Episodes
Sunday Jan 27, 2013
Matthew 7 Part 2
Sunday Jan 27, 2013
Sunday Jan 27, 2013
Ask and You Will Receive - January 27, 2013 by Pastor Jay Meyer
We are coming back to the Sermon on the Mount. Remember in this message, Jesus is challenging the conventional wisdom of who has God’s blessing or favor. He is also challenging the conventional wisdom or the kind of behavior displayed in the lives of those who live in God’s Kingdom.
Remember the message begins with what we know as the Beatitudes
Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger & thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Remember in the beginning of the message is about recognizing our need for God. We don’t bring any righteousness of our own to the table. We can’t make it into the Kingdom on our own.
Then Jesus goes on to give us pictures of what life in the Kingdom of Heaven looks like. This life goes way beyond the law of Moses.
People with more wisdom than me have suggested that if you want power and blessing in your life, go straight to the Sermon on the Mount.
Jesus covers so much of life - personal relationships; anger; lust; divorce; giving your word; retaliation; loving our neighbors and enemies; giving; prayer; fasting; laying up treasures; worry; and not judging others…
Self-examination
There are times in life when we must take a look at our life. Many times at the start of a new year we pause and reflect on life. Where am I with God? I am called to live life as Jesus did and to do the things that He did. Am I getting there? Self-awareness is a very valuable commodity. It takes being in real relationships with people to get it.
Do you see a higher level to attain and don’t know how to get there?
That is what Jesus is up to in this message. He’s showing us a life that is higher, a way that is better. It is His way. It is His life. Jesus is showing us what life in the Kingdom of Heaven looks like. We may find that we don’t measure up very well to what Jesus says…
Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Sunday Jan 27, 2013
Aligning Ourselves with the Kingdom
Sunday Jan 27, 2013
Sunday Jan 27, 2013
Aligning Ourselves with the Kingdom - January 20, 2013 (Positioning Ourselves with the Kingdom) Two weeks ago we looked at Jesus as the gate of Heaven. He was the prototype of the New Testament of God, the new wineskin. We also are the New Testament temple of God and we also are to be the gates of Heaven for the nations. Last week was about us coming into agreement with God coming, quite possibly in ways we haven't experienced or thought of. In these days, we need to keep our minds and our hearts ALIGNED and focused on God and what we know is going to happen. This week, we need to talk about our role as facilitators on the earth of what our Father desires on the earth. As gates, wer are facilitators, we can't actually make the things of heaven happen, it is God's desire and His power, but we have a role. Thos ewho only have a relationship with a set of rules will never operate as the gates of heaven, they are too focused on what not to do and avoiding punishment from God. We are invited into at relationship witha a real God, who has emotions and affections for you. He is actually revealed in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This almighty God desires for things to be different in your life and mine and on the earth. He desires that they be better. So, He invites us into a real heart to heart relationship, a new way of living. This new life3 in Christ is about receiving and giving... We can love God because we first received His love... He blesses us so we can bless others... As we give, we receive mroe, to give more... As gates of heaven, we have to recieve from heaven to give, that means positioning ourselves to receive so that we can be filled. As those who have received the life of heaven in Christ, we have moved beyoind living for as set of rules and avoiding punishment into a new way of living - by the spirit. Conflict is not a sign that this is not a save place or that God is calling you to move. Conflict is a sign that you are in a relationship with someone who is different from you. It is an opportunity to learn to walk in love and mercy. Flesh versus Spirit: It is not difficult or even unlikely that we will please the Lord when we operate in the flesh. It is actually possible!! Romans 8:1-9 We please God by learning to live by the spirit. This is living in relationship. It is learning to live by different motives with very different potentials. John 5:19-20 It boils down to Positioning your heart to know God. Parable of the ten virgins: (Matthew 25) At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Concentrate on what you know to be true in these days. There is so much turmoil and uncertainty in the political world. We can be overwhelmed. If we feed on that stuff, then that's the wrong kind of oil that will clug up your lamp. That stuff will feed fear. If we will focus our attention on what we know to be true. Act 2: Peter says these are the last days. Acts 2:1-21 When the day of Pentecost came, there were all together in one place... Are we approaching the end of the age? I believe we are. Difficult times are coming. I do not believe that the people of God are going to be raptured out of here before times get difficult. This is going to be a year of miracles, more healings. We are going to see this year things we have been praying for years. I want my lamp to be full. I want to be a full participant, not a part time participant.
Thursday Jan 17, 2013
New Year 2013 Part 2
Thursday Jan 17, 2013
Thursday Jan 17, 2013
Preparing us for what God is wanting us to do. January 13, 2013 Some people believe that when we do God's will it's smooth sailing and problem free. Sometimes people will encounter things that will stretch them, that will make them wonder if they really heard God and will make them wonder if they are doing the right thing. Matthew 14:22-32 : At the direction of Jesus, the disciples get in a boat, and head toward the other side, when a storm comes up and the waves come up too. These aren't your average people in a boat. They were fisherman. They knew the water. But the wind and the waves scared them. They cried out for God to come. At the intersection of crisis and desperation is the Lord. This is where we encounter the Lord, because we call on Him. Many people have cried out to God because they saw the condition the church is in. They say, God you've got to do something. We know the church isn't looking like it should look. We're supposed to be your people. We're supposed to be the people of your presence. We're supposed to be the Gates of Heaven. And all we're seeing is what men can do. We see things about when God comes in this story that we need to get in the depths of who we are. We need it to save us. We need it to prepare us for God to do something that's out of the ordinary to do something unexpected.