Monday, October 12, 2009

The New Morning Room

The newly remodeled Morning Room is ready to be used! Day 1 devotional is available there. Here is the link.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Session 3, October 4th Service

A worshipful evening

The Lord ministered so wonderfully in last night's meeting. Worship consumed the entire service as His Presence engulfed the sanctuary. A direct Word from the Spirit was the message for the evening as He spoke to being a Father to a fatherless generation (entire message will be posted later). The scheduled water baptism had two additional participants who spontaneously responded to the Spirit's call. It was a great night to be in church.

The Morning Room is being remodeled

Crimson House's Morning Room saw its first post on December 29, 2008 and now, ten months later the newly remodeled Morning Room will make its debut next Monday, October 12. Designed to be much more interactive and informative, the Morning Room will be the meeting place for all the friends and family who call Crimson House their home. Now there will be three electronic avenues to CH: the web page for foundational information (www.crimsonhouseministries.org); Crimson House Ministries on Facebook for service summaries, announcements and schedules; and Crimson House Morning Room where you can stay up to date and connected with all that is happening in the House.

A called fast

In light of pastor's message on September 27, prayer meeting the following night, and what the Spirit was personally speaking to many in the congregation, we will be having a corporate 40-day fast and prayer time beginning Monday, October 12 through Friday November 20. A prayer booklet for the fast will be available Sunday evening, October 11 to offer prayer directives and Bible readings for the 40 days; daily devotionals that expand on each directive will be accessible in the new Morning Room each day. To ensure that every day is covered, please mark the calendar outside the prayer room on the day(s) you can fast while you are praying throughout this 40-day focus. The prayer directives are divided into four, ten day sections: Expectation (Matthew 6), The Fast that God Calls (Isaiah 58), Warfare Strategy (Deuteronomy 20), and Thanksgiving (Psalm 136). We will conclude the fast with an all night prayer meeting beginning at 6:00 pm on Friday night, November 20, and praying through the night watches until 6:00 am Saturday morning. Breakfast will then be served. While it may not be possible to attend the entire all night meeting, feel free to come and go as your schedule allows.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Session 3 Sermon 2

Text: 1 Kings 19:1-3

The Gate

It is important to remind ourselves of just where Elijah stood as we enter into Chapter 19. For some 42 months God had directly, though sporadically, spoken to him with both directions and provision; and, then, ultimately with fire from heaven. God's hand was placed on him with such power that he outran Ahab's chariot to Jezreel, where he stopped at its entrance—it's gate—and there, dripping wet from the blessings of the Lord, Elijah waited to see what would happen next.

While many things were done at city gates, three are noteworthy and applicable here.

Sin was judged

"Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment." (Deuteronomy 16:18 KJV)

Would Elijah's burden for Israel's sin be lifted and restoration continued?
1. It had begun in prayer months before
2. It had endured in isolation and famine
3. It had been revealed in a mighty move of God

Prophets delivered their message

Thus said the LORD unto me; Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by the which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem; And say unto them, Hear ye the word of the LORD, ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates: (Jeremiah 17:19-20 KJV)

Would Elijah's message be truly heeded?
1. Spoken to Ahab (1 Kings 18:18)
2. Spoken to the people (v. 37)

Land was redeemed

"Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria." (2 Kings 7:1 KJV)

Would the rain
1. Remind Israel that their God is sovereign
2. Redeem the land from the dearth to one that flows with milk and honey?

As Elijah waited a figure emerged through the downpour—a messenger was coming towards him. Elijah's mind would surely be spinning now: Would Ahab indeed continue Israel's restoration that had just begun, by his prayer, just a few short hours ago on Mt. Carmel? Would the falling rain be witness enough that God desired to bless His people through their repentance? Would he see the reformation he so longed for?

The Messenger Speaks

"Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, 'So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.'" (1 Kings 19:2 ESV) The LXX adds even more emphasis on Jezebel's oath: "As surely as thou art Elijah and I am Jezebel, so let the gods…." Such emphasis said, As surely as thou art the one who says Yahweh is God and I am the one that says Where is Baal, so let the gods….Jezebel was not going to surrender to the Mt. Carmel event, Ahab continued under her demonic influence, and though he had killed 450 prophets of Baal, Elijah feared for his life—and he ran.

Application

In my study time so many commentators had opinions as to why Elijah ran, and I will comment on that more fully in another message, but suffice it to say today that I believe Elijah did what most people do throughout their lives: there are times we really don't know why we do the things we do. However, as a place of restoration, we must also learn from the other players in this passage as well.

Ahab

As we pray for restoration, there will be those individuals like Ahab who will witness the presence and power of God, so much so that others (as well as ourselves) will be crying out "The Lord He is God, the Lord He is God" and we will wait, outside the gate for their sin to be repented of, and thinking, "how can anyone who sat through His Presence not acknowledge the Lord" and then only to learn that there will be no personal change. And we wonder, "How can that be" and discouragement sets in so that we want to run as far away as we can, even though we are dripping wet with His blessings.

The Apostle Paul said it this way, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV)

Receiveth—Not, does
not
understand, but does
not
admit
them
into
his
heart (Vincent)
Know—He is not able to get a knowledge (Robberson)

(Scofield) Paul divides men into three classes:

Greek, "psuchikos", meaning "of the senses" (Jam_3:15); (Jud_1:19) or "natural," that is, the Adamic man, unrenewed through the new birth (Joh_3:3); (Joh_3:5);
Greek, "pneumatikos", meaning "spiritual," that is, the renewed man as Spirit-filled and walking in the Spirit in full communion with God (Eph_5:18-20);
Greek, "sarkikos", meaning "carnal," "fleshly," that is, the renewed man who, walking "after the flesh," remains a babe in Christ (1Co_3:1-4).

The "natural" man may be learned, gentle, eloquent, fascinating, but the "spiritual" content of Scripture is absolutely hidden from him; and the "fleshly", or "carnal", Christian is able to comprehend only its simplest truths, "milk" (1Co_3:2).

We must not yoke the characteristics of one onto another, expecting results that they are simply not capable of; rather, our prayers much continue on even after the event and praying that their hearts would have received from the Spirit.

Secondly, there needs to be a real testimony as to what God has done and not just what man accomplished. Notice how the Scripture records Ahab's event rehash to Jezebel: "Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword." (1 Kings 19:1 ESV) But unfortunately we read nowhere of Ahab speaking hoe God answered from heaven with fire.

Jezebel

As we pray for restoration there will be Jezebels who will simply refuse to be converted and others who will speak words desiring for us run—even as we are drenched with the blessings of the Lord.

Reprobates

"And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient" (Romans 1:28 KJV)

Lit., did not approve. Rev., refused. They did not think God worth the knowing. There is a play upon the words. As they did not approve, God gave them up unto a mind disapproved. The word reprobate is from re-probare, to reject on a second trial, hence, to condemn. (Vincent)

Making threats

2 Thessalonians 3:1-3
1. always some who want to put us down
2. the need to pray for one another

Elijah

The patience of a reformer; no death—fear—but just a lack of "being there"

Patience in restoration

Ahab ultimately showed repentance: "And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly" (1 Kings 21:27 KJV); however, it wasn't following the mighty move of God on Mt. Carmel.

We must remember the words of Paul as we persevere in individual restorations: "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life." (1 Timothy 1:15-16 ESV)

Fleeing

2 Timothy 1:7—God has not given us the spirit of fear, but there is one that is around.
1. There is a spirit of fear
  1. The adversary uses it to intimidate, discourage, and torment us. He often uses fear in ways that keep us from doing the right thing.
  2. Manifested in variety of ways
    1. anxiety and worry
    2. fear of the unknown
    3. fear of saying no
    4. fear of rejection
    5. fear of evil and violence
    6. fear of persecution
    7. fear of not "doing right"
Psalm 55:1-7—sometimes saints tempted to fear
1. Answer is to stop and pray
2. While there are a variety of Scriptures to answer the spirit of fear Proverbs 29:25 states a general principle, "the fear of man brings his snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe."

Close

Just as Elijah was standing at the gate, drenched with the blessings of God; so too are we all standing at a personal gate this evening.

