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Showing posts with label Father. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Father. Show all posts

December 11, 2012

We Have an Inheritance

By Tony V. Hammack

Abundant Life Today Media
Abundant Life Today Podcast

Podcast: Play in New Window | Download
To watch the video, click here.
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These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video.

We have an inheritance and it’s realized through faith and patience.

Inheritance: the acquisition of a possession, condition, or trait from past generations.

In order to receive this inheritance we must see it with the eye of faith and wait for it with patience.

The inheritance I see is be being able to act like Jesus.

I believe our spiritual inheritance is not only eternal life. I believe it’s also kingdom life on the earth. I believe you and I, according to John 14:12, (Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.), can do amazing things in the name of Jesus according to his purposes and for his glory.

Hebrews 6:12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Laziness will prevent us from receiving our inheritance.

Laziness
I have been talking with several people in our Church lately (I’m in this boat also to one degree or another unfortunately) who are highly educated in a particular area but lack the self discipline to execute on the information. The desires of the heart are superseding the information in the mind.

2 Timothy 1:7
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.

So how do we do what we “hate” to get something we want? What we want has to be so real and so important that we’ll take the road of adversity and challenge to get there.

I know when I had a Lab in Boston give me a very negative health report, I began to make some serious changes I didn’t like very much. I did this because I had faith I would live and I trusted the information I was gleaning from my chiropractor friends, established nutritionists, and the internet. I also didn’t want to leave my children without me as their father. So I ate foods I didn’t particularly like in order to get something I wanted. More time on the Earth with you and my family. More time to rack up eternal treasure and harass the enemy.

When I was an athlete I was very disciplined in what I ate and how I lived due to the fact that I had a goal I would do almost anything to achieve.

1 Corinthians 9:24
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Keep our eyes on the prize!

Matthew 14:28-31
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

So our example from Hebrews 6 is Abraham
  • 13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
Abraham had a 25 year wait from Promise to Manifestation.

From Genesis 12:4 where Abraham receives the promise and is 75 years old to Genesis 17:15-17 Abraham ages another 25 years.

Does the fact that God waited until this couple was "as good as dead" to give them the promised child help explain the wait? (This is a recurring pattern in God's dealings with humans. He waits until it is impossible, and then He does the impossible - so that no one is confused about God's role in the matter.)

What has God promised you? Perhaps you’ve had big vision but you’ve grown weary in patience.

Maybe you are cynical and aren’t believing for anything thinking people who do this are fools.

Maybe you have a word from God or several words from God that you are standing on and are waiting patiently for the fulfillment.

Today I want to pray for you for new vision and patience to wait for the fulfillment of that vision.

2 Peter 3:9
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.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church45 Thunderbird Dr. Batesville, AR 72501 (870) 793-9124
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November 1, 2012

The "I Am" God

By Tony V. Hammack

Abundant Life Today Media
Abundant Life Today Podcast

Podcast: Play in New Window | Download
These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video.
 
God’s Nature, Our Needs

Thesis: Traditionally the church has been great at teaching people about the God of the Bible. This includes the great things God’s done in the past as well as the things he’s going to do when he comes again. Where the modern church has come up short is in demonstrating the “I Am” nature of God. He’s the God of the urgent, He’s available to be the God of right now.
 
Names = the character and nature of a person.
Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh, I will be what I will be
 
Exodus 3:13, 14
13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
 
God exists by himself for himself, and is the uncreated Creator who is independent of any concept, force, or entity; therefore "I am who I am"
 
Jesus claiming the “I Am” name for himself.
 
Leviticus 24:16
16 anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord is to be put to death. The entire assembly must stone them. Whether foreigner or native-born, when they blaspheme the Name they are to be put to death.
 
John 10:30-33
30 I and the Father are one.” 31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” 33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
 
John 8:57-59
57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” 58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
 
Now the reader of this passage, without having any understanding of Exodus 3 or Leviticus 24:16, may not understand that Jesus is making himself out to be equal with God and specifically have the name and nature of God found in Exodus 3, the “I Am”, but in light of these two verses we see very clearly that the first century Jewish listeners clearly interpreted what he was saying as blasphemy which is why they took up stones to stone him, Jesus “a mere man, claiming to be God.” (John 10:33)
 
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
 
Malachi 3:6a
6 “I the Lord do not change.
 
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
 
James 1:17
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
 
Don’t let anyone ever tell you that God can’t use you or someone else to do something that’s clearly laid out in scripture. Men build doctrines to accommodate their lack of faith and destroy the faith of those that would listen in agreement to their erroneous ideas. God can meet your need and begin moving in your situation right now.
 
Strong's Greek #: 4982. σώζω (sózó)
 
No matter what your need?
  • Spiritual Salvation
  • Physical Healing
  • Deliverance from Sinful Habits
  • Deliverance from Unclean Spirits
  • Widsom/Knowledge
  • Financial Increase
  • Spiritual Growth and Maturity
  • Spiritual Salvation

Acts 16:31
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

I believe each person has to have a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus to be saved but I also believe that me coming to saving faith in Christ creates an impact on my entire family. I believe I can quote this scripture and believe in faith that my family will come to know Christ if they currently are not saved.

John 6:44
 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.

