Grace Harbor

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Discipleship 12 Major Themes Lesson 8 Graceful Giving part 2

Living from the better promises is a great motivation to grow in the grace of giving!

Matthew 6:1 "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 "Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 "But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,…

Matthew 6:4 "that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

Do your giving secretly before your Father in Heaven and He will reward you openly. The spiritual disciplines done with a heart of intimacy with the Father will reap the greatest benefits. Do not do it before men or do it out of a sense of duty, but do it because you long for fellowship and intimacy with the Father! Doing with the right heart is as important as the doing itself! You can note we have found praying, fasting and giving as points of intimacy. While we often call them the spiritual disciplines, as we grow in intimacy with the Father we will find them our delight.

Hebrews 8:6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

Last week we talked about what graceful giving looks like. This week we also what to include what it is not. Jesus came with a more excellent ministry, Him being the Mediator of a better covenant. This better covenant is established on better promises. John wrote the law came through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,

The law of commandments contained in the ordinances of the law stood against us! Jesus abolished the enmity that was against us. Jesus brought a better covenant!

Galatians 3:13 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"),

Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of the law becoming a curse for us! The law came with the curse and the blessing dependant upon the man’s performance. As the law of Moses states “those who do such things shall live by them”. Jesus did the performance and gives us imputed righteousness. It is Jesus Christ doings that makes us blessed.

Hebrews 7:18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Jesus came with a greater priesthood; with a different priesthood came a changing of the law. Jesus brought a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Malachi 3:7 Yet from the days of your fathers You have gone away from My ordinances And have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you," Says the LORD of hosts. "But you said, 'In what way shall we return?‘ 8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

Under the law the people departed from the ordinances of the law. They robbed God by not bringing in the tithes, sin offering, wave offering, trespass offering, and the list goes on. Because they were under the law of Moses and their lack of performance brought them under a curse. Believer’s under grace have a better covenant! Believer’s are not under the curse. Jesus became the curse! Those teaching tithing from this Malachi perspective erroneously bring the believer back under the law of Moses! Tithing is not based on what we find under the law. Our covenant is superior to the law of Moses.

Hebrews 7:1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated "king of righteousness," and then also king of Salem, meaning "king of peace,“ 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. 4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. 5 And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; 6 but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. 8 Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. 9 Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

The greater priesthood is receiving tithes of those who wisely give into the kingdom. Jesus Christ is the Priest who remains and receives tithes today!

Lets consider the greatness of Melchizedek from which Jesus' priesthood is derived!

Genesis 14:18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tithe of all.

Melchizedek the priest of God Most High came and served Abram; note he served Abraham bread and wine. Jesus as High Priest of this new covenant serves the bread and wine. It was after Melchizedek blessed Abraham, Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek. The Levites could be credited with paying tithes through Abraham because they were in his loins when he gave the tithe.

Matthew 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body.“ 27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28 "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

As Abraham did, we should respond by giving our tithe to our great High Priest who presently receives tithes from the worshippers. Like Melchizedek, Jesus brought the bread and wine and blessed mankind with this new covenant. We like Abraham, honor the priesthood we have been blessed by when we give a tithe.

Where Do We Bring Our Tithes to honor the greater One Jesus?

Genesis 28:20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, … 21 "so that I come back to my father's house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. 22 "And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God's house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You."

Abraham gave a tithe to the priesthood of Melchizedek. The next man giving a tithe is Abraham’s grandson Jacob. Jacob promised to God a tithe of all if He brought Him home. Like his grandfather, Jacob called the place Bethel which is the house of God.

Genesis 31:13 'I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.'"

Twenty years later God speaks to Jacob reminding him of the vow he had made. God identified Himself as the God of Bethel.

Genesis 35:1 Then God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.“... 7 And he built an altar there and called the place El Bethel, because there God appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother.

God reminds Jacob once again it is time to go to Bethel. Now Jacob builds an altar there and calls the place El Bethel. God is the God of the house of God. Indeed it is where the tithe belongs! GROW IN THE GRACE OF GIVING!

12 Major themes of the gospel Lesson 7 GRACEFUL GIVING part 1

The is a God ordained way to give; we have been called into growing in the grace of giving!

2 Corinthians 8:1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia : 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. … 7 But as you abound in everything; in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us; see that you abound in this grace also.

God calls His children to abound in the grace of giving! Let the divine influence of God direct your giving. The new covenant clearly brings compelling truths for giving with the attitude of Jesus Christ. Abound in the grace of giving. Poor, rich, or somewhere in between God is pleased when His children are givers. Notice the Macedonians gave in their deep poverty. God’s desire is for His children to abound in the grace of giving.

