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August 2015 MessagesSunday August 2, 2015 Are you grievously vexed? In Matthew 15:21-28, a woman cried to Jesus for help, her cries were ignored, even though her child and by implication the woman was grievously vexed. What should you do to obtain and secure the Lord’s attention when you are doing through a painful situation and your cries seem to fall on deaf hears? You note: • Jesus moved from Gennesaret in Israel to the coasts of Tyre and Sidon in Syria. – Moved from garden of the prince, a garden of riches to a rock and fortified place • A woman that did not belong to God, or had not seen God moving in her life and situation came to God – Notwithstanding your current or previous condition, come to God, you may not have seen Jesus in action in your situation, don’t give up…seek Him • She cried out to Jesus for mercy and to meet her need – Never hesitate to cry out in your pain, out of your pain…deliverance is coming your way • Jesus did not answer her cry for mercy and relief from her pain and anguish. The Bible states in V23 But he answered her not a word. – Has it ever looked as if God did not hear your prayer? God is not listening to you? God is refusing to come through for you despite your cries? • The disciples asked Jesus to send the woman away – Has it ever seemed as if instead of getting better, things are actually changing from bad to worse…this woman experienced the same thing,. – The disciples who were supposed to help re-state her case to Jesus and appeal to Jesus to come through for her were the ones advocating that she should be sent away without her needs being met. – Have you ever been in a situation where those who were supposed to help are the same ones compounding the problem? • On October 29, 1941, U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill visited Harrow School to hear the traditional songs he had sung there as a youth, as well as to speak to the students. When he was invited to give a speech, Churchill stood before the students and said, – "Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, give up. Never give up. Never give up. Never give up." – To be successful in your life and business, here is what Winston Churchill told us: – "The pessimist sees the problems in every opportunity. Whereas the optimist sees the opportunity in every problem“ (Neverevergiveup.com) • When Jesus answered her in her pain, the answer she got was not what she was expecting. Jesus essentially said I do not have anything for you – Have you ever been rejected when you so much needed acceptance? – The answers you are getting is different from what you are seeking? • The woman did not give up or give in to the negative circumstances – She worshipped Jesus…moved from asking to worship • She got another answer from Jesus…the healing I have is not for you…it is for a special group and you do not belong to that group – She did not argue, she appealed for crumbs – Don’t give up • Finally she got her miracle. In V28, the Bible states: Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. – Your long awaited season is here – Receive what has been denied you for a long season…now…in Jesus mighty name. – Shackles of oppression is broken now in Jesus name. Prayer • Give thanks. • If you are not sure your name is in the book of life, take the prayers on the New Life page. • Lord, in your mercy hear my cry, come through for me in Jesus name. • Father, give me the grace to praise and worship you like never before. • As I praise and worship you Lord, let the earth yield its increase for me and all mine in Jesus mighty name! • Father, grant me divine speed and accomplishment in Jesus name. • Every plan of shame, disgrace, stagnancy, retrogression, ill health for me and my family scatter in Jesus name. • I destroy every evil work against me in Jesus name. • Personal prayer points
Sunday August 16, 2015 On The Mountain? In Matthew 15:29-31, Jesus came near the sea of Galilee, went up the mountain and sat down there. Great multitudes came to him on the mountain including the lame, the blind, dumb, maimed and many others and God’s name was glorified as they were healed. How do you get to the mountain top and achieve your desired glorious state? • Are you on the mountain? • What does it mean to be on the mountain? …and more importantly • How do you get to the mountain top? It is vital to be on the mountain because it is: • A place of deliverance • A place of holiness, communication with God, where you are in God’s presence, fellowshipping with God (Psalm 51:11, Exodus 33:15) • A place of healing and obtaining what you need, i.e. possessing your possessions • That is why the Bible declares: • But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. Obadiah 1:17 How do you get to the mountain top? Don’t live in the past: Jesus left the place where a major miracle of healing of the Syrian Phoenician's demon possessed daughter had just taken place. He did not stay in the past or revel in past triumphs. Avoid distractions: Jesus came to the beautiful sea of Galilee and moved on to the mountain. The Sea of Galilee, also Kinneret, Lake of Gennesaret, or Lake Tiberias (Hebrew: יָם כִּנֶּרֶת, Judeo-Aramaic: יַמּא דטבריא, Arabic:بحيرة طبريا), is the largest freshwater lake in Israel, and it is approximately 53 km (33 mi) in circumference, about 21 km (13 mi) long, and 13 km (8.1 mi) wide. The lake has a total area of 166.7 km2 (64.4 sq mi) at its fullest, and a maximum depth of approximately 43 m (141 feet).[3] At levels between 215 metres (705 ft) and 209 metres (686 ft) below sea level,[4] it is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth and the second-lowest lake overall (after the Dead Sea, a saltwater lake).[5] The lake is fed partly by underground springs although its main source is the Jordan River which flows through it from north to south. (Wikipedia). Jesus was not distracted by the beauty of the environment, he went on to the mountain top, despite how difficult it is to get to the mountain top. Go up to the mountain: climbing mountains may be difficult, some have even died attempting to climb mountains, people still attempt it because of the honor and glory of having conquered the problems and obstacles (e.g. Mt. Kilimanjaro, Everest etc.) How do departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. Notwithstanding go up the mountain of holiness, righteousness, fellowship with God. It is not deadly, but live giving and easy by the power of the Holy Spirit. • Are you on the mountain? – A place of deliverance, a place of fellowship with God and holiness, a place of healing and possessing your possessions. – Are you living in the past? Avoiding distractions? Climbing the mountain?...therein lies the solutions • These people did not mind what it will take them to get to the mountain…they did it anyway and got there…may you get there in Jesus mighty name. 30And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them: 31Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.
