RELATIONAL PRAYER - Gen 18

August 29th, 2007

Notes to go with this week’s message.  Click here to listen to message then share your reactions and feelings. 

“[Abraham] pushed on, ‘I know I’m trying your patience, Master, but how about for twenty?’ ‘I won’t destroy [Sodom} for twenty.’ [Abraham] wouldn’t quit. ‘Don’t get angry, Master - this is the last time. ‘What if you only come up with ten?’ ‘For the sake of only ten, I won’t destroy the city.’”  Genesis 18:31-32 (The Message)

COME LORD JESUS, BE OUR GUEST,
AND LET THY GIFTS TO US BE BLESSED.WHAT IF GOD ANSWERED THE “COME LORD JESUS” PRAYER IN A VERY REAL, TANGIBLE WAY … HE ACTUALLY SHOWED UP AT YOUR DOOR …  TODAY??? … WOULD YOU INVITE HIM INTO YOUR HOUSE?HOSPITALITY AND KINDNESS ARE THINGS GOD EXPECTS OF HIS PEOPLE … MANDATED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT … WE ARE TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS AND TO TREAT THEM WITH KINDNESS AND HOSPITALITY … ALLOW OTHER PEOPLE TO MINISTER TO YOU EVEN IF YOU DON’T NEED IT …  MAKE ROOM FOR GOD’S BLESSING … WHEN WE BLESS OTHERS, WE WILL BE BLESSED … WHEN GENEROUS TO GOD AND OTHERS, GOD IS GENEROUS BACK TO US … “Test me in this and see if I don’t open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams.”  Malachi 3:10 (The Message)


GOD SAYS WHERE THE POOR ARE …

AND WHO THE POOR ARE …        I AM

HOW MANY BLESSINGS HAVE WE MISSED BECAUSE OF A LACK OF OBEDIENCE AND GENEROSITY ON OUR PART … GOD’S HEART ACHES FOR THE RUDDERLESS, PURPOSELESS PEOPLE TO WHOM WE SHOULD EXTEND AND EXPRESS LOVE IN ORDER TO BLESS …GOD DESIRES TO REVEAL HIS HEART AND HIS ACTIONS  TO PEOPLE … MUST LEARN TO  WALK AND TALK WITH HIM GROWING CLOSER SO THAT HE WILL REVEAL HIS HEART TO US … NEED TO ALIGN OUR LIFE AND PLANS AROUND GOD’S LIFE AND PLANS …IF WE WAIT LONG ENOUGH, GOD WILL MAKE THINGS CLEAR … JUST MUST BE DISCIPLINED TO WAIT …
GOD WANTS TO REVEAL HIS HEART TO US IN A VERY PERSONAL WAY SO WE WILL ACT OR REACT APPROPRIATELY …

GOD IS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE READY TO BE BOLD ENOUGH TO ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES TRUSTING WHAT HE SAYS AND GET INTO THE GAME … TO STAND IN THE GAP EARNESTLY INTERCEDING … PUTTING OUR LIVES ON THE EDGE FOR GOD … HIS WILL SHOULD COMPEL US

