BURN BAN LIFTED part1 - how to build a fire
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WE’RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE TERM “BURN BAN” IN CALIFORNIA
(EXPOUND)
IT GETS REALLY DRY HERE
CAUSING US TO HAVE BURN BANS
WE’VE SEEN WILDFIRES DESTROY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES
PEOPLES LIVES DESTROYED
PROPERTY AND POSSESSIONS ALL ....GONE
THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT A REFINERS FIRE
I WAS THINKING ABOUT......
THE REFINERS FIRE......ITS INTERESTING
IT’S CONTAINED
YET, IT’S DESTROYS
BUT IT ALSO REFINES AND PURIFIES
A FIRE UN-CONTAINED IS.....A WILDFIRE
WILDFIRES ARE NOT GOOD
WILDFIRES ARE DESTRUCTIVE AND DANGEROUS
BUT WHEN A FIRE IS CONTAINED AND CONTROLLED
IT BECOMES A REFINERS TYPE OF FIRE
IT CAN DESTROY ALL OF THE IMPURITIES
ALL OF THE GARBAGE
ALL OF THE WEEDS AND DEBRIS THAT HAS BUILT UP IN YOUR LIFE
BUT IT CAN ALSO....
PURIFY YOUR HEART
STRENGTHEN YOUR SPIRIT
OH COME ON.....
6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
WHEN WE ARE TESTED BY FIRE AND PERSEVERE...
WE COME OUT STRONGER
TODAY'S SERMON ISN’T ABOUT THE KIND OF FIRE THAT TESTS YOU
WE’RE TALKING ABOUT A SUPERNATURAL FIRE
I’M TALKING ABOUT A SPIRITUAL FIRE THAT BURNS WITHIN US FOR THE THINGS OF GOD
(TALK ABOUT MOMS COMMENT WITH THE SERVICES THE LASTS FEW WEEKS)
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU THIS MORNING ABOUT....
HOW TO BUILD A FIRE FOR GOD IN YOUR LIFE
......OPEN IN PRAYER......
AS HUMANS WE HAVE 3 MAIN ENEMIES...
LUST (UNCONTROLLED SEXUAL DESIRE)
PRIDE ( CONFIDENCE THAT’S UNCONTROLLED)
GREED (LACK ON CONTENTMENT)
(UNCONTROLLED DESIRE FOR INCREASE)
THESE ARE UNCONTROLLED FIRES THAT BRING DESTRUCTION....
THESE THINGS WERE CREATED BY GOD AND POLLUTED BY SIN
SATAN USED THESE 3 THINGS TO TEMP ADAM AND EVE IN THE GARDEN
THESE ARE ALSO THE 3 TACTICS THAT THE ENEMY HAS USED TO TEMPT...
JESUS WHEN HE WAS FASTING IN THE WILDERNESS
UNDERSTAND THIS.....
SATAN USES THE SAME TACTICS THROUGHOUT HISTORY
IT’S THE SAME TRICKS HE USES TODAY ON YOU AND ME
HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS......
JESUS HAS GIVEN US WEAPONS AGAINST THESE 3 TEMPTATIONS...
PRAYER
FASTING
GIVING
WRITE THESE DOWN.....
1. PRAYER
PRAYER DEFEATS PRIDE
THE REAL REASON PEOPLE DON’T PRAY IS....
NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO BUSY
IT’S BECAUSE THEY ARE PROUD
EVERY MAN OR WOMAN THAT SAYS THEY ARE TOO BUSY TO PRAY....
IS NOT BEING HONEST
BECAUSE THE MOMENT YOU GET INTO AN ACCIDENT.....YOU FIND TIME
THE MOMENT YOU END UP IN ICU.....YOUR NO LONGER BUSY
EVEN THOUGH YOUR “BUSY”…
THE ISSUE WITH PRAYERLESSNESS IS NEVER BUSYNESS
IT’S PRIDE THAT IS BEING MASKED UNDER BUSYNESS
THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO DEFEAT PRIDE...