At the gate

Not flee for fear, but indeed "die" at a "gate-time" of personal judgment

Personal sin
Truth of the Word
Redeemed land
1. Physical

Your personal spiritual inheritance

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Session 3 Sermon 1

Text: 1 Kings 18:41-46

Introduction

The conversations of rain:

Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word." (1 Kings 17:1 ESV);
After many days the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, "Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth." (1 Kings 18:1 ESV);
And Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain." (1 Kings 18:41 ESV);
And at the seventh time he said, "Behold, a little cloud like a man's hand is rising from the sea." And he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.'" (1 Kings 18:44 ESV)

Sequence of "rain talk"

Sin—Elijah speaks to Ahab (1)…Lord speaks to Elijah (2)…Elijah speaks to Ahab (3)…servant speaks to Ahab (4)—rain

nor rain, except by my word
Show yourself and I will send rain
Sound of the rushing of rain
Go up, lest the rain stop you

Unwritten "rain talk"

Revealed initially in verse 41

And Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain." (1 Kings 18:41 ESV)
Sound: From an unused root meaning to call aloud; a voice or sound (Strong's)
1. Elijah just didn't hear the sound of rain; rather he heard the call for rain—first his and then heavens.
2. Used as voice in verse 29
3. It wasn't just Elijah speaking to Ahab that there was going to be rain (17:1); rather, it was Elijah speaking to God in prayer that would then bring the deluge.
  1. Sound: sound (of an instrument)(BDB)
  2. Elijah just wasn't hearing the notes played (rain itself) but the person who played the instrument

Practiced in verse 42:

So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. (1 Kings 18:42 ESV)

Finishing

Cannot put natural timing on a spiritual promise

1 Kings 18:1—show yourself and I will send rain
1. Jesus: So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. (John 11:6 ESV)
2. The Apostles:
  So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" (7) He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. (Acts 1:6-7 ESV)
  1. Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. (James 5:7-8 ESV)
Giving God (Holy Spirit) the chance to work: convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment
1. Curse lifted to Ahab (v.42)
  1. I believe that God continually spoke to Ahab during draught as leader of His people, but he refused to listen
  2. Elijah spoke directly to Ahab's sin in verse 18
  3. One reason Elijah ran ahead of Ahab the 18 miles into Jezreel
    1. Rain came because Elijah followed the Lord, and if Ahab would continue to follow him, as his carriage did now, the blessing of God could return. But Ahab failed in carrying it through in 19:1.

Cannot let the event be an end to itself

1Kings 18:38—fire consumed the offering
1. Hours of "prayer" by Baal's prophets; 63 English words and about 20 seconds for Elijah's. Why? The way had been prepared!
  1. Prayer beginning 42 months before
  2. The rebuilding of the altar; that is, obedience to the Word
Fire prayer was the preparation for the rain prayer
1. Done nothing thinking it was over and that God would send rain
2. Bask in the limelight as the "man of God"

Finishing through prayer

There are two things we can learn from Elijah's actions in order to finish through prayer: separation and determination.

Separation

Elijah had to put himself in a position to be with God and see the results

Determination

And he prayed seven times.

Close

Praying the promises of God

Promises are like a written check…but must be personally deposited
Promises are like a mold that requires us to pour ourselves into

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Session 2 Sermon 14

Introduction
Message/Interpretation of August 17, 2009 --
I have called you and I have sealed you. And you have been faithful and I have blessed you. You have been faithful to me. You have been faithful to me. And I have prepared you. I have prepared you for this time. I have prepared you. I have prepared you. I have prepared you. In you there will be no lack, for I am your God. I am your God, mighty in battle, and I am with you. And I have called you and I have prepared the road, I have prepared the way. And I have called you to be a place of restoration. I have called you for that purpose. It is my will, it is my will for this to be a place of restoration. It is my desire to pour out upon you the Spirit of Elijah. Elijah prepared the way for me to bring restoration to a nation. Even so, I wish to prepare you and to pour the Spirit out on you, that my way will be made; that I can bring restoration to those who will come into this place.

Oh, but that same spirit, that same spirit that roamed in the day of Elijah has risen in this place. You have done battle before. You have done battle before, but you were ignorant and you did not know what you were up against. But I have made you wise and you are prepared.

The enemy is subtle, the enemy is subtle, the enemy is subtle. I say, the enemy is subtle. Do not be deceived by what you see. I will give you spiritual ears for what they speak, and you will know and you will be able to discern if it is of me or if it is of the enemy. It is not my will for you to remain in ignorance or for you to be in confusion or for your spirits to be in chaos. For all things will come to light, (all?) will be revealed.

I say, be faithful. You must continue to seek my face. The enemy has sought you. He has pursued you to weary you, to make you weary, to keep you from my presence. But I call you to me, I call you to come to me. Oh, stay on your faces before me. Seek me, seek me, seek me--seek my fire. For once my fire comes, I will send the rain. I see the difficulty, but I say, do not be perplexed! Look to me. For with me, this is but a little thing. I say, I say, prepare the sacrifice in prayer, offer it unto me, and see what I will do. I will send my fire and I will consume your sacrifice, and I will send the rain! Oh, but you must continue to seek my face. You must come upon the mount and you must spend time with me, knowing my voice and hearing my voice. You must know me, and you must bow the knee to no other, but continually bow your heart to me. For I see the hearts of all men, and for the righteous I do make a difference! I have always made a difference. I have always been faithful to those who are faithful to me. I will not fail you now. Do not worry about tomorrow, for I will provide your needs. Do not listen to the enemy when he whispers to you. He is a liar! Everything that I have promised you is true, everything I have promised you stands. I am God and I lie not. Give yourselves to me, give yourselves to me wholly, for in the time of shaking you will stand. Come to me in prayer. Ask me! Ask me! Ask me! Ask me! Ask me! Ask me! Ask me! I say: ask me! Ask me! Ask me! Ask me! Ask me! You receive not because you ask not! I say, ask me! Ask me! Ask me! Ask me! Ask me!I am your God who loves you and I fail not.

Applications
2 Corinthians 1:22: "Stamping his image on our hearts, thus marking and sealing us as his own property" (Wesley)

2 Peter 1:3: (granted) This is the only word which Peter and Mark alone have in common in the New Testament; All the effects of the gospel on the human heart are, in the Scriptures, traced to the power of God.

2 Corinthians 13:9-11
(ESV) The idea of restoring, putting in order, fitting, repairing, is involved in the word “always,” and hence, the idea of making perfect; that is, of completely restoring anything to its proper place.

The importance of where we are; the importance of the Word; the importance to what we do--it's cost was the life of the Father's Son.

Jezebel--3 things
Make quit
Feel inadequate
Squash the Voice

And after the revelation? The prophets of Baal were killed; so to must this spirit be removed.

1 Kings 18:33--
Rebuilt with stones (unity)
Covered with wood
Properly cut-up the sacrifice
Head and fat on altar
Wash entrails and legs
Burn all.

Three types of burnt offerings (ability to offer, application):
Bullock--The strong One
Goat--the One killed for sin
Fowl --His peace

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Session 2 Sermon 13

Remembrance

1 Kings 18; "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God." (Psalms 20:7 KJV)

Introduction

"The first occurrence of zakar (remember—zaw-ker') is in

Gen 8:1 with God as the subject:
1. "God remembered Noah...: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged."
2. In Gen 9:15 God said to Noah: "And I will remember my covenant...; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh."
  1. As in these two cases (cf. Gen 6:18), "remember"
    1. is used of God in respect to His covenant promises and
    2. is followed by an action to fulfill His covenant.
God delivered Lot from Sodom because of His covenant with Abraham to bless all the nations through him (Gen 18:17-33): "God remembered Abraham, and brought Lot out of the catastrophe..." (Gen 19:29, NIV).
This (the action of remembering) marks the history of Israel at every major point:
1. "And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel,...and I have remembered my covenant....and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians..." (Exo 6:5-6).
2. The promise "to remember" was repeated in the covenant at Sinai (Lev 26:40-45),
3. God's remembrance was sung in the Psalms (Psa 98:3; Psa 105:8, 42; Psa 106:45),
4. and the promise was repeated by the prophets in regard to restoration from captivity (Eze 16:60).
5. The new covenant promise is: "...I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more" (Jer 31:34)" (W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, William White Jr., 1984).
New Testament examples
1. Peter—Luke 22:61
2. Apostles—John 2:17

The inspiration for this week is remind us for the need to remember.

