An opportunity under trial - test or temptation?

Ø Benefits of trial,

                     i.        Spiritual stronger

                    ii.        Test brings testimony

Ø James 1:19- living out the trial; 3-point turn.

1.   Be Swift to hear- we need to be careful how we hear.

·         James says that we need to be swift to hear; we need to develop the ability to be good listeners.

·         There are two good reasons why listening is an essential spiritual skill

                                                      i.        First, because that’s how faith comes > Romans 10:17, So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

                                                    ii.        The second reason we need to develop the ability to hear spiritually is because of the way God speaks > 1 King 19, God doesn’t shout; God doesn’t roar; God speaks in a whisper.

                                                   iii.         

                                                   iv.         

·         Luke 8:18 > Jesus said, be careful how you hear the word of God, they bear fruits.

·         John 10:27 > If you don't hear, you are not hearing God’s voice.

2.  Be Slow to speak- we need to be careful to whom we communicate. 

·        Nehemiah 2:1-7 > He had a holy pause to respond to the king. If you have a holy pause, then God will speak to you.

·        Proverbs 29:20 > God wants us to restrain our lips, shut our mouths, not be hasty in our words.

·        Proverbs 10:19

·        Proverbs 13:3

·        Proverbs 17:28

3.  Be Slow to wrath

·        Psalms 103:8 > The anger of man never achieves what God wants to achieve anyway; that’s why God wants us to be “slow to anger”, the reason is that it reflects His nature

·        Ecclesiastics 7:9

·        Ephesians 4:26

·        Psalms 34:12-13

·        Proverbs 15:18

·        Proverbs 29:22

·        Proverbs 17:14

·        Proverbs 20:3

Sermon Note from www.intlcog.org, Date: 11/1/2015

Prayer

	INTERNATIONAL CHURCH OF GOD A GOING CHURCH FOR THE COMING LORD 2015 - AS THE FATHER HAS LOVED ME, I ALSO HAVE LOVED YOU, ABIDE IN MY LOVE
A.    The Prayer is the greatest Christian privilege and prayer is also our greatest Christian service. There are six enemies to prayer and the Holy Spirit helps our weaknesses. 1.      Indifference – Romans 8:15  “….you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father.” 2.      Ignorance – Isaiah 11:2 “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.” 3.      Impotence – Romans 8:11 “ But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, ….will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” 4.      Interference – Eph 6:11 “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” V18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” 5.      Inexpressibility – Romans 8:26  “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” 6.      Inaccessibility –  Holy Spirit’s ministry in us, to us, in order to have the ministry through us.  (Romans 8:26) May our Lord help us to pray in the Holy Spirit as instructed in the book of Jude :20 “ But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.” B.     Jesus prayer life. John 5:19   “Jesus answered and said to them, most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do…” 1.      Jesus ministry commenced with prayer. Luke 3:21 “…Jesus was baptized, and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.” 2.      Jesus prayed for direction. Mark 1:35 3.      Jesus prayer devotion Luke 5:15ff 4.      Jesus prayed for decision. Luke 5:16 5.      Jesus prayer dependence John 11:42 6.      Jesus prayed for determination Matthew 26:39 7.      Jesus continues in prayer Hebrews 7:25
International Church of God, 24 Ray Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803 | 84 Cambridge St, Burlington, MA 01803 Ph: (781) 674-0123, (781) 221-8444 www.intlcog.org

POWER OF CORPORATE PRAYER

·        Genesis 39:7-9, when you have thankful heart for God, you are protected in any situation of your life.

·        Three elements of Christian Life are: FAITH, LOVE, and HOPE.

                     I.        Faith will look backward to the crucified savior.

                   II.        Love will look upward to the crowned savior.

                  III.        Hope will look forward to the coming savior.

POWER OF CORPORATE PRAYER

·        Matthew 18:19 > The Greek word of agree is "symfo̱nó̱", means "To sound together".

·        Symphony vs Orchestra > A composer writes music-a conductor directs an orchestra > Some important people in an orchestra are:

1.   Composer to write music.

2.   Conductor to unify people.

3.   Concertmaster to control each member of string instrument.

4.   Musicians.

5.   Audience.

·        People in corporate prayer are:

1.   Composer (Holy Spirit) - wrote the word of God.

2.   Conductor (Pastor) - has to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

3.   Concertmaster (Ministry Helpers)-Acts 6:2-3

4.   Musicians (Prayer Warriors)

5.   Audience ( Father, and in the name of Jesus)

A.  Before we begin praying, we need to,

·        Confess our Sins > Isaiah 59:1-4

·        Remove any hindrances > 2 Chronicles 18:1-3; 1 Samuel 7:3  

B.  Each musician knows their sheet music- For a believer, our sheet music is the Word of God. To pray effectively, every believer must memorize the Word of God.

C.  Each musician is sensitive to the conductor- Every believer must be sensitive to Pastoral leadership.

D.  Musicians are sensitive to the time signature-As believers we must be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit

E.  Musicians are well synchronized with each other- Believers are stay in unity.

Sermon Note from www.intlcog.org, DT: 9/27/2015

Father Need to have passion in their life.

Numbers 14:24 > Father Need to have passion in their life.

Ø Caleb's Passion  > Numbers 13:26-30

Ø The promises of God give you Passion. 

Ø With reference to characteristics of Caleb, Passionate people:

1.    Are thermostats, not thermometer- Numbers 13:30 - We are to be thermostat believers, not thermometer believers.  A thermometer registers the room temperature, without changing it.  A thermostat registers the temperature and changes it.  Thermostat believers enter a room and change a negative, hostile environment to a peaceful one.  Jesus was a thermostat because His Presence changed not only the atmosphere and environment, but the people.  

2.    They think differently- Numbers 14:24 > Caleb followed God with all his heart

3.    They go after challenges- Numbers 13:30 > Massive armies with good equipment and great walled cities, Caleb chose the land of giants as his reward and would fight them in God’s strength, God was greater than the challenges.

4.    Are successful- Numbers 26:65 > Caleb followed God with focus, Caleb pursued God’s promise. No enemy was too great, no obstacle was too large and no opposition too loud to keep Caleb from doing what God wanted Him to do.

5.    They never retire-Joshua 14:10-12, Psalm 37:25

6.    They associate with other passionate people- Joshua 15:16 

Sermon notes from www.intlcog.org, 6/21/2015

Five benefits of the Cross

·       In the Bible, there are 3 kinds of Resurrection.

1.     1^st type of resurrection of Old Testaments Saints and Prophets.

Ø  OT saints are forward facing saints – They are looking to Cross.

2.     2^nd type of resurrection is Spiritual Resurrection

Ø  Ephesians 2:1

Ø  Ephesians 5:14

3.     3^rd type of resurrection - Who died after Christ’s Resurrection.

Ø  Daniel 12:2 – Resurrection of wicked one.

Ø  Acts 24:4 – who died in faith in Christ.

·       Five benefits of the Cross

i.       Romans 4:25 – Forgiveness – Forgiveness for our sins is an obvious first benefit to flow from the cross and the necessary prerequisite for all the other benefits. Christ resurrection sealed our pardon > effects my past

ii.     John 20:19- Christ resurrection gives us Peace > effect my Present.

iii.    Romans 6:18-20 – Christ resurrection Purify us > effect my future

iv.    Philippians 3:10; Ephesians 1:19 – Through Christ’s resurrection we received Power.

v.      Matthew 28: 20b – Through Christ’s resurrection, we received blessing of His Presence.

Sermon outlines 4/5/2015. www.intlcog.org