AND IT’S TO DEVELOP A PRAYER LIFE
BECAUSE....
PRAYER SAYS TO GOD
AND TO THE SPIRITUAL WORLD....
I NEED HELP
I CAN’T DO IT ALONE
PRAYER HITS PRIDE IN THE FACE
2. FASTING
FASTING HELPS US WITH LUST
LUST OF THE FLESH IS CONNECTED TO THE DESIRES AND CRAVINGS OF OUR BODY
UNDERSTAND THIS......
A LOT OF THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH ARE NOT EVIL IN THE CONTEXT OF GODS WORD
FOOD
SEX IF YOUR MARRIED
MONEY
THE WAY THE DEVIL WORKS IS....
HE MANIPULATES OUR DESIRES
AND PUSHES US TO FIND FULFILLMENT OF OUR DESIRES....
OUTSIDE OF GOD’S WILL
WHAT FASTING DOES IS.......
FASTING - HELPS TO PUT YOUR FLESH IN BACK IN IT’S PLACE
TELL YOUR NEIGHBOR....
WHEN YOU FAST, YOU WILL LAST
OH COME ON SOMEBODY...
WHEN YOU FAST...
NOT ONLY ARE YOU DETOXING YOUR BODY BUT.....
YOU ARE DETOXING YOUR SOUL
WHEN YOU FAST.....
YOU ARE DENYING YOUR FLESH......
WHICH IS THE MARK OF A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST
CHRISTIANITY IS NOT SELF-DISCOVERY
IT’S SELF-DENIAL
NEW AGE PRACTICE.....IS SELF-DISCOVERY
I’VE SEEN CHURCHES THAT ALLOW...
PROPHETIC CARD READINGS
AND OTHER DEMONICALLY INFLUENCED THINGS IN THEIR CHURCH
CRYSTAL BALLS, FORTUNE TELLING, TERRO CARD READINGS
IT’S ALL WITCHCRAFT
IT’S DANGEROUS AND DEMONIC
I DON’T KNOW WHO THIS IS FOR THIS MORNING.....
BUT YOU GOTTA STOP READING YOUR ZODIAC SIGN
STOP INVOLVING YOURSELF WITH THOSE THINGS
IF YOUR LOOKING ANYTHING ELSE BESIDES GOD FOR YOUR FUTURE
FOR DIRECTION IN YOUR LIFE
IT’S WRONG
ASTROLOGY IS WITCHCRAFT
JESUS SAID IF YOU FOLLOW ME...
YOU MUST DENY YOURSELF
NOT FIND YOURSELF
OH COME ON CHURCH.....
YOU MUST LOSE YOURSELF
WE LIVE IN A CULTURE WHERE EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO FIND THEMSELVES
UNDERSTAND THIS......
YOUR SELF IS THE PROBLEM IN THE FIRST PLACE
OH MY LORD.....
WE DON’T NEED TO FIND THAT
WE NEED TO LOSE THAT
I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT YOU ENDING YOUR LIFE
I’M TALKING ABOUT YOU SURRENDERING YOUR LIFE
THERE IS SOMETHING POWERFUL ABOUT FASTING....
YOUR TAKING YOUR FLESH FROM THE PLACE OF ENTHRONEMENT
AND PUTTING IT IN THE PLACE OF CRUCIFIXION
OH COME ON SOMEBODY....
JESUS SAID IN....MATTHEW 10:39
39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
ANYONE WHO FINDS HIMSELF WILL LOSE HIMSELF
BUT ANYONE WHO LOSES HIMSELF FOR MY SAKE WILL FIND HIMSELF
FASTING HELPS US GET OUR HUNGER BACK FOR GOD
FASTING IS PAINFUL
BUT YOU WERE CREATED TO FAST
ILL PROVE IT.......
HOW MANY OF YOU ATE BREAKFAST THIS MORNING?
