[Blogger's note: after being crazy busy one month, and then crazy sick for much of another month, by God's grace I am finally back and able to catch up on posting my notes from sermons at my church for the months of June and July. Thank you all for your prayers; I am believing and claiming that I will be completely healed, and even healed beyond whatever Satan or the world calls a "preexisting condition." I completely reject that term in Jesus' name, and choose to receive by faith the complete healing that GOD says He has for me: a new [undisclosed part of the body] in Jesus' name!
In the meantime, I pray that you are blessed by these sermon notes as much as I was blessed by these sermons. I will post sermons twice weekly until we are caught up again, in the same manner that I did from January through May, 2021.]
Church 8/21/2021
Offertory scripture:
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.
Psalm 84:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Psalm%2084:11&version=NKJV
O Lord of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!
Psalm 84:12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Psalm%2084:12&version=NKJV
Remember: the #1 thing is leading/bringing people to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Sermon message: what to do when a challenge is present, part 3
Review: three things Jesus said
Thing 1 Jesus said: It’s important we speak God’s Word
For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
Mark 11:23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Mark%2011:23&version=NKJV
Key line: do not doubt in your heart.
We can speak mountains out of our lives, and we can speak blessings into our lives. We can speak things out and we can speak things in.
The Aaronic blessing:
“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”’
Numbers 6:24-26 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Numbers%206:24-26&version=NKJV
Paul always ends his letters with words of blessing to the church he was writing the letter to:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
2 Corinthians 13:14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Corinthians%2013:14&version=NKJV
Thing 2 Jesus said: it is important that we pray in faith.
Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
Mark 11:24 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Mark%2011:24&version=NKJV
Pray in faith believing that it’ll happen.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Philippians 4:6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Philippians%204:6&version=NKJV
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
Ephesians 6:18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ephesians%206:18&version=NKJV
It was important in the Old Testament to pray; it was important in the gospels, in the New Testament, and it’s important today.
pray without ceasing,
1 Thessalonians 5:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Thessalonians%205:17&version=NKJV
Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;
Colossians 4:2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Colossians%204:2&version=NKJV
I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;
1 Timothy 2:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Timothy%202:8&version=NKJV
Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:41 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2026:41&version=NKJV
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2011:6&version=NKJV
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2010:17&version=NKJV
Prayer is important, and prayer with faith is really important.
Thing 3 Jesus said (tonight’s focus)
### It’s important that we give and receive forgiveness (by faith)
We know we are forgiven by reading God’s word. God is faithful to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Satan constantly reminds us of our mistakes and failures. But we have to receive God’s forgiveness by faith.
Sometimes our feelings have to catch up with our faith. We may choose to forgive someone, but feelings of pain or anger still well up at the mention of the person’s name. We have to speak faith to the feeling inside of us, to declare and reiterate our choice of having forgiven that person. Our feelings will eventually catch up to where our faith is.
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
Mark 11:25 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Mark%2011:25&version=NKJV
Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 5:23-24 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%205:23-24&version=NKJV
Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
1 Peter 3:7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Peter%203:7&version=NKJV
Forgiving others is a requirement for prayers being answered. Lack of forgiving others can hinder our prayers.
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:8-9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Peter%203:8-9&version=NKJV
Point #4: It’s important to be a doer and not a hearer only.
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
Matthew 7:24-27 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%207:24-27&version=NKJV
Points: 1. Speak. 2. Pray. 3. Forgive. And #4: don’t just hear the word; do what it says.
A parable Jesus says to illustrate this point:
“But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.
Matthew 21:28-31 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2021:28-31&version=NKJV
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
James 1:22 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=James%201:22&version=NKJV
Ephesians 6:18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ephesians%206:18&version=NKJV
It was important in the Old Testament to pray; it was important in the gospels, in the New Testament, and it’s important today.
pray without ceasing,
1 Thessalonians 5:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Thessalonians%205:17&version=NKJV
Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;
Colossians 4:2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Colossians%204:2&version=NKJV
I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;
1 Timothy 2:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Timothy%202:8&version=NKJV
Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:41 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2026:41&version=NKJV
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Hebrews%2011:6&version=NKJV
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2010:17&version=NKJV
Prayer is important, and prayer with faith is really important.
Thing 3 Jesus said (tonight’s focus)
### It’s important that we give and receive forgiveness (by faith)
We know we are forgiven by reading God’s word. God is faithful to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Satan constantly reminds us of our mistakes and failures. But we have to receive God’s forgiveness by faith.
Sometimes our feelings have to catch up with our faith. We may choose to forgive someone, but feelings of pain or anger still well up at the mention of the person’s name. We have to speak faith to the feeling inside of us, to declare and reiterate our choice of having forgiven that person. Our feelings will eventually catch up to where our faith is.
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
Mark 11:25 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Mark%2011:25&version=NKJV
Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 5:23-24 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%205:23-24&version=NKJV
Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
1 Peter 3:7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Peter%203:7&version=NKJV
Forgiving others is a requirement for prayers being answered. Lack of forgiving others can hinder our prayers.
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:8-9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Peter%203:8-9&version=NKJV
Point #4: It’s important to be a doer and not a hearer only.
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
Matthew 7:24-27 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%207:24-27&version=NKJV
Points: 1. Speak. 2. Pray. 3. Forgive. And #4: don’t just hear the word; do what it says.
A parable Jesus says to illustrate this point:
“But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.
Matthew 21:28-31 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2021:28-31&version=NKJV
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
James 1:22 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=James%201:22&version=NKJV