Peace that transcends understanding - part 2
Arresting Anxiousness • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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I WANT TO READ A FEW VERSES OF SCRIPTURES THIS MORNING.
WE ARE IN A SERIES CALLED ARRESTING ANXIOUSNESS
I WANT TO CONTINUE A MESSAGE I STARTED LAST WEEK TAKEN FROM PHIL. 4.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
THIS MORNING WE ARE STILL TALKING FROM THIS SUBJECT...
PUTTING ANXIOUSNESS UNDER ARREST
THIS PASSAGE ALLOWS US TO EASE DROP ON A CONVERSATION THAT A SPIRITUAL LEADER NAMED PAUL....
IS HAVING WITH A GROUP OF BELIEVERS IN NORTHERN GREECE IN A COLONY CALLED...
PHILLIPI
WHICH IS WHY THE BOOK IS CALLED....PHILIPPIANS
IT’S PAUL’S LETTER TO BELIEVERS IN PHILLIPI
IN PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 4 WE GET SOME INSIGHT INTO THIS CONVERSATION THAT...
PAUL IS HAVING WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEW LIFE...
BUT NEED TO LEARN HOW TO LIVE LIFE A NEW WAY
THEY HAVE NEW LIFE....THEY ARE WHAT WE WOULD CALL....SAVED....BORN AGAIN
BUT THEY ARE HAVING TO LEARN HOW TO LIVE THIS NEW LIFE.....A NEW WAY
PAUL IN THIS PARTICULAR PART OF THE PASSAGE IS GIVING THEM....
EXPOSURE.... AS TO THE WAY LIFE CAN BE LIVED...
AS IT RELATES TO ANXIOUSNESS
THIS LETTER TO THE BELIEVERS IN PHILLIPI...
SHOWS US THE POWER OF THE PRINCIPLE OF EXPOSURE
OH COME ON SOMEBODY....
EXPOSURE AWAKENS AN APPETITE FOR SOMETHING WE DIDN’T KNOW WE WANTED BECAUSE WE DIDN’T KNOW IT EXISTED.
ONCE SOMEONE HAS BEEN EXPOSED, THEY CAN’T BE UNEXPOSED
ONCE I’VE SEEN IT, I CAN’T UNSEE IT
THEREFORE EXPOSURE IS AN INSTRUMENT OF GOD’S KINGDOM
IT IS SOMETHING GOD USES TO ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSE FOR OUR LIFE
THEREFORE, EXPOSURE IS A GIFT OF GRACE
OH COME ON...FOLLOW ME
WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO IS NOT..
RANDOM OR COINCIDENTAL
BUT I BELIEVE THAT GOD STRATEGICALLY ARRANGES FOR US TO BE EXPOSED TO CERTAIN THINGS AT CERTAIN TIMES BECAUSE...
HE WANTS A CERTAIN APPETITE TO BE AWAKENED IN US...
NOT SO THAT WE WANT WHAT HE DID FOR THEM BUT....
SO THAT WE WANT ALL THAT HE WANTS TO DO FOR US
SOMEBODY SAY....EXPOSURE...
THIS IS WHY JEALOUSY IS SIMPLY...
MISMANAGED EXPOSURE
OH MY LORD...
THIS IS WHEN YOU BECOME ENVIOUS OF SOMETHING YOU SHOULD BE INSPIRED BY
HAS GOD ALLOWED US TO BE EXPOSED TO CERTAIN THINGS.....
JUST TO SHOW US THAT HE CAN DO IT FOR THEM????
OR.... IS HE EXPOSING ME TO WHAT HE DID FOR THEM....
TO BE AN ANCHOR OF BELIEF IN ME IN REGARDS TO WHAT HE CAN DO FOR ME
WHAT PAUL IS TRYING TO DO FOR THE PEOPLE IN PHILLIPI IS...
GIVE THEM SOME EXPOSURE
AND WHAT HE IS SAYING IS...
YOU HAVE BEEN LIVING LIFE IN A WAY THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE
HE’S SAYING....YOUR ANOINTED BUT YOUR STILL ANXIOUS
YOUR SAVED BUT YOUR STILL STRESSED
YOU ARE A WORSHIPER BUT WHEN YOU GET BACK IN THE CAR.......
YOU ARE A WORRIER
OH I NEED SOMEONE TO HELP ME...
PAUL IS SAYING....YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THIS...