TO PRAY …

TO SEEK …

TO BOLDLY ACT …

WHEN GOD TAPS US ON THE SHOULDER
 AND SHARES HIS HEART …
ARE WE WILLING TO STAND IN THE GAP …

OR ARE WE MORE LIKELY TO TAKE A NAP ???IF CHRISTIANS WOULD BECOME MORE PERSONALLY INVOLVED INTERCEDING FOR WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR WORLD … THERE WOULD BE LESS NEWS ON TV …GOD HEARS THE OUTCRIES OF OUR CITIES … THE OUTCRIES OF OUR SIN … HE HEARS AND INVESTIGATES IT ALL … HE DEEPLY CARES AND IS ATTENTIVE TO EVERYTHING GOING ON IN THE WORLD … WE NEED TO HAVE GOD’S HEART FOR HIS PEOPLE …INTERCESSION IS PERHAPS THE HIGHEST CALLING OF GOD … IT IS GOING BETWEEN OR STANDING IN THE GAP BETWEEN TWO THINGS …  PRAYER IS SIMPLY TALKING TO GOD … INTERCESSION IS COMING TO GOD ON ANOTHER’S BEHALF …WATCH FOR GOD  (He appears without announcement in the most beautiful ways)
WALK WITH GOD (He will reveal his secrets making you privy to His leading and direction)
TALK WITH GOD (He wants us to totally share our hearts, our dreams, our wishes with Him)
WAIT ON HIS PLAN (Continue to intercede for an answer)GOD LISTENS … OFTEN BENDS … INDEED HE HEARS … IN THE END HE ACTS DOING WHAT IS RIGHT …
HIS WILL IS DONE …

Thank you the time to listen and then think about your message as related through Abraham.  It breaks our hearts to hear the outcries of our cities and for the many men and women who live in the dredges of life often because they have simply lost their way. They desperately need someone to stand in the gap for them. Ezekiel 22:30 says “… but I found none.”  May You give us the courage to be the one who lovingly stands in the gap for them …  to speak for You … to live Your message … to tell Your truth … to be Your hands and feet mending the wounded and helping people know YOU ARE GOD. Thank you for bending and breaking for us in Christ Jesus. May we share that message with others!

WHO KNOWS?  GOD MIGHT BE GRACIOUS TO US!

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God’s Way or the Hard Way?” Gen 15:1-6, Gen 16

August 21st, 2007

Message notes to go with Podcast.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; IN all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.” Prv 3:5-7 (NKJV)

I. Assumption and Presumption

Now Sari, Abram’s wife, had borne him no child…so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Gen 16:1-3 sel (NIV)

“The Result” - Sarai…gave (Hagar) to her husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. Gen 16:3-4a sel (NIV)

II. Afflicted and Conflicted

(Hagar) began to despise her mistress. Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and she despises me.” Gen 16:4b-5 sel (NIV)

“The Result” – “Your servant is in you hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think is best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar, so she fled. Gen 16:6 sel (NIV)

III. Our Yelps and God’s Helps

“The angel of the Lord found Hagar in the desert. And he said, “Hagar, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away,” she answered. The angel told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her. I will so increase you descendants and they will be too numerous to count. Gen 16:7-10 sel (NIV)

“The Result- (Hagar) gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me.” So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne. Gen 16:13, 15 sel (NIV)

IV. Chill and Be Still

“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this.” Ps 37:4-5 (NIV)

“The Result” - He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint.” Is 40:29, 31

W- alk a Little Slower
A- sk God for Patience
I- magine the worst case
T- hink of others who will be unfairly impacted

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Worship as Life

July 15th, 2007

For the week of July 15th - Study Gen 12:5-9.

Also read Becky’s Blog from Iraq for June 29th for more history on Abraham.

 Message “Worship as Life” is posted on Podcast page.

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Dear Listener

July 7th, 2007

For the next several weeks we will be on a journey looking at the Life of Abraham. Abraham’s journey starts in Gen 12 and continues until Gen 21. In 2 Chronicles Abraham is called “God’ Friend”, a distinction that he alone is given. I think there is a lot we can learn from Abraham and apply to our lives. Through the verses of Genesis we see Abe’s faith grow. He was not perfect, but when the chips were down Abraham held on to his faith in the Lord. Also, in the highs and lows of Abraham’s life God never left him nor forsook him. Just like Jesus said in the end of Matthew, “Behold I am with you always.”

As you read the assigned text for each Sunday and listen to the posted sermons, use the comment box to share with others what God is teaching and building inside of you or questions that you are having. We hope you enjoy the ride.

For the week of July 8th - Study Gen 12:1-4 and look for posting of the message titled “Called and Blessed”.

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