it is not on the glory of the throne room. It’s not even on the shaking of the threshold, but my focus today is on Isaiah. He was out of place! Have you ever felt out of place? So often I feel out of place! This message is for everyone that could hear the shouts of the worshipers, feel the beating of the bass drum, watched the twirling of the banners, experienced the jumping of the crowd in the service…But you felt that if you could just stop everything- listen- and wait- you knew that God would speak to you!! Don’t get me wrong – I love the excitement and the energy and passion of Praise & worship. God loves it! But SOMETIMES, I just want to hear the Father’s Voice. God is calling his church back to secret encounters and passionate glances with the father. That is where Pat and I have been lately. We are done with the normal. Tired of not seeing more of the supernatural- Not for the sake of seeing miracles, but so that this generation will take Jesus of the cross on their little necklaces and place Him back on the throne of their life! Lately we have seen supernatural healings. Look at this amazing promise! 1 Cor. 2:9-(message bible) No one's ever seen or heard anything like this, Never so much as imagined anything quite like it — What God has arranged for those who love him. God has already won the victory! 2 Corinthians 2:14, (message) And I got it, thank God! In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Today I want to take you on a journey to encounter God! I believe that Isaiah had to go on a journey to being undone! Let me show you five steps I believe we must take. The five steps to becoming “undone!”
#1. The place of frustration! Isaiah was frustrated and desperate. He had nowhere to turn! His mentor, friend, and king had died. Worst than that the king had died due to his pride! Pride kills – Marriages, relationships with kids, and influence with people. Isaiah had served a King. For years he had simply reiterated what the King had for him to say. He repeated what the king had seen. He was a scribe. He was the king’s personal secretary. But the King had died! Now he is frustrated! - Now he must find God on his own – not second hand information – It had to become personal now. I have learned that God will allow you to get frustrated! It’s time for CHANGE! I’m usually frustrated with Winter by the time Spring comes, but season’s always change. Now King Uzziah (his cousin Uzziah, has just died). Look at I Chronicles 26:16, “But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.” Now we go to Isaiah 6:1, “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.” Isaiah was frustrated: Have you ever needed an encounter before, not just information? It’s usually in my lowest points in life, when I have done everything I CAN DO and finally relinquish it all to God, that I can hear HIS voice. Look at Romans 8:19-21, “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.” Your frustration is a sign that God has something huge waiting on you. Sometimes God will allow you to become frustrated to open your eyes to truth and your need for Him. Frustration leads to desperation!
#2. The place of desperation! Isaiah had declared Woe is me! Look at what the Psalmist declared in Psalms 34:6-7, (Message bible) “When I was desperate, I called out, and God got me out of a tight spot. 7 God's angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray.” Desperation leads to revelation! Have you ever been desperate? We are living in desperate times. Times when nations are rising against nations. Days when earthquakes and tsunamis are ravaging the earth. Times when divorce and suicide are at an all time high. This is the hour when the voices of confusion and humanism are infiltrating a generation at every level. People are searching for answers but we never keep quiet long enough to hear God speak. God loves desperate people! Psalms 31:14, (Message) “Desperate, I throw myself on you: you are my God! My desperation has left me speechless many times which opened the door for God to speak.” We must let our faith rise up again! Your faith will be on display. Look at 1 Peter 1:7, (message) “Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.” God is looking for people that simply desire him above everything else. No matter what state you’re in, He can reach in and pull you out. Look at Ephesians 5:14-17, (message bible) “Wake up from your sleep, Climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light! 15 So watch your step. Use your head. 16 Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! 17 Don't live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.” From frustration, to desperation, and now confrontation
#3. The moment of confrontation! Here is Isaiah! He was all alone! No one was there to see him get to enter the throne room. It was a perfect recipe for a supernatural encounter! Isaiah 6:5, "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined (UNDONE)! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty." He said WOE IS ME! Not EVERYONE else, but ME! I have no mask or façade to hide behind – I am exposed in all my unclean ways! His presence reveals TRUTH! “Don’t complain about what you are not willing to confront!” There is a moment that has to arise where you’re willing to confront what has held you back!” When Isaiah declared woe is me he was confronting his past! We must learn to confront! Jeremiah 31:19, “After those years of running loose, I repented. After you trained me to obedience, I was ashamed of my past, my wild, unruly past. Humiliated, I beat on my chest. Will I ever live this down?” Some of you can’t let go of the past in order to see your future. You past has become your crutch to remain a victim. You can’t get UNDONE without confronting where you have come from! 1 Corinthians 11:32, (message) “Better to be confronted by the Master now than to face a fiery confrontation later.” I tell my kids that it is better to hear the truth from them to find out later from someone else. Woe to me! He was saying “I have to stop right here! He began to recognize how dirty he was! What are you refusing to confront in your life! You are missing your moment! Look at what Jesus said about confronting: Luke 12:51, (message), “Do you think I came to smooth things over and make everything nice? Not so. I've come to disrupt and confront!” God never called us to be comfortable. He even allows the seasons to change. From frustration, to desperation, confrontation and now revelation!
#4- The moment of revelation! There is a moment in every person’s life where you have to become the one who experiences the encounter with God. You see, Isaiah was no longer writing down what someone else had seen- second hand revelation had died- You can’t live off of everyone else’s revelation! The place where you know that you know God is big! God is real! God is the healer! God is the author! God is your friend! HE was NO longer looking and talking the part, but now he was experiencing God! “WOW – I want to live the God experience, not just talk about it!” The place where you suddenly have an encounter is the place where you receive his revelation and his love! Look what Paul told us: Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” I share constantly across the nation that what every girl needs is a personal glimpse from their father! The place where their daddy looks their way! It is that moment when they know they have his full intention! His full Affection – When you see the Fathers glace – You will be changed forever! You see, the fathers love is calling to you! 1 John 3:1, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”Today, it is time to catch the glimpse of the father. I am convinced if you get a hold of this message- it will set you free. You will finally know who you are! This is the way the woman at the well must have felt. This is the way the small children Jesus called to himself must have felt. This is the way Mary must have felt when Jesus looked at her from the cross. This is the way Lazarus must have felt when he exited his tomb. This is the way Peter must have felt when he felt the hand of God as he sank in the water. I am talking about a personal encounter with God! We tend to see the face of the father as maybe how some see their earthly father: angry, condemning, arrogant, unimpressed, or even disappointed. I am here to say, “Take another look.” See the Father’s loving eyes as He looks at You! Isaiah somehow ended up UNDONE? How? It wasn’t the angels, it wasn’t the thunder of the moment, it wasn’t even seeing the train of His robe that filled the temple proving everything must bow to God. What was it? It was an encounter with his father! From frustration, to desperation, confrontation, revelation, and now transformation!