YOU CAN LIVE THAT WAY ALL THE WAY TO HEAVEN IF YOU CHOOSE…..
BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE THAT WAY AND...
I WANT TO EXPOSE YOU TO ANOTHER WAY THAT YOU CAN LIVE WHERE....
YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE ARRESTED BY ANXIOUSNESS
BUT YOU CAN DECIDE TO PUT ANXIOUSNESS UNDER ARREST
CAN SOMEBODY GIVE HIM A SHOUT OF PRAISE.… IF YOU BELIEVE IT...
SO GOD IS GIVING THEM INSTRUCTION THROUGH PAUL THAT....SAYING
YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING
WHEN HE INSTRUCTS US TO DO SOMETHING...
HIS INSTRUCTION IS REVEALING POTENTIAL YOU POSSESS THAT....
YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU POSSESSED UNTIL HE GAVE YOU THE INSTRUCTION
OH COME ON...
SO WHEN HE IS INSTRUCTING YOU TO DO SOMETHING...HE IS TELLING YOU WHAT YOU CAN DO..
HE IS NOT ASKING YOU TO GIVE SOMETHING A TRY
HE IS SAYING.....HEY.....YOU HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO LIVE FREE OF ANXIOUSNESS
THIS IS NOT A SUGGESTION.....BUT AN INSTRUCTION OF TRUTH
ANXIOUSNESS IS A FEELING OF INNER UNREST AND WORRY THAT IS FUELED BY THE FEAR OF OUTCOMES WE MAY NEVER EXPERIENCE.
IT IS A EMOTIONAL THIEF THAT ROBS US OF TODAY’S PEACE IN ANTICIPATION OF TOMORROW’S PROBLEMS.
AND PAUL IS TRYING TO TELL US THAT....
WE CAN BE FREE FROM THIS....
HE IS TELLING BELIEVERS.......
THAT THEY CAN BE FREED FROM THIS
THIS IS AN EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION
OH COME ON SOMEBODY....
JUNE 19TH...1865
ALSO KNOW AS JUNETEENTH
IT’S LIKE A SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL JUNETEENTH
THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION HAD ALREADY BEEN ISSUED
THEY WERE FREE BUT DIDN’T KNOW IT
PAUL IS SAYING YOU HAVE BEEN LIVING THIS WAY BECAUSE...
YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO LIVE THIS WAY
THEY HAD A LOT TO BE ANXIOUS ABOUT...
THEY WERE DEALING WITH POLITICAL PERSECUTION
BECAUSE PHILLIPI WAS A ROMAN COLONY THAT WAS DEEPLY LOYAL TO THE ROMAN EMPEROR
AND THE PHILIPPIAN CHRISTIANS ALLEGIANCE TO JESUS AS LORD CLASHED WITH.....
CAESAR BEING LORD
AND AS A RESULT THEY WERE DEALING WITH HARASSMENT AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION
AND EVEN POLITICAL VIOLENCE FOR THEIR FAITH
NOT ONLY WERE THEY DEALING WITH POLITICAL PERSECUTION
THEY WERE DEALING WITH ECONOMIC HARDSHIP
BECAUSE NOW THEY WERE LIVING THEIR LIFE ACCORDING TO CHRISTIAN ETHICS
AND SOME OF THE ACTIVITY THAT THEY ENGAGED IN TO GET INCOME...
WAS NO LONGER SUITABLE FOR THEM
SO NOW THAT THEY ARE CHRISTIANS THEY ARE SAYING....
WE WILL NO LONGER ENGAGE IN....
PREDATORY, DISHONEST AND EXPLOITATIVE PRACTICES TO GET INCOME
SO....NOW THAT THEY HAVE A STANDARD SPIRITUALLY
THEY ARE SUFFERING ECONOMICALLY
OH LORD HELP US....
I LOVE JESUS....BUT I GOT BILLS
AND I KNOW YOU WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT
BUT THERE IS A CERTAIN WAY THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO TAKING CARE OF YOUR FAMILY AND PAYING YOUR BILLS
AND NOW ALL OF THE SUDDEN YOU HAVE THIS SPIRITUAL REVOLUTIONARY EXPERIENCE
AND THIS IS A CONFLICT WITH YOUR CHRISTIAN VALUES.....