2 Corinthian 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

Jesus Christ was selfless in the degree to which He gave. For God so loved the world that He gave… The Word has much to say about our giving and the motive we do it with; however, this passage points to the proper motive for giving very clearly! Jesus robed Himself in human flesh and took on our poverty that you and I might become rich. In our faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in our giving, God’s demonstration of love should be the compelling force.

2 Corinthians 9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.

God calls us to give from a willing mind and with a heart of mercy for those who are in need. Walking with a heart for our brothers in sisters in Christ is a call to giving with the divine influence of God compelling us.

2 Corinthians 8:12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack; that there may be equality. 15 As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack."

God does not want us to learn about giving so that we might be burden while other have great abundance. God does want the believer to give with a willing mind. The priority is have a willing mind first!

2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Sowing and reaping are part of the covenant of grace! Sowing sparingly will give you a sparing harvest; sowing bountifully will also reap a great harvest! This is a God idea that has superseded even the change of covenants. The degree to which you give is the degree to which you receive; wisdom asks do you want to receive bountifully? God wants our giving to be done from the heart of cheerfulness. Grudge giving or because you have to is a heart that has not grown and matured into graceful giving.

The promise is firm; God will make all grace abound toward you. Bountiful giving will reap a harvest of plenty, having all sufficiency in all things! Your sufficiency will be so great you will have an abundance for every good work.

1 Corinthians 9:3 My defense to those who examine me is this: 4 Do we have no right to eat and drink? 5 D o we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? 7 Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock? 8 D o I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar?

The believer’s giving is to support the work of the ministry. Pastors, prophets, teachers, apostles, and evangelists have a right to expect to make a living from the gospel in which they labor.

1 Corinthians 9:14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

Graceful giving is supporting the ministry of the kingdom. 1 Corinthians 9 teaches the ministers has a right to live from the gospel. The apostle Paul declared that the Lord commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. Oh, we should be careful to take care of the man of God who God has given us!

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. 7 D o not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. 8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. 9 Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; 10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Human reasoning may come up with many reason not to be givers; however we have been called to not lean to our own understanding. The wisdom of God is to honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first firstfruits of your increase; the promise is barns of plenty and vats overflowing! Giving always brings the promise of provision. I know many in the body of Christ have abused the sheep and have manipulated the word of God out of context for their own gain. However, because the truth has been abused does not mean we can ignore or throw out the truth. Jesus warned the Pharisee about taking from the widow for their own gain; he declared they would be facing great judgment.

Giving should always be a matter of intimacy between you and God. Rather it is praying, reading the word, fasting, or our giving it should be done unto our God. Our charitable deeds should be acts of obedience toward the Father. Don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing! Have you heard of receiving the right hand of fellowship? Our doings should be centered around the motive of doing it before God and not man! If the difference between the left and right hand are man’s glory or God’s glory, may we ever be doing acts with the right hand of fellowship from God. Our giving should not be done for human carnal reasons to our own glory; our charitable deeds should be motivated from the compelling love of God to His glory.

Matthew 6:19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Earlier it was stated that the word of God has much to say about giving. This passage is a measuring stick of where your heart is. It is simple, where are you laying up your treasures, that is where your heart is. What a man gives his time and treasure to is the revealing of where his heart is at. If your heart is not measuring well with the Word, let God change your mindset. Open your heart to giving into the kingdom of God .

12 Major Themes FASTING Theme 6

Fasting is done unto God the Father it is an act of worship and humility before Him. The Father promises to reward you openly for partaking in intimacy with Him through fasting just between you and He!

Matthew 6:16 "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 "But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 "so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Fasting is a time set aside to deny our flesh that our inner man might rise up and direct our thoughts toward the Lord...that we may hear His voice more clearly...that we may become more in tune with the Holy Spirit's leading.

Notice Jesus said “when you fast”; He did not say if you fast. God calls His children to fast. We are called to fast unto God; do it secret and not before men. The Father who is in the secret place will reward you. The psalmist wrote “he that dwells in the secret place shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” This is a call to intimacy between the believer and God. There is promised reward for the believer; the Father who sees in secret will reward you openly! Here in this word is great motivation to fast before the Lord!

Ezra 8:22 For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, "The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him." 23 So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.

FASTING IS TO SEEK OUR GO D , AND HIS MERCY! Ezra had made boast in the truth of God’s word. Ezra fasted and entreated God for His word to come to pass. Ezra and his fellow believers fasted and God’s mercy brought the desired end. It was always what God wanted to do. Ezra was not manipulating God; Ezra’s heart was prepared to move in God’s direction without fear. Fasting can make one’s heart pliable and ready for God to do His work in and through you!

Ester 4:14 "For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?“ 15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: 16 "Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!“

The Jews were in a desperate situation with a decree signed by the king allowing their annihilation. Queen Ester was not allowed to go into the king without him calling for her without risking her own death. The fasting and prayer brought a turning point to the whole situation. Instead of annihilation it became the Jews day of deliverance. Prayer and fasting can prepare us to receive God’s unforeseen answer.

Mark 2:18 The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, "Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?“ 19 And Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. 20 "But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days. 21 "No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse. 22 "And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins."

Jesus is the bridegroom; His disciples could not fast while the bridegroom was with them. One of the clear reasons to fast is for the bride to make declaration that we long for the returning of our Bridegroom; it is an expression and longing to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus taught that fasting was for the believer waiting for the return of Christ. All the spiritual disciplines are not about the works in and of themselves. Prayer, fasting, giving, and speaking the word are all spiritual disciplines calling the believer to walk in intimacy with God. If the motive is not right the practice of the discipline does no good! Jesus begin to teach about wineskins in connection to fasting. Fasting is treating the wineskin bag to make it flexible and able to receive the new wine. It is a surrendering to the new creation God has made us and allowing the Holy Spirit to be poured into our lives.

Acts 13:1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.“ 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

Fasting and denying ourselves makes an opportunity to minister to the Lord unfettered. Have you realized you have been called to minister to the Lord? As in other examples we have used in this study, the will of God became very clear and apparent after this season of fasting. The church was able to walk in it’s God given authority after seeking God’s will; they laid hands on Barnabas and Saul and sent them away. This sending out in Acts was the beginning of Paul ’s missionary journeys.

Acts 10:30 So Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 "and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.

Cornelius desired God, he fasted, prayed, and gave; salvation came to his household! The angel of God told Cornelius “your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remember in the sight of God”.

Fasting and prayer are two of the spiritual disciplines that go hand and hand. They both lead into deeper intimacy with God. When you pray and fast with a heart toward God you will encounter God; He always rewards those who diligently seek Him.

12 Major Themes of the Gospel Lesson 5 PRAYER

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Prayer is an link to intimacy with God. There is much instruction in the word of God on prayer; in this lesson we only touch some highlights.

Luke 6:12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Luke 9:28 Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.

Peppered throughout the 4 gospels are many verses that shows Jesus regularly went and prayed to the Father. Our example Jesus Christ should be emulated.

Colossians 4:2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains,.“

God calls us into relationship with Him. Here is a command to continue earnestly in prayer! Prayer is communication with God. You talking to God and God talking to you! When you hear the adverbs earnestly and vigilant recognize the heart of God in the command. The Father longs for relationship with you and His heart is that it might be cyclical. His heart is for you! Another secret of prayer is doing it with thanksgiving! A thankful heart and a complaining heart can not co-exist! Coming with thanksgiving will erode the complaint in the presence of God! A clear prayer directive; pray that the mystery of Christ will have a wide open door to be preached!

James 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

The first reaction to suffering should be prayer; many traditions keep the believer from this word of instruction. Are you cheerful? Sing a psalm. Sometimes we just read over words of instruction as merely a good idea; it is the call of God to intimacy with Him! God’s way: if you are sick call for the elders of the church; a great promise is attached to the instruction. Our traditions have us calling the doctors; however God’s intimacy instructs us to call for the elders and the prayer of faith will take effect! ** note I’m not against the doctors; I’m for putting the word of God 1^st! The promise is the prayer of faith will heal the sick! Does your experience or traditions disagree with this promise of God? Exalt the word of God above past experiences and traditions that deplete your expectation. God wants to raise your expectation to the level of His word! Expect to be healed when you are prayed for. This is not a prayer try out! This is the word of God coming to pass in the believers life.

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Has the blood of Jesus been applied? You are the righteous man with prayers that avail much. Effective is praying the word; fervent is surrendering to the intimacy with the Father as you pray! God made it clear Elijah was a man like us; God heard his prayer. Elijah prayed according to the word of God and he prayed fervently that the word would come to pass! God is a prayer answering God!

Luke 11:1 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples."

