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Measure Of Faith |
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Come In For A Faith Lift |
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Rapid Return By Johnny Ray Benge |
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Benefits, Benefits, and More Benefits: does it ever end? Rapid Return It seems that everyone wants a quick return on their investment but no one wants to wait for God to perfect it. It’s not a minister’s responsibility to perform God’s word. It is their responsibility to teach it as it is stated and to believe it. God must perform the miracles, healings, signs, and wonders that follow his promises. Many give to ministries and expect immediate miracles to be performed with signs and wonders but they themselves don’t want to face the persecutions. It seems that they want benefits without commitment, favor without servitude, and joy without Godly sorrow. It’s not going to happen until we come into direct covenant with the Lord Jesus Christ. 5 Title Message series 1. Something For nothing- Matt 25:18 talent as in the measurement of money 2. The performance of God’s word- Isaiah 55:10-11 3. Benefits without commitment- an entitlement of Grace 4. Joy without Godly sorrow? Conviction must return before repentance can occur 5. Satan is defeated through prayer and fasting: principle and interest Hindrances occur for a reason and they perfect God’s performance over his word. He uses weakness, vulnerability, and our faith to continue his discipleship in the Earth. God’s will is higher than our ways and he moves by a principle called seedtime and harvest. It must be planted as a seed, watered, nurtured over its season, and harvested in its time of gathering. Message 1 Rapid return It is sad to say but many seek something for nothing but we all must remember that 0 + 0 = 0 and 0*0 = 0. So to receive something for nothing is to defy the creator’s nature and passion for his children to prosper in the Earth. No praise and worship equals the sum of no joy, no giving dissolves one’s reasoning to receive, no prayer yields no counsel for direction within the soul, and to get one must give and everyone must start somewhere or none goes anywhere. Let’s consider the parable of the talents here in Matt 25: 14-30. Matthew 25:14-15 for the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Key Phrases: 1. A man travelling entrusted servants with his money 2. Talents- measurement or amount of money to oversee for wealth in the kingdom 3. Gave to each man according to his several ability In the phrase “several ability” the word ability derives from the Greek word 411 du,namij dunamis {doo'-nam-is} Meaning: 1) strength power, ability 1a) inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth 1b) power for performing miracles 1c) moral power and excellence of soul 1d) the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth 1e) power and resources arising from numbers 1f) power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts. God will never require a thing of any person that has not the ability to perform the task. The world is the system that places more on any one person than they can handle. Matthew 25:16-18 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
Key phrases: Faith in operation
1. Five Talents produced twice as much being ten 2. Two Talents produced twice as much being four 3. The one that hid his Talent produced nothing
Money, wealth, the anointing, or whatever currency used must be put into circulation in order for it to produce the intent of its goal. To hoard wealth is to allow it to set idle. It’s time that we put our money to work, faith to work, and wait on God to perform his promise. He is faithful are you? How long will you hide Christ in your heart? When will you begin to share his promises with others? Let’s read of the servant’s accountability and reason the outcome within ourselves. Do we truly get something for nothing?
Matthew 25:19-30 after a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoned with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou delivered unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou delivered unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not laid straw: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not laid straw: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Consequences of accountability The servants that produced, worked, and tried to invest their Lord’s money pleased him and he added more to them. The one that kept the money entrusted to him only produced an excuse that displeased the Lord. God expects us to make profit of the promises he has entrusted to each of us in his word. The word will be performed when man oversees its promises, and trusts in the Lord to perform its prosperity as it enters circulation to combat the world. If you know God’s promises, power, and ability to perform the impossible then why do we doubt? Why do we stray from the path laid before us? To set idle is to do nothing. You may say I don’t know what to do but if you would crack open your Bible, take time to pray, and worship the Lord then the Christ within you will build the nature necessary to receive God’s promises. The natural man can’t receive the things of God. If we remain carnal, entertain sin, and continue like the world never making time for God, then how do expect to receive anything from him? Let’s consider this excerpt of scripture written to the church at Corinth. . 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ . It is the mind of Christ that performs the true word of God in our lives! Friend if you feel that the world is closing in on you and feel as if what you have has been taken and given to someone else I would like to pray that you could learn to receive the miracle God has already performed for you in his son’s honor. You must remember that “Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). Now is a present tense verb that is placed in the sentence to remind each of us that the past is gone. We can’t change yesterday, but one thing is sure; tomorrow will continue to steady today as we take each day a day at a time to keep life in perspective by putting God first. To live in the moment empowered by Christ is to live each day as it one’s last on Earth. We must maintain the mentality, forming habit to be reminded that we are constantly sowing and reaping each day of our lives. The results of today were created by yesterday’s seeds. What have you been sowing? Do you know that supernatural faith reaps where an individual has not sown because his master has already planted the seeds to produce everything needed for you to prosper in God’s kingdom?