THAT IS A RECIPE FOR SOME SERIOUS ANXIOUSNESS
OH COME ONE SOMEBODY....
I DON’T WANT TO UPSET GOD OR THE BANK...LOL
SO THEY GOT.....
POLITICAL PERSECUTION
ECONOMIC HARDSHIP
AND THEY GOT SPIRITUAL CONFUSION
BECAUSE THEY ARE NEW IN THE FAITH
SO THEIR FAITH IS FRAGILE
THEY HAD JUDAIZERS
THESE WERE PEOPLE COMING IN AND TELLING THEM...
YOU ARE NOT SAVED BECAUSE YOUR NOT SAVED THE WAY I SAY YOU SHOULD BE SAVED
THEY WERE TRYING TO CONFLATE JEWISH LAW WITH SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH
AND SO THEY WERE TELLING THEM...
YOU STILL GOTTA DO THE STUFF IN THE OLD TESTAMENT..
AND SO...
THEY ARE DEALING WITH POLITICAL PERSECUTION
ECONOMIC HARDSHIP
AND SPIRITUAL CONFUSION
AND IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF THAT...
THEY ARE DEALING WITH RELATIONAL DRAMA
BECAUSE ANXIOUSNESS PRODUCES IRRITABILITY
AND WHEN YOUR IRRITABLE....YOUR NOT GRACEFUL RELATIONALLY
OH COME ON SOMEBODY....YOU KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT
WHEN YOU IRRITATED.....
YOU ARE NOT GENTLE
SO WHEN HE TELLS THEM IN VERSE 5
5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
HE IS SAYING...
YOUR ANXIOUSNESS ABOUT OTHER AREAS IS CAUSING YOU TO MIS-MANAGE YOURSELF RELATIONALLY
SO THE PROBLEM YOUR DEALING WITH WITH ANXIOUSNESS IS...
PRODUCING IRRITABILITY IN YOU
YOUR IRRITABILITY IS CREATING RELATIONAL DAMAGE
SO NOW YOUR TRYING TO FIX A PROBLEM BY CREATING ANOTHER PROBLEM
AND NOW THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE FOR YOU TO BE ANXIOUS ABOUT
SO PAUL IS SAYING....YALL GOT ALOT YOUR DEALING WITH BUT....
YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING
I LOVE PAUL HERE....
HE IS NOT JUST A THEOLOGIAN BUT HE IS A PASTORAL THEOLOGIAN
WHICH MEANS HE DOESN’T WANT TO JUST GIVE YOU BIBLICAL TRUTH
HE WANTS TO BUILD A BRIDGE TO YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE
THE PASTOR IN HIM WON’T JUST LET HIM TELL PEOPLE....”BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING”
THE PASTOR IN HIM WANTS TO TEACH THEM ...HOW ....TO NOT BE ANXIOUS
HE GIVES THEM SOME INSIGHT IN THE TEXT ON HOW WE CAN PUT OUR ANXIOUSNESS UNDER ARREST.
WE TALKED ABOUT A COUPLE OF THESE LAST WEEK...
ADDRESS OUR INTERPRETATION
PAUL WROTE THIS LETTER WHILE IN PRISON IN ROME
MOST PEOPLE IN PRISON ARE THINKING ABOUT HOW THEIR GONNA GET OUT
PAUL IS THINKING ABOUT HOW HE IS GOING TO GET THEM OUT OF ANXIOUSNESS
WHAT CREATES ANXIOUSNESS IS NOT ALWAYS
THE EVENT THAT YOU ARE IN
BUT IT’S WHAT YOU THINK IT MEANS
IT’S THE CONVERSATIONS YOU START HAVING WITH YOURSELF ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS
AND IF YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO INTERUPT THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND...
CATCH YOURSELF.....YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF..
IN THIS DOWNWARD MENTAL SPIRAL
AND YOU WILL END UP IN DESPAIR AND ANXIOUSNESS
BECAUSE YOU ARE ANTICIPATING THE WORST
SO...
NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TO ADDRESS MY INTERPRETATION BUT...
I HAVE TO EXPRESS INTENTIONAL APPRECIATION
WE TALKED ABOUT THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF GRATITUDE...