Remembrance found in 1 Kings 18

V. 1—How God had spoken 42 months before in stopping the rain
V. 10—Obadiah remembers looking everywhere for Elijah
V. 12—Obadiah remembers how Elijah just "disappeared"
V. 13—Obadiah remembers Jezebel slaying the prophets of God
V. 17, 18—Ahab remembers their first "conversation" and it is confirmed that his sin has caused the drought.
V. 23, 36—Elijah reminds the people of a proper sacrifice
V. 30, 31—Elijah reminds the people that they are one by using the 12 stones for the altar
V. 38, 39—God reminds the people of His power and how He answers with fire.
V. 42—Elijah reminds God in the promise of rain.

Applying the Players in this Picture

God—who remembers covenant and moves to fulfill it
Elijah—the agent to bring remembrance
Israel—people of God needing to return to Him and function as one under His headship
Obadiah—the everyday believer working in a sinful world
Ahab—people of royal lineage but who, through outside alliances' and personal choices, sin before God

Let's each make a personal identification with the various players

Ahab

"For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me." (Psalms 51:3 ESV)

A personal reminder of a sin that needs to be confessed

Obadiah

"'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells." (Revelation 2:13 ESV)

Seeing answers disappear
Searching for Elijah (the word for healing)
Seeing death from drought all around.

Israel

"Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:19-20 KJV)

Joshua 4:1-3, 6-7

"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV)

Endeavoring—to use speed; make an effort
Keep—not make
Bond—a joint; ligament

Elijah

After the fire still goes and prays until it is answered.

Ahab "went up" to satisfy the flesh; Elijah "went up" to complete the plan of God

Close

God

He who is faithful!

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful."

(Hebrews 10:23 ESV)

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Session 2 Sermon 12

Review

Last week keeping the battle on the proper field: Not Ahab versus Elijah; not self-vindication; but it was the proper fear of God and not man.

Text

And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, he is God." And all the people answered, "It is well spoken." (1 Kings 18:24)

Your Gods

History

As the Sun-god, Baal was worshipped under two aspects, beneficent and destructive. On the one hand he gave light and warmth to his worshippers; on the other hand the fierce heats of summer destroyed the vegetation he had himself brought into being. Hence, human victims were sacrificed to him in order to appease his anger in time of plague or other trouble, the victim being usually the first-born of the sacrificer and being burnt alive.

Isaiah 44:17

And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for you are my god!" (Isaiah 44:17)

This verse says that a false god was worshiped because the idolater believed the block of wood could deliver him. Herein we find a definition for what constitutes a false god. According to Isaiah 44:17, a god is anything to which we ascribe the power to deliver us. Westerners have their own set of false gods—sources to which they turn for deliverance when in times of crisis or need (let the reader understand):

• Money

• Health insurance

• Medical treatment/prescriptions

• Social Security

• Retirement plans and IRA's

• Credit cards/consolidation loans

• Pleasure/entertainment/recreation/sports

• Sex

• Friends (to deliver us from loneliness)

• Counselors

• Lawsuits

• Filing bankruptcy

Fire Not Water

Water was what Israel needed, there had been 42 months of drought—so why wouldn't Elijah say the God who answers by water, he is whom you will serve? The Mt. Carmel experience was more than meeting a need—rain—it was to reestablish the Lord as God!

Yes, there are times that we need to ask specific things of our God, but there are other times that we need to see the fire of God—His sovereignty that reestablishes Him as the Lord of my entire life, not just my specific area of need!

The question is do I want relief or sovereignty; do I want rain or fire?

Call

Contrast:

Prophets of Baal: Hours of being seen

Elijah: repair (mend/cure) (repent) the Word of the Lord—12 tribes (stones) and 12 barrels of water

Stones are my strength; water is my effort and all of it needs to be consumed by the fire that is God!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Session 2 Sermon 11

Keeping the Battle on the Proper Field

Text: 1 Kings 18:17-26

The Spirit of Elijah—understanding the operation of this spirit as we prepare for the coming of the Lord.

It is not personal—earthly—but spiritual; that is, heavenly. Elijah wasn't out to prove to Ahab or to the people who were the "troublers" of Israel; rather, he was out to prove that Jehovah, not Baal, was God.

Not Elijah versus Ahab

It was not Ahab versus Elijah, or the king's words against the prophet's, because ultimately it will not be a battle of words but of power.

1 Corinthians 4:20, "For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power."
1. Real religion, does not consist in words, but in the power of God ruling the heart—Wesley
  1. "The people did not answer him a word" (1 Kings 18:21)
  2. "But when they heard it, they went away one by one…" (John 8:9).
  3. Luke 24:32—hearts burned as He opened up the Scripture
    1. Words—Elijah began the "proof" with a question whose principle was in Scripture (1 Kings 18:21 compared to Exodus 20:3)
    2. Deeds—Continued with the practice of the Scripture as he rebuilt the altar, time of sacrifice

Not a Personal Vindication

"Vindication or defense or whatever reaction there may be should come from God, not from man" (Watchman Nee) (1 Kings 18:36).

No self-justification
1. Personal—Luke 10:29
  1. Overcoming the need to justify ourselves by our own works
    1. Luke 7:4, 5
    2. Luke 18:10-14
  2. Embracing the fact that only by faith can we be justified; and through His mercy and grace can we do His works—for without Him we can do nothing
    1. Typified by Baal's prophets (1 Kings 18:21, 26)
    2. God is found not in outward expressions but in the secret place
2. Corporate—Luke 16:15
  1. No desire for Elijah to exalt himself before the people

It was Proper Fear

The courage of the Lord's messenger is founded on the conviction that, whatever happens, he cannot drift beyond the love of God. He knows that his times are forever in God's hands; that God will not leave him or forsake him; that he is surrounded forever by God's care. If that is so—of whom then shall we be afraid?

No fear of man, but God
1. 1 Kings 18:22
  1. Standing alone
    1. Moses, Exodus 6:9—God is looking for those who will be obedient to His Word regardless of what others will say
2. Matthew 10:26-31
  1. Verses 26, 27—double fearlessness
    1. Truth will triumph
    2. Speak with boldness that which was received
      1. He who would teach and preach must first in the secret place listen and learns.
  2. Courage of the "Right"
    1. No punishment of man can compare to the ultimate punishment prepared for the unbeliever
      1. 1 John 4:18
  3. God "Cares"
    1. Much more than the sparrow

Close

Time of prayer

Friday, July 17, 2009

Session 2 Sermon 10

This message was based on a direct word from the Holy Spirit in a Monday night prayer meeting. An outline of the interpretation is below.

Interpretation

JULY 6, 2009, MONDAY -

-My people, I say to you tonight, do not be afraid. Do not be afraid to call Me; do not be afraid to hold me to My promises.

- I am a promise keeper

- I have set the date, do not refute that. Hold me, challenge Me, believe Me.

- I am sending the help you need

- You have been faithful in many things

- The time is short

- Look around you. Are your needs not met?

- (I have beckoned you in the night)

- Do not ignore me when I call you

- I beckon you

- Because of your faithfulness and prayers I am answering your needs

- You are faithful

- I will bless you

- I am breathing on you

- But heed to my warning. Satan is like a roaring lion. He will not give up easily. You must stay on your face before me. I am the victory giver.

- (I will lead you from victory to victory)

- Stay on your face before me. I have instructed you, do not stray from that. Keep my word. Keep my word. Keep my instructions before you. I will be faithful to bless you when the need is there. Remember my warning. Beware of those that profess Me but are not of Me.

Message Text

The Holy Spirit's admonition for continued prayer by staying on our faces before was the message's focus with the Scripture text found in 1 Chronicles 7:1, 2.

