Acts Ministry (team)

ACTS MINISTRY

T.E.A.M.

AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT, AS HE WAS PRAYING IN A CERTAIN PLACE, WHEN HE CEASED, ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES SAID UNTO HIM, LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY, AS JOHN ALSO TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES.

INTRODUCTION

We are starting a journey this month, a journey which is a new walk and not just a talk.

Many people have talk a good game, many people are good armchair quarterbacks and coaches.

But we here at Southpointe , we refuse to be that in our walk, in our journey.

You see ACTS is just about being the church, not just acting like the church.

I want to talk to you this month about four areas in the ministry of the church that I believe covers the whole duty of the church.

So each week we are going to share with you what I believe that God has dropped in my heart several years ago and it deals with the word T.E.A.M.

But before we get into that: The key to fulfilling the ministry that God created all of us for, deals with us changing our mentality from Kingship to Servanthood.

BUT HE THAT IS GREATEST AMONG YOU SHALL BE YOUR SERVANT.

SERVANT: IS A PERSON DEVOTED TO ONE ANOTHER OR TO A CAUSE, CREED.

When we think of servant, we think about one that is lower than us, one that serve is the one uneducated, weak, but we really have it right the opposite, a servant is one that is strong, intelligent, and the scriptures states is the greatest among you.

T.E.A.M.

When we think of servant, we think about one that is lower than us, one that serve is the one uneducated, weak, but we really have it right the opposite, a servant is one that is strong, intelligent, and the scriptures states is the greatest among you.

AND WHOSOEVER WILL BE CHIEF AMONG YOU, LET HIM BE YOUR SERVANT:

I want you to understand something tonight, we misquote and misused the word of God.

Many will say, we are the head and not the tail. And we will cry out we are the kings and priests.

But understand you can not get to that position unless you are a servant.

So our church Southpointe , we will be a house of servants.

Now listen to this:

HIS LORD SAID UNTO HIM, WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT; THOU HAST BEEN FAITHFUL OVER A FEW THINGS, I WILL MAKE THEE RULER OVER MANY THINGS: ENTER THOU INTO THE JOY OF THY LORD.

He didn’t say well done , good and faithful king, or priest, head and not tail person, no He said well done , my good and faithful servant.

Do you understand me now. We are servant. Or we are not His.

Servants serve, Servants are devoted. But being a servant, show that we are the head and not the tail, we are the child of the King, we are Priest and Kings because are Servants.

Now that bring me to T.E.A.M. (PLAY THE A-TEAM THEME SONG)

The first Letter: T--- Talk--- we need so badly today people to be prayer warriors.

IF MY PEOPLE, WHICH ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, SHALL HUMBLE THEMSELVES, AND PRAY, AND SEEK MY FACE, AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS; THEN WILL I HEAR FROM HEAVEN, AND WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN, AND WILL HEAL THEIR LAND.

Is this scripture, so amazing because it start with the word IF and then goes to using a powerful word:::

HUMBLE—HEB. DEFINITION—TO BEND A KNEE, BRING DOWN LOW INTO SUBJECTION.

WEB DEFINITION: HAVING OR SHOWING AWARENESS OF ONE’S DEFECTS; NOT PROUD; NOT SELF-ASSERTIVE.

This is showing the need of God in my life. If I am not a praying person then basically I am saying I don’t need God in my life, I can run this life without you.

But if I am a praying person then I am saying to God, I know my defects, I know that I can’t make the correct decision in my life. I know that I don’t have the power to go thru this life.

I need you in my life. I need you to control, and to strength and to guide me. I can’t make it without you.

Now are you a praying person?

I mean are you really a praying person? Do you totally depend on God?

AND ENOCH WALKED WITH GOD: AND HE WAS NOT; FOR GOD TOOK HIM.

The Hebrew word for walked—(halak)--- contains the idea of following, adhering to, and so being conversant or commuting with God.

Now catch this, Enoch’s testimony was that he pleased God is clearly linked to his faith.

It is reasonable to conclude that Enoch believed God was real, and believed it to the degree that he diligently sought God by constant prayer and communion.

Now hang on to this: Enoch’s reward was that he was physical removed from the earth never tasting death. So his prayer life led him directly into heaven.

I am not saying that God will remove you from this earth and you not taste death but I am saying that your prayer life can and will remove you from experience death in many situation in your life.

And your prayer life will give you strength and power to be able to go thru things.

Your prayer life will take you to the portal of Heaven right into the throne room of God.

LET US THEREFORE COME BOLDLY UNTO THE THRONE OF GRACE, THAT WE MAY OBTAIN MERCY, AND FIND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED.

I like those words: Grace, Mercy, help, need.

So my question to you this morning, Would you like to have grace,

mercy and help in time of need.

I believe that Jesus want to give to us everything that He has to bless us.

