Philip Sundar: Recent Episodes
Philip Sundar
Discovering your purpose sounds intimidating or unreachable. When you learn to embrace the process of your life and look forward for the best you are not too far from your purpose. Philip believes that you are born with purpose. Don’t let your present circumstances deviate you from your purpose.
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About Philip Sundar Philip Sundar is the senior pastor of CJCLife Church, a multi-site church based out of San Antonio, TX, which nationally and globally at Church Online.
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Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-3
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God’s Presence Within us
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God’s Manifest Presence Upon us
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His Presence and Glory is our Inheritance
Hunger For God Glory
A. MISS IT
B. PRAY FOR IT
C. RECALL IT
D. CATCH IT
E. HEAR IT
F. ACT ON IT
Matthew 14:26-33 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Philippians 4:11-13 …for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Mark 2:1-5 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
THREE BIG PRAYER MISTAKES:
In the beginning, let's address three common mistakes in prayer:
Formality Prayers not Authentic prayers: Our prayers should be authentic expressions, not bound by formality.
Small Rushing Prayer not Develop patience in waiting on God: Patience is key; rushing through prayers hinders the development of a deep connection with God.
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OUR PRAYERS ARE TOO FORMAL.
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OUR PRAYERS ARE TOO GENERAL.
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OUR PRAYERS ARE TOO BUSY.
4 prayers Paul prayed
- A Prayer To See The Father’s Strength
Ephesians 3:14-15 - "For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name."
Pray in various postures - standing, sitting, driving - but recognize the special significance of kneeling, as demonstrated by Paul.
Context: Paul unveils the mystery of Christ and the inclusion of Gentiles in God's plan.
- Prayer to See The Father’s Riches
Ephesians 3:16-17 - "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith."
Understand the riches of God and the spiritual blessings bestowed upon believers.
- Prayer to See the Father’s Love
Ephesians 3:17-19 - "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ."
Experience the profound love of Christ, surpassing knowledge and filling you with the fullness of God.
- Prayer to See The Father At Work
Ephesians 3:20-21 - "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."
Acknowledge God's limitless power and His ability to exceed our expectations.
Conclusion
In summary, embrace these four transformative prayers:
A Prayer To See The Father’s Strength
Prayer to see The Father’s Riches
Prayer to See the Father’s Love
Prayer to See The Father At Work
In a world bombarded by societal pressures and cultural norms, it's essential to recognize the three profound lies culture often tells about money. As we delve into this enlightening journey, we are reminded of John 8:12, where Jesus proclaimed himself as the "light of the world," guiding us out of darkness and into the light of life. The first deception, "Your Money Equals Your Success," is debunked with the wise words of Luke 12:15, warning against the allure of possessions. We explore stories of Judas, Lazarus, the Rich Man, and Cornelius, all reflecting the significance of godliness and contentment. The second fallacy, "You Don't Need Anyone Else," finds its counterpoint in the parable of the Rich Fool from Luke 12:16-21 and the cautionary verse from Isaiah 5:8. Nebuchadnezzar's story serves as a vivid example. Lastly, the notion that "You Only Get One Life" is confronted with the biblical wisdom found in Proverbs 13:22 and Deuteronomy 30:19. Join us in exposing these cultural falsehoods and seeking the true light of financial wisdom.
Miracles, as described in the Bible, are profound manifestations of divine power and grace. To invite these supernatural occurrences into your life, you must first anchor yourself in unwavering faith, as the Bible tells us in Matthew 17:20: "Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Let this scripture remind you that faith, no matter how small, can move mountains.
Here are four types of miracles and expect God to lead you through these life changing miracles. This week’s message is all bout miracle. You can watch or listen from podcast to understand the road map to your miracles.
Healing Wonders (curing of physical impairments and illnesses)
Defeating Darkness (casting out demons and unclean spirits)
Miraculous Nature (calming storms, feeding multitudes.)
Reviving Lives (raising the dead, restoring to life)
Genesis 28:20-22 NIV
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear
so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the LORD will be my God
and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”
Genesis 26:1-2
Now there was a famine in the land—besides the previous famine in Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelek king of the Philistines in Gerar.