Luke 10:2
2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

Physical Healing

Matthew 12:15
Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill.

Mark 6:5
5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. Deliverance from sinful habits

Galatians 5:16-18
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

The same faith that saves you is the same faith that sanctifies you. Keep looking at Christ and his atoning sacrifice on the cross for grace to give power to overcome sin.

Deliverance from unclean spirits

Acts 10:38
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

Wisdom/Knowledge

Maybe you need to know what to do in a certain situation.

1 Corinthians 2:10
10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

Financial Increase

Deuteronomy 8:18
18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

Spiritual Growth and Maturity

Philippians 1:6
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

James 1:4
4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Galatians 4:19
19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

Ephesians 4:13
until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Jesus is the, I Am God and can meet your need! No matter what your need!
  • Spiritual Salvation
  • Physical Healing
  • Deliverance from Sinful Habits
  • Deliverance from Unclean Spirits
  • Widsom/Knowledge
  • Financial Increase
  • Spiritual Growth and Maturity
   
Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church45 Thunderbird Dr. Batesville, AR 72501 (870) 793-9124
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September 25, 2012

God's Plan, Our Obedience

By Tony V. Hammack

Abundant Life Today Media
Abundant Life Today Podcast

Podcast: Play in New Window | Download
To watch the video, click here.
Abundant Life Today U Stream Video
These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video.


Thesis:
Jesus desires for us to hit critical mass in the spirit so we can correctly duplicate Him in the world.

John 17:6-12
6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

Jesus is the perfect representation of God.
Obedience to God’s word demonstrates love and opens up revelation to the follower of Christ. Without revelation knowledge the Church has lost connection with the voice and direction of God. Building will be hindered or things built won’t stand.

v. 6 Jesus revealed God to his disciples. Jesus is able to reveal God to people because He is the prefect representation of God.

Colossians 1:15
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Jesus in the Father and the Father in the Son

John 14:9-11
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.

John 10:30
I and the Father are one.

We, like the disciples and Jesus, are called to be in the world but not of the world. (John 17:14-16) v. 6 The disciples belonged to God, God gave them to Jesus and they obeyed God’s Word. These three steps caused everything to happen. Leave out any one of the three steps and the disciples are just ordinary people.

God can only be revealed to us if God chooses to reveal Himself to us.

John 6:44a
44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them,

God’s sovereignty / Our Choice

Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

If we obey

John 8:31,32
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 14:15
If you love me, keep my commands.

John 14:23,24
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

The word “now” in v. 7 indicates that because of this, now that. With prolonged obedience comes revelation knowledge.

Ephesians 1:17
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

Because God gave the disciples to Jesus and Jesus taught them the Word of God and they obeyed it, Jesus prayed that the disciples would know “that everything God had given Him comes from God.” This is important because of the foundational importance of having revelation knowledge regarding the identity of Jesus Christ.

Everything Hinges on Revelation

Matthew 16:17-19
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Many in the Church today have traded a pursuit of revelation for a pursuit of theology. Instead of wanting to know God many have decided to learn about God. Theological study has value however it shouldn’t be elevated above knowing God personally.

v. 8 in some ways mirrors v. 6 Jesus got the Word from the Father and delivered it perfectly to the disciples and they accepted it. The disciples knew with certainty that Jesus came from God the Father and they knew that Jesus was sent into the world by God.

v. 9 Jesus specifically mentions that he’s not praying for the World. Why not? He goes on to say that He’s praying for those God had given Him. Evidently God hadn’t given Jesus the world. However, I believe Jesus was believing that the disciples had hit critical mass in the spirit and would also continue to obey and thus perpetuate the ministry into the world.

What’s critical mass?
A size, number, or amount large enough to produce a particular result. What’s critical mass in the spirit? The disciples had enough revelation coupled with obedience to produce a good expression of God’s kingdom through their lives. They were ready to represent Jesus to the world.

I believe Jesus' deliberate strategy was to take over the entire planet with the Gospel. His plan was to have disciples mentoring others in the same way Jesus mentored His disciples. Jesus had His eyes on His disciples and them carrying on His ministry. (John 17:20) Jesus loved the world but realized that His disciples and their disciples etc. would have to be the ones to reach to the uttermost parts of the Earth.

v. 10 Jesus starts talking covenant talk here also between Himself and the Father. In the context of this covenant talk He brings up His disciples. He further mentions that the obedience of the disciples will bring glory to Him. I think of this in a similar way a well behaved or successful child brings honor/glory to the parent of that child.

v. 11 Jesus knows that He’s going to be leaving the world by His sacrificial death, burial and resurrection. He also knows that the disciples have more work to do so He asks God to protect them by the power of his name.

v. 11 (cont.) Jesus prays for the Church to be one. The unity is already given, it’s not achieved. The literal meaning is “that they continually be one”. The unity in the disciples is to resemble the unity between God the Father and Jesus the Son. It’s much more than unity of organization. I believe it’s God’s plan for Church individuals to be in covenant with other church individuals. Committed and deeply loving one another. Not back biting and flippant about their commitments.

The Church Universal
   
Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V.

If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.
 Jubilee Family Church45 Thunderbird Dr. Batesville, AR 72501 (870) 793-9124
View Larger Map