Important Requisites

Preparation
1. Camp
2. Standard
Battle
1. Rampart
2. Pickets
3. Garrisons

Names

Shimron
1. Guardianship
Jashub
1. He will return
Puah
1. A blast
Tola
1. Worm

Worm

Job 25:6
1. Rimmah—maggot
2. Tola—crimson grub

Whether men like it or not, man by his depraved sin nature is symbolized in God's Word as a "rimmah;" a maggot. But the Lord Himself is symbolized as a "tola;" a crimson grub. In ancient times the crimson grub, a very rare worm, was actually kept, bred, and cultivated by the Jews as well as some other nations. When several thousand of these crimson grubs were mature; fully grown, then they were crushed to death. Out of the crushed bodies of those crimson grubs would flow a deep red blood, which was used for a dye. When cloth or clothes were washed in this dye, they would be dyed a beautiful crimson red. This lovely color never faded, and could never be washed out or removed.

In Job 25:6 both words are used, "How much less man, that is a worm [rimmah; maggot]? and the Son of man, which is a worm [tola; crimson grub]? Then in Psalm 22:6, the Lord declared of Himself, "But I am a worm [tola; crimson grub], and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people."

While men by their very depraved sin nature are symbolized as "maggots" in the Scriptures, the Lord Jesus Christ is symbolized as the rare "crimson grub" whose body was crushed for us on Calvary's cross, Genesis 3:15. When we then receive Him as our Savior, we are washed from our sin in the precious blood that flowed from His body. His blood dyes our very soul a beautiful red that never fades and can never be removed.

Application

2 Corinthians 10: 3, 4

Monday, June 29, 2009

Session 2 Sermon 9

What to Say to Your People

What to say to your people is a question that pastors ask a regular basis, a weekly if not daily basis. My mind was filled with various thoughts on what to share this week: the mundane in drought; from silence to proclamation; defining a power encounter; if the mountain could speak, the history of Mt. Carmel, etc.

And so I sat down and started to prepare the sermon --- session 2, sermon nine --- and started to key my outline. But the problem was that my heart didn't connect to my mind and I was reminded of a conversation I had earlier in the day about Crimson House being a contemporary church. And so rather than force my way into a stylized sermon, I'm going to just share what's on my heart... and maybe it will just encompass all my previous thought.

As we worked yesterday and the sweat saturated our shirts I thought how the mental state of Israel must have been with no rain for 3 1/2 years. I thought of just how tired this past heat wave has affected us, how it zaps our energy, frays our nerves, and seemingly makes life so much more difficult. I thought of your faithfulness, the congregation of Crimson House, entering into a place that's difficult to cool and yet still making the effort. I thought of God's goodness how that, by his grace, this day, Sunday, was one chosen for a relief as temperatures cooled following the early morning rain. In one way I felt it was done especially for us so we can worship tonight a bit more comfortable than we have the last few Sundays; and how it would give each one of you a much-needed break before starting another week doing battle with the "no-gods" of this world.

What is a "no-god"? The Scriptures reveal that the gods of the nations are "no-gods": they are not realities in themselves; they are powerless to save their followers. In essence they are demons who manipulate the pagan god system and actually received homage paid to the "no-gods." You do battle with "no-gods" every day: the god of this world is a no-god, he has no power to save, he has no life, only death -- he came to steal and kill and destroy. The "no- gods" of enterprise, alluded to last week are alive and well in this world; the no gods of promiscuity; the no gods of mammoth, all desiring to bring drought to your very being. Thus, in essence we have a power encounter every day. Will I limp along, halted between two opinions, or will I stand alone. But then we're really not alone.

Jesus said, " "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you" (John 14:18). And then, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid" (John 14:27).

My peace - Such as I [Jesus] only can impart; the special peace which my religion is fitted to impart.
Not as the world -

1.      Not as the objects which men commonly pursue - pleasure, fame, wealth. They leave care, anxiety, remorse. They do not meet the desires of the immortal mind, and they are incapable of affording that peace which the soul needs.
2.      Not as the men of the world give. They salute you with empty and flattering words, but their professed friendship is often reigned and has no sincerity. You cannot be sure that they are sincere, but I am.
3.      Not as systems of philosophy and false religion give. They profess to give peace, but it is not real. It does not still the voice of conscience; it does not take away sin; it does not reconcile the soul to God.
4.      My peace is such as meets all the wants of the soul, silences the alarms of conscience, is fixed and sure amid all external changes, and will abide in the hour of death and forever. How desirable, in a world of anxiety and care, to possess this peace!

Think with me of His grace, think with me of His love, think with me of His care, think with me of His goodness...and give Him praise!

Friday, June 26, 2009

Session 2 Sermon 8

To be Blameless

"Is it you, you troubler of Israel?"

Scripture Texts: 1 Kings 18:17-19; Philippians 2:12-16

Blame: to place the responsibility for

Definitions

Crooked: "curved, crooked," was especially used (a) of a way, Luk_3:5, with spiritual import (see Pro_28:18, Sept.); it is set in contrast to orthos and euthus, "straight"; (b) metaphorically, of what is morally "crooked," perverse, froward, of people belonging to a particular generation, Act_2:40 (KJV, "untoward"); Phi_2:15;

Perverse (Twisted): "to distort, twist" (dia, "through," and strepho), is translated "to pervert" in Luk_23:2 (cf. No. 1 in Luk_23:14); Act_13:10 [in Act_13:8, "to turn aside" (KJV, "away")]; in the perfect participle, passive voice, it is translated "perverse," lit., "turned aside, corrupted," in Mat_17:17; Luk_9:41; Act_20:30; Phi_2:15.

Progression: Twisted to perverse to reprobate (visual thesaurus)

And harmless - Margin, "sincere." The Greek word (akeraios) means properly that which is unmixed; and then pure, sincere. The idea here is, that they should be artless, simple, without guile. Then they would injure no one. The word occurs only in Mat_10:16; Phi_2:15, where it is rendered "harmless," and Rom_16:19, where it is rendered "sincere"; see the Mat_10:16 note, and Rom_16:19 note.

Close

1 Thessalonians 5:23

Body—Luke 12:4
Spirit—Mark 3:22
Soul—Matthew 5:11, 12

Session 2 Sermon 7

The Spirit of Ahab

Text: 1 Kings 16:30-34; 18:16-18

Introduction

While much has been said about Jezebel, we must understand that with Ahab there would have been no Jezebel.

Aspects seen in the spirit of Ahab

Considering the things of Yahweh as trivial
1. "a light thing" –be of little account
  1. No consideration in the historic and established Truth
No regard for the marriage institution
1. Married contrary to the Word of God—and probably for wrong reasons
  1. No consideration or respect for God's plan in marriage
Served and worshipped other gods
1. Embraced the baals
  1. Created environment for abdominal idolatry
2. A spirit of enterprise
  1. Will cause men to sacrifice their children for the sake of their jobs.

Close

As Joshua, the leader and captain of the Jewish theocracy, is a type of Christ, so is Jericho to be taken (with all Christian expositors) as a type of the powers opposed to Christ and His cause.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Session 2 Sermon 6

That I May Know Him

Scripture Texts: 1 Kings 18:1, 36; Luke 10:39-42

Introduction

It came through a spiritual gift granted a member of our congregation: "Know Me, know Me, know Me was His plea to Pastor John." Why does it seem that my first thought is one of reproof rather than encouragement? Why do I feel like there is always something more I can be doing rather than truly enjoy the rest He has given me? To his beloved Philippians Paul writes, "That I may know him…" (3:10) and yet that was some twenty years after seeing things that eyes hath not seen, and hearing words that ears cannot receive. What more could Paul do? And if Paul needed to "do more" just where does that leave me?

Choosing versus Doing

Again and again I must be reminded that it's not a matter of doing but of choosing, as Jesus instructed Martha and illustrated in her sister, "Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:42). Chosen means to pick out; choose; to pick or choose out for one's self; choosing one out of many, as the Lord did is selecting His apostles. In context this choice was not in the general sense of choosing good in opposite of bad; rather, it was choosing the better.

It was 'choosing one that is best out of many' that spoke to my spirit. I thought my devotions were going well, as far as choosing to have them, but it is so much more than that. Once devotions were chosen out of the many other things that could be done, and the discipline established, what then did I choose as best within that discipline? Had it degenerated into Martha's practice of being "cumbered about" by being distracted in my devotional service? Had I had become over-occupied with the work of my devotion by being more active in covering all the prayer bases and Bible reading, rather than contemplative in the rest by being with Him in that devotion?

