DEDICATION SERVICE

1 Kings 7:51-8:64

⁵¹ So all the work that King Solomon had done for the house of the Lord was finished; and Solomon brought in the things, which his father David had dedicated: the silver and the gold and the furnishings. He put them in the treasuries of the house of the Lord…⁴ Then they brought up the ark of the Lord…¹⁰ And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, ¹¹ so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.

¹⁴ Then the king turned around and blessed the whole assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing…⁶² Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices before the Lord. ⁶³ And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the Lord, twenty-two thousand bulls and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord. ⁶⁴ On the same day the king consecrated the middle of the court that was in front of the house of the Lord; for there he offered burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar that was before the Lord was too small to receive the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings.

I.                    THE TWO REALMS

1 Corinthians 15:44

⁴⁴ It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

2 Corinthians  4:18

¹⁸ while we do not look at the things, which are seen, but at the things, which are not seen. For the things, which are, seen are temporary, but the things, which are not seen, are eternal.

II.                SPIRITUAL REALM IS MOTHER TO NATURAL REALM

1.      God is a Spirit (John 4:24).

2.      Angels are spirit beings (Good ones and bad ones)

3.      Humans are spirit beings (1 Thessalonians. 5:23)

4.      Humans are also physical beings.

III.             THE FIGHT FOR DOMINION OF EARTH

1.      Dual Beings

1 Thessalonians 5:23

²³ Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2.      We have been given dominion in this realm

Genesis 1:27

²⁷ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. ²⁸ Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Psalm 115:16

The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: But the earth hath he given to the children of men.

3.      Dominion Lost and Reclaimed

Luke 4:5-8

⁵ Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. ⁶ And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. ⁷ Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” ⁸ And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”

Colossians 2:13-15

¹³ And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, ¹⁴ having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. ¹⁵ Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Matthew 28:18

¹⁸ And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

4.      Everything on Earth will be brought under dominion of Jesus

Ephesians 1:10

¹⁰ that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.

                        Revelation  11:15

¹⁵ Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

Psalm 110:1-3

¹ The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ² The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies! ³ Your people shall be volunteers In the day of Your power; In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth.

IV.             AUTHORITY OF BELIEVER TO RECLAIM DOMINION

1.      Believers have been given authority to claim territory for Jesus

Matthew 28:18-19

¹⁸ And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 16:18-19

¹⁸ And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

V.                THREE AREAS WE WORK TO SUBMIT TO JESUS

1.      People

Colossians 1:27-28

Which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ²⁸ Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

2.     Territory

Luke 4:5-8

⁵ Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. ⁶ And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. ⁷ Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” ⁸ And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”

Land, Buildings, cars, property, etc.

3.     Times and Seasons

a.       Time can be blessed or cursed

Exodus  20:8-11

⁸ “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹ Six days you shall labor and do all your work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it, you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. ¹¹ For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

b.      Seasons can be blessed or cursed

Judges 6:2-5

² And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds. ³ And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them; ⁴ And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. ⁵ For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.

Daniel 7:25

²⁵ And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

VI.               CONSECRATION/DEDICATION

The Pattern of King Solomon

1.      Honored the previous generations contribution

2.      Brought in the Ark (Presence and Glory) of God

3.      Blessed the People

4.      Gave Offerings (Sacrifice) to God

5.      Dedicate the House of the Lord

Is Your Light On??

Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The purpose of light

To shine so that others will see

Light attracts and shows the way; light house

The Source of our Light is Powerful

John 8:12

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

2 Corinthians 3:18 AMP. And we all with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.

Our Light has Great Abilities

·        It can keep you

2 Corinthians 4:1-2

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not. 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

·        It saves lives

2 Corinthians 4:3-7

3 But if our gospel is hid, it is hidden to them that are lost:

4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them, which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the Excellencies of the power may be of God, and not of us.

·        It gives us hope

2 Corinthians 4:8-10

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

We are not only light bearers but also standard bearers

1John 1:7-9

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Four Ways to Reflect your light

1.     Behave differently from the world

Phillippians 2:14-16

 Do all things without grumbling or disputing

15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

John 1:9

that was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

2.     Be Culturally Relevant and Speak Truth

Romans 13:12-14

We live in a dark world, full of lies, hate, and confusion. But God’s Word tells us to “cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

14, but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.

3.     Walk by Faith and put yourself out there.

Luke 8:16

A lamp is meant to be placed on a stand to give light to everything around it. Being timid is not an excuse.

Matthew 5:15

nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

4.     Remember your source

Give God the glory and the praise

Matthew 5:16

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Three things that can hinder your light from shining

1.     Selfishness - Having an excessive concerned or exclusively, for oneself or one's advantage, pleasure, or welfare, regardless of others

2.     Being Judgmental –

a.      Denotes an attitude in which judgments about other people's conduct is made

b.     A decision based upon a particular set of values or on a particular value system.

c.      Making an expedient evaluation based upon limited information at hand

Matthew 7:3

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but does not notice the log that is in your own eye?