#5. The place of transformation! God has been waiting for this to happen to you! Isaiah didn’t fit in with the room! I love that! God doesn’t use the ones everyone else would pick! He chose the strange wild hair prophet in the room! Romans 12:2, (message) “Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” My favorite part of this scripture is that Isaiah didn’t respond to the room! He didn’t even respond to how the angels were worshipping. He responded to the Lord! He was frozen in the midst of Gods very presence! His response was to acknowledge God and surrender to Him. Isaiah 6:5b, “….my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty." My deepest desire it to just see Him and experience His awesome presence and be changed in that moment. Can I tell you passion is awesome. Celebration is incredible. But I loved that Isaiah simply reacted to the very presence of God! He was UNDONE! He was at the end of himself. That is what God is looking for in His people. You see, It is Gods awesome presence that changes a person for good! We must have His presence! God is calling you to an encounter! If you’re frustrated! If You’re desperate! If you’re ready to confront! If you’re ready for a revelation of the fathers love! If you don’t fit in! This is the moment! He is ready to transform you! Isaiah was having a salvation experience! Today God is ready to wrap his arms around! Today begins a new season! God Bless you! Karen Schatzline
By Karen Schatzline
Dear Friends and Leaders, I am so excited about all that God is doing. He has been blowing our minds as we travels the world touching lives. The ministry is just exploding and we are so honored to touch and minister to lives for Jesus! Last weekend was out annual Forerunner Campus Days. It was called “Undone.” We had an amazing outpouring from God. I wanted to use the months newsletter to let you experience a little bit of our campus days. Below is an unbelievable message from Karen that she shared last Sunday while I was ministering in Indiana. This message rocked lives to the core, and I believe Karen has tapped into the heart of God for people’s lives. This message can also be heard on our podcast. Check it out! It is fire! Please check out our upcoming schedule.
Sincerely, Pat Schatzline
I am Undone! For so long my heart has been this one cry- “God make me what you want me to be, and don’t let there be anything of me left when you’re done with me!” I understand that for God to truly change and use someone they must first have an encounter with the Savior! A one on one with God! Where you finally say-WOE IS ME! Where you realize that outside of God, There is nothing good in me. I am talking about a Face to face encounter! Look at 2 Corinthians 3:18, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” I want my selfish flesh to die so that God Sprit can take over and live in me. Here is Isaiah having a supernatural encounter. Isaiah 6:5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined (UNDONE)! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty." “Ruined- Undone”- in the Hebrew- damah (daw-mam'); to be dumb or silent; hence, to fail or perish; trans. to destroy: cease, be cut down (off), destroy, be brought to silence, be undone from past, utterly reduced. I am convinced today more than anything else we do not need just a nice visitation of the Holy Spirit, but we must have a habitation. We all want to experience the Fire of God – but we don’t need in our churches just a “comforting, feel good fire” but rather an “All consuming Fire”. We’ve made church so comforting that people are falling asleep in God’s presence and there is no change. My focus is not on the angels crying holy, it is not on the glory of the throne room. It’s not even on the shaking of the threshold, but my focus today is on Isaiah. He was out of place! Have you ever felt out of place? So often I feel out of place! This message is for everyone that could hear the shouts of the worshipers, feel the beating of the bass drum, watched the twirling of the banners, experienced the jumping of the crowd in the service…But you felt that if you could just stop everything- listen- and wait- you knew that God would speak to you!! Don’t get me wrong – I love the excitement and the energy and passion of Praise & worship. God loves it! But SOMETIMES, I just want to hear the Father’s Voice. God is calling his church back to secret encounters and passionate glances with the father. That is where Pat and I have been lately. We are done with the normal. Tired of not seeing more of the supernatural- Not for the sake of seeing miracles, but so that this generation will take Jesus of the cross on their little necklaces and place Him back on the throne of their life! Lately we have seen supernatural healings. Look at this amazing promise! 1 Cor. 2:9-(message bible) No one's ever seen or heard anything like this, Never so much as imagined anything quite like it — What God has arranged for those who love him. God has already won the victory! 2 Corinthians 2:14, (message) And I got it, thank God! In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Today I want to take you on a journey to encounter God! I believe that Isaiah had to go on a journey to being undone! Let me show you five steps I believe we must take. The five steps to becoming “undone!”
#1. The place of frustration! Isaiah was frustrated and desperate. He had nowhere to turn! His mentor, friend, and king had died. Worst than that the king had died due to his pride! Pride kills – Marriages, relationships with kids, and influence with people. Isaiah had served a King. For years he had simply reiterated what the King had for him to say. He repeated what the king had seen. He was a scribe. He was the king’s personal secretary. But the King had died! Now he is frustrated! - Now he must find God on his own – not second hand information – It had to become personal now. I have learned that God will allow you to get frustrated! It’s time for CHANGE! I’m usually frustrated with Winter by the time Spring comes, but season’s always change. Now King Uzziah (his cousin Uzziah, has just died). Look at I Chronicles 26:16, “But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.” Now we go to Isaiah 6:1, “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.” Isaiah was frustrated: Have you ever needed an encounter before, not just information? It’s usually in my lowest points in life, when I have done everything I CAN DO and finally relinquish it all to God, that I can hear HIS voice. Look at Romans 8:19-21, “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.” Your frustration is a sign that God has something huge waiting on you. Sometimes God will allow you to become frustrated to open your eyes to truth and your need for Him. Frustration leads to desperation!
#2. The place of desperation! Isaiah had declared Woe is me! Look at what the Psalmist declared in Psalms 34:6-7, (Message bible) “When I was desperate, I called out, and God got me out of a tight spot. 7 God's angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray.” Desperation leads to revelation! Have you ever been desperate? We are living in desperate times. Times when nations are rising against nations. Days when earthquakes and tsunamis are ravaging the earth. Times when divorce and suicide are at an all time high. This is the hour when the voices of confusion and humanism are infiltrating a generation at every level. People are searching for answers but we never keep quiet long enough to hear God speak. God loves desperate people! Psalms 31:14, (Message) “Desperate, I throw myself on you: you are my God! My desperation has left me speechless many times which opened the door for God to speak.” We must let our faith rise up again! Your faith will be on display. Look at 1 Peter 1:7, (message) “Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.” God is looking for people that simply desire him above everything else. No matter what state you’re in, He can reach in and pull you out. Look at Ephesians 5:14-17, (message bible) “Wake up from your sleep, Climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light! 15 So watch your step. Use your head. 16 Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! 17 Don't live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.” From frustration, to desperation, and now confrontation
#3. The moment of confrontation! Here is Isaiah! He was all alone! No one was there to see him get to enter the throne room. It was a perfect recipe for a supernatural encounter! Isaiah 6:5, "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined (UNDONE)! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty." He said WOE IS ME! Not EVERYONE else, but ME! I have no mask or façade to hide behind – I am exposed in all my unclean ways! His presence reveals TRUTH! “Don’t complain about what you are not willing to confront!” There is a moment that has to arise where you’re willing to confront what has held you back!” When Isaiah declared woe is me he was confronting his past! We must learn to confront! Jeremiah 31:19, “After those years of running loose, I repented. After you trained me to obedience, I was ashamed of my past, my wild, unruly past. Humiliated, I beat on my chest. Will I ever live this down?” Some of you can’t let go of the past in order to see your future. You past has become your crutch to remain a victim. You can’t get UNDONE without confronting where you have come from! 1 Corinthians 11:32, (message) “Better to be confronted by the Master now than to face a fiery confrontation later.” I tell my kids that it is better to hear the truth from them to find out later from someone else. Woe to me! He was saying “I have to stop right here! He began to recognize how dirty he was! What are you refusing to confront in your life! You are missing your moment! Look at what Jesus said about confronting: Luke 12:51, (message), “Do you think I came to smooth things over and make everything nice? Not so. I've come to disrupt and confront!” God never called us to be comfortable. He even allows the seasons to change. From frustration, to desperation, confrontation and now revelation!
#4- The moment of revelation! There is a moment in every person’s life where you have to become the one who experiences the encounter with God. You see, Isaiah was no longer writing down what someone else had seen- second hand revelation had died- You can’t live off of everyone else’s revelation! The place where you know that you know God is big! God is real! God is the healer! God is the author! God is your friend! HE was NO longer looking and talking the part, but now he was experiencing God! “WOW – I want to live the God experience, not just talk about it!” The place where you suddenly have an encounter is the place where you receive his revelation and his love! Look what Paul told us: Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” I share constantly across the nation that what every girl needs is a personal glimpse from their father! The place where their daddy looks their way! It is that moment when they know they have his full intention! His full Affection – When you see the Fathers glace – You will be changed forever! You see, the fathers love is calling to you! 1 John 3:1, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”Today, it is time to catch the glimpse of the father. I am convinced if you get a hold of this message- it will set you free. You will finally know who you are! This is the way the woman at the well must have felt. This is the way the small children Jesus called to himself must have felt. This is the way Mary must have felt when Jesus looked at her from the cross. This is the way Lazarus must have felt when he exited his tomb. This is the way Peter must have felt when he felt the hand of God as he sank in the water. I am talking about a personal encounter with God! We tend to see the face of the father as maybe how some see their earthly father: angry, condemning, arrogant, unimpressed, or even disappointed. I am here to say, “Take another look.” See the Father’s loving eyes as He looks at You! Isaiah somehow ended up UNDONE? How? It wasn’t the angels, it wasn’t the thunder of the moment, it wasn’t even seeing the train of His robe that filled the temple proving everything must bow to God. What was it? It was an encounter with his father! From frustration, to desperation, confrontation, revelation, and now transformation!
#5. The place of transformation! God has been waiting for this to happen to you! Isaiah didn’t fit in with the room! I love that! God doesn’t use the ones everyone else would pick! He chose the strange wild hair prophet in the room! Romans 12:2, (message) “Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” My favorite part of this scripture is that Isaiah didn’t respond to the room! He didn’t even respond to how the angels were worshipping. He responded to the Lord! He was frozen in the midst of Gods very presence! His response was to acknowledge God and surrender to Him. Isaiah 6:5b, “….my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty." My deepest desire it to just see Him and experience His awesome presence and be changed in that moment. Can I tell you passion is awesome. Celebration is incredible. But I loved that Isaiah simply reacted to the very presence of God! He was UNDONE! He was at the end of himself. That is what God is looking for in His people. You see, It is Gods awesome presence that changes a person for good! We must have His presence! God is calling you to an encounter! If you’re frustrated! If You’re desperate! If you’re ready to confront! If you’re ready for a revelation of the fathers love! If you don’t fit in! This is the moment! He is ready to transform you! Isaiah was having a salvation experience! Today God is ready to wrap his arms around! Today begins a new season! God Bless you! Karen Schatzline
Friday, February 25, 2011
“Gone Dark!”
“Gone Dark!”
Isaiah 50:10, Matt 3:13-14
Intro- I must admit this particular work/ teaching that I share today came from only recently understanding a place that I have been over the last six weeks. This will be a very transparent and honest teaching. Get ready! So much of what we do centers around a healthy understanding of being a leader who always understands our own barriers and limitations.
Have you ever “Gone Dark?” I have! In the CIA and the FBI when a agent is overexposed they are forced to GO DARK! They have to simply disappeare. In Ministry sometimes we have to go DARK!
Isa 50:10, Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.
*We know that God is light!
1 John 1:5, (message) This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there's not a trace of darkness in him.
*We know we are His lamps!
Psalms 18:28-29, You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.
*We know we reflect him and have to be free-
1 John 1:6-7, (message) If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we're obviously lying through our teeth — we're not living what we claim. 7 But if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God's Son, purges all our sin.
*God maybe the responsible party!
Isaiah 45:7, (message) I form light and create darkness, I make harmonies and create discords. I, God, do all these things.
Opening: I have stated hundreds of times that although I grew up in a home that battled depression, anxiety, and discouragement I had made up my mind to never allow it in me. It sounded really good from a pulpit or podium. It allowed people to look at their speaker as someone that was proof that you could be free of wrong emotions. For the most part this has been true.
However, a few weeks ago I visited my ailing father. My dad is my hero. He took our family out of a life of secularism, drugs, and abuse when I was just a boy. He pastored the churches nobody else wanted. He did everything he could to provide for us whether it was selling his class ring for my sisters Easter dress, or selling flowers to buy groceries he did it all. I love my dad dearly and believe him to be the most passionate for Jesus man I could know. He and mom haven’t been the same since my sister died about 3.5 years ago. Now over time he is having mini strokes and also had one major heart attack while ministering in New Zealand. This has left him bedridden most of the time. The strong man of power and might is very weak and tired.
Back to my visit! I went to see him as I have done as much as possible lately. It was a good visit of about 3 hours. We laughed, talked, and dreamed. He shared his disappointment with not being able to minister, and also of tired of his sickness. I drove home that day only to return in the early hours to see him after being rushed in to the hospital.
Something…. Something…. happened to me that day that was not good. I can only describe it as “Going Dark.” This is the term used by the C.I.A. or maybe some other clandestine organization when an agents identity is exposed or when the agent needs to relocate for a while. They disappear until it is safe. I went Dark! Maybe it was my parent’s mortality, a feeling of helplessness, exhaustion, or simply my own mortality that caused a cloud to rest over me. It was as if life stopped and everything went gray. That is simply the only way to explain it.
If you’re a leader out that has ever faced extreme overwhelming emotions that have defrauded you of life then you probably are one of the best lovers of people, brilliant writer, planner, organizer, developer, and visionary. I say that because you are on the devils radar. I literally felt this for six weeks. I would pray, worship, preach, dance, speak life, and wear a mask, but it was still there.
It wasn’t until last Saturday while ministering outside of Tampa on my way to a morning run that I decided to call my dad. He was awake and cognate. We exchanged pleasantries and updated each other and then like uncapping a high pressured well- I exploded! I said, Dad, help me! I need you to pray over me! I am absolutely overwhelmed!” My dad began to speak life and I can say that Spirit got off of me. I call it a spirit, because that is exactly what it is! A spirit of death! It had attached itself to me while at my parents six weeks before. I had gone Dark! It took the voice of my father to break it! It took my dad telling me I am free to get free. I had prayed, worshiped, and done everything right, but it wouldn’t let go. Now I am free. Thanks dad! And thank you to Karen for helping hold on till I got free!
Matthew 11:28- "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
I. 5 Types of darkness a leader may fall prey to:
1. Self depreciation and despair- This is the darkness I will share about ahead.
Psalms 142:3, (message) "As I sink in despair, my spirit ebbing away,
you know how I'm feeling, Know the danger I'm in, the traps hidden in my path.
2. Secret sin- when a leader begins to believe they can secret sin they lose the
ability know right from wrong. The moment we begin to ignore the inner
Spirit man screaming for us to get free is the moment we begin a slow death.
Psalms 7:14, (Message) Look at that guy! He had sex with sin,
he's pregnant with evil. Oh, look! He's having the baby — a Lie-Baby!
James 1:14-15, but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
3. Wrong motivations- Improper ambitions, desires, and covetous behavior-
Matthew 7:16, (message) Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.
4. Offenses that eat away at you from the inside out- hurts caused by others
Proverbs 18:19 - an offended brother is harder and more unyielding to than a fortified city!
5. Pride- when you begin to believe your press! This is what has happened to
so many great leaders!
Proverbs 16:18, (message) First pride, then the crash — the bigger the ego,
the harder the fall.
We could all fall prey to all of these, but I must deal with number 1- Self depreciation and despair. Now that I have walked through this I believe I am able to amply speak concerning what I walked through. I felt lost- helpless-overwhelmed- in fear!
When someone is the CIA or FBI must go dark it is to protect them or guard their identity.
I have found that every leader must go dark at times!
II. Most leaders can’t just get OVER it! OVER can cause going dark!
If you get….
• Overexposed! Elijah- Jezebel wanted to kill him! God will hide you!
• Overwhelmed! Romans 8:26- When we don’t know how to pray the Spirit makes intercession-
• Overthrown!- David faced this with Absolom.
• Overcome!- Rev. 12:11- We overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony.
• Passed-Over! When you feel you have been defrauded. Remember God has the power to promote you! He exalts the humble.
III. 7 Precepts for the Dark Times
1. Leader you will face dark times!
Psalms 107:14, He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains.
Proverbs 13:12- Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
• God word explains in depth that many Moses, Elijah, Elisha, David, Jonah, Simon Peter, Paul, and most of all Jesus faced dark times.
•
• Some were not so lucky at getting free. Saul battled depression and discouragement as the king of Israel. I believe it led to his demise. He eventually gave into the evil spirits. Look what the bible says!
1 Samuel 16:23, (message) After that, whenever the bad depression from God tormented Saul, David got out his harp and played. That would calm Saul down, and he would feel better as the moodiness lifted.
• Jesus came to the point of such despair that he begged his father to let the cup pass him.
• Paul in 2 Cor. 1:8- he despaired of life.
• Look at the Psalmist who used to lead worship!
Psalms 42:3-5, My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 4. These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and My God.”
• The Psalmist spoke of how he used to be a leader. How he used to lead the procession. Now he lives a life of wondering what happened to him.
• There are tens of thousands of leaders who live their lives remembering what it used to be like.
• Job spoke of darkness!
Job 10:20-22, Are not my few days almost over? Turn away from me so I can have a moment's joy. 21 before I go to the place of no return, to the land of gloom and deep shadow, 22 to the land of deepest night, of deep shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness."
• Look at Solomon- The wisest of all men!
Ecclesiastes 11:8, However many years a man may live, let him enjoy them all.
But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is meaningless.
2. Realize darkness is the enemy’s way of keeping you at bay!
Gal. 5:7- You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you
from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one
who calls you.
• The moment you give in to this Spirit you are effectively removed from battles that lead to victories. You have shut the door of opportunity. You have to rise up and declare freedom until it lifts. If you’re battling this Spirit you are a threat. You are dangerous to the enemy.
• The enemy know that if he can get you to “Go Dark” you have removed yourself from being effective.
3. Leaders must be careful to not allow the plight of man or vision to consume them!
Ezra 9:4-6, (Amplified) At the evening sacrifice I arose from my depression, and, having rent my undergarment and my mantle, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord my God, Saying, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads and our guilt has mounted to the heavens.
• God gives you the vision and burden to do something about it, but not let it kill you.
• The moment you take the burden on as you’re the only one that can fix it you have destined yourself for failure.
• Your dying won’t change them.
• A leader has to know when to shut off the valve of ministry.
• Winning others to heaven will not be nearly as sweet if you are lost in the win!
• Ministry is supposed to be fun. We get to be Gods mouth piece, but we cannot become the atoning sacrifice.
• Your building a great vision will be not be remembered as a victory if you die in the process.
4. Going dark forces others to live through your night season!
• Your loss of self will force others whom love you to debate their own purpose.
Proverbs 14:30, (message) A sound mind makes for a robust body, but runaway emotions corrode the bones.
• Your family will begin to long for better days in a short life.
• Your spouse will live their lives tiptoeing around the house of darkness!
•
5. Your destiny is sitting in the balance as you swim in the darkness!
• Don’t allow yourself to become a statistic.
• The sooner you get free the quicker you understand your destiny!
Isaiah 60:1, (Amplified) ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you — rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!
6. Realize in the darkness God can speak!
Job 12:22, He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light.
Job 29:2-3, "How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God
watched over me, 3 when his lamp shone upon my head and by his light I
walked through darkness!
• The first thing God did in all humanity was speak to the darkness!
Genesis 1:3, (message) God spoke: "Light!" And light appeared. 4 God saw that light was good and separated light from dark.
7. Jesus understood going dark!
• Jesus disappeared from age 12-30 years old
• He was forced to continually disappear when he was with the disciples
• He went dark in the wilderness for 40 days
• He went dark for three days into hell to set you free!
IV. Let the Father tell you who you are!
• The phone call that day to my dad completely freed me of everything! Why? I knew there was an inner cry to hear the voice of the one who made me!
• It is the father that has the power to free you from your drowning situation!
• It is the father who restores hope to the family that seems lost!
• It is the father that quiets voices of failure, despair, and fear!
• There are times when I am the only one that speak peace to Nate and Abby.
• There are times when if I hear my dads voice- I know I am safe.
• Jesus understood this. He lived in anonymity! Nobody knew him. That is until Dad said who he was!
Matthew 3:13-4:1, (message) Jesus then appeared, arriving at the Jordan River from Galilee. He wanted John to baptize him. 14 John objected, "I'm the one who needs to be baptized, not you!" 15 But Jesus insisted. "Do it. God's work, putting things right all these centuries, is coming together right now in this baptism." So John did it. 16 The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God's Spirit — it looked like a dove — descending and landing on him. 17 And along with the Spirit, a voice: "This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life."