So Jesus try to motivate us to pray>>>>

AND WHEN THOU PRAYEST, THOU SHALT NOT BE

AS THE HYPOCRITES ARE: FOR THEY LOVE TO PRAY

STANDING IN THE SYNAGOGUES AND IN THE CORNERS OF

THE STREETS, THAT THEY MAY BE SEEN OF MEN. VERILY I

SAY UNTO YOU, THEY HAVE THEIR REWARD.

BUT THOU, WHEN THOU PRAYEST, ENTER INTO

THY CLOSET, AND WHEN THOU HAST SHUT THY DOOR, PRAY

TO THY FATHER WHICH IS IN SECRET; AND THY FATHER

WHICH SEETH IN SECRET SHALL REWARD THEE OPENLY.

BUT WHEN YE PRAY, USE NOT VAIN REPETITIONS,

AS THE HEATHEN DO: FOR THEY THINK THAT THEY SHALL

BE HEARD FOR THEIR MUCH SPEAKING.

BE NOT YE THEREFORE LIKE UNTO THEM: FOR YOUR FATHER KNOWETH WHAT THINGS YE HAVE NEED OF, BEFORE YE ASK HIM.

I know you think that these are negative words but He’s really addressing motivation.

You see, to be an effective prayer our prayers must spring from proper motivation. That is the first rule.

Prayers said only to attract the attention and admiration of people is not prayer at, but merely exaltation of self.

The Pharisees want to be seen and applauded. Jesus called them hypocrite.

You see, for prayers to be accepted by the Father, they must be directed toward the ear of the Father and not toward men.

Jesus give three instructions to help us pray with a proper motivation.

So let look at them:

1. PRAY WITHOUT SEEKING ATTENTION

AND WHEN THOU PRAYEST, THOU SHALT NOT BE AS THE HYPOCRITES ARE: FOR THEY LOVE TO PRAY STANDING IN THE SYNAGOGUES AND IN THE CORNERS OF THE STREETS, THAT THEY MAY BE SEEN OF MEN. VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, THEY HAVE THEIR REWARD.

Christ’s instruction to His followers is that they should enter their room and shut the door when they pray, this does not suggest that public prayers is improper.

But it does deal with the believer’s need for avoiding any thought of using prayer as a means of gaining the admiration of people.

THE WORD (CLOSET) IS A TRANSLATION OF THE GREEK WORD (TAMEION) AND IT MEANS INNERMOST ROOM, OR HIDDEN SECRET ROOM.

It just simply means a place of privacy.

Basically, this is dealing with God and you, eye to eye, heart to heart, no outside influence or interruption.

Not concerned about what others might be thinking about what you are saying. It is just a heart to heart talk with the Father.

Any other prayer is just get attention of men and not God and God said they will get what they really want, and cannot expect anything from Him.

2. TO SECRET YOURSELF

BUT THOU, WHEN THOU PRAYEST, ENTER INTO THY CLOSET, AND WHEN THOU HAST SHUT THY DOOR, PRAY TO THY FATHER WHICH IS IN SECRET; AND THY FATHER WHICH SEETH IN SECRET SHALL REWARD THEE OPENLY.

The word secret is from a Greek word “krupto” which means “to conceal”

What this does, now I want you to listen to this: It calls attention to God’s omnipresence. Being that God is everywhere.

He may be concealed from human eye, but He is without a doubt present in the secret place.

The awareness of this reality on the part of the praying person should be a great stimulant in our faith.

This is a constant reminder that God sees you praying that means even if it but a thought.

God will meets us in our secret room, and transform us into His Temple.

I want you to know that when your heart is broken and you cannot speak to others and you don’t even have the words to say:

God hears, God knows and God will answer.

3. DON’T BABBLE, (VAIN REPETITION)

BUT WHEN YE PRAY, USE NOT VAIN REPETITIONS, AS THE HEATHEN DO: FOR THEY THINK THAT THEY SHALL BE HEARD FOR THEIR MUCH SPEAKING.

VAIN REPETITIONS GREEK WORD “BATTOLOGEO” WHICH MEANS: TO SPEAK WITHOUT THINKING.

Meaningless and mechanically repeating phrases which do not carry weight with God, it is only the cry of the heart that get the attention of God.

It is not the noise of the lips that get God’s attention.

I am not saying for us not to repeat prayers, but it is the empty mindless repetition.

Repetition can express our deepest emotions.

But things that are not coming from the heart, that just what we do.

Examples: (Night, night prayer, or your before you eat prayer)

Prayer is expressing our submission to the will of God and it is a means of exercising our faith toward God.

I WILL THEREFORE THAT MEN PRAY EVERY WHERE, LIFTING UP HOLY HANDS, WITHOUT WRATH AND DOUBTING.

PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.

We believe here at Southpointe that prayer is very very important.

I want to challenge you to get involved in praying. ACTS.

Four areas that you can get involved in:

1. Prayer Chain

2. Preparing the house, Sunday morning, or Wednesday night

3. Prayer team

4. Prayer meeting on Friday