Wednesday, April 29, 2020

2020 THE YEAR OF ACCESS

2020 THE YEAR OF ACCESS 

Esther 4:10 – 5:3
10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a command for Mordecai: 11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days.” 12 So they told Mordecai Esther’s words.13 And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther told themto reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” 17 So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him.
5 Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on herroyal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house. So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter. And the king said to her, “What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you—up to half the kingdom!”

I. WHAT DO WE HAVE ACCESS TO

1. The Throne
Heb 4:16
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Eph 3:12
12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 
Rev 4:1-11
After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throneAnd He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 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!” Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”
2. Kingdom Promises
Numbers 13:30
30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”


Acts 3:1-10
Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hourAnd a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted himup, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

3. Him (Relationship)
John 13:21-26
21 When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” 22 Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke. 23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. 25 Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

4. Favor
Favor with God and Man

• Favor makes life easier with fewer hindrances
• Favor will make you stand out with in a crowd.
• “One day of Favor is worth more than a lifetime of labor”
• Favor is to be chosen rather than money. Proverbs 22:1 
Prov. 22:1
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.
  
II. WHAT’S DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS SEASON AND LAST SEASON

1. The Past Seasons Access was More Restricted
1 Cor. 16:9
For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

2. This season the hindrances are bound and God is gonna help you.

III. TOOLS NEEDED FOR MAXIMUM ACCESS

1. Proper Sight
Psalm 121:1
I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help?

2. Confidence
Eph 3:12
12in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

Heb 4:16
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

3. Focus
Don’t stumble over little stuff.  

4. Flexibility
Heb 12:1
12in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

5. Bravado

Sunday, April 26, 2020

HOW TO HANDLE WEARINESS

HOW TO HANDLE WEARINESS

Is. 40:28-31
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

I. Even The Best Of Us Get Weak Sometimes

  • Staying at Home
  • Delayed blessings
  • Overcoming Temptation
  • Everyday struggles
  • Health Challenges
  • Family problems

II. We Must Learn To Wait On Him
  • Ps. 25:3- ‘yea let none that wait on thee be ashamed’
  • 27:14- ‘wait on the lord and be of good courage’
  • 37:7-‘ rest in the lord and wait patiently for him’
  • 37:9-‘ those that wait on the lord shall inherit the earth

Wait – qwh pronounced (kee-v’ah)

III. You Will Become Like An Eagle

1. Eagles Are Built To Fly
a. Fly higher than any other bird
b. Higher they go the easier it is to fly
c. Look strange on ground- made for air
d. Overcome obstacles- Heb. 12:1-3; Phil. 14:11-13;
Acts 20:23-24
e. Overcome storms- fly in front of it- Rom. 5:3-4;
Rom. 8:28

2. Eagles Have Amazing Eyesight

  • Always see enemy afar off
  • Can spot running prey @ 35,000ft. in air- 2 Kng. 6:8-18
  • See What God is doing
3. Eagles Have Special Eye-Lids
Fly toward the sun and enemy gets blinded
Ps. 91- he that dwelleth…
Ps. 32:7- thou art my hiding place…

4. Eagles' Youth Is Renewed
Ps. 103:5
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s

5. Eagles Are Trained through Trial
  • Mother takes soft stuff out of nest
  • Takes 1 mile up and drops them- Duet. 8:1-3


Sunday, April 19, 2020

FAITH FOR FINANCES

FAITH FOR FINANCES


1. Israel in the Exodus
Exodus 12:35-36
35 Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. 36 And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

2. Widow of Zerepath
1 Kings 17:8-16
Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12 So she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” 13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’ ” 15 So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah.

3. Four Leprous Men
2 Kings 7:1-3
Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord: ‘Tomorrow about this time a measure of fine flour will sell for a shekel and two measures of barley for a shekel in the gate of Samaria!’”
2 Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, “If the Lord should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” But Elisha said, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.” 3 Now four men who were lepers were at the entrance of the city’s gate; and they said to one another, “Why do we sit here until we die? 4 If we say, ‘We will enter the city—then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there; and if we sit still here, we die also.’ So now come, let us go over to the army of the Syrians. If they spare us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.” 5 So they arose in the twilight and went to the Syrian camp. But when they came to the edge of the camp, no man was there. 6 For the Lord had made the Syrian army hear a noise of chariots and horses, the noise of a great army. They had said to one another, “The king of Israel has hired the Hittite and Egyptian kings to come upon us.” 7 So the Syrians arose and fled in the twilight and left their tents, horses, donkeys, even the camp as it was, and fled for their lives. 8 And when these lepers came to the edge of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried away silver, gold, and clothing, and went and hid them [in the darkness]. Then they entered another tent and carried from there also and went and hid it.

4. Jesus - Money from Fish’s Mouth

Matthew 17:24-17
24 When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?” 26 Peter said to Him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”