Monday, October 27, 2008
HELLO
this is yesterday's sermon.
Today is the beginning of the kingdom age.
The kingdom of God cannot be shaken.
"It is not what God has told us before, but what he tells us now."
Listen to wad God is telling us NOW, not what he has told us.
Pursue the magnificent obessesion - to seek first the kingdom of God
Matthew 6:33-34
"33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Matthew 16:13-20
Peter's Confession of Christ
13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 20Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
Praying is the basic crucial key that brings forth the kingdom.
Matthew 6:9-10
this is yesterday's sermon.
Today is the beginning of the kingdom age.
The kingdom of God cannot be shaken.
"It is not what God has told us before, but what he tells us now."
Listen to wad God is telling us NOW, not what he has told us.
Pursue the magnificent obessesion - to seek first the kingdom of God
Matthew 6:33-34
"33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Matthew 16:13-20
Peter's Confession of Christ
13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 20Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
Praying is the basic crucial key that brings forth the kingdom.
Matthew 6:9-10
9"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
A pray that God gives us to pray; a privilege prayer
Matthew 16:18-19
18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
- keys to the kingdom of heaven
- whatever you loose on Earth, you will loose in heaven
Prayer is not normally high on our priorities.
Q1. Why do we not pray?
Luke 15:11-24
The Parable of the Lost Son
11Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
13"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
22"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
13"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
22"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
When we do not pray, we are exactly like the prodigal son.
1) False sense of sufficiency
2) Lack of true intimacy
Luke 15:12 - The father gave the son whatever the son asked
Luke 15:13 - "Not long after that" his son set of to a distant country
- Began to forget that what he has was given by his father
- Began to think that all he had was his
- Fall in love with giftings and forget the giver
Luke 15:14 - Knows that he has a need
Luke 15:15-16 - Thinks that he can help himself; prideful
- Do not let your pride take over your need
Luke 15:17 - He came to his senses
Luke 15:18-21 - Went back to his father
Luke 15:22-23 - Father quickly reminds him that he was his son
We need to return to a spirit of humility
When we draw near to God, he will draw near to us.
Take the first step.
Q2. How then should we pray?
2 Chronicles 7:14
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.
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.
Marketplace prayer format
1) Relationships
- it's about people
- "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves"
- Pray blessings for relationships
- Pray with humility
2) Revelation
- Hearing from God
- "pray and seek my face"
- operate God's work at God's way
3) Repentance
- It starts with ourselves
- "turn from their wicked ways"
- Unless there is repentance, we cannot see transformation
2 Chronicles 7:15
15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.
loved by God;
- 8:43 PM