WHEN YOU EAT BREAKFAST
YOU ARE BREAKING THE FAST
YOUR BODY WAS DESIGNED BY GOD TO GO THROUGH A SEASON OF FASTING
FASTING SHARPENS YOUR SPIRITUAL SENSES
IT TAKES YOU TO ANOTHER LEVEL WITH GOD
THERE IS NOT A SECRET FORMULA TO GROWING CLOSER TO GOD
JUST AND OLD FASHION DENYING YOUR FLESH AND FEEDING YOUR SPIRIT
FASTING.....
IF YOUR STRUGGLING WITH THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH.....
FASTING WEAKENS THE FLESH
SO THAT OUR SPIRIT CAN BECOME STRONGER IN STANDING AGAINST THOSE TEMPTATIONS
I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT A DIET
I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT STARVING YOUR SELF TO LOSE A FEW POUNDS
I’M TALKING ABOUT REPLACING YOUR FOOD AND YOUR DRINK WITH TIME SPENT WITH GOD
TIME IN HIS WORD
TIME ON YOUR KNEES IN PRAYER
TIME IN HIS PRESENCE SEEKING HIS FACE
GOD REWARDS THOSE WHO SEEK HIM NOT THOSE WHO FIND HIM
THOSE WHO FIND HIM,
THEIR REWARD IS ETERNITY IN HEAVEN
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
OH MY LORD....
I WAS READING THIS SCRIPTURE THE SCRIPTURE AND IT HIT ME HARD...
IT SAYS IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM WITHOUT FAITH......WHY?
because, without faith we stop seeking after Him.
Without faith we don’t draw near to Him
IN FACT WE OFTEN, act as if He really does not exist.
IT SAID…..
“ He rewards those who SEEK Him”
It doesn’t say.....
he rewards those who find him....WHY????
OH MY LORD....SOMEBODY HELP ME!
BECAUSE.....
The reward is in the struggle
The reward is found in perseverance
SEEKING IS HARD......
BUT HE’S SAYING....
I REWARD YOU FOR THE STRUGGLE
I REWARD YOU FOR THE PURSUIT
I REWARD YOU FOR THE HEADACHES
HE REWARDS THOSE WHO EARNESTLY SEEK HIM.
FASTING IS…SEEKING GOD
COME ON SOMEBODY.....
3. GIVING
GIVING DEFEATS GREED
GREED IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE AMERICANIZED
WE CALL IT....
BALANCED
OR BUDGET LIVING
SOME PEOPLE ARE SO SCARED OF GENEROSITY...
IN FACT.....
THE MOMENT THE PREACHER SAYS ANYTHING ABOUT GIVING OR GENEROSITY
WE BEGIN TO HAVE HOT FLASHES
IT’S LIKE AN ALERT GOES OFF IN YOU....PROSPERITY, PROSPERITY, PROSPERITY.
HE WANTS ALL MY MONEY
HE TRYING TO TAKE MY MONEY SO HE CAN BUY ALL THIS NEW STUFF FOR HIMSELF
OH COME ON SOMEBODY.....
THAT IS NOT HOW THAT WORKS....BUT....
EVEN IF THIS WERE THE CASE
LETS IMAGINE FOR A MOMENT....
THAT THE LOCAL CHURCH YOU GO TO IS CORRUPTED
THEY BUY THINGS THEY DON’T NEED TO BUY
LET’S SAY YOU COMPLETELY DISAGREE....WITH HOW THE LOCAL CHURCH SPENDS MONEY
IN MARK CHAPTER 12.....
THERE WAS A WIDOW WHO GAVE EVERYTHING SHE HAD....
TO A CORRUPT TEMPLE SYSTEM
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT JESUS SAW HER GIVING (SHE GAVE EVERYTHING SHE HAD)
GUESS WHAT?????
YOU DON’T SEE JESUS SAYING TO HER....
DO YOU KNOW HOW THEY SPEND THEIR MONEY?