WHICH COMES FROM PRACTICING SOMETHING CALLED PRAISE OR WORSHIP
THIS SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE BRINGS THE PRESENCE OF GOD
WHICH IS A TEMPORARY EVICTION OF EVERYTHING THAT IS NOT FROM HIM
SO WHEN YOUR IN HIS PRESENCE YOU FEEL YOUR GOOD
IT IS BECAUSE HIS PRESENCE EVICTS EVERYTHING THAT IS NOT LIKE HIM
OH COME ON....
DAVID SAID....
IN YOUR PRESENCE THERE IS FULLNESS OF JOY
MANY PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR PEACE
BUT YOU ONLY FIND PEACE THROUGH CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN YOUR IN HIS PRESENCE
SO IF YOU WANT TO FIND PEACE...YOU GOTTA FIND HIS PRESENCE
TODAY I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU A THIRD THING HE SAYS IN THE TEXT
WE HAVE TO ENGAGE IN STRATEGIC SUPPLICATION
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
IN KJV IT SAYS.....
BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION
IT IS STRATEGIC PRAYER
HE IS SAYING THAT...
STRATEGIC PRAYER IS A TOOL THAT HELPS ARREST ANXIOUSNESS
BUT HE USES THE WORD....PETITION OR SUPPLICATION..........
WHY?
BECAUSE ALL PRAYER IS NOT THE SAME
OH COME ON SOMEBODY....
PAUL..... THE SAME PERSON WHO WROTE THE LETTER TO THE PHILIPPIANS....
IS NOW WRITING A LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS AND HE SAYS.....
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
SO I NEED TO KNOW....WHAT KIND OF PRAYER TO USE BASED ON...
THE KIND OF SITUATION I AM IN
SO WHEN SOMEONE SAYS....
I AM PRAYING
MY QUESTION IS......WHAT KIND?
IT’S NOT THAT PRAYER DOESN’T WORK BUT...
SOMETIMES YOUR WRITING THE WRONG PRESCRIPTION FOR A PARTICULAR DIAGNOSIS
IT’S NOT THAT THE MEDICINE DON’T WORK
IT’S THAT THE MEDICINE DON’T WORK FOR THAT
YOU DON’T NEED STITCHES WHEN YOU GOT A SINUS INFECTION
YOU DON’T NEED ALLEGRA WHEN YOU GOT A CUT ON YOUR ARM
IT IS NOT THAT THE MEDICINE DON’T WORK
BUT IT DOES NOT WORK FOR THAT
PAUL SAYS.....ALL KINDS OF PRAYER
THERE IS A PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
WE CALL PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LEANING TOWARD THIS......INTERCESSORS
OH COME ON SOMEBODY....
WE GOT ANY FOOTBALL FANS IN HERE???
INTERCESSORS ARE INTERCEPTORS
MY LORD I WISH SOMEBODY WOULD HELP ME
INTERCEPTORS ARE...
WHEN SOMEONE ON ONE TEAM TRIES TO THROWN THE BALL TO SOME ONE ON THE SAME TEAM
BUT SOMEBODY FROM THE OTHER TEAM INTERCEPTS THE BALL
SO SOMETHING COULD HAVE GOT TO THEM
AND WOULD HAVE GOT TO THEM
BUT IT DID NOT GET TO THEM BECAUSE
SOMETHING INTERCEPTED IT
OH MY LORD....
AND WHEN YOU ARE AN INTERCESSOR...
THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT THE ENEMY TRIES TO THROW AT SOMEONES DIRECTION
BUT YOUR PRAYERS.....INTERCEPTED IT
I’M TALKING ABOUT.....SOMEBODY WAS GOING TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT BUT....
YOUR PRAYERS INTERCEPTED IT....
A LAY OFF GOT INTERCEPTED
DESTRUCTION GOT INTERCEPTED
MOMMAS AND DADDYS......YOUR CHILDREN WERE HEADED FOR DESTRUCTION.....
BUT YOUR PRAYERS INTERCEPTED IT
A PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
IT MEANS TO STAND IN THE GAP FOR SOMEBODY ELSE
IT MEANS....I’M GONNA PUT MY PRAYERS BETWEEN THEM AND THEIR PROBLEM
IT IS.... ME USING MY FAITH FOR SOMEONE ELSE
IT IS WHAT MARY AND MARTHA DID IN JOHN 11. FOR LAZARUS
HE IS DEAD.....
WHEN YOUR DEAD YOU CAN’T PRAY FOR YOURSELF
BUT FAITH IS SO POWERFUL
OH COME ON SOMEBODY...