The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live.
Genesis 26:12
Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him.
Visions Sunday
Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) Where there is no vision, the people perish...
Proverbs 29:18 (NIV) Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint...
- Knowing Jesus
- What Motivates God?
Hebrews 11:6
..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.
- Knowing Freedom
- What gives you freedom? “Cross”
Galatians 6:14
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
James 5:16 (NIV) Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
- Knowing Purpose
- What is the purpose of my Life? “Partner With God”
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Knowing Meaning Of Life
What is the expression of my life? “ Serve one another”
Matthew 23:11
The greatest among you will be your servant.
CJCLife Mission:
We exist to LEAD PEOPLE to grow into CHRIST destined life!
Our Core Values
- Make Jesus Hero
- Love
- Loyalty
- Sacrifice - I sacrifice something I do for someone to know life.
- Evangelism - Everyone needs gospel
- FUN
- Generosity
- LEARNING
- Excelence
- Ownership
Matthew 15:1-3
Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!”Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?
Matthew 15:10-20
Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand.
What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”
He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots.
Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.” “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them.
“Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body?
But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.
For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
These are what defile a person, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”
Mountains: The Matthew's Way Part 1
Discovering Mount of Deception and Mount of Direction.
THREE PRINCIPLES TO KILL GREED
- Make ROOM through giving.
- Make YOUR SOUL to be grateful.
- Make GOD YOUR rich possession.
O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder Consider all the works Thy hand hath made. I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee: How great Thou art, how great Thou art! Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee: How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Carl Boberg(1859–1940)
Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. (2 Samuel 7:21 ESV)
Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.(2 Samuel 7:22 ESV)
And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name..(2 Samuel 7:23 ESV)
and doing for them[fn] great and awesome things by driving out[fn] before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods?(2 Samuel 7:23 ESV)
(Exodus 14:12-28 NIV)
12 Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”
13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”
19 Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.
23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 25 He jammed[a] the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.”
26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward[b] it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.
Amazing Grace —How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost—But now I’m found. Was blind, but now I see.
Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed.
Lyrics written John Newton 1772
John 8:1-11 NLT Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, 2 but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. 3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.
4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”
6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
Paul Writes to Ephesians As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, (Ephesians 2:1 NIV)
All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[fn] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.(Ephesians 2:3 NIV)
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,(Ephesians 2:4 NLT)
that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)(Ephesians 2:5 NLT)
Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter that begins the Holy Week. It is the day that we remember and celebrate the day Jesus entered into Jerusalem as Savior and King. As Jesus rode a donkey into the town of Jerusalem a large crowd gathered and laid palm branches and their cloaks across the road, giving Jesus royal treatment. The hundreds of people shouted “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.(John 12:12 NIV) Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage,[fn] at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,(Matthew 21:1 NKJV) saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. (Matthew 21:2 NKJV)
They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna![fn]” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[fn] “Blessed is the king of Israel!”(John 12:13 NIV)
Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:“Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” (John 12:14-15 NIV)
As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. (2 Samuel 22:31 NIV)
As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. (Psalm 18:30 NKJV)
Action Steps for Leading Through Crisis 1) Do Not Judge 2)Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking 3)Enter The Narrow Way 4)Produce Godly Fruits
Matthew 7:1-23 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A1-23&version=NIV
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: (Matthew 7:24 NKJV)
“and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock (Matthew 7:25 NKJV)
“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: (Matthew 7:26 NKJV)
“and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” (Matthew 7:27 NKJV)
Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.(Psalm 62:1 NIV) Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.(Psalm 62:2 NIV) Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.(Psalm 62:8 NIV)
A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet….(Habakkuk 3:1 NIV) Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.(Habakkuk 3:2 NIV) God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran.[fn] His glory covered the heavens and his praise filled the earth.(Habakkuk 3:3 NIV)
His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden.(Habakkuk 3:4 NIV)
Plague went before him; pestilence followed his steps (Habakkuk 3:5 NIV)
He stood, and shook the earth; he looked, and made the nations tremble. The ancient mountains crumbled and the age-old hills collapsed— but he marches on forever.(Habakkuk 3:6 NIV)
the mountains saw you and writhed. Torrents of water swept by; the deep roared and lifted its waves on high.(Habakkuk 3:10 NIV)
You trampled the sea with your horses, churning the great waters.(Habakkuk 3:15 NIV) I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us.(Habakkuk 3:16 NIV) Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,(Habakkuk 3:17 NIV)
yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.(Habakkuk 3:18 NIV) The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. (Habakkuk 3:19 NIV)
Acts 12:1-24 ESV About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him jin prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. Peter Is Rescued 6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, nan angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. pHe struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. tIt opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” 12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of xJohn whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 Recognizing Peter’s voice, ain her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is bhis angel!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to dJames and to the brothers.”1 Then he departed and went to another place. 18 Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19 And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and fordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there. The Death of Herod 20 Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded lastus, the king’s chamberlain,2 they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. 21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. 22 And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last. 24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.