HE DIDN’T TELL HER.....
YOU SHOULD SOW INTO JESUS CHRIST MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL
HE DOESN’T SAY....
WOMEN IF YOU WANT TO SOW SEED INTO GOOD SOIL....
MESSIAH SOIL IS THE BEST SOIL
HE DOESN’T SAY....
THIS TEMPLE STUFF IS A JOKE
I’M ABOUT TO TURN THE TABLES OVER....BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE ARE.....
CROOKED AND MAKING MONEY OFF OF WIDOWS AND POOR PEOPLE
THEY SHOULD BE SUPPORTING YOU
YOU SHOULDN’T BE SUPPORTING THEM
CHURCH LISTEN TO ME....
DO NOT LET ANY EXCUSES KEEP YOU FROM LIVING A LIFE OF GENEROSITY
WHEN YOU BUY STARBUCKS COFFEE
OR WHEN YOU GO OUT TO EAT....
WHEN YOU GO TO BUY THAT NEW IPHONE
YOU KNOW WHAT’S INTERESTING????
ILL BET, NEVER ONCE DO YOU ASK YOURSELF.....
I WONDER WHAT APPLE DOES WITH THEIR EXCESS CASH
OH MY LORD.....
NOT ONE MISSIONARY IS SUPPORTED BY APPLE
GAY PARADES ARE SUPPORTED BY APPLE
BUT FOR SOME REASON THIS DOESN’T BOTHER US
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO CHURCH...
EVERYONE BECOMES CALCULATED....WHY?
BECAUSE WE WANT TO MASK OUR GREED
OH COME ON CHURCH.......
I KNOW THIS HURTS
I DON’T CARE HOW YOU JUSTIFY IT
I’M CALLING IT WHAT IT IS....
IT’S US MASKING OUR GREED
THE BIBLE SAYS ......
YOU CAN NOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON (MONEY, WEALTH, GREED)
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
MAMMON WAS A DEMONIC FORCE THAT ATTACKED MEN AND SAINTS WITH GREED AND LOVE OF MONEY AND WEALTH.
CHURCH,
THE ONLY WAY TO OVERCOME MAMMON IN YOUR LIFE IS.....
THROUGH GIVING
I WISH THERE WAS A PRAYER LINE YOU COULD CALL TO BE DELIVERED
BUT THERE'S NOT
YOU CAN’T EVEN BREAK GREED THROUGH FASTING
THE ONLY WAY TO BREAK THE SPIRIT OF GREED IS....
BY GIVING
AMERICANS ARE THE MOST GREEDY PEOPLE THERE ARE....WHY?
BECAUSE AMERICA IS THE PLACE WHERE THE DEMON OF MATERIALISM
HAS TAKEN MORE PEOPLE OUT OF A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THAN ANYTHING
IT’S ALL ABOUT OUR STUFF
JESUS CLEARLY STATED....
IN THE LAST DAYS “YOUR HEART WILL BE WEIGHED DOWN”......
WATCH THIS.....
NOT WITH ALCOHOL FIRST
BUT WITH THE CARES OF THIS WORLD
I’M ALL FOR HAVING NICE THINGS AND BUILDING NEW AND NICER BUILDINGS BUT...
IF THERE IS NO FOUNDATION OF GENEROSITY FOR CHRISTIANS
THEN IT’S WRONG
FOR CENTURIES WE HAVE FOUGHT AND ARGUED OVER
SHOULD WE TITHE OR NOT TITHE
THIS IS RIDICULOUS
THIS IS FOR KINDERGARTEN TYPE CHRISTIANS
CHURCH.......
WE ARE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST
OF COURSE WE SHOULD TITHE AND GIVE
COME ON SOMEBODY....
I’M TALKING ABOUT MASKING GREED
WE STRUGGLE WITH GIVING 10% AND THINK HOW RIDICULOUS AND HARD THAT IS...