3.     Entangling in sin

Hebrew12: 1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

1 Corinthians 10:23

The Apostle Paul put it this way: "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not." 

ENTITLEMENT II

Matthew 20:1-16

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. ² Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. ³ And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, ⁴ and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. ⁵ Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. ⁶ And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ ⁷ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’ ⁸ “So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ ⁹ And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. ¹⁰ But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. ¹¹ And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, ¹² saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ ¹³ But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. ¹⁵ Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ ¹⁶ So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”

I.                  ENTITLEMENT THINKING

1.     An attitude of being special -“I’m exceptional — and in fact, I’m of far greater value to this marriage (or family, or company, or church) than the rest of them, and that’s why I deserve special treatment. They’re lucky to have me.”

2.     An attitude of being _ owed, or of deserving something.

3.     A refusal to accept responsibility.  Ex.  “Why do they want me to pay rent? I didn’t ask to be born. Besides, this will still be their house after I move out. And I can’t pay rent anyway because I don’t have a job. None of the dead-end jobs around here are worth my time and effort. And there’s no reason I

should do my laundry — Mom has to do hers and Dad’s anyway — she can just do mine at the same time. It’s no extra work.”

4.     A denial of one’s__ impact on others — “Sometimes my husband and kids’ lack of responsibility bothers me, and I say exactly what I feel. I’m telling them the truth. I don’t sugarcoat it, and I don’t tone down my language, my volume, or how long I talk. They overreact to what I’m saying, and that’s their problem. It’s a free country, and I can say what I need to say.”

II.               SYMPTOMS OF ENTITLEMENT

1.      You impose unrealistic demands onto your family, children, friends, acquaintances, employees, and employers.

2.      You tend to feel sorry for yourself if things don’t work out the way you wanted (self-pity), and openly advertise this in attention-seeking ways.

3.      People have called you a “bully,” “manipulative,” “ruthless,” “egotistical,” “vain,” or a “liar.”

4.      You believe that you deserve happiness and go to great, sometimes extreme lengths to ensure that happens, often at the expense of others.

5.      You punish people when they don’t do what you want either passively

6.      To “succeed” in life, you believe in going to any lengths.

7.      You regularly see other people as competition or “threats.”

8.       You tend to exhibit many double-standards in the way you behave/interact with other people.

9.      You tend to take more than you give in friendships and relationships.

10.  You tend to look out for yourself, your needs and desires more than anyone else almost 100% of the time.

11.  You have a hard time negotiating or compromising.

12.  You have a deep-seated conviction that you have priority and should always come first, even at the expense of stepping on others.

13.  People always seem to be offended or upset by what they do or say.

14.  You think that you are better, or more important than other people and other people should see this and unquestioningly respect you.

15.  You crave admiration and adoration.

16.  You like to assert your dominance or superiority over other people, finding it second nature.

III.            LIMITED ENTITLEMENT

1.     There is general entitlement.

2.     There is Limited or Seasonal entitlement

3.     Entitlement is not just for young people.

IV.             THE PLIGHT OF ENTITLEMENT

Entitlement has profound ___ negative impacts __

1.     Companies that must deal with unmotivated employees

2.     Parents faced with raising self-centered children

3.     Dating relationships that don’t work because of an “I’m special, and I deserve more than you’re giving me” attitude

4.     Young adults who refuse to grow up and so go nowhere

5.     Leaders who expect special treatment because of their position, not because of their character

6.     Marriages torn apart by the narcissism of a spouse

7.     Ministries saddled with “prima donna” leadership

8.     Professionals who wander from job to job looking for a place that will see them as the “gift to mankind” they consider themselves to be — whether they’re productive or not.

V.                JESUS ON ENTITLEMENT

Matthew 10:14

¹⁴ And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.

VI.             PAUL THE APOSTLE TEACHES AGAINST ENTITLEMENT

1.     Learned Behavior

Philippians 4:10-13

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: ¹² I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

2.     Christian Living

Romans 12:9-16

⁹ Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; ¹¹ not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; ¹² rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; ¹³ distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. ¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

VII.          ENTITLEMENT: THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE

2 Timothy 3:1-7

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ⁴ traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! ⁶ For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, ⁷ always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

VIII.       HOW TO OVERCOME ENTITLEMENT

1.     Ban _ Self Pity _

1 Kings 19:9-10

⁹ And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place, and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” ¹⁰ So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they seek to take my life.”

2.     _Embrace _the teaching of Scripture that Jesus is enough

Colossians 2:9-10

⁹ For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; ¹⁰ and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power

Complete means to fill up or make full

3.     Embrace  Self- Denial _

Galatians  5:16-17

¹⁶ I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another so that you cannot do the things that you wish.

4.     ___ Pray _for God to Show You Entitlement Within You and _ Remove it

Psalms 19:12-14

¹² Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. ¹³            Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression.¹⁴     Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer.