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Here is a teaching I did some time ago that is still appropriate for today.

Introduction: Perspective affects everything. How we were raised, taught in school, and learned through experiences affects our perspective on things. The same can be said about those Jews who were trying to get the Galatian Christians to go back under the Mosaic law. 

Three highlights of the Mosaic covenant were: Circumcision, Sabbath-keeping, and Dietary laws.

Each of these was an indication that one was a keeper.

The place of each of these in the New Covenant:

Circumcision – Romans 2:28-29 “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh, but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter, whose praise is not from men but from God.”

Sabbath keeping – Ezekiel 20:12 “Moreover, I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and me, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.”

Ezekiel 20:20 “Hallow my Sabbaths and they will be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.

Dietary laws – Romans 14:6 “He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks, and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat and gives God thanks.”

5 Questions

1. Who has deceived you? “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?”
2. Did you receive the Spirit through the law? “This only I want to learn from you. Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”
3. Are you so foolish? “Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?”
4. Have you suffered so many things in vain? “Have you suffered so many things in vain – if indeed it was in vain?”
5. Is the supernatural by law or faith? “Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”

FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH

Those who are of faith are sons of Abraham and are blessed in him.

A. The Mosaic law brings a curse.

“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse, for it is written “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” vs.10

“But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for the just shall live by faith.” vs 11

‘’Yet the law is not of faith, but the man who does them shall live by them.” vs.12

Justification in the sight of God is by faith alone – in the sight of man we need to see an outward change. James 2:22,24

B. Redeemed from the curse by Jesus’ Sacrifice

“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree)”

 Curses can be summarized by 3 things – Deuteronomy 28

• Poverty
• Sickness
• Premature death

C. Blessings of Abraham & and the Promise of the Spirit

 “That the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” vs.14

Genesis 12:3 “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you, and in you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

HOW A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD GIVES POWER TO HIS WORD IN US

INTRODUCTION

In the 1960s through the 1980s, and today as well, there was and is an emphasis on the power of our words, specifically the need for us to speak the Word of God. This turns out to be both a good thing and not so good thing many times. 

When people would believe and speak what the Word of God said they often got what they desired. While others would think there was some sort of magic power in the spoken word itself without realizing there must be a relationship between them and the power behind the Word of God, namely, God Himself. As a result of not having a proper relationship with God, many were confused, hurt, and disillusioned when what they said did not happen.

I do not find in the Bible that we are given the right to speak anything we want to speak without a relationship with God. Or that we can indulge the flesh for anything without God’s input on it. Suppose one wants a million dollars and he believes if he says it often enough God is required to give it to him. Or he wants a certain type of car or house and expects God to give it to him simply because he said it.

If one is abiding in God and His Word abides in the person, there may be times when God, by His Spirit, may lay it on the heart of the person to ask for something beyond the ordinary. This has often happened and still does today,

The key is to have an ongoing, intimate relationship with the Lord and a familiarity with the Word of God, specifically the New Testament promises!

FOUNDATIONAL NEW COVENANT TRUTHS

Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”

2 Peter 1:3-4 “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him, who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

OUR TEXT: Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

GOD CREATES WITH HIS WORD

We see this illustrated in Genesis 1 where He spoke and the world came into existence. 

Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

Let’s walk through the times when God spoke in the creation and various things happened which shows us the power of His Word.

Genesis 1:3 “Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.”

Genesis 1:6 “Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.”

Genesis 1:9 “Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so.”

Genesis 1:11 “Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so.”

Genesis 1:14 “Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night, and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;”

Genesis 1:20 “Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.”

Genesis 1:22 “And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”

Genesis 1:24 “Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so.”

Genesis 1:26 “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Genesis 1:28 “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Genesis 1:29 “And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you, it shall be for food.”

Jesus is the Word. The Father decreed it and the Word spoke it into existence.

John 1:1-4 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

Hebrews 1:1-3 says, “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;  who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”

Colossians 1:16-18 says, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him, all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”

Creation reveals the triune Godhead, three personages in a relationship in total agreement. When one speaks or acts they are all involved.

God’s Word in us is powerful.

John 6:63 says, “It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh profits nothing. The words I speak to you are spirit and they are life.”

John 14:10 says, ‘Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority, but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.”

John 15:7 says, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”

The power of our words on the Human level.

Prov. 10:11 “The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

Prov.10:19-21 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.

The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; The heart of the wicked is worth little. The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of wisdom.

Prov.11:11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

Prov.12:6 The words of the wicked are, “Lie in wait for blood,” But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.

Prov.12:13-14 The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, But the righteous will come through trouble. A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, And the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.

Prov.12:18-19 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health. The truthful lip shall be established forever, But a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Prov.12:25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.

Prov.13:2-3 A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence. He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

Prov.14:3 In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride,  But the lips of the wise will preserve them.

Prov. 15:1-2 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. 

The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.

Prov.15:4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life,  But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Prov.15:7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, But the heart of the fool does not do so.

Prov.15:26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, But the words of the pure are pleasant.

Prov.15:28 The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.

Prov.16:23-24 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth And adds learning to his lips. Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

Prov.18:4 The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.

Prov.18:6-8 A fool’s lips enter into contention,  And his mouth calls for blows. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul. The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body.

Prov.18:20-21 A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips, he shall be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Prov.21:23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue, Keeps his soul from troubles.

Prov.26:20-22  Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases. As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife. The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body.

New Testament Statements

Matt.12:34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Mark 7:17-23 “When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. So He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him,  because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?”  And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

Basic Principle 

Romans 6:9-10  But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).  But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):  that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.

Applicable to Everything else.

Mark 11:22-24 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.  For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Other New Testament Statements.

John 6:63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”

Ephesians 5:6 “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”

1 Thessalonians 4:18 “Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

How to Speak to one another in the Church.

Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification that it may impart grace to the hearers.

Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

Meditate on these things.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.

Good reasons to speak the Word of God.

Matthew 8:7 “The Centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.”

Matthew 12:36 “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it on the day of judgment.”

 Acts 4:29-33 “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,  by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.  And with great power, the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

Acts 14:3 “Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”

Practical applications to real-world situations.

1. What does the Word of God say about it?

2. What are the limitations of this promise?

3. Read – re-read – meditate on it until it gets down into your spirit. James 1:21-22 “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves,”

4. Bathe the Word in prayer. Fellowship with the Lord. The more in step we are with Him, the more consistent we will see answers to our prayers along with needs being met.

When your prayers or confessions are not answered.

Right relations in the home.

1 Peter 3:7 “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.”

Humility.

1 Peter 5:6-7 “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

Resist Satan.

1 Peter 5:8-9 “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”

Faith or Presumption?

Presumption is presuming God will do something rather than knowing it from His promises. Faith knows He will because He specifically said it.

Abide in the Vine.

John 15:7 “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”  This a relationship

REMINDER–

God is Sovereign.

God is all-knowing.

God has a plan & purpose.

Introduction: 1 Thess.5:23-24 “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”

Today I want to put emphasis on the mind. We will look at some things about the brain and other things that make up the human mind. Then we will look at some things about the soul & spirit that affect our mind, and then how we can renew or change our mind to think as God thinks!

1. THE BRAIN

• Every thought has a corresponding electrochemical reaction in the brain.
• At any moment your brain is creatively performing about 400 billion actions, of which you are only conscious of about 2000.
• When you feel happy, your brain has released specific types of chemicals called endorphins.
• Research shows that about 87% of illnesses can be attributed to your thought life.
• Medical science has directly linked emotions, such as depression, to an increased risk of cancer and heart disease.
• If you have been repeatedly verbally abused by someone at work, or sexually abused as a child, all the thoughts associated with those experiences will release negative chemicals. Included in them is a hormone called CRH. People who commit suicide have 10 times as much as those who do not. CRH travels to the pituitary gland and stimulates the release of ACTH, which races to the adrenal gland, on top of the kidneys and it releases cortisol and adrenaline.
• On the other hand, if you have been appreciated and praised a lot the body releases chemicals, among which is endorphins.

• You have about 100 trillion neurons and each is capable of growing up to 70,000 branches. That is enough storage space for three million years. At the end of each neuron there are branches called dendrites which continually receive and integrate information coming from the five senses.
• Whether your thoughts, emotions and attitudes are positive or negative, they are represented in the body as electrochemical reactions. You are made up of two systems: chemical (endocrine system) and electrical (nervous system). That means the currency of your body is electromagnetic energy and chemicals. Both these are involved with every thought, attitude and actions that occur in your body!
• Dr. Caroline Leaf in WHO SWITCHED OFF MY BRAIN calls thoughts a breeze through the trees.

2. THE MIND

• The mind is more than the brain. If you remember our circles representing the spirit, soul and body, you will remember that the soul contains the mind.
• The mind is made up of the brain with all of its parts, but also includes attributes of the soul – will & emotions. It also contains intuition from the human spirit (Soul & Spirit make up the inner person – 2 Cor.4:16).
• Rom.12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable will of God.”
• Eph. 4:23 “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.”

3. RENEWAL FROM WITHIN

• We are born from above – John 3:3, “Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”  John 3:5 “…unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.” 2 Cor.5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” John 3:6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
• We are told to put off the old and put on the new. Eph.4:22, “that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,” Eph.4:24 “and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”
• Read – Memorize – Declare what the Word of God says. As you do this you are solidifying it in your soul and brain. When you hear something but you do not do anything with it within 24-72 hours, your glial cells in the brain erase that piece of information.
• Cultivate hearing in your spirit. The Spirit of God lives in your spirit. He speaks from there, often from intuition, and encourages us into action. (Elijah – 1Kgs.19:12)
• Forgive those who have offended you. Matt.6:14-15 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Forgiving other people has a positive effect on the brain – endorphins – to hold unforgiveness, anger and resentment causes the brain to hold things like adrenaline, and cortisol stays in the body too long and they cause negative things to happen to the body.

THE PRAYER OF INTERCESSION

Intercede – means to act as go-between parties that are unfriendly.

By definition, this limits this type of prayer for people other than the pray-er. The prayer of intercession is a petition-type prayer.

Romans 8:26-27 says, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”

 Romans 8:34 “…who is at the right hand of God, who makes intercession for us.”

Hebrews 7:25 “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by Him because he lives to make intercession for them.”

Isaiah 53:12 “…He has poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” The whole work of the Cross was intercession on our behalf, not just what Jesus says or does at the right hand of the Father.

Intercession does not nullify personal responsibility. Jeremiah 7:16 “So do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or petition for them, so do not plead with me, for I will not listen to you.”

Purpose for intercession – to pray God’s will into existence. To act as a priest on behalf of others who have not gotten God’s provision yet.

Examples: Moses -Exodus 32:7-14, Paul – Romans 9:1-3, 10:1, Jesus – Luke 23:34, and Stephen – Acts 7:60.

REMEMBER- generally speaking, our intercession works for others, but it is always based on the love and grace of God – along with what His foreknowledge has planned. He does not condemn anyone. John 3:17

   PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT

Tongues are a language of men or angels. 1 Cor.13:1

It is a language that one has not studied and does not know. The person has the God-given ability to speak it, but the Spirit supplies the words and their meaning.

It is an expression of God’s divine presence and ability – Acts 10:10-44-46

How they operate:

• Speaking is a learned ability.
• With the infilling of the Holy Spirit we are given this ability.
• His knowledge and ability is not limited to ours.
• The ability comes through the human spirit. – 1 Cor.2:12-14
• Working together – Spirit gives utterance – person does the speaking.

The Place of Faith

Your faith will always work for you in things provided in the Atonement or the New Covenant. It may not always work for others you pray for.

• Mark 9:23  Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” NKJV
• Mark 11:22-24  So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. NKJV
• Why are there times that you faith may not work for others?
• The will of the person is involved. They can stand with you or you can agree with them on the promises of the Word of God; but ultimately if they are adults they are responsible for themselves to use their faith and trust in God. If it is a child or a new Christian, your faith will work for them for a short time. You may remember that even Jesus could do no mighty works in His home town because of their unbelief (Matthew 13:58).
• Your faith or prayer will not work if it is for something contrary to the will of God. We know God’s will from reading, studying and meditating in the Word of God.

THE PRAYER OF AGREEMENT

Matthew 18:19-20 “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

1. Prayer of Agreement depends on all parties agreeing on the need and the outcome.The word AGREE in Greek is sumphoneo – which means to sound together.
2. To agree means that we say the same thing when we pray and afterward.
3. Prayer of agreement is a petition prayer to the Father.
4. Prayer of agreement involves the presence of God in our situations.
5. Jesus prayer life-

• Blesses children – Mt. 19:13
• Prays in the Garden – Mt. 26:36
• Prayed when baptized – Lk. 3:21
• Prays to Father to be glorified – John 17:1
• Prays for believers – Jn.17:20
• Examples of How Jesus ministered-

• Leper – no prayer – Matt.8:1-3
• Centurion’s servant – Mat.8:5-13
• Peter’s mother-in-law – Matt.8:14-15
• Paralytic man – Mt.9:1-6
• Raised girl from dead – Mt.9:18-25
• Healed woman with issue of blood – Mt.9:18-15
• Healed 2 blind men – Mt.9:27-31
• Head deaf man – Mat 9:35-36
• Notice that in none of these cases did He beg or ask the Father to do something. He touched them and/or spoke and the healings occurred!

    Jesus gives His ministry to us. Matt.10:1, Mark 16:17-18

• Preach kingdom – Mt.10:7-8
• Heal
• Cleanses lepers
• Raise the dead
• Cast out demons
• Freely received – freely give

    Hearing the Voice of God

To pray as Jesus did, we need to hear the voice of God speak to us. He speaks through His Word – the Bible – and by His Spirit within us.

Psalm 77:6 “I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart and my spirit (ruach) makes diligent search.”

Romans 8:11 “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

Romans 8:16 “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”

1 Corinthians 2:12 “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.”

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”

INTRODUCTION

I am teaching a class at New Life Church, Louisville on this topic on Wednesday nights during January and February. I will be posting an edited version of those teaching sessions here over the next several days.

All religions have an exercise that they call praying. To some it is chanting, reciting sayings, quotes, or thoughts from those they regard as holy people. Others may quote the Koran, Buddhists ideas, Old Testament statements, or New Testament passages. Still, others may talk to God as one might talk to a friend.

Prayer is very important. But to see results from our praying, one must pray Biblically. One day some of Jesus’ disciples came to you requesting “teach us to pray as John taught his disciples” Luke 11:1. In response to that He gave them the Model prayer. One does not have to quote word for word what He gave them, because this is an outline of things they and we can pray. Matthew 6:9 says, “In this manner, therefore, pray…” I would suggest that one read and re-read what He said until we absorb the concept of what is being said in the Model prayer.

To pray as we should it is necessary to know some things about the One we are praying to. What is He like?

God’s Personality

God’s personality is revealed by certain characteristics that show what He is like. Things are said in Scripture about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit that shows facets of His personality. We will confine ourselves primarily to the personality of the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 11:2 says “the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” This is a prophecy about the coming Messiah. 

Notice that there are seven things mentioned about the Spirit that would rest upon Him:

He is the Spirit of the Lord; 

The Spirit of Wisdom; 

The Spirit of understanding; 

The Spirit of Counsel; 

The Spirit of Might; 

The Spirit of Knowledge; and

The Spirit of the Fear of the Lord.

The seven spirits of God are mentioned in the book of Revelation (Revelation 1:4). Perhaps these seven characteristics mentioned in Isaiah are the seven-fold Spirit of God mentioned there.

Many other characteristics of His personality are revealed in the New Testament. For example:

• He can be lied against – Acts 5:3
• Tested – Acts 5:9
• Resisted – Acts 7:51
• Insulted – Hebrews 10:29
• Grieved – Ephesians 4:30
• Blasphemed – Matthew 12:31
• Reveal – 1 Corinthians 2:10
• Speak – Acts 8:29
• Pray – Romans 8:26-27
• Testify – John 15:26-27
• Lead – Romans 8:14
• Inspire – 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21

His personality can be seen through symbols as well. They include:

• Wind – Acts 2:2
• Water – John 7:37-39
• Fire – Acts 2:3, Matthew 3:11-12
• Oil – Hebrews 1:9
• Wine – Acts 2:13-15
• Seal – Ephesians 1:13
• Guarantee – 2 Corinthians 1:22
• Dove – Luke 3:22
• Finger (KJV) – Luke 11:20

We can know God through the things that He reveals about Himself, but the best way to know Him is by our relationship with Him. We know our Father as such because we have been born again (John 3:3, 5). We know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior as a result of that experience. We know the Holy Spirit because He lives within us and by our daily experiences of listening to His voice. Just as we might know a spouse or friend by contact with them, in the same way we know the Spirit of God. If we constantly tune our spirit to listen to His voice we will get to the place where we readily respond without question when He speaks or urges us to obey Him. And through all of our contact with Him, we begin to know what He is like; we discover His personality.

As we get to know what He is like, we can learn to pray effectively and see our prayers answered.

• Before we can pray effectively, we must first determine what we believe about God. Is He good? Is He concerned about me? Does He really love me and want the best for my life.
• Hebrews 11:6  “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” NKJV We must know that He exists. We need to know that He will reward or answer us when we pray.

   2 Corinthians 6:1  “We then, as workers together with Him, also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” NKJV When we pray the will of God we are working with Him to establish His will on earth.

Matthew 6:9-10  “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  NKJV

We need to know that there are different types of prayer – prayers of dedication, petition, praise, thanksgiving, supplication etc.  There is a place and time for each of these prayers to be prayed. They do not automatically work in every situation.

We need to know what we believe about the will of God.  Can our prayers change God’s will?  Do our prayers help to establish the will of God? 

• 1 John 5:14-15  “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”  NKJV
• John 15:7  “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”  NKJV

Psalm 37:4  “Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”  NKJV

During 56 years of ministry, I have conducted over 200 funerals. In many of them, I have used John 14:1-23 referencing the home that Jesus has gone to prepare for the deceased. But is that all this passage is saying to us? In this short article, I am proposing that we examine it more closely for another viewpoint.

All Scripture passages have at least one interpretation but may have one or more applications. Some passages (prophecy for example) may have two interpretations – present and future.

As I have studied John 14 recently, I have seen more clearly that perhaps this passage is referring to the hereafter, but is also saying something about the present.

Jesus is saying to His hearers that as they have believed in God they should believe in Him. He explains elsewhere in this discourse that the Father is in Him, and He is in the Father, and they both would come to dwell in each of those in the audience who believed in Him (v.7,9,11,17,20,21,23). Knowing this should enable His hearers, and us, to not be troubled or agitated! I see that perhaps He could be referencing sometime in the future, but more so in the present time for them and for us now.

“In my Father’s house are many rooms…” This has most often been seen as our future home in Heaven. It could be, and/or it could be referring to the Father’s dwelling being in the spirit of the redeemed now. Jesus was then and is now preparing His disciples as a dwelling place of God through the Spirit (Ephesians 2:22).

They, and sometimes we, have a difficult time understanding the role of Father, Son, and Spirit and the seeming overlap that exists. Which one is speaking, who is doing what in the universe and in and with us? It seems to me, however, from this passage and others, that Jesus is saying from this passage that He, the Father, and the Spirit are all going to come and dwell within them and us, now. In my understanding, this in no way diminishes Heaven but empowers us now with God’s triune presence.

Other than a few special anointed people in the Old Covenant, the Spirit did not dwell upon or in people. But in the New Covenant, He dwells within every believer (Romans 8:9). This is what makes it so much better than the Mosiac covenant (Hebrews 7-10).

Jesus had to go to the Cross and die as us and for us. He overcame death and ascended back to the Father in Heaven so that they could send the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost and thereafter indwell His disciples.

A present reality today is that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit live within each disciple. Notice these statements:

verse 9 “…he who has seen me has seen the Father…”

verse 11 “Believe that I am in the Father and Father is in me…”

verse 18 “I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you.”

verse 20 “…I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I in you.”

verse 23 “…we will come to him and make our abode with him.”

And we do not have to wait until we get to Heaven to experience this, it is a present reality! This should be an encouragement to all of us that we now have everything we need to live a victorious, overcoming, productive life in the Kingdom of God!

Some people’s default setting in their thinking is ‘yes’ He does because they believe that ultimate He controls everything that happens in His creation.

Recently, a man I have known for several decades who is a committed disciple of Jesus said about the covid 19 virus that it was the judgment of God because of mankind’s disobedience. And if one’s view of God only considers what is said about God from the Mosaic covenant, it is easy to see why he thought that.

Perhaps a little background might help.

THE FALL

God’s ultimate plan was for mankind to rule and reign with Him. We see this from the five-fold mandate He gave to Adam (Genesis 1:26-28). We see that Adam & Eve disobeyed God and plunged humanity into sin. Notice the depths of it from the following passages:

Romans 5: 12 – sin entered and death

Romans 5:14,17 – death reigned

Romans 5:18 – from one offense many died

Romans 5:16,18 – judgment because of that one offense

THE CROSS

All the effects of sin have been removed through the work of Jesus through the Cross experience. Notice:

Romans 5:8 – while we were sinners Christ died for and as us.

Romans 5:9, 16, 18 – we have been justified

Romans 5:10-12 – we have been reconciled to God

Romans 5:17 – by His grace we reign with Him

Romans 5:19 – we were made righteous

For those who believe in and make Jesus their Savior and Lord, all these things are theirs today!

We should not interpret the New Testament through the lens of the Mosaic law. If we do, we find it is works-based, and God is seen as a rough taskmaster instead of a loving Father.

Then why do bad things happen? Because even though Satan has been defeated through the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus, He still lives on planet earth. He is out to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Someway, somehow he is behind anything that kills, steals, and destroys.

One reason we see so many bad things happening is because of sin on the earth, and believers not exercising their God-given authority to rule and reign with Him which is available today. Because we have been redeemed, every believer has the Spirit of Jesus living in us (Romans 8:9). This gives us many benefits not available to the person living under the Old Covenant.

The world system is opposed to the Word, and will of God, as well as, the work of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:40, James 4:4, Romans 12:1-2, 1 John 2:15-17). And it hinders the work of God.

THE RESURRECTION

After the resurrection ( 1 Corinthians 15:35-57, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) all the promises of God related to His Kingdom will be fulfilled (Revelation 11:15). Death, sorry, tears, separation, etc. will be removed (1 Corinthians 15:26, Revelation 21:1-5). Then, His ultimate plan will be manifest for all eternity!

So, we could say that Paradise was lost through Sin. Paradise was restored through the Cross. And Paradise will be totally manifest for eternity!

I remember being at Lakewood Church in the late ’70s and hearing John Osteen tell about one of his experiences. He said that one day he was in his office praying for more healings, and miracles in the church. He said the Lord spoke to him and said, ‘anybody needing healing in this room?’ His response was, ‘no, Lord.’ To which the Lord said, ‘you get out where there is a need and I will do healing and miracles.’ If we have the same prayer as John had, perhaps the Lord is saying the same thing to us.

This remembers me of a passage in Acts 4:29-31. The context is the early church was being persecuted by the crowd. They gathered together to pray and said this, “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings, and grant unto your servants, that with all boldness they may speak your word. By stretching out your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of your son, Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” Notice:

• They were threatened.
• They prayed.
• They were filled with the Spirit.
• They spoke the Word with boldness.
• And the miraculous happened.
• Now, look at verses 32-33, which says, “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul; neither said any of them that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all thing in common. And with great power the Apostles gave witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.”

Jesus’ ministry was four-fold, teaching, preaching, healing, and delivering the demonized (Matt.4:23-24, Matt.9:35). The ministry of the Church is the same today (Matt.10:1,7-8, Matt.28:19-20).

Perhaps we are not seeing the number of healings and miracles today as they did in the First Century because we do not believe it is possible! Or, we are not preaching the same message they were! Or, we are not stepping out in boldness as we should!

The Jesus of the 21st century is the same as He was in the 1st century! He was there in person in a physical body. He is present today in the person of the Holy Spirit – same God, the same power and He will do the same works today! Another thing may be that we are too comfortable and do not want to deal with the persecution that might come if we take a more bold stand on the Word of God! Still another thing might be that we are not in unity as a Body as they were in the first century!

Something to think about!

The Corinthian Church was very gifted (1 Corinthians 1:7). But it was also very divided (1 Corinthians 1:10-17). They had forgotten how the message of the Cross unites us and we all stand as equals around it (Galatians 3:26-29). When that is forgotten schisms occur.

The Corinthian Church was very carnal (1 Corinthians 3:1-4). They were divided over personalities, gifts, immorality, possessions, the Lord’s supper, love, church order, the resurrection, and a special offering for the poor saints in other places. They also had some among them who believed that they had insight into spiritual realities that others did not have (1 Corinthians 2:6-9). The Apostle Paul proceeded to show them the revelation that God had given when he said, “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches (reveals) all things, yes, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10).

Over the years I have heard many Christians refer to 1 Corinthians 2:9, where it says, “But as it is written, ‘eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him’ as referring only to what we will discover when we get to Heaven. But here Paul is saying that the revelation from God reveals those things to us by His Spirit now.  “For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God” (1 Corinthians 2:11-12).

It seems to me that they, in their carnality, had failed to see how the present work of the Spirit of God reveals things about ourselves, and God, that will product spirituality instead of carnality.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians, and us, in Galatians 5:16-26 showing the differences between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. He said, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another so that you do not do the things that you wish.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,  envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law.  And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

The works of the flesh are those areas of a disciple of Jesus that have not yet been submitted to the Lordship of Jesus. The fruit of the Spirit is those characteristics that the Spirit of God produces in us as we submit to His Lordship.

So, carnality and spirituality are determined whether one is submitted to Jesus’ Lordship or not! And obey His Word and the voice of His Spirit!