Jesus had done no miracles. He goes to get baptized. His father showed up.
• In the water Jesus knew that when he came out- out of the very thing that could kill him- out of the darkness of the Jordan- He would hear his dads voice!
• We must get the fathers to declare to this generation- who they are!
• It is the only thing that will break the darkness!
I think today I will take time to tell my kids – They are the delight of my life!
My dad rescued his son! Jesus’ dad ignored his son for me!
Isaiah 50:10, Matt 3:13-14
Intro- I must admit this particular work/ teaching that I share today came from only recently understanding a place that I have been over the last six weeks. This will be a very transparent and honest teaching. Get ready! So much of what we do centers around a healthy understanding of being a leader who always understands our own barriers and limitations.
Have you ever “Gone Dark?” I have! In the CIA and the FBI when a agent is overexposed they are forced to GO DARK! They have to simply disappeare. In Ministry sometimes we have to go DARK!
Isa 50:10, Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.
*We know that God is light!
1 John 1:5, (message) This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there's not a trace of darkness in him.
*We know we are His lamps!
Psalms 18:28-29, You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.
*We know we reflect him and have to be free-
1 John 1:6-7, (message) If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we're obviously lying through our teeth — we're not living what we claim. 7 But if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God's Son, purges all our sin.
*God maybe the responsible party!
Isaiah 45:7, (message) I form light and create darkness, I make harmonies and create discords. I, God, do all these things.
Opening: I have stated hundreds of times that although I grew up in a home that battled depression, anxiety, and discouragement I had made up my mind to never allow it in me. It sounded really good from a pulpit or podium. It allowed people to look at their speaker as someone that was proof that you could be free of wrong emotions. For the most part this has been true.
However, a few weeks ago I visited my ailing father. My dad is my hero. He took our family out of a life of secularism, drugs, and abuse when I was just a boy. He pastored the churches nobody else wanted. He did everything he could to provide for us whether it was selling his class ring for my sisters Easter dress, or selling flowers to buy groceries he did it all. I love my dad dearly and believe him to be the most passionate for Jesus man I could know. He and mom haven’t been the same since my sister died about 3.5 years ago. Now over time he is having mini strokes and also had one major heart attack while ministering in New Zealand. This has left him bedridden most of the time. The strong man of power and might is very weak and tired.
Back to my visit! I went to see him as I have done as much as possible lately. It was a good visit of about 3 hours. We laughed, talked, and dreamed. He shared his disappointment with not being able to minister, and also of tired of his sickness. I drove home that day only to return in the early hours to see him after being rushed in to the hospital.
Something…. Something…. happened to me that day that was not good. I can only describe it as “Going Dark.” This is the term used by the C.I.A. or maybe some other clandestine organization when an agents identity is exposed or when the agent needs to relocate for a while. They disappear until it is safe. I went Dark! Maybe it was my parent’s mortality, a feeling of helplessness, exhaustion, or simply my own mortality that caused a cloud to rest over me. It was as if life stopped and everything went gray. That is simply the only way to explain it.
If you’re a leader out that has ever faced extreme overwhelming emotions that have defrauded you of life then you probably are one of the best lovers of people, brilliant writer, planner, organizer, developer, and visionary. I say that because you are on the devils radar. I literally felt this for six weeks. I would pray, worship, preach, dance, speak life, and wear a mask, but it was still there.
It wasn’t until last Saturday while ministering outside of Tampa on my way to a morning run that I decided to call my dad. He was awake and cognate. We exchanged pleasantries and updated each other and then like uncapping a high pressured well- I exploded! I said, Dad, help me! I need you to pray over me! I am absolutely overwhelmed!” My dad began to speak life and I can say that Spirit got off of me. I call it a spirit, because that is exactly what it is! A spirit of death! It had attached itself to me while at my parents six weeks before. I had gone Dark! It took the voice of my father to break it! It took my dad telling me I am free to get free. I had prayed, worshiped, and done everything right, but it wouldn’t let go. Now I am free. Thanks dad! And thank you to Karen for helping hold on till I got free!
Matthew 11:28- "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
I. 5 Types of darkness a leader may fall prey to:
1. Self depreciation and despair- This is the darkness I will share about ahead.
Psalms 142:3, (message) "As I sink in despair, my spirit ebbing away,
you know how I'm feeling, Know the danger I'm in, the traps hidden in my path.
2. Secret sin- when a leader begins to believe they can secret sin they lose the
ability know right from wrong. The moment we begin to ignore the inner
Spirit man screaming for us to get free is the moment we begin a slow death.
Psalms 7:14, (Message) Look at that guy! He had sex with sin,
he's pregnant with evil. Oh, look! He's having the baby — a Lie-Baby!
James 1:14-15, but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
3. Wrong motivations- Improper ambitions, desires, and covetous behavior-
Matthew 7:16, (message) Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.
4. Offenses that eat away at you from the inside out- hurts caused by others
Proverbs 18:19 - an offended brother is harder and more unyielding to than a fortified city!
5. Pride- when you begin to believe your press! This is what has happened to
so many great leaders!
Proverbs 16:18, (message) First pride, then the crash — the bigger the ego,
the harder the fall.
We could all fall prey to all of these, but I must deal with number 1- Self depreciation and despair. Now that I have walked through this I believe I am able to amply speak concerning what I walked through. I felt lost- helpless-overwhelmed- in fear!
When someone is the CIA or FBI must go dark it is to protect them or guard their identity.
I have found that every leader must go dark at times!
II. Most leaders can’t just get OVER it! OVER can cause going dark!
If you get….
• Overexposed! Elijah- Jezebel wanted to kill him! God will hide you!
• Overwhelmed! Romans 8:26- When we don’t know how to pray the Spirit makes intercession-
• Overthrown!- David faced this with Absolom.
• Overcome!- Rev. 12:11- We overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony.
• Passed-Over! When you feel you have been defrauded. Remember God has the power to promote you! He exalts the humble.
III. 7 Precepts for the Dark Times
1. Leader you will face dark times!
Psalms 107:14, He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains.
Proverbs 13:12- Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
• God word explains in depth that many Moses, Elijah, Elisha, David, Jonah, Simon Peter, Paul, and most of all Jesus faced dark times.
•
• Some were not so lucky at getting free. Saul battled depression and discouragement as the king of Israel. I believe it led to his demise. He eventually gave into the evil spirits. Look what the bible says!
1 Samuel 16:23, (message) After that, whenever the bad depression from God tormented Saul, David got out his harp and played. That would calm Saul down, and he would feel better as the moodiness lifted.
• Jesus came to the point of such despair that he begged his father to let the cup pass him.
• Paul in 2 Cor. 1:8- he despaired of life.
• Look at the Psalmist who used to lead worship!
Psalms 42:3-5, My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 4. These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and My God.”
