…but by My Spirit XXII

but_by_my_spirit_series_knowing_the_spirit_intercession_albumart

 

Sunday 11/13/16 

Series: …but by My Spirit Pt. 22

Message – Knowing the Holy Spirit through Intercession V

Click HERE for Video

 

Living in the Kingdom

POINT #4 – We unite with God’s heart through Intercession.

  1. (Sub-point) God is a God Who LOVES both Justice and Mercy. He WILL NOT pervert justice and show partiality to NO ONE!

In my opinion, one of the BEST verse to illustrate this is Isaiah 30:18,

Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.”

Last week we saw how Christ intercedes for US – revealing Intercession as the heart of the Father EVEN for believers….

Heb_7:25 “But this (priest), because He abides forever, has the priesthood which is non-transferable, for which reason He is able to be saving those completely and forever who come to God through Him, being always alive for the purpose of continually making intercession for them.

  • EXAMPLE via Parable…

    Luke 13:6-9 “(6)He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. (7) Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ (8) But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. (9) And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ “

So we see that even though we are born anew and are the off-spring of God, we STILL need an advocate – One to intercede for us before the Father WHO is a God of JUSTICE.

Today We are further making or rather illustrating the point of God’s Mercy and Justice as it is demonstrated in the New Testament towards believers thus, making the case for our need for intercession.

James 5:16-20,

(16) Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (17) Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. (18) And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. (19) Brethren, if anyone among you wanders FROM THE TRUTH, and someone turns him back, (20) let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.”

Goodness and severity

Rom 11:16-36,

(16) Now if the firstfruits offered up are holy, so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches. (17) Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them, and have come to share in the rich root of the cultivated olive tree, (18) do not brag that you are better than those branches. But if you do brag–you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you. (19) Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” (20) True enough; they were broken off by unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. (21) For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you either. (22) Therefore, consider God’s kindness and severity: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness toward you–if you remain in His kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. (23) And even they, if they do not remain in unbelief, will be grafted in, because God has the power to graft them in again. (24) For if you were cut off from your native wild olive, and against nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these–the natural branches–be grafted into their own olive tree? (25) So that you will not be conceited, brothers, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery: a partial hardening has come to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. (26) And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The Liberator will come from Zion; He will turn away godlessness from Jacob. (27) And this will be My covenant with them, when I take away their sins. (28) Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage, but regarding election, they are loved because of their forefathers, (29) since God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable. (30) As you once disobeyed God, but now have received mercy through their disobedience, (31) so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also now may receive mercy. (32) For God has imprisoned all in disobedience, so that He may have mercy on all.

(33) Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! (34) “FOR WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD? OR WHO HAS BECOME HIS COUNSELOR?” (35) “OR WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM AND IT SHALL BE REPAID TO HIM?” (36) For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.”

Concerning verse 22,

Goodness” means Goodness, kindness, gentleness.”

Severity” A cutting off, severing, as of a man cutting off dead or useless boughs from a fruit tree.

The condition of “if” in this verse is concerning presumption, and in general all attitudes of superiority to the Jews.

Wuest says,

The Jews had lost their standing because they had come to believe that it was indefectable, and independent of moral conditions; and if the Gentiles commit the same mistake, they will incur the same doom.

Turn to Matt. 21:33-43,

“(33) Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country.

(34)Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. (35) And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. (36) Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. (37) Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ (38) But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ (39) So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. (40) “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?”

(41) They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.”

(42) Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE. THIS WAS THE LORD’S DOING, AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES’ ? (43) “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.”

The church today is dangerously close to the same assumption Israel had.

When the Rapture arrives, the Gentiles will then again be set aside in favor of Israel which will be restored as the final channel through which God will work to bring the good news of salvation to the human race. In the same way in which Israel can now be saved, though largely through the witness and ministry of the Gentiles – so in the future the roles will again be reversed.

In this sense, the Gentiles will be cut off as Israel was and for the same reason, a failure to function as the means through which God works for the salvation of sinners.

“Cut off” literally means “cut out” as a branch is cut out of the main trunk of a tree.

The word “Continue” means “to remain or abide.” It is often used of one abiding in a home as a guest. Therefore it speaks of friendship, companionship, mutual intercourse. (just like we’ve talked about with the Holy Spirit)

It is the attitude of superiority the Gentiles have towards the Jews and their beliefs that their position is indefectable, and independent of moral conditions that Paul is specifically referring to here.

Q. Can you think of any groups of Christians to whom this might apply and therefore, for whom we should be interceeding?

A. If you can answer YES – you now know someone for whom you can intercede!

Remember what Paul told us in Romans 2:1-11,

“(1) Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. (2) But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. (3) And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? (4) Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (5) But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, (6) who “WILL RENDER TO EACH ONE ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS”: (7) eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; (8) but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, (9) tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; (10) but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (11) For there is no partiality with God.”

2Peter 3:14-15,

(14) Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; (15) and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,”

You cannot wander from the truth if you were never IN the truth to begin with! “Anyone AMONG YOU”.

Next week we will begin looking at point #5…

We brag on our Father through sharing the Gospel.

Blessings! 

 

 

I hope this teaching will challenge you and encourage you to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

You have a special place in God’s family & kingdom. If you do not know Him, please use our ‘Contact Us‘ page and reach out so we may have the privilege of introducing you to the Lord. Neither money nor attendance at our church will be mentioned.

If you have been spiritually fed by this ministry and wish to give, we truly appreciate that and you may do so here, but all outreaches of this ministry are FREE for you and anyone to enjoy at no cost.

 

Blessings!

 

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!