Keys

Keys—What Doors Are You Opening and Closing?

A Lifestyle of Prayer: Part 4                                          February 22, 2009

Revelation 1:18, 3:7                                                     Pastor Jeff Bassette

I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. (Rev. 1:18)

‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. “ (Rev. 3:7)

Our God Is…

The One Who _______________________.          (Rev 1:18, 3:7)

The One Who shuts and opens, binds and looses.  (Matt. 12:22-29)

The One Who ______________, talks about us.    (Rom 8:26-27, 34)

Prayer Is…

Being _____________ the conversation within the Trinity. (Ep 2:18)

Being _______________ that can open and shut.    (Matt. 16:19)

5 Prayer Keys

• ________--  A burdened heart. (Is. 40:11, Rm. 5:5, 2 Cor 11:28-29)
• ________--  A broken heart.    (Ps 34:18, 51:17, 1 Peter 5:5-7)
• ________--  A bold heart. (Js 5:15, 1 Jn 5:14-15, Hb 11:1, Rm 10:17)
• ________--  A shared heart. (James 4:7-8, Eph 6:11, Matt 16:19)
• ________--  A thankful heart. (2 Cor 10:4-5, Phil 4:4-8)

guidance for slides is on pages below

Keys—What Doors Are You Opening and Closing?         (POWER POINT SLIDES GUIDANCE)

Use graphic of keys as background for slides on which to place the text, if possible.

Text Slide:  I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. (Rev. 1:18)

Text Slide:  ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. “ (Rev. 3:7)

Slides for each bullet below:

Our God Is…

The One Who _holds the keys, to life/death_.          (Rev 1:18, 3:7)

Text slide:  Rev 1:18 and 3:7 from above

The One Who shuts and opens, binds and looses.  (Matt. 12:22-29)

Text slide:  Matt 12:22-29, may not use it

The One Who _prays for us_, talks about us.    (Rom 8:15-16, 34)

Text slides:  Romans 8:15-16,   then 8:34,  -- could be on same slide but need be separated from each other with spaces so it’s clear they’re different verses, one referring to the Spirit’s intercession, the other to the Son’s intercession

Prayer Is…

Being _invited into_ the conversation within the Trinity. (Ep 2:18)

Being _given the keys__ that can open and shut.    (Matt. 16:19)

Text slide:  Matt 16:19

5 Prayer Keys

Do text slides for each passage, lots of work, sorry.  I may not use them all, but I’d like them ready.  Some of them I’ve already typed up below, you can use those and cut/paste.

• _Love _--  A burdened heart. (Is. 40:11, Rm. 5:5, 2 Cor 11:28-29)
• _Surrender_--  A broken heart.    (Ps 34:18, 51:17, 1 Peter 5:5-7)
• _Faith__--  A bold heart. (Js 5:15, 1 Jn 5:14-15, Hb 11:1, Rm 10:17)
• _Binding/Loosing--  A shared heart. (James 4:7-8, Eph 6:11, Matt 16:19)
• _Praise__--  A thankful heart. (2 Cor 10:4-5, Phil 4:4-8)

Keys—What Doors Are You Opening and Closing?

A Lifestyle of Prayer: Part 4,    February 22, 2009,    Rom. 8:15-16, 34,    Pastor Jeff Bassette

INTRO:   What you believe about God determines how you pray.  True for every person.

Tell me a person’s view of God, and I’ll tell you how they approach that God in prayer.

Perhaps the most important thing in your prayer life is your doctrine of God.

How a Christian approaches prayer depends on who they see God to be.  So let’s look at this.