MAYBE WE SHOULD DO IT THE WAY THE BIBLE DID
PEOPLE GAVE EVERYTHING THEY HAD TO ADVANCE THE GOSPEL
IF GIVING TITHES TO YOUR CHURCH BOTHERS YOU THAT BAD....
YOU SHOULD PROBABLY GIVE 20% or even more
THE POINT IS....
IF THE SPIRIT OF MAMMON IS CAUSING YOU TO MASK GREED
DESTROY THE GREED BY GIVING EVEN MORE GENEROUSLY
CHURCH YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO GET CLOSE TO GOD
WITHOUT YOUR HEART BEING CONNECTED TO GOD
YOU CANNOT GET CONNECTED TO GOD IF...
YOUR TREASURE DOESN’T NOT LEAD YOUR HEART THERE
OH MY LORD.....
YOU CAN PRAY ALL YOU WANT TO
YOU CAN FAST ALL YOU WANT TO ....BUT
IT WILL NOT LEAD YOUR HEART TO GOD
THERE IS ONE THING THAT PULLS YOUR HEART
IT’S YOUR TREASURE
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
CHURCH....
WHATEVER YOU TREASURE IN YOUR LIFE.
WHATEVER IT IS THAT TUGS ON YOUR HEART STRINGS.
THIS IS WHERE YOUR HEART IS
OH COME ON SOMEBODY....
GOD DESERVES OUR TREASURE....
NOT OUR TRASH
NOT OUR LEFTOVERS
I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT TIPPING GOD
I’M TALKING ABOUT GIVING GOD OUR TREASURE
OUR VERY BEST
I’M CONVICTED EVERY TIME I GO OUT TO EAT AND I SAY...
- I WANT TO BLESS MY WAITRESS AS A CHRISTIAN....I’M GONNA GIVE 30, 40, 50% AS A TIP
YES!
YOU SHOULD BE A BLESSING TO YOUR WAITRESS
BE A WITNESS AND GIVE CHRISTIANS A GOOD NAME
BUT WHY DO WE STRUGGLE SO HARD TO BLESS GOD WITH OUR GIVING?
WHATEVER YOU TREASURE
THAT’S WHERE YOUR HEART IS
GIVING TREASURE HURTS
TREASURE IS WHAT MAKES YOU NERVOUS
TREASURE IS WHAT CAUSES YOU TO BREAK A SWEAT
WHERE IS YOUR TREASURE???
THE BIBLE SAYS....
GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER
I LOVE CHRISTMAS TIME AT MY HOUSE...
I LOVE TO WATCH MY KIDS GIVE PRESENTS TO EACH OTHER
EVERYONE HAS A SMILE ON THEIR FACE
THEIR NOT FIGHTING
THEY ARE CHEERFULLY GIVING TO ONE ANOTHER
NOW FOR THEM TO GIVE GIFTS,
THEY HAVE TO WORK HARD TO EARN THERE OWN MONEY
(TALK ABOUT NATALIE GIVING TO HER FRIENDS ALL THE TIME) (EVEN IF SHE GOES BROKE TO DO IT)
SHE LOVES GIVING
GIVING IS HARD SOMETIMES
BUT IT’S IMPORTANT TO GIVE FROM THE GENEROSITY OF YOUR HEART
NOT BECAUSE YOU FEEL OBLIGATED
NOT BECAUSE YOU FEEL PRESSURED
BUT BECAUSE YOU WANT TO
BECAUSE YOU WANT TO PLEASE GOD
AMEN???
......WORSHIP TEAM COME........
THOSE OF US WHO ARE AFRAID TO LOSE YOUR TREASURE FOR CHRIST...
YOU WILL STILL LOSE IT
EITHER FOR....
THE DEVIL (WORLDLY THINGS)
CORONA
THE GOVERNMENT
YOUR STILL GONNA LOSE IT
THE BIBLE SAYS IN MATTHEW....