Another example of Jesus had a prayer life between Him and the Father! Jesus started with the believer hollowing the Father. Recognize God is your Father. You have been given the Spirit whereby you might cry out “Abba Father”

Luke 11:2 So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.“ 5 And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 'for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; 7 "and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'? 8 "I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend,yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. 9 "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 "If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 "Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!“

Pray from the perspective that God is your Father! Pray His kingdom come in your life as it is in heaven. How is it in heaven? Pray that for your life and for the body of Christ. It starts with praise and putting His kingdom 1^st place. Then we pray for our daily bread; this includes the bread for spirit, soul and body! Forgiveness is often connected to instruction with how to pray! Keep praying for His deliverance from the evil one.

The ask, seek, and knock, principle has been shoved aside by some as not praying in faith. However Jesus taught to be persistent in prayer until we see the manifestation! The promise is clear, if you ask it will be given, if you seek you will find, and if you knock the door will be open. God is a good God and He only gives good gifts!

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

You can leave the anxious heart and pray with supplication and thanksgiving! Earnest prayer coupled with thanksgiving yields the peace of God! His peace will guard your heart and mind. It starts with a joyful heart to the God of your salvation.

Revelation 5:8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Revelation 8:3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand.

The prayers of the saints are eternal. Prayers are stored in heaven to be poured out to God again and He answers!

Isa 56:7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations."

Mark 11:17 Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"

Here is one of the reasons my favorite service is prayer service. It is the heart of God for the church to be called a house of prayer!

2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you,

1 Kings 8:26 "And now I pray, O God of Israel , let Your word come true, which You have spoken to Your servant David my father.

Nehemiah 1:8 "Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations; 9 'but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.‘

Pray the word of God! Put God in remembrance of His word! He will bring it to pass!

Matthew 6:5 "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

Have a prayer closet! The church sets aside time for the body to pray in the church prayer closet. You need a prayer closet at home. When you pray secretly to your heavenly Father he will reward you openly! Jesus does not teach against repetition in your prayers; he teaches against vain repetitions. Prayer not based on the word or prayers that are filled with traditions in disagreement with the word are vain prayers. We are joined to the Father Spirit to spirit and He calls us to pray from that intimacy!

Ephesians 6:18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints;

Mark 11:20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.“ 22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. 23 "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. 24 "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. 25 "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

Prayer begins with the object of your faith being exclusively in God and in no other! You can speak to the mountain and it will move. Believing God in your requesting will bring it to pass! Put it in your mouth; you can have what you say! Complaint and not living in forgiveness is the greatest prayer blockers! You have been given the Spirit; it is in you to forgive! Nursing the offense and holding onto the hurt is not forgiveness! Does the offense still stir in your heart when you think of them? Obedience is the key, bless them that persecute you and pray for them who have despitefully used you!

Romans 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. 20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

God longs to answer your prayer because of His intimacy with you; allow the intimacy!

The 12 Major Themes lesson 4 THE BAPTISMS

The good news of the doctrines of baptisms is very important. We want to participate fully in all God has for his children. That what disciples do, surrender to all Jesus has prepared for them.

HEBREWS 6:1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms,

Hebrews tells us part of the elementary principles of Christ is to know about the doctrine of baptisms. There is baptism into Christ, baptism into water, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. All three are distinct experiences and yet the imperative one is the baptism into Christ. Without being fully immersed in the truth of who Jesus is, the other baptisms hold no value.

BAPTISM INTO CHRIST

Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

The one exclusive way to become a son of God is through faith in Jesus Christ and there is no other way. Here in Galatians it is identified as being baptized into Christ!

Ephesians 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

I had to ask God, what do you mean one baptism? I knew of the baptism into Christ, baptism into water and the baptism of the Holy Ghost. God opened my eyes to this: One Lord is Jesus Christ! One faith that is the object of your faith being exclusively in Jesus the Messiah. One baptism being immersed into the truth of Jesus Christ and His finished work at the cross. Without being baptized into Christ the water baptism means nothing and the Holy Spirit baptism is not possible. Paul preached I am determined to know nothing among you but Jesus Christ and Him crucified!

Mark 16:15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

When the good news of the gospel is being preached it produces faith in Jesus. Faith comes by hearing of the word of God. He who believes and is immersed into the truth of who Jesus is will be saved, much like the thief on the cross. Unbelievers are condemned, in fact the wrath of God abides on them.

1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body; whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free; and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

The Spirit of God baptizes us into the body of Christ at faith in Jesus Christ. This indeed is the most important baptism, the baptism into Christ.