• The Psalmist spoke of how he used to be a leader. How he used to lead the procession. Now he lives a life of wondering what happened to him.
• There are tens of thousands of leaders who live their lives remembering what it used to be like.
• Job spoke of darkness!
Job 10:20-22, Are not my few days almost over? Turn away from me so I can have a moment's joy. 21 before I go to the place of no return, to the land of gloom and deep shadow, 22 to the land of deepest night, of deep shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness."
• Look at Solomon- The wisest of all men!
Ecclesiastes 11:8, However many years a man may live, let him enjoy them all.
But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is meaningless.
2. Realize darkness is the enemy’s way of keeping you at bay!
Gal. 5:7- You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you
from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one
who calls you.
• The moment you give in to this Spirit you are effectively removed from battles that lead to victories. You have shut the door of opportunity. You have to rise up and declare freedom until it lifts. If you’re battling this Spirit you are a threat. You are dangerous to the enemy.
• The enemy know that if he can get you to “Go Dark” you have removed yourself from being effective.
3. Leaders must be careful to not allow the plight of man or vision to consume them!
Ezra 9:4-6, (Amplified) At the evening sacrifice I arose from my depression, and, having rent my undergarment and my mantle, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord my God, Saying, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads and our guilt has mounted to the heavens.
• God gives you the vision and burden to do something about it, but not let it kill you.
• The moment you take the burden on as you’re the only one that can fix it you have destined yourself for failure.
• Your dying won’t change them.
• A leader has to know when to shut off the valve of ministry.
• Winning others to heaven will not be nearly as sweet if you are lost in the win!
• Ministry is supposed to be fun. We get to be Gods mouth piece, but we cannot become the atoning sacrifice.
• Your building a great vision will be not be remembered as a victory if you die in the process.
4. Going dark forces others to live through your night season!
• Your loss of self will force others whom love you to debate their own purpose.
Proverbs 14:30, (message) A sound mind makes for a robust body, but runaway emotions corrode the bones.
• Your family will begin to long for better days in a short life.
• Your spouse will live their lives tiptoeing around the house of darkness!
•
5. Your destiny is sitting in the balance as you swim in the darkness!
• Don’t allow yourself to become a statistic.
• The sooner you get free the quicker you understand your destiny!
Isaiah 60:1, (Amplified) ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you — rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!
6. Realize in the darkness God can speak!
Job 12:22, He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light.
Job 29:2-3, "How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God
watched over me, 3 when his lamp shone upon my head and by his light I
walked through darkness!
• The first thing God did in all humanity was speak to the darkness!
Genesis 1:3, (message) God spoke: "Light!" And light appeared. 4 God saw that light was good and separated light from dark.
7. Jesus understood going dark!
• Jesus disappeared from age 12-30 years old
• He was forced to continually disappear when he was with the disciples
• He went dark in the wilderness for 40 days
• He went dark for three days into hell to set you free!
IV. Let the Father tell you who you are!
• The phone call that day to my dad completely freed me of everything! Why? I knew there was an inner cry to hear the voice of the one who made me!
• It is the father that has the power to free you from your drowning situation!
• It is the father who restores hope to the family that seems lost!
• It is the father that quiets voices of failure, despair, and fear!
• There are times when I am the only one that speak peace to Nate and Abby.
• There are times when if I hear my dads voice- I know I am safe.
• Jesus understood this. He lived in anonymity! Nobody knew him. That is until Dad said who he was!
Matthew 3:13-4:1, (message) Jesus then appeared, arriving at the Jordan River from Galilee. He wanted John to baptize him. 14 John objected, "I'm the one who needs to be baptized, not you!" 15 But Jesus insisted. "Do it. God's work, putting things right all these centuries, is coming together right now in this baptism." So John did it. 16 The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God's Spirit — it looked like a dove — descending and landing on him. 17 And along with the Spirit, a voice: "This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life."
Jesus had done no miracles. He goes to get baptized. His father showed up.
• In the water Jesus knew that when he came out- out of the very thing that could kill him- out of the darkness of the Jordan- He would hear his dads voice!
• We must get the fathers to declare to this generation- who they are!
• It is the only thing that will break the darkness!
I think today I will take time to tell my kids – They are the delight of my life!
My dad rescued his son! Jesus’ dad ignored his son for me!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
My day with Reinhard Bonnke..... Forever Changed!
My day with Reinhard Bonnke:
A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to spend the day with one of my heroes Reinhard Bonnke. I call it “one day in January.” As I flew to spend the day with Pastor Bonnke the Lord impressed upon me to be ready for a shift in my Spirit. I now know the shift was to desire even more of the outpouring of Gods Spirit and the salvation of souls like never before. Here is a man that has led tens of millions to Christ and yet as we sat together I found myself weeping at his humility. It was life changing experience. I sat with Pastor Bonnke and asked simple questions. Here are just a few nuggets of power/ wisdom from Reinhard Bonnke:
1. My heart now is to raise up the sons and daughters.
2. This generation has the most vile vocabulary of any generation in history. Peter prophesied from Joel 2:28 that God would raise up the sons and daughters and they would prophecy. We must get them saved, and filled with the Spirit in order to change their language and fulfill prophecy.
3. Guard your home, heart, and integrity at all times. All of my children love the Lord and are doing ministry. That is a testimony, because I had to be gone so much.
4. Every time I show up to a crusade with hundreds of thousands I understand that God always shows up at his best. Therefore when I show up I should be at my very best. God is always ready to do the supernatural so I must be ready. I never complain and I always expect the supernatural. I live in a state of readiness!
5. I must walk in bold faith always trusting God.
6. When I have a problem I listen for God to give me the solution and he always does. When he gives me the solution I act immediately upon his word.
7. I never run after money, but only after souls.
8. Only what arrives in heaven is what really counts. The real bookkeeping is done in heaven. We must be careful of the numbers we declare. Exaggeration offends God.
9. The only way we will touch Muslim nations is to walk in the miraculous. If we will see blind eyes open and deaf ears healed they will know that our God is real.
10. A leader should always stick with their original call. God doesn’t change his mind, but he will change your course.
11. The body of Christ must stay connected. It doesn’t separate from portions of its body, but only from its waist!
12. We always act like God only shows up in percentages in our services. We say things like “I didn’t feel god today in our service.” This is impossible. He is always there. He doesn’t show up in percentages. He is a whole God. We always invite him in and this is like inviting someone into a place when he is already there. Foolish.
13. Evangelist should be evangelists! They should go for souls. That must be their priority or they are not evangelists.
14. The less Holy Spirit we have in our churches then the more coffee and doughnuts we need.
15. Take steps of faith. I have had crusades that ended not in red ink, but the red sea. God always provides the manna! Your debt to Calvary is always greater than your debt to the bank.
16. Make sure when you are with your family they know that they are all that matters. Magnify your time with them.
17. Paul said he refused to speak about the falling of other ministers. Refuse to even speak of those who do not finish the race. Guard your tongue.