FAITH IS POWERFUL...
JESUS RESPONDED TO MARY AND MARTHA
AND WHEN LAZARUS COULD NOT BELIEVE FOR HIS OWN RESURRECTION
JESUS TOOK THE FAITH OF MARY AND MARTHA AND PRODUCES A MIRACLE IN LAZARUS
LORD HELP ME....
SOME OF YOU HAVE A LAZARUS IN YOUR LIFE
AND HE OR SHE DOES NOT HAVE THE FAITH TO EXPERIENCE RESURRECTION BUT....
IF YOU WILL BE LIKE MARY AND MARTHA
I AM TELLING YOU THAT THE SAME GOD THAT DID IT FOR THEM.....CAN DO IT FOR YOU
WE GOT INTERCESSION
WE GOT INVOCATION
IT MEANS TO INVOKE...HIM
NOT SOMETHING FROM HIM
WITH INVOCATION I AM NOT ASKING TO GIVE ME SOMETHING
I AM ASKING...LORD GIVE ME YOU
I AM NOT SAYING SEND SOMETHING
LORD I AM ASKING FOR.....YOURSELF
BENEDICTION.....WHICH MEANS....
FINAL BLESSING
SO DURING OUR SERVICE WE HAVE PRAYER OF...
INVOCATION
PRAYERS OF SUPPLICATION
WE GOT PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
AND WE CONCLUDE WITH PRAYER OF BENEDICTION
WE DON’T JUST DO THIS TO DO IT..
IN A BENEDICTION WE ARE ASKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN...
THE INVOCATION
THE INVOCATION WE ARE ASKING HIM TO SHOW UP
SUPPLICATION WE ARE ASKING HIM TO SEND SOMETHING TO US
BENEDICTION....WE ARE ASKING HIM TO SEAL AND PROTECT WHAT WE ASK HIM TO SEND
OH THAT IS GOOD...
SO PAUL SAID....THIS IS SUPPLICATION
IT MEANS TO REQUEST
IT MEANS TO PETITION....TO ASK
STRATEGIC SUPPLICATION
DR. PETER C WAGONER WHO IS THE...
FORMER DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL OF CHURCH GROWTH AND MISSIONS AT FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
HE CALLS THIS....SMART BOMB PRAYING
WHICH IN THE CONTEXT OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE EMPHASIZES....
TARGETED STRATEGIC PRAYERS AND AT THE SOURCE OF THE ISSUE....
NOT THE SYMPTOMS OF AN ISSUE
THIS IS THE KIND OF PRAYER THAT DISMANTLES THE ACTUAL STRONGHOLD
SO HERE IS MY QUESTION....
ARE YOU PRAYING FOR WHAT IS MAKING YOU ANXIOUS
OR ARE YOU PRAYING FOR YOUR ANXIOUSNESS
BECAUSE IF I JUST PRAY FOR WHAT IS MAKING ME ANXIOUS TO BE REMOVED....
SOMETHING ELSE IS GONNA HAPPEN THAT MAKES ME ANXIOUS DOWN THE ROAD
SO I DON’T NEED TO PRAY ABOUT WHAT IS MAKING ME ANXIOUS
I NEED TO PRAY THAT GOD DELIVERS ME FROM MY ANXIOUSNESS
SO PAUL SAID.....
SUPPLICATION IS A WAY TO ARREST ANXIOUSNESS
SO THIS MEANS...THAT ANXIOUSNESS CAN BE A SYMPTOM OF...
AN ANEMIC PRAYER LIFE
NOW....
WHEN SOMEONE IS ANEMIC....
IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT THEY DON’T HAVE BLOOD
IT MEANS THAT THEY DON’T HAVE ENOUGH IRON IN IT
THEY GOT BLOOD...BUT SOMETHING IS MISSING...
OH MY LORD.....
SO WHEN I SAY ANEMIC PRAYER LIFE...
IT DOESN’T MEAN I DON’T HAVE ONE
IT MEANS IRON IS MISSING
AND GOD USES THE ANXIOUSNESS TO EXPOSE THE LACK OF IRON
THEM LITTLE DRIVE BY PRAYERS YOU BEEN DOING....
THEY AREN’T GONNA ARREST ANXIOUSNESS
OH COME ON SOMEBODY...
