TELL ME WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU TO BE GRACIOUS.
Here is the most liked quote on my Facebook feed from yesterday’s sermon at Cornerstone.
What kind of things does a “mind set on things above” think about? What can you do today to focus your thoughts like that?
Yesterday we shared that one of the keys to filling the atmosphere of our churches with the presence of God, was a renewed commitment to holiness. You can find that post HERE.
We desperately need the presence of God in our services. No move of man or his power will suffice to stand against the enemies that surround the church. As ever the world is looking for something beyond entertainment. They crave above all else a real encounter with the living God. We can bring that but only if we stop striving in our own strength and begin to call down the power of God into our midst.
Holiness is one thing that calls God into the midst of His people. PRAYER IS ANOTHER.
Jeremiah the prophet said,” In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes.” Jer. 29:12, 13
God said to Solomon, “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 15My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place.” 2 Chiron. 7:14,15
Again and again throughout the Bible God connects the move of His presence and power with the praying of His people. There must be an increase of prayer in the lives of the people of God if there is to be a releasing of the presence of God.
By prayer I do not mean a coming to God with our lists of what we want Him to do for us. The prayer God says brings His power and presence is the prayer that focuses on Him and on discovering His will. When God’s people spend more time in prayer asking God what He wants of them rather than telling God what they want of Him, then HIs presence will fall.
Services at Cornerstone have been so awesome lately I wanted to start doing a quick recap of the points from the sermons.
This week Pastor Risto spoke on the topic “Submitting to God’s plan for you life.”
Photo by: Steven Hackett
Here are some of the points the Spirit dropped into my heart as I listened.
26In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.28The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with GodYou will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called
the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.37For no word from God will ever fail.” 38“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. Luke 1: 26-38 Our Opening Scripture
“We are called to live the life God has prepared for us. SUBMIT TO THE PLAN.”
Photo by Steven Hackett
There’s nothing like an angel to mess up your day-Barry Risto Luke 1:26-34
Sometimes serving God can be a painful privilege. -Barry Risto
Believe the word of God spoken…even though you don’t know where that might take you. .. it will be beyond your wildest dreams.
Submission to God may take us down far deeper paths than we think. .. But wait until you see what it will produce. -Barry Risto
God doesn’t call us to live safe lives. -Barry Risto
God is preparing you for the things He has prepared for you.
Photo by: Steven Hackett
Is there a difference between your plan and God’s plan for your life?
Reacting to things is often our flesh. Responding to things is of the Spirit. We are called to be responders not reactors. -Barry Risto
Photo by: Steven Hackett
Responders save lives. Reactors melt down and blow up. Be a first responder.
God’s plan always involves a journey so buckle in!
Which quote or point is your favorite?
My friend Jody gave us this week’s Quote of the Week for Pastor Wrinkle’s Sunday Blog.
Do you agree with that? I think in some ways it may be true. When we become more concerned with the keys of a song than the keys of the kingdom, we have traded Presence for atmosphere. When we are more concerned with rhythm and melody than we are with the confession we are making we have traded Presence for atmosphere. And when we are more concerned with the look of the sanctuary than we are with the LIGHT IN OUR SANCTUARY, well then we have traded Presence for atmosphere.
Listen I am a worship pastor. I get paid to make sure songs are singable, the music is right and that the sanctuary is conducive to worship. I am not saying keys, rhythm, melody and good setting aren’t important. They are. But they are important for us not for God. They cannot bring the Presence of God by themselves. They can create an atmosphere that impresses men but by themselves they don’t impress God enough to make Him send His presence.
I want to speak about three keys that bring Presence over atmosphere. The first one I would like to address is holiness.
Hebrews warns us, “without holiness no one will see God.” Heb. 12:14. I know we tend to think of this in terms of our eternal destination (Heaven or Hell) but frankly it pertains to the here and now just as much. God’s presence can be blocked by unholiness in the church.