Unveiling of Revelatn, where see true ID of JC revealed, veil sort of pulled back, he’s seen as…

“I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” (Rev. 1:18)

‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. “ (Rev. 3:7)

Our God Is…

The One Who _holds the keys  (to death and Hades)_.          (Rev 1:18, 3:7)

The One Who shuts and opens, binds and looses.  (Matt. 12:22-29)

·        though he died he’s now alive foreverà means he defeated death, he’s alive to be known

·        holds keys to death/grave (Hades-place of dead, where go after death)àmeans authority over death and in afterlife,

·        who opens and no one shuts, who shuts and no one opensà means unique, powerful, can do what we can not, what no one else can, can unlock things//open doors no one else can

·        SUMM:  b/c he’s alive forever he can be known in prayer, b/c he’s got authority over death itself and can open doors that no one can shut we can have confidence to ask him in prayer for things impossible to us

The One Who _prays for us , talks about us.    (look at Rom 8:26-27, 34)

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. Romans 8:26-27)

 “Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”  (Romans 8:34)

Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ, are talking with Father about you, right now.  Interceding.  God is communion of love within himself.  They’re enjoying the conversation.  We call that prayer. 

          Before we talk about what prayer is to us, want you to see that God is already “praying” for you, interceding for you.  If believe this, it can begin shift way you think about your prayer.

Prayer Is…

Being _invited into_ the conversation within the Trinity. (look at Eph 2:18) 

For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

          See:  Trinity—Through Christ (and what he achieved on cross) access to Father by Spirit

                   Key word:  access.  Approach.  Invited in.

ILLUS:   Have you ever felt like an awkward outsider in a conversation going on b/w other ppl?

Probably most of us have.  Happened me this Thursday night.  PTA-Founder’s Day for T.City schools, asked do opening prayer for event.  Standing in line at begin, b/w 2 ppl who knew each other, teacher and student.  Awkward!!  But eventually they invited me in, gave me access. Intro’d ourselves, turns out we had plenty in common.  Student was Michael’s shot-put coach.  Teacher will teach JJ in AP English next year as Sr.  Their conversation shifted when invited me into conversation.  I had sthg to offer, too.  I became a part of the relational circle, we connected in different ways that never would have occurred had I not been invited in.

          Prayer is sthg like that:  God already holding conversation.  About situations and people on his heart and mind.  God invites us into the conversation, shares his thoughts with us, his perspective.  Listens to us as we talk with him, too.

          If we see God this way, and approach prayer this way, it’ll change way we pray.  Not as an outsider trying to convince a distant God to do what we want by sincerity, persistence, or simply getting in his face.  But we’ll be more willing to listen, enter into the dialogue that’s a/r occurring, ask God:  how can I help?  How can I contribute to the conversation? 

          Your kingdom come, your will be done:   “Hey, what are you guys talking about?”

That’s why first two weeks I spoke on prayer about:  being rooted in love relationship, and listening to God when you spend time alone with him. 

Being _given the keys_ that can open and shut.    (Matt. 16:19)

Point is not that WE have all the authority, and power, and wisdom, as though God just gave us bunch of keys and said:  Have at it!!  No, Christ is the one who holds the keys, he has authority.

As we listen to him, he’ll tell us which keys to use on which occasions.  As we pray, converse, he’ll tell us which keys are needed for which doors, which keys to use in prayer to open up various situations to his will.  He’ll place those keys in our hands and say, “use this one.  Pray this way.”  That’s why at end of last week’s bible passage about spiritual warfare, Eph 6, we’re commanded to:  18 …pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

          B/c all different kinds of prayers are needed for different occasions.   In other words, different keys are needed to open different doors.  When we pray, if we listen to Spirit, and pray in the Spirit, He’ll show us which keys to use.  So we must learn to listen, as we pray.

Illus:  In physical world, this makes complete common sense to us, right?  We need the right key to unlock any given door.  Not just any key will do.  Can’t unlock my car door w/house key.  Can’t unlock the church w/my car key.  When Joan issues church keys, she says:  This one will open the outside doors, this one will open the office doors.  Etc…

What’s true about keys in physical realm, is also true about keys in spiritual realm.  Christ holds keys to lock/unlock in the spiritual realm.  And if we’ll come to him, he’ll show us the keys in prayer that we need to use for each different door that remains closed to us.

Briefly….    5 Prayer Keys

Last Wk:  Our weapons in spir’l warfare:  Word of God (Eph 6:17), prayer (6:18), community.