18. Trust God with all you have and he will bless you with all he has.
19. Go to the masses, but first be faithful to the few.
20. It never says to pray for the harvest, but simply pray for the workers. The harvest is ready. Go get the harvest! God will show up!
I wanted to share just a few nuggets from one of God’s generals. My life is forever changed. God is looking for people who will be obedient and simply trust him. Since my meeting I realized that there was so much that I had to change in my own life. I simply want to prove faithful. I pray this blesses you. It is time for a last day harvest like never before. As I headed towards the airport after our time together I could do nothing but weep. I ask that you continue to pray for us as God leads us across the nation and world.
A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to spend the day with one of my heroes Reinhard Bonnke. I call it “one day in January.” As I flew to spend the day with Pastor Bonnke the Lord impressed upon me to be ready for a shift in my Spirit. I now know the shift was to desire even more of the outpouring of Gods Spirit and the salvation of souls like never before. Here is a man that has led tens of millions to Christ and yet as we sat together I found myself weeping at his humility. It was life changing experience. I sat with Pastor Bonnke and asked simple questions. Here are just a few nuggets of power/ wisdom from Reinhard Bonnke:
1. My heart now is to raise up the sons and daughters.
2. This generation has the most vile vocabulary of any generation in history. Peter prophesied from Joel 2:28 that God would raise up the sons and daughters and they would prophecy. We must get them saved, and filled with the Spirit in order to change their language and fulfill prophecy.
3. Guard your home, heart, and integrity at all times. All of my children love the Lord and are doing ministry. That is a testimony, because I had to be gone so much.
4. Every time I show up to a crusade with hundreds of thousands I understand that God always shows up at his best. Therefore when I show up I should be at my very best. God is always ready to do the supernatural so I must be ready. I never complain and I always expect the supernatural. I live in a state of readiness!
5. I must walk in bold faith always trusting God.
6. When I have a problem I listen for God to give me the solution and he always does. When he gives me the solution I act immediately upon his word.
7. I never run after money, but only after souls.
8. Only what arrives in heaven is what really counts. The real bookkeeping is done in heaven. We must be careful of the numbers we declare. Exaggeration offends God.
9. The only way we will touch Muslim nations is to walk in the miraculous. If we will see blind eyes open and deaf ears healed they will know that our God is real.
10. A leader should always stick with their original call. God doesn’t change his mind, but he will change your course.
11. The body of Christ must stay connected. It doesn’t separate from portions of its body, but only from its waist!
12. We always act like God only shows up in percentages in our services. We say things like “I didn’t feel god today in our service.” This is impossible. He is always there. He doesn’t show up in percentages. He is a whole God. We always invite him in and this is like inviting someone into a place when he is already there. Foolish.
13. Evangelist should be evangelists! They should go for souls. That must be their priority or they are not evangelists.
14. The less Holy Spirit we have in our churches then the more coffee and doughnuts we need.
15. Take steps of faith. I have had crusades that ended not in red ink, but the red sea. God always provides the manna! Your debt to Calvary is always greater than your debt to the bank.
16. Make sure when you are with your family they know that they are all that matters. Magnify your time with them.
17. Paul said he refused to speak about the falling of other ministers. Refuse to even speak of those who do not finish the race. Guard your tongue.
18. Trust God with all you have and he will bless you with all he has.
19. Go to the masses, but first be faithful to the few.
20. It never says to pray for the harvest, but simply pray for the workers. The harvest is ready. Go get the harvest! God will show up!
I wanted to share just a few nuggets from one of God’s generals. My life is forever changed. God is looking for people who will be obedient and simply trust him. Since my meeting I realized that there was so much that I had to change in my own life. I simply want to prove faithful. I pray this blesses you. It is time for a last day harvest like never before. As I headed towards the airport after our time together I could do nothing but weep. I ask that you continue to pray for us as God leads us across the nation and world.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
They are Hungry!
They are hungry- will you bring them lunch?
John 6:1-9
Intro.- Have you ever gone to a good restaurant and you are about to take the bite of the best meal ever- Then Somebody wants a bite? That is what this story is about!
I. You are ready to share your lunch!
Will you Stand out when people are Hungry!
John 6:1-4, (message) Sometime after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Feast was near.
The Passover feast was drawing near! Jesus new he would eventually be the Passover lamb!
II. The crowd was hungry!
John 6:5, When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?"
I have learned that hunger and expectation is often dependent upon who draws the crowd!
III. Jesus asks his disciples to see with different eyes!
I love that- he asked the guy with the Faith problem
John 6:6- He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
Jesus knows what he is going to do, but he gives you a chance to buy into the vision!
You have to understand Jesus always gave the disciples opportunities to prove they believe!
TL Osborne- physical eyesight can blind spiritual vision!
IV. The truth and reality are very different!
Look at Philip- he gives the reality answer! He didn’t give the truth!
John 6:7, Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"
Reality is People are hurting- truth is Jesus can heal them
Reality is finances can hinder you- truth is Jesus is the banker
Reality is some kids are born into horrible situations- truth is Jesus can take them out
Reality is you may not be a great speaker- truth is when Jesus gets your life he creates a voice
Reality is you may not have very many gifting- Truth is God looks for availability
Psalms 51:6, Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
(Put leaders around me that know the truth and we will change the world and see the supernatural while the reality speakers live the mundane life of the natural!)
The problem in ministry comes when reality is a brighter neon sign than the faith God has placed in you!
Acknowledge reality on every level- but you fight the devil with Truth!
It sets you free!
Psalms 25:5, guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
God is looking for people in this room that will defy the odds! The enemy will tell you that you will never change lives, you are never going to be great! But you have the truth!
Psalms 145:18-19, The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
I continually live in a state of reality denial! It is an adventure!
Jesus started so many scriptures with- I tell you the truth!
I heard a song called- “Wait and See” by Brandon Heath- I loved it- it described someone who was told he would never be anything- he made so many mistakes!
Here are some of the Words from the song- “He is not finished with me yet. There is hope for me yet cause God's not finished with me yet.”
They were wrong! Prove the world wrong! And God right!
1 Corinthians 1:19, For it is written:"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
God loves to prove the world wrong!
Romans 3:3-4, What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? 4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written:
"So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge."
V. The pointer and the producer!
John6:8, Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, 9 "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"
Here is Andrew- He points out to Jesus the little boy!
Every leader must have around them someone who points out others gifting! In other words he was the facilitator!
Here was Andrew the brother of Simon Peter! He introduced Peter to Jesus! He knew how to bring people to the master.
What do we know about Andrew? Andrew, disciple of Christ, was from the city of Bethsaida near the region of the Sea of Galilee (John 1:44). He and his brother Peter were a fisherman by trade. In fact, it was Andrew who introduced his brother Peter to Jesus (John 1:41-42). According to the Gospel of John, Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist (John 1:35-40) before becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Andrew chased the anointing!
What were some main points in the life of Andrew? We know he pointed out the little boy!
• Andrew (along with Philip) introduced some Greek fellows to Jesus (John 12:20-22).
• Andrew inquired of Jesus regarding the destruction of the temple (Mark 13:3-4).
• He was among the disciples who gathered in the upper room after they had been indwelt by the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:13).
By studying tradition, we learn that Andrew preached in different regions and started a church in Constantinople. One account states that he refused to make sacrifices to heathen gods and was beaten and crucified at Patrae and Achaia.
****Andrew hung for approximately two days and during this time he praised God. (He was always pointing towards Jesus even in death)
Throughout his life, Andrew was a man with whom many of us can identify. He expressed doubt at times, did not always understand or comprehend the Lord's teaching, and he occasionally lacked faith. However, Andrew persisted.
He would point out the CHOSEN! Be a leader that can see the chosen! He saw the little boy!
Many are called but few are chosen! (Matthew 22:14)
Scene- He chooses a kid- can you see the kid- he is about to eat- then a bully disciple says- Hey kid give me your lunch!
Will you show up ready with a bag full of lunch? What is in your bag?
Five loaves! Two fishes! That meal represented so much!
Bread- 5 loaves- (The number of Grace) You better have the word in you! Be ready to share the bread! Jesus always break the bread!
Fishes! – there were two- (represents the joining of two different ones- You and God) that means each one is called to win more than yourself!
We are fishers of men!
If you come prepared he will pull you out of the crowd! You and God with some Grace!
VI. The field was full of people!
John 6:10, Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
VII. Let nothing go to waste!
When you call something leftover- Jesus calls valuable!
John 6:12, When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
VIII. Make Jesus Famous by your obedience! Learn to hide!
John 6:14, After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
Jesus knows how to hide from the peoples desires and requests! He slips away!
Notice the little boy didn’t make the headlines! He wasn’t on the front of Time magazine!
Nope he went home having done his best! The people were fed! Jesus was more famous! Welcome to ministry!
John 6:1-9
Intro.- Have you ever gone to a good restaurant and you are about to take the bite of the best meal ever- Then Somebody wants a bite? That is what this story is about!
I. You are ready to share your lunch!
Will you Stand out when people are Hungry!
John 6:1-4, (message) Sometime after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Feast was near.
The Passover feast was drawing near! Jesus new he would eventually be the Passover lamb!
II. The crowd was hungry!
John 6:5, When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?"
I have learned that hunger and expectation is often dependent upon who draws the crowd!
III. Jesus asks his disciples to see with different eyes!
I love that- he asked the guy with the Faith problem
John 6:6- He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
Jesus knows what he is going to do, but he gives you a chance to buy into the vision!
You have to understand Jesus always gave the disciples opportunities to prove they believe!
TL Osborne- physical eyesight can blind spiritual vision!
IV. The truth and reality are very different!
Look at Philip- he gives the reality answer! He didn’t give the truth!
John 6:7, Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"
Reality is People are hurting- truth is Jesus can heal them
Reality is finances can hinder you- truth is Jesus is the banker
Reality is some kids are born into horrible situations- truth is Jesus can take them out
Reality is you may not be a great speaker- truth is when Jesus gets your life he creates a voice
Reality is you may not have very many gifting- Truth is God looks for availability
Psalms 51:6, Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
(Put leaders around me that know the truth and we will change the world and see the supernatural while the reality speakers live the mundane life of the natural!)
The problem in ministry comes when reality is a brighter neon sign than the faith God has placed in you!
Acknowledge reality on every level- but you fight the devil with Truth!
It sets you free!
Psalms 25:5, guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
God is looking for people in this room that will defy the odds! The enemy will tell you that you will never change lives, you are never going to be great! But you have the truth!
Psalms 145:18-19, The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
I continually live in a state of reality denial! It is an adventure!
Jesus started so many scriptures with- I tell you the truth!
I heard a song called- “Wait and See” by Brandon Heath- I loved it- it described someone who was told he would never be anything- he made so many mistakes!
Here are some of the Words from the song- “He is not finished with me yet. There is hope for me yet cause God's not finished with me yet.”
They were wrong! Prove the world wrong! And God right!
1 Corinthians 1:19, For it is written:"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
God loves to prove the world wrong!
Romans 3:3-4, What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? 4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written:
"So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge."
V. The pointer and the producer!
John6:8, Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, 9 "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"
Here is Andrew- He points out to Jesus the little boy!
Every leader must have around them someone who points out others gifting! In other words he was the facilitator!
Here was Andrew the brother of Simon Peter! He introduced Peter to Jesus! He knew how to bring people to the master.
What do we know about Andrew? Andrew, disciple of Christ, was from the city of Bethsaida near the region of the Sea of Galilee (John 1:44). He and his brother Peter were a fisherman by trade. In fact, it was Andrew who introduced his brother Peter to Jesus (John 1:41-42). According to the Gospel of John, Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist (John 1:35-40) before becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Andrew chased the anointing!
What were some main points in the life of Andrew? We know he pointed out the little boy!
• Andrew (along with Philip) introduced some Greek fellows to Jesus (John 12:20-22).
• Andrew inquired of Jesus regarding the destruction of the temple (Mark 13:3-4).
• He was among the disciples who gathered in the upper room after they had been indwelt by the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:13).
By studying tradition, we learn that Andrew preached in different regions and started a church in Constantinople. One account states that he refused to make sacrifices to heathen gods and was beaten and crucified at Patrae and Achaia.
****Andrew hung for approximately two days and during this time he praised God. (He was always pointing towards Jesus even in death)
Throughout his life, Andrew was a man with whom many of us can identify. He expressed doubt at times, did not always understand or comprehend the Lord's teaching, and he occasionally lacked faith. However, Andrew persisted.
He would point out the CHOSEN! Be a leader that can see the chosen! He saw the little boy!
Many are called but few are chosen! (Matthew 22:14)
Scene- He chooses a kid- can you see the kid- he is about to eat- then a bully disciple says- Hey kid give me your lunch!
Will you show up ready with a bag full of lunch? What is in your bag?
Five loaves! Two fishes! That meal represented so much!
Bread- 5 loaves- (The number of Grace) You better have the word in you! Be ready to share the bread! Jesus always break the bread!
Fishes! – there were two- (represents the joining of two different ones- You and God) that means each one is called to win more than yourself!
We are fishers of men!
If you come prepared he will pull you out of the crowd! You and God with some Grace!
VI. The field was full of people!
John 6:10, Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
VII. Let nothing go to waste!
When you call something leftover- Jesus calls valuable!
John 6:12, When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
VIII. Make Jesus Famous by your obedience! Learn to hide!
John 6:14, After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
Jesus knows how to hide from the peoples desires and requests! He slips away!
Notice the little boy didn’t make the headlines! He wasn’t on the front of Time magazine!
Nope he went home having done his best! The people were fed! Jesus was more famous! Welcome to ministry!
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