1 John 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

At the genuine confession of faith God abides in the believer and the believer abides in God! Erroneous teaching dismiss this passage by exalting other verses as having the power to cancel this passage out. We must be aware of the false teachers and rightly divide the whole of the Word of God.

1 John 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.

John the beloved puts the baptism into Christ as paramount! Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God! What you believe about Jesus that determines your destiny!

Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" 14 So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

The church is built upon this rock of confession that Jesus Christ is Son of the living God.

Romans 10:9 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. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."

Here is the bible definition of what constitutes salvation! All teachings that falls outside this truth is bible taken out of context or it is a doctrine of man.

BAPTISM INTO WATER

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Repentance = Baptized into Christ; Baptized in the Name = Water Baptism; Gift of the Holy Spirit = Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:38 describes the three baptisms all in the same verse. God has called every believer to partake in the fullness of the gospel. Believers must be obedient to every baptism to fulfill the will of God for their life.

Matthew 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?“ 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him. 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.“

Jesus was our example of water baptism and teaches us that it fulfills all righteousness!

1 Peter 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us; baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God),through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Peter who preached the Acts chapter 2 message also penned this passage to the believer. This antitype now saves us! Water baptism is a prototype of what happens in the believer. Water baptism does not literally wash away the filth of the flesh, the blood of Jesus did that. However it symbolically washes sin away thus giving a good conscience toward God. Water baptism pictures the believer identifying with the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Where ever the new testament church ran into believers water baptism was preached.

Acts 19:3 And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism.“ 4 Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.“ 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

This group of believers had only been baptized into John’s baptism. Paul preached Christ and they were baptized in His name. They went down in the waters of baptism identifying themselves as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Acts 8:31 And he said, "How can I unless someone guides me?" And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this: "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. 33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.“ 34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, "I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?“ 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?“ 37 Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.“

If you have not placed your faith in Jesus the Messiah the water baptism will mean nothing! Water baptism is symbolic for what has happened at the confession of faith. It identifies with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The believer has put the old man to death, once for all dying to sin and raised in newness of life. Romans 6:3-11

BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Matthew 3:11 "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

It is through the scriptures themselves we have called the gift of the Holy Spirit the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the baptizer of the Holy Spirit!

Mark 1:8 "I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.“

Luke 3:16 John answered, saying to all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

John 1:33 "I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'

Acts 11:15 "And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. 16 "Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, 'John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.‘

Over and over the scripture declares Jesus to be the baptizer of the Holy Spirit. At least 7 times you can find this truth. How unusual to find the same truth repeated this many times. God wants every believer to know the baptism of the Holy Spirit is for them!

Luke 11:13 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

Some declare the baptism of the Holy Spirit is an automatic at faith in Jesus. Not so! Jesus taught us to ask for the Holy Spirit. When the Apostle heard there was new believers they sent Apostles to go lay hands on them that they might receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Acts 8

Acts 2:1 When the D ay of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

This is the record of the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The 120 people waiting on the promise of the Holy Spirit did the speaking as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:16 "But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. … 32 "This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 "Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.

This is that which the prophet Joel spoke! The promise is to pour out His Spirit upon all flesh! It is for you, your sons, your daughters, all menservants and maidservant of God! When Jesus ascended He received from the Father the promise of the Spirit. Peter said this you now see and hear! They heard them speak with other tongues and seen them acting drunk. This indeed is the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 19:2 he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.“ … 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

The Apostle Paul asked believers did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? You must be baptized into Christ 1^st; have you received the Holy Spirit when you believed. This still needs to be the question on our hearts when we run into believers.

1 Corinthians 14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.

There is one scriptural defined way to pray in the spirit. When we pray in that unknown tongue we pray in the spirit. I will pray with the spirit and with understanding. I will sing with the spirit and with the understanding. Praying in our prayer language is so important. Paul ’s testimony was I thank God I speak in tongues more than you all!

Acts 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 47 "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?“

This is the account of the 1^st Gentiles being saved. The seven Jewish believers that came with Peter were astonished. They knew the Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit for they heard them speak with other tongues. The Gentiles had all three baptisms They were baptized into Christ when they believed Peters message about Jesus. The Holy Spirit fell upon them and they spoke in tongues at the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They baptized in water those who believed! This should be the doctrine of every church just as it was in the early church!

Luke 24:49 "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."

Jesus commanded the disciples to go and tarry to be endued with power from on high! While we need not to tarry for the first outpouring we need certainly to yield and ask for the gift just as Jesus commanded in Luke 11. Holy orchestration ask of you: HAVE YOU RECEIVE D THE HOLY SPIRIT SINCE YOU BELIEVE D ?