·        __Love_--  A burdened heart. (Is. 40:11, Rm. 5:5, 2 Cor 11:28-29)

God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.  (Ro 5:5)

28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, & I do not inwardly burn?” (2 Cor 11:28-29)

ILLUS:  To me one of most powerful parts of last weeks’ message by Pastor Abel was when he talked about hearing his mother pray for him, when he was a rebellious 12 year old son, with a heart that was hard t/w his parents and God.  When he had opportunity to listen in on the conversation b/w her and God, hear her desperate, broken-hearted tears for him, it changed him.  Broke through to him.  His mother’s brokenness broke him, moved him.  Her prayers were coming from this place, a heart of love, deeply burdened for the son she loved.

Illus 2:  That’s why in my QT, when I’m reflecting on bible passage just read, I listen for desire, longing, that naturally arises within me as I read this passage.  Then I pray that desire.  Real.

·        _Surrender_--  A broken heart.  (Ps 34:18, 51:17, 1 Peter 5:5-7)

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, & he saves those who are crushed in spirit.  (Ps 34:18)

A broken and humble heart, O God, you will not despise  (Psalm 51:17)

Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because…”God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. (1 Pt 5:5-7)

There’s actually great power in surrender, and great strength in weakness,

great healing that comes thru brokenness…b/c it’s there that we come to God w/desperation,

and when God answers he receives all the honor/glory, and our thankfulness deepens.

·        _Faith_--  A bold heart. (Js 5:15, 1 Jn 5:14-15, Hb 11:1, Rm 10:17)

The prayer of faith will make the sick person well   (James 5:15)

This is the confidence we have in approaching God, that is we ask anything according to his will, we know that he hears us, and if we know that he hears us,… we know that we have what we asked of him.  (1 John 5:14-15)

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see… By faith we understand that the world was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen what not made out of what was visible.  (Heb 11:1,3)

Faith comes from hearing, hearing the word of Christ  (Rom 10:17)

Prayer of faith.  How we get such faith?  From hearing the word of Christ.  Hearing the gospel about God and believing it gives us confidence to approach God.  Then as we pray, and learn to sit in on conversation within Trinity, we’ll hear the Spirit of God speak to us afresh.  Faith comes as a gift, infused into us, like breath is infused into us.  This faith doesn’t start within us, or find its origin in us.  It comes b/c we’ve heard God speak, we’ve sat in on God’s conversations and listened for what his decision is, then we hold onto that w/confidence, faith that God will do what he said.  Even though we don’t yet see it happening, we believe & rest.

Let me try to illustrate what this prayer of faith looks like from a human example.  At PTA dinner on Thursday night they were giving out lots of awards to honor people who’d served in different ways in TC schools.  Now from perspective of the people sitting there, we didn’t know who was going to receive which awards.  For most people who would soon receive an award, it would come as a surprise.

 But for some in the room there were no surprises.  Because they were the decision-makers who had already decided in advance who would be honored.  The committee had already had their conversations weeks earlier about who would receive an award on Thurs night.  The decisions had been made in that conversation.  In fact, the decisions had already been written down in the evening’s program.  But the programs had not yet been handed out. 

Now if you had been one of the people on the committee to decide who received which awards, and you had sat in on the conversation weeks earlier when people were chosen, you would have sat through the early part of the dinner with absolute certainty about what was going to happen next, and to whom.  Even though the person sitting next to you would not have this knowledge.  Why?  All simply because had sat in on the earlier conversation where it had all been decided. 

The prayer of faith works like that.  From listening to God.  When he speaks, tells you and gives you assurance about what he’s soon to do, you then can rest in full confidence and certainty it will happen as he said.   