A Rest that Knows

In Rules of Engagement, Derek Prince writes his reflections on Isaiah 6:1-3, "What has always impressed me is what they did with their wings: with two they cover their faces with two they covered their feet and with two they flew. I interpret covering the face and feet as the humility of worship, and flying as service. I believe in thanking God and praising him out loud—even dancing, clapping, singing. But there comes a time when I will put my wings over my face and my wings over my feet in humble worship and listen to hear what God says" (page 71).

Correspondingly Bob Sorge, in Secrets of the Secret Place, pens, "What could be more energizing in the course of a busy day than to stop and gaze upon the glory of his enthroned majesty? Look at the effect this glorious employment has upon the living creatures in heaven's throne room: 'the four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!' (Revelation 4:8). How is it that they do not rest? Are they never tired? No, they do not weary of gazing upon the beauty of the Lord for they are living in the place of eternal rejuvenation. Instead of tiring from their service to God, they are actually energized and made alive by it" (pages 153, 154).

I remember being visited by a minister once. He came in our house, sat upright on the edge of the sofa, looked at his watch more times than I can recall, "visited" with us, and left nearly thirty minutes to the second after conferring with his time piece one final time. Indeed, it constituted a pastoral visit—we talked but I couldn't be sure he heard anything I said. Truthfully, it made me feel more like a statistic than a person. There certainly was no rest in our time together.

Then the question: Have I now done the same to the Lord? Hustled into His 'room', sat down as if I was ready to stand up, spent more time talking than listening, and when my preset time was achieved check it off as another task completed while thinking of what needed to be done next. Where is the rest in that?

Oh, but to enter into His presence, rest by reclining at His table and then choosing the best dish of the meal—the Master's Word in fellowship. That is my portion, "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever" (Psalms 73:26). It is this fellowship of His Word that lets me know Him and has its root in the one thing "that shall not be taken away" (Luke 10:42).

Not Taken Away

The Lord's words, "shall not be taken away" presupposes there are things we can lose. The word "away" implies in other Scriptures to a forcible removal for the purpose of putting to death. I think that is a key for us in really hearing what Jesus was saying to Martha. Consider her situation. She received Jesus into her home and then neglected Him as she prepared an elaborate meal that He did not need! Certainly a meal was in order, but what we do with Christ is far more important than what we do for Christ. Again, it is not an either/or situation; it is a matter of choosing correctly. Mary had done her share of the work in the kitchen, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?" (v. 40); yet, the time had come for Mary to choose rightly. What did she choose? "which also sat at Jesus feet, and heard his word" (v. 39). Mary had chosen the Word over works.

Few things are as damaging to the Christian life as trying to work for Christ without taking time to commune with Christ. "For without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5), Jesus said. Mary chose the better part, the part that could not be taken from her. She knew that she could not live "by bread alone" (Matt. 4:4) but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. And by listening and allowing His Word to labor in her, Mary gave opportunity for the Lord to work in her—an eternal effort—and one that would not be taken away.

In fact, Mary of Bethany is seen three times in the Gospel record, and on each occasion, she is in the same place: at the feet of Jesus. She sat at His feet and listened to His Word (Luke 10:39), fell at His feet and shared her woe (John 11:32), and came to His feet and poured out her worship (John 12:3). It is interesting to note that in each of these instances, there is some kind of fragrance: in Luke 10, it is food; in John 11, it is death (John 11:39); and in John 12, it is perfume. Note the progression: food, life over death, and then a sweet-smelling savor.

The Spirit of Elijah

It is the Word that knits Mary, Elijah, and then us in the spirit of Elijah together. Just as Mary sat as a disciple at Jesus' feet and received His Word and Elijah was defined as a servant of the Lord who heard the Word, so too must we be able to hear the Word as a disciple in order to truly know Him.

In Hearing God, Dallas Willard writes, "we must therefore make it our primary goal not just to hear the voice of God but to be mature people in a loving relationship with him. Only in this way will we hear him rightly" (page 31). Solomon penned in his love song, "He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love…. eat, old friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, oh beloved" (Song of Solomon 2:4; 5:1). "The beloved, who both loves and is loved, does not want to order the lover about; instead the beloved desires that the lover understand what is needed so that no orders are necessary. In this union of souls is not right for one person to always tell the other what to do. And so it is in our union with God, a person both loving and beloved. He does not delight in having to always explain what his will is; he enjoys it when we understand and act upon his will" (page32).

Mary had this loving relationship with the Lord, knowing His will even more so than the apostles: "There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment" (John 12:2-3). "When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me" (Matthew 26:10). The Persic (Persain) version reads it, "according to my mind": it was done, in the faith of him, as the Messiah; it sprung from real and sincere love to him" (Gill). Thus, when know Him in love and through His Word He doesn't always have to tell us what to do, we will know it.

We see Elijah practice the same: The word of the Lord comes to him in 1 Kings 17:2 (Chereith), 8 (Zarephath), 16 (meal wasted not); 18:1 (return to Ahab) and then it was not spoken again directly to Elijah until 19:9, "And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?" Ah, but it did show up one other time in 1 Kings 18…in the past tense: "And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:" (v. 31).

I find it interesting that the Scripture is silent in knowing how Elijah understood the battle plan for rain in the land. He was simply told, "Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth." There were no other recorded instructions. There was no "I have commanded ravens…I have commanded a widow…." Just go, show and rain.

God is calling us, in the Spirit of Elijah, to know Him in such a way that He doesn't always have to order us about to accomplish His will. I think there are times that we don't move, don't witness, and maybe even over-analyze ministry all the while looking for His will when it has already been written. Yes, I understand there are certain times that are specifically ordained and He will speak concretely, but that doesn't translate to every time and every place.

We know it is His will to save, heal, and deliver…what else is there? Just as Elijah knew the word of the Lord to Jacob in setting up the stones as part of the battle plan, so too will the Spirit of God bring back to us the mind of Christ in doing battle for restoration, but we must go, show, and then the rain will come whatever the means it takes.

Close

"And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it" (Luke 8:21). In knowing Him by Word and love all He desires for us can be done!

Monday, June 1, 2009

Session 2 Sermon 5

Message

"And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here" (1 Kings 18:8).

Introduction

I like the King James Version for our text Scripture because of its emphasis. As you can see, "is here " is italicized which means it was added by the translators; thus, what was said by Elijah once and Obadiah twice was simply "Behold Elijah!" Do you hear the boldness in Elijah's word?

Boldness in Relationship

Elijah's boldness is rooted in his expanding revelation of God shared in sermon one: The transition found in 1 Kings 17:1 and 1 Kings 18:15—"As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand" to "As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand"

The famine predicted in 17:1, now realized, and is about to be terminated
1. Ahab
  1. Searched in every region for Elijah
    1. Never comprehended it was God's judgment and not man's (as seen in his statement to Elijah upon meeting him, 18:17)
  2. Tried to overcome famine in himself and for himself
    1. We may find grass…(v. 5)
2. Elijah
  1. Miraculously sustained by the creek
  2. Miraculously sustained at the widow's
    1. Miraculously raised the son

Thus, during the 42 months of famine Ahab grew even harsher in his feelings away from God and toward Elijah (not showing up following Obadiah's word would have been a death sentence for Obadiah) while Elijah grew closer and then closer to the Lord—so close there was the very apparent holy boldness seen in his statement: "Behold Elijah."

A Holy Boldness

The word boldness properly means boldness in speech (Thayer's).

Boldness begins
1. in the blood, "having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus," (Heb. 10:19)
2. continues in prayer, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16)
3. is seen in action, "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13)
Illustrated
1. Acts 4:29-31

Elijah versus The Spirit of Elijah

Watchman Nee writes in God's Work:

"In the Old Testament we see two varieties of prophets: (1) those who foretold future events, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel; and (2) those, like Elijah and Elisha, whose work for the most part was not to disclose future events but to explain present ones. They were to set forth what God's thought was in His present acts—why He was doing what He was doing. They were to explain God's actions, as it were, and, in view of what God was doing and what was in His mind, to exhort the people. John the Baptist was the most prominent of these prophets in the New Testament; like the others before him, John set forth the present mind of God" (page 28).