The lessons to take away Bad things can happen even when you’re following Jesus. James is killed (v.2) and Peter is arrested (v.3). Sometimes we think that once we accept Jesus as Lord nothing bad should ever come into our lives. But that just isn’t true. Jesus himself said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
People were praying for Peter. A group of believers gathered together and prayed “earnestly” (v.5) for Peter. That is what we are called to do for one another. God most definitely hears our prayers. Revelation 5:8 describes golden bowls in heaven full of incense, “which are the prayers of the saints.” Our prayers are a pleasing aroma to God.
God has a plan. Peter is sleeping in prison, bound with not one but two chains, with a guard on either side of him. There are sentries standing at the door. There is no possible way for him to escape. Does that stop God? Absolutely not! God had plans for Peter and not even an impossible situation was going to prevent it from happening. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
Joy comes when we trust God. Peter walks out of prison, thinking he’s dreaming. But when the angel leaves him on the street, a free man, he knows God did this. When he arrives at the house where the disciples have been praying all night, they’re amazed to see him. “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)
Death comes to everyone. I almost feel sorry for the guards who woke up to find Peter missing. After Herod had a thorough search done, he gave orders for the guards to be executed. I hope Peter had a chance to share the Gospel with them, but we’ll never know if they were ushered into paradise, as James most assuredly was! Better to die for God than for a king. (Revelation 20:11-15)
There is only one God! “I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.” (Isaiah 45:5) When Herod is praised as a god (v.22) he is struck down by an angel of the Lord. And…gasp!…he is eaten by worms. Herod clearly became full of himself and forgot Who deserves all the praise and glory.
The Word of God can’t be stopped! Despite the efforts of Herod, the Jewish leaders, and the guards, “the word of God continued to increase and spread.” (v. 24) Despite the negativity we see today against the Bible, against the Church, and against Believers, the Word of God can’t. be. stopped! God is in control today just as He was in control back when this story took place. Nothing and no one will stand in His way.
Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him.(1 Kings 16:30 NKJV)
..there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the Lord, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up. (1 Kings 21:25 NKJV)
For so it was, while Jezebel massacred the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah had taken one hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty to a cave, and had fed them with bread and water.)(1 Kings 18:4 NKJV)
(1 Kings 21:1-28 NKJV) 1. And it came to pass after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in Jezreel, next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near, next to my house; and for it I will give you a vineyard better than it. Or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money.” 3 But Naboth said to Ahab, “The Lord forbid that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!” 4 So Ahab went into his house sullen and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no food. 5 But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said to him, “Why is your spirit so sullen that you eat no food?” 6 He said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite, and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it pleases you, I will give you another vineyard for it.’ And he answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’ ” 7 Then Jezebel his wife said to him, “You now exercise authority over Israel! Arise, eat food, and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.” 8 And she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who were dwelling in the city with Naboth. 9 She wrote in the letters, saying,Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth [a]with high honor among the people; 10 and seat two men, scoundrels, before him to bear witness against him, saying, “You have blasphemed God and the king.” Then take him out, and stone him, that he may die. 11 So the men of his city, the elders and nobles who were inhabitants of his city, did as Jezebel had sent to them, as it was written in the letters which she had sent to them. 12 They proclaimed a fast, and seated Naboth with high honor among the people. 13 And two men, scoundrels, came in and sat before him; and the scoundrels witnessed against him, against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth has blasphemed God and the king!” Then they took him outside the city and stoned him with stones, so that he died. 14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned and is dead.” 15 And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead.” 16 So it was, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab got up and went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.The Lord Condemns Ahab 17 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 18 “Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who lives in Samaria. There he is, in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone down to take possession of it. 19 You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Have you murdered and also taken possession?” ’ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours.” ’ ” 20 So Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” And he answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the Lord: 21 ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on you. I will take away your posterity, and will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both bond and free. 22 I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger, and made Israel sin.’ 23 And concerning Jezebel the Lord also spoke, saying, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the [b]wall of Jezreel.’ 24 The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field.” 25 But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the Lord, because Jezebel his wife [c]stirred him up. 26 And he behaved very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites had done, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel. 27 So it was, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his body, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about mourning. 28 And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 “See how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days. In the days of his son I will bring the calamity on his house.”
The Lessons We Learn From Jezebel
1) Don’t Use Good Qualities for Evil Queen Jezebel had some good qualities. Unfortunately, she used them for evil instead of for God’s glory:
She was smart, but she used her intelligence to come up with evil schemes. She had boldness and courage but used those attributes to intimidate others and to commit murder. She had strong leadership abilities but used them to control her husband who was king and to take over the throne. She was assertive but used the quality to turn people away from God instead of turning them toward God. She had a royal lineage but used it to manipulate her subjects. She didn’t become a royal by marring King Ahab. She was a Phoenician princess, the daughter of Ithobaal I, king of Tyre, according to 1 Kings 16:31. Jezebel could have used those same attributes to glorify God, but she didn’t. If you have those qualities, use them for good and not evil.
2) Don’t Use Power to Do Wrong Jezebel was so determined to get the vineyard that she set a series of evil acts in motion that caused Naboth to be killed and she and Ahab to get the vineyard after his death.
Jezebel wrote letters to the elders that were filled with false accusations and character assassination. Jezebel committed forgery and identity theft by putting King Ahab’s seal on the letters she wrote accusing Naboth (1 Kings 21:8). She had them people testify that Naboth had cursed both God and the king (1 Kings 21:10). She commanded the people to “take him out and stone him to death” (1 Kings 21:10). Naboth was killed, Ahab got the man’s property, and Jezebel once again got her way. She told her husband, “take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you. He is no longer alive, but dead” (1 Kings 21:15).
Jezebel tried to destroy those who opposed her. God’s prophets were intimidated and afraid of Jezebel. They had good reason to be afraid. She commanded most of them to be killed. All except 100 prophets were killed. Elijah ran for his life away from her so his life would be spared.
3) Don’t Serve Wrong God Jezebel encouraged her husband King Ahab to abandon the worship of Yahweh and promote the worship of the deities Baal and Asherah. Ahab took his wife’s advice and the worship of Baal and Asherah rose to a national level as the worship of Yahweh declined.
Jezebel is considered to be a bad person in the Bible, and she worshiped that bad god of the Bible, Baal (1 Kings 16:31). Jezebel, like the foreign wives of Solomon, required facilities to carry on her pagan worship. Ahab, like Solomon, built altars for Baal worship.
Because of Jezebel’s heavy involvement in idolatry and the influence she had on her husband, Ahab turned his back on God. According to 1 Kings 21:25, “There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife.”
The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.(1 Kings 11:9 NIV)
20 When all the Israelites heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the house of David.
21 When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mustered all Judah and the tribe of Benjamin—a hundred and eighty thousand able young men—to go to war against Israel and to regain the kingdom for Rehoboam son of Solomon.
22 But this word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God: 23 “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah, to all Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, 24 ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not go up to fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.’” So they obeyed the word of the Lord and went home again, as the Lord had ordered. (1 Kings 12:20-24 NIV)
25 Then Jeroboam fortified Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. From there he went out and built up Peniel.[c]
26 Jeroboam thought to himself, “The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. 27 If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam.” 28 After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” 29 One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. 30 And this thing became a sin; the people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other. (1 Kings 12:25-30 NIV)
(Aaron) ..he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden[fn] calf. And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”(Exodus 32:4 ESV)
31 Jeroboam built shrines on high places and appointed priests from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites. 32 He instituted a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the festival held in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. This he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves he had made. And at Bethel he also installed priests at the high places he had made. 33 On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month of his own choosing, he offered sacrifices on the altar he had built at Bethel. So he instituted the festival for the Israelites and went up to the altar to make offerings.(1 Kings 12:31-33 NIV)
Even after this, Jeroboam did not change his evil ways, but once more appointed priests for the high places from all sorts of people. Anyone who wanted to become a priest he consecrated for the high places.This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to its downfall and to its destruction from the face of the earth.(1 Kings 13:33-34 NIV)
You have done more evil than all who lived before you. You have made for yourself other gods, idols made of metal; you have aroused my anger and turned your back on me.“ ‘Because of this, I am going to bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam. I will cut off from Jeroboam every last male in Israel—slave or free.[fn] I will burn up the house of Jeroboam as one burns dung, until it is all gone.(1 Kings 14:9-10 NIV)
THE SINS OF JEROBOAM 1 Kings 12:25-33 (2 Chron. 13:8-10) · His attempt to secure his kingdom became his downfall (12:25-27) · Calf worship in Bethel and Dan (12:28-33; cf. Hosea 8:4-7) 1. Changed the object of worship - 12:28 2. Changed the place of worship - 12:29, 31 3. Changed the priesthood - 12:31 (13:33) 4. Changed the feast days - 12:32 · Devised in his own heart (12:33) · “More evil that all who were before you” (1 Kgs. 14:9) · “The sins of Jeroboam” a marker of subsequent sins in Israel (1 Kgs. 14:16; 2 Kgs. 17:21-23)
LESSONS FOR US · Great opportunities are no guarantee of success. · Knowing God’s word does not mean we will obey it. · Stubborn selfishness leads to destruction. · God will be honored by His people, or in their sin they will be destroyed. · God keeps His word, so we must put our faith in Him and not our own devises.
Then Solomon rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David his father. And Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.(1 Kings 11:43 NKJV)
1 Kings 12:1-24 NIV Israel Rebels Against Rehoboam 12 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. 2 When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard this (he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), he returned from[a] Egypt. 3 So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: 4 “Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”
5 Rehoboam answered, “Go away for three days and then come back to me.” So the people went away.
6 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked.
7 They replied, “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.”
8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. 9 He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”
10 The young men who had grown up with him replied, “These people have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Now tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. 11 My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’”
12 Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, “Come back to me in three days.” 13 The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, 14 he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” 15 So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the Lord, to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.
16 When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king:
“What share do we have in David, what part in Jesse’s son? To your tents, Israel! Look after your own house, David!”
So the Israelites went home. 17 But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them.
18 King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram,[b] who was in charge of forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.
20 When all the Israelites heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the house of David.
21 When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mustered all Judah and the tribe of Benjamin—a hundred and eighty thousand able young men—to go to war against Israel and to regain the kingdom for Rehoboam son of Solomon.
22 But this word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God: 23 “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah, to all Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, 24 ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not go up to fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.’” So they obeyed the word of the Lord and went home again, as the Lord had ordered.
Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.(Proverbs 11:14 ESV)
There are 5 principles I can learn or be reminded of from Rehoboam’s experience:
Servant leadership is the model we need to follow and exhibit. (It was also the model of Jesus.) We need to make sure we are getting our wisdom from the right sources. Who are you listening to these days? Doing what is right may not always be popular, but it is right. The consequences for failure to follow wisdom are huge. There is natural wisdom that comes from age.
Which Direction ?
13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emma′us, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cle′opas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning 23 and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. (Luke 24:13-27 RSV)
So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further,but they constrained him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them.And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight.They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?”And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them,who said, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them. (Luke 24:28-36 RSV)
Sermon Note : WHERE DO YOU GO?
13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emma′us, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cle′opas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning 23 and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. (Luke 24:13-27 RSV)
14 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. 15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. 16 And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?” 17 Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18 “And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.” 19 He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” 20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. 21 So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 “And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe,[fn] all things are possible to him who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” 26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
..Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.(Acts 10:34 NKJV)
“But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.(Acts 10:35 NKJV)
“how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.(Acts 10:38 NKJV)
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.(Acts 10:44 NKJV)
And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.(Acts 10:45 NKJV)
For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God….(Acts 10:46 NKJV)
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort,(Acts 10:1 NIV)
a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.(Acts 10:2 ESV)
About the ninth hour of the day. he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.”(Acts 10:3 ESV)
And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. (Acts 10:4 ESV)
And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. (Acts 10:5 ESV)
And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting [fn]money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. (Mark 12:41 NASB)
A poor widow came and put in two [fn]small copper coins, which amount to a cent. (Mark 12:42 NASB)
Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; (Mark 12:43 NASB)
or they all put in out of their [fn]surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, [fn]all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:44 NASB)
A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.”(2 Kings 4:1 NKJV)
So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”(2 Kings 4:2 NKJV)
Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few.(2 Kings 4:3 NKJV)
“And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.” (2 Kings 4:4 NKJV)
So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out.(2 Kings 4:5 NKJV)
Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased.(2 Kings 4:6 NKJV)
Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.”(2 Kings 4:7 NKJV)
Your Desperate Cry for Help to God Removes The Cause of Your Distress
FROM NEW SERIES | JESUS & WE
…one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.(Luke 7:36 NIV) A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.(Luke 7:37 NIV)
As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on the.(Luke 7:38 NIV)
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”(Luke 7:39 NIV)
Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.(Luke 7:44 NIV)
You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.(Luke 7:45 NIV)
You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.(Luke 7:46 NIV) Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”(Luke 7:47 NIV)
Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” (Luke 7:48 NIV) “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.(Matthew 11:28 NIV)
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.(Matthew 11:29 NIV) For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29 NIV)
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? (Luke 6:46 NIV)
As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. (Luke 6:47 NIV)
They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. (Luke 6:48 NIV)
When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. (Luke 6:48 NIV)
But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation.(Luke 6:49 NIV)
The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” (Luke 6:49 NIV)
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.(Philippians 1:21 NKJV)
Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days.And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there.Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us. (Acts 16:11-15 NKJV)
Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling.This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city;“and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.”Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods.And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. (Acts 16:16-24 NKJV)
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.(Acts 16:25 KJV)
Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.(Acts 16:26 NKJV)
And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself.(Acts 16:27 NKJV)
But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.(Acts 16:28-29 NKJV)
And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”(Acts 16:30-31 NKJV)
Can you be unbalanced financially and still be a devoted follower of Christ?
Imbalance financially is an indication that things are out of balance spiritually.
Poverty deeply entrenched in San Antonio Nearly 1 in 5 residents here — 18.5 percent — lives at or below the poverty line.
O God, I beg two favors from you; let me have them before I die. (Proverbs 30:7 NLT)
First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. (Proverbs 30:8 NLT)
For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name. (Proverbs 30:9 NLT)
Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:8)
FROM NEW SERIES | BUILT TO LAST
Building The Banner of God Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner.(Exodus 17:15 NIV) He said, “Because hands were lifted up against the throne of the Lord,[fn] the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”(Exodus 17:15 NIV)
…praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.(Genesis 14:20 NIV)
Banner of God is choose your comrades and lift up your hands
FROM NEW SERIES | B O O K O F P R A Y E R S
LEADING INTO CHRIST CHARACTER These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess,so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live….(Deuteronomy 6:1-2 NIV)
TEACHING INTO CHRIST's PURPOSE that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.(2 Timothy 3:15 NKJV)
From our new series The Book Of Prayers. In this message, you will find out what The key to a successful marriage is!
From our new series The Book Of Prayers. In this message, Moses learned God’s heart in the process of understanding how desperately he wanted to unify God to His people. There is only one thing we can do when we are stuck between Justice and Reality. Check this out.
FROM NEW SERIES | B O O K O F P R A Y E R S
Therefore David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; circle around them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees.“And it shall be, when you hear a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” (1 Chronicles 14:14-15 NKJV)