IF WE DON’T GIVE TREASURE
THE MOTH AND RUST WILL DESTROY IT
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,
CHURCH....HEAR ME ON THIS....
I WANT YOU TO LIVE A LIFE OF....
PRAYER
A LIFE OF FASTING
BUT I NEED YOU TO ADD ONE MORE THING TO YOUR LIST....
BECAUSE WE SHOULD BE LIVING A LIFE OF EXTRAVAGANT GENEROSITY
GIVING TO THE POOR
GIVING TO THOSE IN NEED
GIVING TO OUR LOCAL CHURCH
GIVING TO MISSIONS
THESE ARE AREAS THAT WE MUST BE GIVING IN.
BUT PASTOR CHRIS...
YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND....
I CAN’T GIVE LIKE THAT
UNDERSTAND THIS....
A SACRIFICE ALWAYS SHIFTS YOU INTO A NEW SEASON
WE SEE THIS....
BEFORE ISRAEL ENTERED THE PROMISE LAND
GOD ASKED THEM FOR A CITY
IN THE WILDERNESS GOD SUPPLIED THEIR NEEDS WITH MANNA AND QUAIL
BUT BEFORE THEY GOT THEIR TREASURE GOD ASKED THEM FOR A SACRIFICE
HE DIDN’T ASK FOR 10%
HE ASKED FOR THE FIRST CITY (JERICHO)
TAKING JERICHO WASN’T EASY...
IT WAS A SEASON OF PREPARATION
A SEASON OF WARFARE
IT WAS A TIME WHEN MANNA STOPPED
IT WAS A TIME WHEN THEY NEEDED MONEY
IT WAS A TIME WHEN THEY NEEDED LIVESTOCK
IT WAS A TIME WHEN THEY WERE IN DESPERATE NEED
AND GOD SAYS...
I WANT JERICHO TO BELONG TO ME
LISTEN TO ME…WRITE THIS DOWN
EVERY NEW SEASON IN YOUR LIFE...
WILL REQUIRE A NEW SACRIFICE
IF WE WILL DO THESE THINGS AND MAKE THEM A PART OF OUR LIVES.....
YOU WILL BEGIN TO BUILD A FIRE FOR GOD IN YOUR LIFE
FOR THE NEXT PART OF THIS SERMON
NOW THAT WE KNOW HOW TO BUILD A FIRE
I WILL BE SHARING WITH YOU
HOW TO FUEL YOUR FIRE FOR GOD
HOW TO KEEP YOUR FIRE BURNING
......STAND TO YOUR FEET.......
CHURCH...
YOU CAN’T FAST GREED OUT
YOU HAVE TO GIVE GREED OUT
I’M JUST PREACHING THE WORD OF GOD TO YOU THIS MORNING.
IF YOU COMBINE THESE 3 DISCIPLINES
IT MAKES A 3 FOLD CORD
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT…
A 3 FOLD CORD IS NOT EASILY BROKEN
IN MATTHEW 6 JESUS ADDRESSED THESE 3 PROBLEMS
PRAYER
FASTING
AND GIVING
THESE ARE 3 DISCIPLINES THAT STRENGTHEN YOUR SPIRITUAL CORD
THEY STRENGTHEN YOUR SPIRITUAL MATURITY
AMEN?????
EVERY HEAD BOWED AND EYE CLOSED
WERE GOING TO OPEN THESE ALTARS THIS MORNING.....
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO RESPOND THIS MORNING TO THE SERMON
THERE MAY BE AREAS OF....
LUST
PRIDE
GREED
THAT YOU DIDN’T EVEN KNOW WAS THERE
ASK GOD TO PULL THE SCALES OFF YOUR EYES SO YOU CAN SEE THE AREAS WHERE YOU NEED TO BE DELIVERED.
AS THEY PLAY THIS MORNING....COME
MAYBE YOU NEED GOD TO HELP YOU OVERCOME ONE OF THESE AREAS
COME AND LET US PRAY WITH YOU