The Similar: The Present mind of God—Repentance
1. Elijah (1 Kings 18:37)
2. John the Baptist (Matthew 3:8)
  1. "John's way is the way of death. There is nothing good in man that by repenting he can return to. The whole structure must disintegrate, and man must stand naked before God" (The Elijah Task, Charisma House, pages 11, 12).
    1. The bareness (nakedness) of the land in Ahab's Israel typified the spiritual bareness of John's and neither could find true repentance outside of death—death to Baal's prophets in Ahab's day; death and rebirth in John's.
The Difference: I am and I am not
1. I am
  1. Text Scripture
2. I am not
  1. John 1:21
    1. Legitimate question
      1. Attire and message
      2. Question rooted in John actually being Elijah
    2. John was Elijah in spirit
      1. Matthew 11:14
  2. John was to point to Another
    1. Not talk about himself, his function was to point to another
    2. A voice

Close

For us, whether we are encouraging the Obadiah's or confronting the Ahab's our word is not "Behold Elijah" but "Behold, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).

Monday, May 25, 2009

Session 2 Sermon 4

Thanks to all who made it out in the rain and in the middle of a three-day weekend.

Message

"And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly:" (1 Kings 18:3).

Review

The major points to date:

Sermon 1—Elijah enters his work of reformation (restoration)
1. The transition found in 1 Kings 17:1 and 1 Kings 18:15—"As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand" to "As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand"
Sermon 2—Command and promise
1. The "I am" and the "I will"
Sermon 3—Sore famine in Samaria
1. By definition: Great hunger in the watch-station
2. There are times when the Lord's visitation results in famine versus plenty
  1. By the way, most people think God visited Israel at Mount Carmel when Elijah prayed over the waterlogged sacrifice and fire fell from heaven, consuming the sacrifice and the altar. But God's visitation had actually happened three and a half years earlier when Elijah appeared before Ahab. God's visitation was the famine. The fire of God consuming Elijah's sacrifice was but the imminent outflow of God's visitation. Sometimes we pray for a visitation from God, expecting for fire to fall.
  2. When a famine hits our life, we don't realize God has just answered our prayer. Circumstances suggest that God has forsaken us, but in actuality He has just visited us. Let's not be like the Jews of Jesus' day who came into judgment because they did not know the time of their visitation (Luke 19:44). God's visitation does not always come packaged the way we would have expected. Sometimes His visitation is a famine. The famine is His way of bringing us to desperate dependence and great spiritual thirst. So if you're in an especially dry time spiritually, perhaps it's because God has visited you! Here's a word of encouragement: If God has visited you with famine, get ready, fire's a-comin'! (Bob Sorge, The Fire of Delayed Answers, Oasis House)

Introduction

In my preparation time I simply could not embrace the continual commentary that labeled Obadiah as either a weak follower of Yahweh or a type of a backslidden believer. Such remarks unsettled my spirit based on what was written of him in the inspired Word.

Obadiah was:

The governor of the king's house (like Joseph was over Potipher's)
1. Trust to be sent out looking for water and pasture
Obadiah by definition, serving the Lord
He feared the Lord greatly (v. 3)
Respected and reverenced the prophet Elijah (v.7)
A concern for personal sin (v.9)
A personal testimony of a fear of the Lord (v. 12)
Hid 100 prophets (v.13)
1. 50 per cave; fed bread and water

Working out our salvation

I believe the downbeat definitions of Obadiah are attributed to a wrongful comparison with Elijah. Paul plainly states it is not wise to compare ourselves among ourselves (2 Corinthians 10:12) and that we are to exercise our gifts according to the grace given us in proportion of our faith (Romans 12:6).

For the Romans hearing Paul's letter it meant they were not to usurp apostolic authority or to personally attempt to exercise their special function;
for Obadiah it was to function as a trustworthy governor and hider of prophets, not to usurp the authority of Elijah the prophet;
for us it means we are to confine ourselves to our functions according to the measure of faith; that is, according to the extraordinary endowment of confidence in God that has been given each of us.

In these first three verses of First Kings eighteen we see in Elijah, Obadiah, and Ahab the three offices created by God to meet the spiritual and material needs of his chosen people: the prophet, priest, and the king.

The prophet was one who represented God before man
1. Hindsight, insight, and foresight
the priest was one who represented man before God
1. compassion for other men
the king was one who ruled for God
1. a follower of God's laws who enabled men to do so as well

Thus, to define Obadiah through the definition of a different office (gifting) cannot accurately portray his life. As we continue to study the spirit of Elijah this session and make the appropriate applications that does not mean each of us will individually operate as Elijah did. Just as both Obadiah and Elijah had specific roles in God's plan for that day, so too each of us have specific plans and general practices (humility and love/service and their techniques) as outlined by the Word—Romans 12:6-21.

How to deal with one's friends (12:9–13, 15–16)
1. Love and honor them (12:9–10)
2. Show them your zeal and joy (12:11–12)
3. Share with them (12:13)
4. Mourn and weep with them (12:15)
5. Live in harmony with them (12:16)
How to deal with one's foes (12:14, 17–21)
1. Bless them when they persecute you (12:14)
2. Let God repay them for the evil done to you (12:17–19)
3. Give them food when they are hungry and water when they are thirsty (12:20–21).

Wuest Translation of Romans 12:9-21

"Love, let it be without hypocrisy. Look with loathing and horror upon that which is pernicious. Stick fast to that which is good. In the sphere of brotherly love have a family affection for one another, vying with one another in showing honor; with respect to zeal, not lazy; fervent in the sphere of the Spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in the sphere of hope; patient in tribulation; with respect to prayer, persevering in it continually; with respect to the needs of the saints, being a sharer with them, eager for opportunities to show hospitality. Be constantly blessing those who are constantly persecuting you; be blessing and stop cursing. Be rejoicing with those who are rejoicing, and be weeping with those who are weeping; having the same mind towards one another, not setting your mind upon lofty things, but associating yourselves with lowly things and lowly people. Stop being those who are wise in their own opinion, requiting to no one evil in exchange for evil, taking thought in advance with regard to things that are seemly in the sight of all men. If it is possible so far as it depends upon you, with all men be living at peace. Do not be avenging yourselves, beloved ones, but give place at once to the wrath, for it stands written, To me belongs punishment, I will repay, says the Lord. But, if your enemy is hungry, be feeding him. If he thirsts, be giving him to drink, for doing this, you will heap burning coals of fire upon his head. Stop being overcome by the evil, but be overcoming the evil by means of the good."

Close

Remember that none of these services and techniques, none of these gifts given by the Lord can be accomplished outside of Jesus Christ. Just as He fulfilled all three of the Old Testament offices of prophet, priest, and king so too does He enable us to fulfill all He has given us: "I can do all things through him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).

Monday, May 11, 2009

Session 2 Sermon 2

What a powerful night in the Spirit! Words fail to describe the exhilaration in our spirits as His liberty and freedom reigned throughout the service. Thank you Lord for the ministry You preformed last night!!

Message

1 Kings 18:1

Command and Promise

I am and I will

Elijah enters upon his work of reformation
1. Three and one-half years symbolic of "want and suffering"
2. Real drama was about to begin
  1. Ravens and brook not real drama
  2. Widow's oil and barrel not real drama
  3. Raising son from the dead not real drama
3. The answer to the original prayer was about to begin
  1. Our prayers may not be answered in just the "order" that we think they should be…but they will be answered when prayed according to His will—command and promise.
For the answer to take place Elijah had to grasp the principle of Command and Promise or the Lord's I am and I will
1. Moses
  1. Exodus 6
    1. I am (2, 6, 8, 29)
    2. I will
      1. Bring you out from under burdens of the Egyptians
      2. Rid you of their bondage
      3. Redeem you with an outstretched arm (v. 6)
      4. Take you to me for a people
      5. Be your God (v. 7)
      6. Bring you into a land
      7. I will give it you for an heritage (v. 8)
2. Joshua
  1. Joshua 1:7-9
3. Gideon
  1. Judges 6:14-16
4. Elijah
  1. 1 Kings 18:1
When there is a command and no promise it becomes necessary to try and see whether our own strength can fulfill the command which is contrary to His will and Word.
Golden Nuggets "Promise"
1. The first one is, "He hath said, 'I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee' " (Heb. 13:5). The translation says, "He hath said." But it is intensive in the Greek. "He Himself hath said." That is, the Lord Jesus Himself personally made this promise. The word "leave" is not from the usual Greek word which means "to leave," but from a word which means "to uphold" or "sustain." In the Greek there are two negatives before the word "leave," presenting a very strong negation. The promise is, "I will not, I will not cease to uphold or sustain thee."
2. The second promise is, "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37). Here again we have two negatives before the verb: "I will not, I will not cast out." The words "cast out" are from one word made up of two words, the word "to throw" and a preposition meaning "out from within." That is, our Lord is speaking of those who are in salvation, in the Father's house. He gives us a double-strength promise that He will not throw us out of that house. But there is another word in the Greek which does not appear in the English, the word "outside." Literally, the promise reads, "The one who comes to Me, I will not, I will not throw out into the outside." Imagine a heavenly Father throwing His own child out. That is exactly what the Greek word means. This word "outside" is found in Revelation 22:15, where it is translated "without." The New Jerusalem is spoken of in the previous verse, but "without," that is, "outside, are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." We have the solemn promise of our Lord that the Christian will never be ejected from the Father's house and thrown into the outside where those are who have rejected His grace.
3. The third is, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you" (John 15:7). The words, "ye shall ask," are in the you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto imperative mood, which makes them a command, and are to be taken in the sense of "I command you to ask." "Abiding" implies fellowship with the Lord, "nothing between myself and my Saviour," and dependence upon Him. To those who thus abide, God issues the gracious command, "ask whatever ye desire." It is more than a command. It is a challenge. It is as if God said, "You meet the conditions, and I challenge you to ask, and then see how faithful and able I am to answer your prayer." The word "desire" implies a desire that proceeds, not from deliberate forethought, but from inclination. This is a perfectly safe command and promise, because when we live in close fellowship with Jesus, our desires and our inclinations are His desires and His inclinations.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Session 2 Sermon 1

Our return to the sanctuary was blessed by His presence through vibrant worship and the unction in seeing the "Lord of hosts." It was a great night to be in church.

Message

Returning to The Spirit of Elijah

In preparing for the new session and thus tonight the first study book I opened began with "Elijah enters upon his work of reformation"

Last session we looked at Chapter 17, highlights

Hatred of corporate sin
Lessons learned by Elijah
1. Content in obscurity (patient)
  1. Move when God says move and stand when He says, "stand"
2. Stand before God, then stand before man
3. Dependence on God
4. Fellowship with man in suffering
5. God's plan bigger than originally thought
Which takes us to tonight's focus—another lesson in Elijah's training—an even greater revelation of God!
1. "As the Lord of God of Israel lives, before whom I stand…" (1 Kings 17:1).
2. "As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand…(1 Kings 18:15)
  1. Recognizing the Lord of the battle
    1. Psalms 24:8-10 (8) Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. (9) Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. (10) Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.
  2. Letting God arise

Worship continues

Hatred of corporate sin
1. Cannot be coddled—by mercy and truth is iniquity purged
2. Judgment must first begin in the house of God
Greater revelation of God
1. Job 25:3 Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise? (Bildad, the Shuhite)
2. His provision
3. His encouragement

Monday, April 27, 2009

Sunday Night, April 26

Spontaneous Fellowship

One of the benefits of smaller congregations is the ease in which things can change on the spur of the moment with everyone having a voice. Such was the case last night as we opted to have our "service" at a local eatery. It was a wonderful time of fellowship, encouragement, and inspiration as we spoke to our building needs and new session assignments, all with a great expectation of what the Lord is going to do in the coming days.

Last night's message was to be an encouragement to continue our personal prayer times. Here is the outline.

Finding God

(Matthew 6:6)

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

In the following verse, Jesus would teach us how to pray, but first he teaches us where to pray
1. your father is already in the secret place
2. once you shut your door you are in the presence of your father
3. "I answered you in the secret place of thunder" (Psalm 81:7)

Hearing God

(Psalms 95:7)

For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,

Hearing the voice of God is largely a matter of the will
God speaks only to those who are quiet enough to hear His voice. It takes quietness of soul and heart to allow the Lord to speak to us through His Word.
Intimacy proceeds insight; passion proceeds purpose

Being before Doing

(Exodus 24:12)

And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

(John 15:5)

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Focus on being before doing: you teach what you know but reproduce what you are. Remember it is the Lord who "does" we are to "be."
Exodus 3:5, 6: Moses: unshod feet and hidden face.
1. Shoes denote the "go and do" in us,
2. but the Lord is looking for us to first "stop', hide our face, and hear Him.
"Always has the Holy One of Israel estimated men by their inner nature, and not by their outward professions; to Him the inward is as visible as the outward, and he rightly judges that the essential character of an action lies in the motive of him who works it."
1. (Psalms 51:6) Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

Lectio Divina

An overview of our time with the Lord:

Read (10 minutes)
Meditate (5 minutes)
Pray (10 minutes)
Contemplate (5 minutes)

Scripture Readings

Deuteronomy 32:1-4

Isaiah 33:20-24

Definitions: To Meditate, Contemplate, Intend. We meditate a design when we are looking out or waiting for the means of its accomplishment; we contemplate it when the means are at hand, and our decision is nearly or quite made. To intend is stronger, implying that we have decided to act when an opportunity may offer. A general meditates an attack upon the enemy; he contemplates or intends undertaking it at the earliest convenient season.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Sunday, March 29

It was our last "Winter Worship" service in the fellowship hall and the Spirit's richness continued in a very mighty way. It was as if He wrapped us in His arms and brought both comfort and encouragement to all, regulars and guests alike.

The Vision Continued

"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?" (Isaiah 58:6).

Introduction

I wanted to draw attention to that part of our vision which spoke to fasting on Fridays. I shared with you that I had planned on being in the prayer room for those 12 hours and that the last three would consist of our regular prayer meeting. This past Friday, in my second 12 hour stint, I understood one reason why the Lord has laid that particular practice on my heart at this time.

Bob Sorge writes in the Secrets of the Secret Place, "his presence is the place of change" and says "distancing ourselves from God always produces spiritual regression; proximity to God always produces spiritual progression." He continues by saying, "sin is like a cancer; God's presence is like radiation on that cancer." Thus, I came to the conclusion that my time spent in his presence on these particular Fridays work to purge me of those things that are unpleasant to the Lord.

I understand that not everyone has the luxury to spend 12 straight hours in his presence, but as I said on our blog, do what you can and God will bless you for it. Regardless if its 12 hours or two we must always remember that, many times, the effects of that presence (like radiation) are always delayed.

Similarly when we fast many people want deliverance quickly, but that too is not always the case. Many people think, or rather they hope, a short fast and prayer would strip away addictions or sinful habits that may have been ingrained for decades in their lives. And while the Lord can and does deliver people instantly, other times He delivers over a period of time. Remember the words of Wisdom, "An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end" (Proverbs 20:21). And our desired is to have a blessed finish!

As chosen by the Lord

Under the Old Covenant there was, initially, only one command to fast and that was on the Day of Atonement (cf. Lev. 16:29, 31). It was only after the fall of Jerusalem that more fast days were instituted. But to the Jews these fast days were known as "the fasting of the heart" and the same must be true for us. It cannot be merely an external show; rather, it must be an internal unction based in our hearts and propels us to pray, as prayer puts us in the presence of God.

God's purpose in commanding men to fast

To lead us to prayer (ver. 4), prayer so real that our voices are "heard on high," that God will hear and answer;
To aid us in realizing communion with Him (ver. 9); that His voice be heard by us as truly as ours by Him;
To aid in repressing self in all its forms.

The nature of true abstinence

Personally
1. To loose bands of wickedness;
  1. address those things that are very wrong in our lives
  2. sin versus iniquity (blatant versus subtle)—habitual lying, stealing, cursing, and hatred; whereas, the iniquities are the hidden faults that we don't see, the wicked residue of our fallen nature, subtle areas such as pride, rebellion, unbelief, selfishness, ambition, and covetousness.
2. To undo straps of yokes;
  1. To ease the burden (Gal. 6:2) of your challenge (calling)
3. To send out the oppressed ones free;
  1. Be free in your spirit during the heavy times
4. To pull off every yoke
  1. "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with a joke of bondage" (5:1). Paul was specifically addressing false doctrines that put heavyweights on people to keep various aspects of the law of Moses that Jesus had the field by his death and resurrection. To us it means to live not legalistically but in liberty, not in cheap grace but costly grace.
For Others
1. To loose their bands of wickedness;
  1. Pray sick of sin
  2. Desire to serve the Lord
  3. Against the god of this world who has blinded their eyes
2. To unto their burdens;
  1. That they would realize there is One who can ease their burden of sin
3. To send out the oppressed ones free
  1. Deliverance and/or its starting spot would be realized in our services
4. To break their yokes—their habits that enslaves
  1. To set them free from the sin that enslaves

The result

"Light," i.e., blessing, would break forth;
Recovery from all national ailments would speedily spring forth;
Righteousness would be their vanguard, and God himself their rear guard. This means that they would have protection in their walk;
God would listen to any cry from them (58:8–9a);
God would guide them; provide for them; give them strength;
They would be able to rebuild on the ancient foundations the building which had fallen to ruins;
Because their efforts would bring such blessing, those who led in this spiritual renewal would gain fame among their brethren. They would be known as the "repairer of the breach" (58:10b–12)

Friday, March 20, 2009

12 Hours of Presence

It begins today: Twelve hours of a focused prayer and fasting time that will continue every Friday for awhile. We fast from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm concluding with our scheduled prayer meeting at 7:00 pm. The prayer room will be open throughout the fast, but prayers are certainly not limited to any one location. Here is a brief outline for the prayer time taken from Matthew 6:9-13, Deuteronomy 20, and Isaiah 56:8. I would also suggest creating a personal journal during this time in an effort to preserve all that the Lord is going to speak to you/us.

Outline
Begin with the Lord's prayer using the following themes.

Recognition of relationship with God and other believers--Our Father
Faith--Which art in heaven
Worship--Hallowed be thy Name
Expectation--Thy kingdom come
Submission--Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Petition--Give us this day our daily bread
Confession--And forgive us our debts
Compassion--As we forgive our debtors
Dependence--Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
Acknowledgment--For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.

Deuteronomy 20 offers warfare strategy

Be not afraid (vv. 1, 3-5)
Consecrate yourself (vv. 2, 6-9)
Peace at home (v. 5)
Peace in provision (v. 6)
Peace with spouse (v. 7)
Devote to destruction every aspect of the enemy (v. 13, 17, 18, 20)
"Eat" of the trees (v. 19)

Isaiah 58:6 brings focus to the fast

Loose the bands of wickedness
To undo heavy burdens
To let the oppressed go free
That ye break every yoke

Do your best
Without doubt the Lord knows that all of our schedules, commitments, and responsibilities vary today, but we all can do something. Find what you can do and do it with all your might!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Has it been a month?

I am shocked and somewhat embarrassed it has been a month since the last post. The Morning Room is designed to be a regular meeting place for the Crimson House congregation. It is a place where we meet to share more about what the Lord is doing among us; to encourage and edify one another as we see the day of His return approaching. Yes, the circumstances of this interlude reflected one-time events and I so appreciated your grace and understanding during that time. Personally shutting down last week following dad's death was a very necessary part in my grieving process, and I am thankful to all who assisted in allowing me to do so. Through God's mercy and love, and your support, things are returning to my general discipline: early morning devotional time with my special (and mostly secret) hot chocolate creation--and yes, I just enjoyed a nice sip; hearing from the Lord through His Word; praying and writing in my journal and adding to the blog. It is a most enjoyable two to three hours each morning and one that I really look forward to. It is nice to be back.

Sunday Night
Nick and the worship team were totally responsible for the service and we certainly enjoyed the warmth and comfort of the Spirit. The prophetic worship ministered mightily as did the personal encouragement and open word given me. You can read that word here. Additionally we are working on new pages/links from both here and the web site that will have the audio versions of our services, both in their entirety and by content, i.e. worship, sermon, spontaneous messages, etc.

Kindly add to Sunday's service by sharing any other inspiration you have received either from that night or in the last few days following the service. I know the Lord has really be speaking to me regarding our next step, as was spoken of Sunday, and I look forward to sharing it with you this Sunday night.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Sunday Night, February 8

Expectation
Prior to the evening service there was that churning of our spirits in expectation as we met for intercessory prayer. The liberty of the prayer time spilled over into our worship once service began as needs were met and a completeness prevailed. We left knowing that, on this night, His will for the service was accomplished.

Message
A second reason came to me for the Maskil Psalms in preparing for this message. As you may recall when we started the session and the new focus I was unsure as to why the Lord was leading us this way. Then in preparing Psalm 78 the connection between the spirit of Elijah and the Maskil songs became evident in the need to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children. Such turning of hearts would bring a generational unity in Christ reflected on the Last Days.

Another reason for this time of instruction came this week: Before David picked up his bow of bronze; he secured himself in the Lord. God became his refuge, his stronghold, his high tower (Frangipane, This Day we Fight, page 19). Thus, as we enter into greater spiritual warfare it is imperative that God be our refuge.

“For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? -- the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze” (Psalms 18:31-34).

Notice The past and present tense:

equipped me—that He has given us everything we need
made my way blameless—an understanding of grace
made my feet like a deer—empowered me to the utmost
set me secure on the heights—brought into His stronghold
He trains my hands to war—then he prepares me

Results: Spiritual power beyond our own abilities

A third reason, and one that ultimately brings us full circle back to generational unity: We can be destroyed by ignorance,“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (Hosea 4:6).

This is especially important in light of the opening Psalm 78 in sharing with the next generation and the spirit of Elijah in turning the hearts of the children to the fathers and the hearts of the fathers to the children. Therefore, we should be again encouraged to know that through obedience we are striding just where the Spirit desires His spiritual warriors to march!

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

A Warm Sunday

A Super Night
The continued provision by our Lord was again evident as the new vent-free 40,000 btu log set warmed our area of Winter Worship. Worship moved from being "unplugged"with a minimal amount of amplification and the Spirit warmed our hearts as heartfelt adoration combined with prophetic worship and prayer.

Word
Crimson House accepts the old statement, "All Spirit and you blow up; all Word and you dry up; but with the right combination you grow up." We are led by the Word as revealed by the Spirit. We live by faith and trust in the real God. He is taking us on a journey that is not governed by the natural eye or accomplished through our own strength. It is a journey that will give our Lord all the glory when the story is told. And there will be a story, but only because He has so chosen.

As the chapters continue to be written new players will be added, not to rewrite what He has already composed, but to fulfill what He is writing. Some players will depart, many having fulfilled their part in His plan for this place. In their role they were both blessed by what God is doing and were a blessing through the giving of themselves in ministry. However, none of us, from the pastor to the babies in the nursery, from the current congregation to those who no longer attend, are bigger than our God and what He desires to accomplish. It is all about giving glory to our God. Hence the reminder on the very front of our building, "To God be the Glory."

The message given at our last prayer meeting was from the Spirit as duly judged by all in attendance. I can especially attest to its validity since much of His word was a personal one to me and spoke of things only personally shared with Him in prayer. This I shared in our Sunday service two days later accompanied with the handout of the entire word given and my message text. In Acts we see where the interpretation of such a word can be conflicting (cf. Acts 21:10-14) but was not debated as to its origin. Ultimately their conversations concluded with "the will of the Lord be done" and, of course, it was.

Message
We reviewed the third of the Maskil Psalms, Psalm 52, written when David learned of Doeg's conversation to Saul that revealed his (David's) visit to Ahimelech. A visit that both continued Saul's pursuit of David and caused the death of Ahimelech and 85 priests.

Introduction
Even the malice (desire to inflict injury, harm, or suffering on another, either because of a hostile impulse or out of deep-seated meanness) of a Doeg may furnish instruction to a David.

Proverbs 11:9 "With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered."

Anchor Points

I am an olive tree...
I will praise thee forever, because you have done it
I will wait on your name
I will do this because it is good before Your saints