Message 2 the performing of God’s word
It’s not man’s duty to perform miracles, healings, signs, and wonders. It is his duty to oversee the promises, be faithful, and teach the Gospel as it is stated. A life lived in truth is one of honor and dexterity. In the next few portions of scripture we are going to learn to be faithful and let God be God. He can take care of everything that is not in the power of our hands to deal with. God’s concern for man is those things that he has entrusted in our hands to subdue. Let’s consider this portion of scripture and observe the things that please God most of all. Hebrews 11:6 but without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Things that please God in Faith
1. To diligently seek him. As to pray without ceasing, rejoice always, and count it all joy when one has fallen in different trials. 2. To see his children receive the promise and life he wants them to have 3. To accept the rewards of both faith and fear to move forward and continue growing in his spirit.
To see God’s word performed in the Earth one must learn to speak his promises over his/her life. An example would be written here in text about the Father of faith in Romans 4. Abraham began to imitate his Father’s action in truth by simply trusting God as he “called those things which be not as though they were” (Romans 4:17).He also continued to oversee the promises of God in his heart by being fully persuaded that, what he (God) had promised, he was able also to perform” (Romans 4:21). This word perform in the Greek derived from the word 4160 poie,w poieo {poy-eh'-o} Meaning: 1) to make 1a) with the names of things made, to produce, construct, form, fashion, etc. 1b) to be the authors of, the cause 1c) to make ready, to prepare 1d) to produce, bear, shoot forth 1e) to acquire, to provide a thing for one's self 1f) to make a thing out of something. Only God can perform something out of nothing and yet everything created visible to man was created by things invisible. Hebrews 11:3 through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Things can be performed as of physical, spiritual and financial and it pleases God to reward his servants in every area of life. Only he can perform these to his pleasure as we embrace our responsibility to oversee what he has entrusted in our hands. In the beginning of all things God created a garden and in doing so he placed man in that environment to keep and dress it. Genesis 2:15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. The word dress in this context derives from the Hebrew word 5647 db;[' `abad {aw-bad'} Meaning: 1) to work, serve 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to labor, work, do work 1a2) to work for another, serve another by labor. Also in this context to keep derives from the Hebrew word 8104 rm; v’ shamar {shaw-mar'} Meaning: 1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to keep, have charge of 1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life 1a2a) watch, watchman. So God just requires each of us to work with what we got and oversee it within our ability to trust him with the keeping of all other things. To serve and trust God is to learn to live life as he has always ordained man to live. He has ordained man to trust him with the performing of his promises. We just need to embrace them to claim each one as our very own. God wills that we prosper and be in health even as our souls prosper. We need to walk worthy of our convocation and calling. I don’t want to be weighed in the balance and left wanting!
If one can believe God at his word then he can receive the promise in time to walk in his/her season of life to the accomplishing Of God’s will in the Earth.
The performing of his word is best presented by the prophet Isaiah in this principle to the receiving of his word by commandment. Isaiah 55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returned not thither, but watered the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. The word prosper in this context derives from the Hebrew word 6743 xl;c' tsalach {tsaw-lakh'} or x;lec' tsaleach {tsaw-lay'-akh} Meaning: 1) (Qal) to rush 2) to advance, prosper, make progress, succeed, be profitable 2a) (Qal) to prosper 2b) (Hiphil) 2b1) to make prosperous, bring to successful issue, cause to prosper 2b2) to show or experience prosperity, prosper. To experience prosperity in Christ is to be persuaded in mind with no breaking of the will by emotion, failures, adversity, and it is to except the frailties of human nature and receive the intervention of God’s power. It is his super that rests on your natural to the receiving of his truth and method of finding success in the Earth. It is the mind of Christ that experiences abundance in this life to produce eternal reward. Paul expounds on the same word of prophecy from Isaiah in 2 Corinthians 9. Here he begins to celebrate in there giving of a charitable offering to present the money as a “seed” sown to bring forth fruit for the Kingdom of God in righteousness. 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 but this I say, He which sowed sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sowed bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remained forever. Now he that ministered seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiplies your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness ;) Being enriched in everything to all bountifulness, which causes through us thanksgiving to God. Key phrases: 1. Purpose in the heart the amount for one to give. The purpose is revealed by the Lord. 2. The amount one sows determines the amount one will reap naturally; it can be advanced supernaturally by revelation of God’s spirit. 3. Don’t give of necessity or grudgingly. Necessity derives from the Greek word 318 avna,gkh anagke {an-ang-kay'} Meaning: 1) necessity, imposed either by the circumstances, or by law of duty regarding to one's advantage, custom, argument 2) calamity, distress, straits. In other words to say only give as an act of love and not duty to receive the supernatural increase. 4. All sufficiency in all things to abound in all good work. 841 auvta,rkeia autarkeia {ow-tar'-ki-ah} Meaning: 1) a perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed 2) sufficiency of the necessities of life 3) a mind contented with its lot, contentment. Remember it is God’s duty to perform his promises. We just need to be faithful, seeking him diligently and making room in our lives to receive the abundance of his blessing. Our abundance is to be sown in joy to the over flow of all blessings in all things in our lives. God wants us to give of our overflow and to receive of our portion in the Earth. Jesus’ death wasn’t in-vain. He became poor that through his poverty we might become rich! The might is present because we must subdue the powers of darkness by supernatural faith and it is only produced once an individual has been regenerated by the power of the Holy Ghost. Jesus said that word of faith would increase in our hearts by the currency of the anointing in Increments of 30, 60, and 100 fold, or meaning as much as being produced 30, 60, and 100 times as much to the seed of his word sown in the heart! So are you ready to produce a crop for the Lord Jesus in the hearts of men? Just speak it as it is written and believe it too watch God do what man can’t perceive, conceive, nor stop. Hinder they May, but stop they can’t do as long as we continue to believe. So have a little faith a lot of love and watch God do the impossible. Message 3 Benefits: (without commitment?) Part 1: The Entitlement of Grace Why do Good things happen to bad people? Why do bad things happen to good people? Should the world experience all the good benefits of the physical and financial but yet they don’t have a relationship with God through Christ? The thing is within the sphere of life that we can see many prosper in the Earth to just long for something more; something that the world can’t sell or trade. Salvation, its benefits, and all that God has to give must be received. It’s not within a sinner’s power and ability to receive the gifts of God until they have became “born again”, or renewed in covenant to God the Father through Jesus Christ. A sinner doesn’t battle with Satan as a child of God does. Sure all men face adversity, but the born again face persecutions from all sides. Let’s consider the words of the Apostle Paul written to the Church at Rome. Romans 5: 3-6 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Key Phrases 1. Glory in tribulation 2. Patience builds experience 3. Hope makes not ashamed and it builds confidence within the soul 4. God‘s love perfects faith. 5. When we were without strength Christ died for us, the strength added is the grace he supplied when you and I were out of his will living in sin to redeem us from the power of its pleasure to empower us to the crucifying of our sinful nature. Many Christian’s observe sinners prospering in their lives and forget that Satan is not fighting them at the same level, so they don’t have the same level of hindrances. Satan opposes all men but the children of God he hates passionately because they are his replacement in heavenly order. When an individual becomes born again they take Satan and the Fallen Angel’s place of worship and this provokes him to jealousy. All the forces of evil know that they must obey every command spoken from the mouth of Christ. Satan does all that he can do within his power to choke the word and its fruitfulness out of the hearts of God’s people. We will briefly analyze this portion of Christ’s teaching on receiving God’s kingdom. Matthew 6:33 but seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. What are these things that even the Gentiles (or their symbolism of all people that are not in covenant with God the Father) seek after? 