We like to think that when the music is good the Spirit of God comes and moves in our midst. Conversely we like to think that when the music is bad somehow that hinders God. The music though is not for God. It is for us. Can I just say God has better music in Heaven than we will ever have on Earth no matter how talented our musicians are. So our music good or bad will not impress Him. What does move God to send His presence is the heart of those worshipping.
A heart that is actively pursuing the things of God and turning from the world of sin attracts God and will bring a move of His Spirit. Meanwhile a heart that is embroiled in sin may be able with great musical talent to move the emotions of men but it will never be able to summon the Presence of God.
The Presence is what we need. Without it we have nothing more than an emotional high in worship. We must begin to seek greater holiness and the Presence will come in greater measure.
In my recent fasting and prayer journey God spent some time speaking to me about love. In one prayer session He showed me a rushing river. The water was cold and clear and powerful.
As I watched the river flow in its course uninterrupted someone began to roll large boulders into the river trying to dam up the flow. The waters rose and turned and flowed even more violently around the rocks. More and more boulders were added but the river was not stopped. It began to break its banks and flow around the boulders amongst the trees of the forest until eventually turning back toward its original destination spilling back into the river basin from which it had come.
I heard the voice of the Lord say, “The river is the power of love. The boulders are the power of sin. Some would say that sin is stronger than love because in this world it seems that sin is winning and love is seldom found. But I would say to you that is not because sin is stronger than love but because sin like the boulders in the river has temporarily diverted love from its intended course.
Sin has not been able to subvert or undo love. Sin has only diverted love from its original banks. It can be found but now it must be sought or the boulders must be removed so that love can meet its intended mark.
The problem is not with the quality of love. Nothing can change love. It is beyond change and will always be the same. Love is “patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.8 Love never fails.” I Cor. 13:4-8
As I have promised sin will be destroyed but love will continue to flow. the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.[a]
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.[b] That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3: 7-13
But that is future. In the now the power of love flows strong but sin has attempted to divert it from its intended course. To find My love you must seek it out. To do that you must leave behind your sin. You must let me remove it out of your way so that the waters of life, the waters of love may course over you again. To the degree you continue to let sin remain in your life to that degree you will never know My love. To the degree you allow me to pull the boulders of sin out of your life and you out of the boulders of sin to that degree you will know my love. What will you choose?”
Once again we are working from Romans 1:20 on our road through Romans,
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
If you have missed our previous conversations you can find them on THE ROAD THROUGH ROMANS PAGE.
So far we have shown through creation that God is wise, that God is infinite, that God is sovereign and today we are bringing out the truth that God is Holy.
In creation it is fire that shows God’s holiness. Buffalo helps us understand this better.
Today we continue in our study through Romans and we are still looking at Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Romans 1:20
If you have missed any of our conversations so far you can find them on THE ROAD THROUGH ROMANS PAGE
Today we are continuing our conversation about the attributes of God which are revealed in the creation. From the creation we have seen that God is wise and that God is infinite. Today we are discussing the truth that the creation, specifically history teaches us that God is sovereign. Which basically means: God is intimately involved with the world; He has a plan for the world; And He is in charge!
Watch this:
Once again we addressing Romans 1:20 in our study through the Book of Romans. Using A.W. Tozer’s list of God’s attributes we are answering the questions that Romans 1:20 creates.
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
What are God’s invisible qualities? How does the creation reveal them clearly?
If you have missed any of our previous discussions they can be found on THE ROAD THROUGH ROMANS PAGE.
Attribute #2 on Tozer’s list is infinitude.
So what is infinitude and how does the creation reveal this attribute of God?
http://www.allaboutgod.com says of infinitude- God knows no boundaries. He is without measure. This attribute by definition impacts all of the others. Since God is infinite, everything else about Him must also be infinite. http://www.allaboutgod.com/attributes-of-god.htm
How does creation shows the infinite nature of God? I would say the infinite nature of God is displayed in the ever expanding nature of our universe. Watch this:
Lillie-Put 