Prayer • Give thanks. • If you are not sure your name is in the book of life, take the prayers on the New Life page. • Lord, in your mercy help me get to the mountain top in Jesus name. • I enter into my high place of deliverance, improved fellowship with God and healing in Jesus name. • Father, I will not stay in the valley, depression and stagnancy give way, evaporate by fire in Jesus name • Personal prayer points Sunday August 23. 2015 How Many Loaves Do you Have? In Matthew 15:32-39, Jesus did not want to send away the people who had been him on the mountain hungry and with unmet needs. To meet needs around you and be a blessing, you need to know how many loaves you have. What are loaves? • Loaves refer to bread baked in one piece or a mass of food or a mass of food shaped in an oblong or rounded form There are physical loaves and spiritual loaves • Physical loaves – The unleavened bread – physical earthly bread – is burnt in sacrifice to God (Exodus 29:22-25) – The physical earthly bread of presence must always be before God (Exodus 25:30) • Spiritual loves – The heavenly bread is given to men – God rained down manna from heaven (Exodus 16:1-21) – Jesus is the bread of life – the true bread (John 6:31-58) God gives both physical and spiritual loaves to meet our needs • When you eat the bread of life regularly, then: – You receive strength and sustenance – You remain alive – You can bring forth loaves which can feed thousands How? • Feed on the word of God (John 15:4-5, 2 Timothy 2:15) • Allow the fruit of the Spirit to grow and feed others (Galatians 5:22-23) • Prayer (Jude 20) Prayer • Give thanks. • If you are not sure your name is in the book of life, take the prayers on the New Life page. • Father, create in me a clean heart Oh Lord and renew a right Spirit within me that will be a blessing to all around me in Jesus name • Lord, do not cast me away from your prescience (Aaron’s rod) • Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with your free spirit • Lord, make me willing to obey you • I destroy every evil work against me in Jesus name. • Personal prayer points Sunday August 30, 2015 Changing Appearances! In Matthew 17:1-9, Jesus went up the mountain and his appearance changed, his clothing changed, there was a transforming encounter that impacted those around and indeed future generations. How can you change your appearance? Is your appearance changing, what sort of transformations are you experiencing? • Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. – Only few people saw the transfiguration – Not everyone will have the privilege of seeing or encountering the transfiguration or transforming experience – Only few people will see and encounter Jesus in the rapture (Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58, Romans 1:18, Isaiah 1:28; Matthew 7:13-14; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) – Some were left behind and did not encounter or see the transfiguration. Only Peter, James and John witnessed it. (Matthew 24:40-42) – It is a ‘high mountain’ experience – not a valley experience. • He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. – As you align yourself with Jesus, you will be transformed; Jesus shone as the sun – the sun of righteousness (Malachi 4:2) – You should shine as the brightness of the firmament (heavens/sky) – You should shine as the stars for ever and ever (Daniel 12:3) – Your garments will be white (Revelation 19:7-9) • And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. – When your transforming experience occurs and continuously occurs, your current walk will be aligned to that of those who went before (Hebrews 12:1-2; 6:10-12) • Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” – You never want to leave the state of transformation; you want to stay there – ever changing – continuously being transformed. – There is a song that goes: from glory to glory He’s changing me…(2 Corinthians 3:18) • While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” – In a state of transformation – changing appearances – you will hear heaven clearly – speaking to you, guiding you, leading you, encouraging and strengthening you – A glorious cloud will envelope your life, the mark of kingship, a mark of son ship (Revelation 1:6, Ephesians 2:6, Psalm 5:12) • Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.” – The transforming – changing experience is a personal encounter • Your appearance (outlook, disposition, character) is transformed as you continuously change – What has changed since you met Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17-18) – Has unbelief changed to unwavering belief and faith? – Has distrust and lack of acceptance changed to unwavering trust? (Job 13:15) – Is anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication still present in you? (Colossians 3:8-14) Prayer • Give thanks. • If you are not sure your name is in the book of life, take the prayers on the New Life page. • Father, transform me from where I am to where you want me to be in Jesus name. • Every evil agenda of stagnancy, loss, retrogression die in Jesus name. • Every power accentuating the Kadesh Barnea spirit around my life, family and destiny, die in Jesus name. • Promotion, increase, favour, positive progression is my portion in Jesus mighty name. • Father, greatness is my portion in Jesus mighty name! • Every plan of shame, disgrace, stagnancy, retrogression, ill health for me and my family scatter in Jesus name. • I destroy every evil work against me in Jesus name. • Personal prayer points |
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