1. Food 2. Shelter 3. Companionship 4. Clothing 5. Power to obtain wealth: creativity Does this question offend you; that you won’t seek “things” God’s way? O ye of little faith? This might shock you but you may not lack faith, your lack maybe that of love. So what benefit is it that we are lacking as the children of God to the receiving of things physical, things spiritual, and things financial to that of God’s blessing? It is a faith that works by love. Let’s consider 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profited me nothing. Charity suffered long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity vaunted not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Gifts men can possess to not work by love (Agape- man’s ability to be able to choose to love by receiving God’s love to reflect him in nature). 1. Speak with tongs of men and angels 2. Prophecy 3. Understanding of mysteries 4. All knowledge 5. Have all faith 6. Acts of charity 7. Deeds of servitude to men God’s love is eternal and his merit is based on pure revelation from him and the Gospel is revealed only by him to an individual. Let’s consider the words of Christ in context. John 6:44-46 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draws him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, and they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. The kingdom of God comes not by observation of understanding by man’s wisdom or knowledge for it is revealed by God himself through personal relationship. Every man is born into sin and that man’s sinful nature controls him until God reveals Christ unto that man and he receives him as personal Lord and Savior. Listen to the words of Messiah in his reply to Nicodemus, John 3:3-8 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again; he cannot “see” the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot “enter” into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listed, and thou hears the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. In order to receive all the benefits of Salvation one must be taught by the Father. To learn of the Father is to be taught by the anointing that lives within one’s being by the power of the Holy Ghost. Jesus’ blood atones for our sin and rebellion against God and this creates a pathway for the Holy Ghost to take up residence within our bodies, souls, and minds to seal us with the promise at the last day Christ will raise us up with him to everlasting life. Two impossibilities for man without being born again 1. He cannot see the Kingdom of God a. God opens our spiritual senses to discern his will for our lives b. Gives us command over the works of his hands (Psalms 8:6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet :) God has put all storms, or acts of nature, demons, manners of disease, false doctrines, sinful actions, poverty, addictions, and adversity created by man, the world and the devil under our feet. Remember God created all things for himself and his pleasure it is man and the devil that perverts them! 2. He cannot enter the Kingdom of God a. An entitlement of grace is that we can now go boldly before his throne to make our prayers and petitions known unto Christ by praying in the Holy Ghost. b. The prayer of righteous man will be heard and he will only pray and plead contest to God’s good pleasure. (James 5:16 confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availed much). Grace is a supernatural power that is given and one doesn’t earn it of his or her own efforts. The power surrounds each believer daily but he/she must choose to walk in it. What is the importance of Grace? It is the power to subdue the sinful nature and release God’s promises from above to crucify the works of the flesh (sinful nature). Galatians 5:17 for the flesh lusted against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. The sinful nature of man is at war with God’s spirit. It is always fighting to separate man from his God. Jesus gave his life to redeem ours from the power of this nature and its take time, maturity, and love to conquer it. Are you made more than a conqueror, or do just simply roll with the punches to accept whatever it is that Satan throws at you? I pray that you are more than a conqueror! The only way to prevail and overcome is too is to embrace your commitment to Christ and God’s word. One can’t live anyway he wants too and truly enter and see the kingdom of God. The warfare begins the second that sin appeals to ones nature. If sin appeals to you then you are not totally dead to it and it will continue to hinder you until it is surrendered, confessed, and given to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11 likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. To crucify self is to give life to the Christ within you. One can’t continue in sin and expect God to bless them, the works of their hands, and the environment they are to subdue. Satan isn’t supposed to give command over you; he is supposed to bow at the word that dwells in your soul! To serve Christ without commitment is to run across the battlefield with no armor and say, “shoot me and I’ll live”. I am afraid many are dying on the battlefield to never engage in combat. So, it’s time we begin to fight to win. Run to victor and battle to see the flags in air to that of our own. I don’t want to be a casualty of war but rather a threat to all enemies in occupation. God has given each of the tool, commitment, and faith to succeed. What are we going to do with it? Are we going to set idle and do nothing, or are we going to embrace our crosses to oversee his promises in our lives? Souls are in the balance, so what are we going to do about them? I hope we will take these words, apply them to our hearts, and witness the increase of the anointing in each of our lives. |