·        _Binding/Loosing--  A shared heart. (James 4:7-8, Eph 6:11, Matt 16:19)

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”  (Matt 16:19)

Partnership.  What does the one who opens and shuts have to say about this situation?  I think we get this idea of prayer warrior as someone who is a strong, independent type, quick to go to battle against the very-real demonic realm.  But reality is opposite:  they’re people who are broken and who’se learned to sit in on conversation with God, hear from him, carry his burdens.  They often speak of receiving prayer assignments and of God commissioning them to pray.  They’re praying in response.  Like a soldier under orders/authority, w/specific marching orders.

·        _Praise__--  A thankful heart. (2 Cor 10:4-5, Phil 4:4-8)

ILLUS:  My philosophy of keys.  Go through life and you gather keys.  Accumulate keys.  Number of keys you possess grows, key ring gets bigger.  Why?  B/c those keys represent authority, authority to access different areas.  With that growing authority comes corresponding growth in responsibility.  You are responsible for what you do with those keys.  It matters. 

True spiritually.  You’ve been entrusted with authority, with access to God, the King above all kings, and invited into the conversations around his throne.  You are partner with him in extending his kingdom on the earth.  One way we do this is through prayer.  Your kingdom come, your will be done.  Spirit of God will tell us which prayer keys to use for each different situation.

Testimony:  Years ago, led by Spirit to pray with fasting until breakthrough….(fasting was physical expression of my heart’s deep burden, of my brokenness and surrender, of my desperation…after about 5 days of fasting there was shift in situation and person’s heart.  No doubt that God reached into place I knew I was powerless to enter, and he opened door I could not.  Spirit’s prayer keys for me then were…first two keys on bulletin)

Facing similar situation now, where needing to see a breakthrough in someone’s heart, but

don’t feel Spirit leading me to pray the same way as I did then, to fast until… but instead I

hear Spirit inviting me to…praise God, to worship and keep my focus on him.  Not so much to go to battle with my fasting and prayer, but to stand by faith before God and simply worship him, declaring that he is greater, that he is still Lord, that He is good, my hope, my life, my joy. 

Honestly, this has been a much harder prayer assignment for me.  Stretching me in new ways,

Summ Review:    God is…prayer is…5 prayer keys (briefly)

Trans to Corp Prayer for Mission: (Invite Marilyn and Jerry up)

Link to message….

I want to invite Jerry and Marilyn up now.  Jerry is about to leave for another trip to India and Bangladesh and we have pretty thrilling news to share with us.

Jerry, HCF has been praying for you for some years. What has that meant to you and how have you seen God use that? If this way, I/ we could skip directly to what I say a couple of lines below.

 Jeff: So Jerry, explain again for those who might be new what you/we are doing together in South Asia and what will you be doing this trip? I’ll share a couple of details of the first part in India.

 Jeff: And I believe something very special is taking place after that, right? I’ll share about going on to Bangladesh where we will celebrate the planting of 1000 churches since our partnership began in 1997.

 Jeff: maybe a question like: What would you want to say to our family here at HCF about this? I’ll talk for a moment about how the HCF’s partnership, both financial and especially in prayer, with us has been an important part of this; that none of us have played a very big role, but God has taken our collective “little” and made it “much”, doing just as he promised, “more than we could have imagined”; that we had absolutely no idea when we began the partnership what God was going to do; and not only did he give us 1000 village congregations later (plus all the other projects, including 5 children’s homes, 100 village primary school, micro-credit, etc.), but he also used what happened in Bangladesh to change the shape and strategy of the whole Every Community for Christ ministry of which the partnership in Bangladesh was just one small part. I really want the HCF family to feel and sense how they have been a part of this and use it to encourage us to trust God for more in the days ahead.

 I hope to get a one to two minute power point of slide and music together that will show something of the growth over time. We could play it somewhere in the middle of the interview or at the end. I’ve got a zillion pictures; all I need is the music to put to it and I may have that too.

 Jeff, Then you can say a few words and I’d value closing in prayer for this trip.

The ESV English-Hebrew Reverse Interlinear Old Testament

מפתח n #1 (AF) (2)

noun, normal

key

The ESV English-Greek Reverse Interlinear New Testament

κλείς (6)

Noun, nominative

key