ANXIOUSNESS IS
AGGRESSIVE
RESILIENT
AND RELENTLESS
ONE DAY YOUR FREE FROM IT AND THEN IT COMES BACK
AND YOU THINK YOUR LITTLE CUTE PRAYERS ARE GONNA WORK
WHERE IS THE IRON
WHAT IS IRON PASTOR.....
SPIRITUALLY.....IRON IS FIVE THINGS
SINCERE PRAYER
AN APPROACH TO PRAYER THAT IS FREE FROM THE GRIP OF PRETENSION
PRETENSION IS THE ACT OF PRETENDING OR PUTTING ON THE APPEARANCE OF SOMETHING THAT IS NOT GENUINE
I THINK SOMETIMES WE PRAY AND GOD IS LIKE...
SO WHEN ARE WE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE REAL STUFF....LOL
WHAT ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU HATE THEM RIGHT NOW....CAN WE TALK ABOUT THAT
HE IS SAYING....I CAN’T GET THE HATE OUT OF YOUR HEART IF...
YOUR GONNA PRETEND LIKE IT’S NOT THERE
ADMIT SO WE CAN FIX IT..
I SEE IT’S THERE.....I KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS
WHEN ARE WE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE REAL ISSUE HERE
OH MY LORD....
GOD DOES NOT WANT TO JUST HEAL WHAT IS BURDENING US
HE WANTS TO HEAL OUR BLINDNESS TO OUR PRIDE THAT KEEPS SHOWING UP IN THE WAY WE COME TO HIM
PRETENSION IS PRIDE...
YOU ARE BRINGING EGO TO THE FATHER
HE KNOWS YOUR NOT STRONG....
STOP PRETENDING LIKE YOU ARE...
HE KNOWS YOUR ABOUT TO FALL APART....JUST BE REAL
STOP TRYING TO HOLD IT ALL TOGETHER WITH THE FATHER
2. SPIRIT LED PRAYER
GUIDED AND GOVERNED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
PEOPLE MISS THIS SO MUCH...
PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF INTERCESSION
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A STORE OR SOMEWHERE AND YOU FEEL A NEED TO PRAY FOR SOMEONE
YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHY....BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT KNOW
SOME OF YOU ARE SO BUSY....THERE IS NO PLACE FOR YOU TO HEAR THE HOLY SPIRIT PROMPTING YOU......OUCH
1 THESSALONIANS 5. TELLS US TO
“QUENCH NOT THE SPIRIT”
NOT OBEYING PROMPTINGS IS WHAT IS QUENCHING THE SPIRIT
SHUTTING DOWN A SHOUT IN NOT QUENCHING THE SPIRIT
IF YOU LOOK AT THE CONTEXT OF THIS SCRIPTURE..
THIS WASNT EVEN GIVEN IN THE CONTEXT OF CORPORATE WORSHIP
IT WAS GIVEN FOR THEIR DAILY LIVES
THE PROMPTINGS
THE NUDGES
THE HUNCHES.....DON’T QUENCH IT
PAY ATTENTION
3. SPECIFIC PRAYER
TARGETS NOT ONLY THE FRUIT OF ANXIOUSNESS BUT ALSO GOES DEEPER TO ADDRESS THE ROOT OF ANXIOUSNESS, THE UNDERLYING CAUSES SUCH AS, UNRESOLVED FEARS, UNMET NEEDS, OR MISPLACED DEPENDENCIES.
LORD HELP ME WITH THE IDOL OF COMFORT...
COMFORT CAN BE AT THE ROOT OF ANXIOUSNESS
OH COME ON....
YOU KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT
IF A SITUATION COMES THAT MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE
IT CREATES......ANXIOUSNESS
IF IT’S NOT SPECIFIC....IT DOESN’T HAVE IRON IN IT
...........WORSHIP TEAM COME.......
4. SUBMISSIVE PRAYER
AN APPROACH TO PRAYER THAT SEES PRAYER AS A WAY TO ACCOMPLISH GOD’S WILL NOT MANIPULATE OUR WISHES
I THINK THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT GOD REMOVES ONLY ON HIS TIMETABLE
BECAUSE SOMETIMES THINGS WE WANT HIM TO REMOVE IMMEDIATELY IS LIKE A THORN
AND HE IS LIKE...
I AM NOT GOING TO REMOVE THIS ANXIOUSNESS IMMEDATELY UNTIL
I CULTIVATE THIS HABIT OF PRAYER IN YOU THAT IS SO DEEP THAT....
WHEN THE ANXIOUSNESS LEAVES YOU...
YOU WON’T LEAVE THAT KIND OF PRAYER
OH I WISH SOMEBODY WAS GETTING THIS...
I AM GOING TO LET THIS THORN LINGER SO THAT...
I CAN MAKE SURE THAT YOUR RESPONSE IN PRAYER IS NOT JUST AN ACT OF DESPERATION
JUST FOR LIBERATION FROM ANXIOUSNESS
I WANT PRAYER TO BECOME A PART OF YOUR CHARACTER SO I AM GOING TO LET THIS LINGER FOR AWHILE
......................................SLOW IT DOWN............
SO WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SUBMIT....
HE SAYS....NO I’M GONNA GIVE YOU GRACE TO HANDLE THIS RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW YOUR CHRISTIANITY IS TOO CRISES DEPENDENT
I HAVE TO KEEP YOU IN CRISES TO KEEP YOU CLOSE TO ME
I AM GOING TO WORK SOMETHING IN YOU THAT BECOMES SO APART OF YOU
THAT YOU DON’T LEAVE ME ONCE YOU LEAVE CRISES
IF IT’S NOT SUBMISSIVE.....IT DOESN’T HAVE IRON IN IT....
5. SERIAL PRAYER
UNWAVERING, UNYIELDING, UNRELENTING PRAYER THAT SURVIVES DISCOURAGEMENT, OVERCOMES DISAPPOINTMENT, AND PERSISTS PAST DOUBT
WHEN YOUR DEALING WITH DOUBT....
CAN YOU PRAY THROUGH IT
LORD WE NEED YOU.....BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT’S SO HARD
DO WE HAVE ANY PRAYER WARRIORS IN HERE THAT KNOW WHAT IT MEANS...
TO PRAY THROUGH
OH COME ON....
PRAY THROUGH THE TEARS
I AM DISCOURAGED BUT I’M GONNA PRAY THROUGH IT
I WANNA QUIT BUT....I’M GONNA PRAY
I AM GONNA PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS
OH COME ON.....P.U.S.H
WE GOT TO LEARN TO PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS
TO CONTEND IN PRAYER
MY LORD......
WE HAVE TO BE RELENTLESS AGAINST ANXIOUSNESS
BECAUSE ANXIOUSNESS WILL BE RELENTLESS AGAINST YOU
WE HAVE TO PUSH PACK AGAINST DARKNESS
I REFUSE TO KEEP LIVING THIS WAY.....
.......STAND TO YOUR FEET...........
DID YOU KNOW THAT JESUS DEALT WITH ANXIOUSNESS????
IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE
THE CROSS MADE HIM ANXIOUS
SO ANXIOUS THAT HIS SWEAT BECAME LIKE DROPS OF BLOOD
AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GARDEN HE PRAYED A SINCERE PRAYER....NO PRETENSION
“IF IT’S POSSIBLE, PLEASE LET THIS CUP PASS FROM ME”
FATHER IF THERE IS A WAY OUT....LET IT BE
OH COME ON.....THAT IS REAL
HE HAD IRON IN HIS PRAYER
SPIRIT LEAD
HE WAS SUBMITTED....
NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS
SERIAL PRAYER
HE HAD TO PRAY THROUGH THAT ANXIOUSNESS
AND THE ANXIOUSNESS CREATED IRRITABILITY IN HIM....YES IT DID
BECAUSE HE CAME OUT TO THE DISCIPLES AND WHAT HAPPENED
THEY WERE SLEEPING
“CAN’T YOU WATCH WITH ME FOR ONE HOUR”
ANXIOUSNESS CREATES IRRITABILITY
HEADS BOWED AND EYES CLOSED.....
RIGHT NOW JUST BEGIN TO FOCUS EVERYTHING ON HIM
PUSH AWAY YOUR ANXIOUSNESS
THE BIBLE SAYS...
WHOM THE SON SETS FREE IS FREE INDEED
HE WANTS TO SET YOU FREE TODAY
FOR SOME OF YOU...YOUR AT THE END OF YOUR ROPE
THIS MORNING HE IS HERE AND CAN SET YOU FREE
DO YOU BELIEVE IT....
THESE ALTARS ARE OPEN.....COME AND SEEK HIS FACE
