Hosea 6:3 (NLT) Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.”
Ephesians 1:16-23 (NLT) I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. 19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. (Pray)
Ephesians 1:16 (NLT) I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly.
1. Kingdom Minded James 5:16 (AMP) Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].
Ephesians 1:17 (NLT) Asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.
2. Know Him Psalms 1:3 (NIV) That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. James 1:5 (NIV) If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. Ephesians 1:18 (NLT) I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
3. Know Your Identity John 1:12 (NLT) But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 1 Peter 2:9 (NLT) For you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. Ephesians 1:19-21 (NLT) I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.
4. You Gotta Have Faith Roman 10:17 (KJV) Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. James 1:22 (NLT) But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says.
Ephesians 1:20-23(MSG) All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.
Focus Fuels Direction
1 John 2:15-17(NIV) Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
What is the system of this world? A life that doesn’t need God
And if we don’t need God, we focus on ourselves. And before we look up, we have created a world that is all about self.
WE MUST STOP CHASING A COUNTERFEIT CULTURE
Two realities about chasing counterfeit. 1. REVEALS SPIRITUAL EMPTINESS
1 JOHN:15 (NIV) Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NIV) For Christ’s love compels us.. that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
2. ELIMINATES OUR NEED FOR FAITH
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
We Must Focus on Authentic
Ephesians 1:20-23 (MSG) All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.
Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV) “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:9-10 (NIV) “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him astone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you areevil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will yourFather in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him
Ask and it will be given-“REQUEST” John 4:10 (NIV) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” “Sometimes YOUR unanswered prayer is God’s mercy in YOUR life.”
Seek and you will find- “INQUIRE or INVESTIGATE” 2 Kings 5:9-14 (NIV) Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha’s house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.” But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’ Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
Mark 5:24-29 (NIV) A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And awoman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
“What are YOU willing to sacrifice in order to see YOUR miracle happen?”
Knock and the door will be opened- “BEAT THE DOOR DOWN WITH A STICK”
Luke 11:5-8 (NIV) Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
Genesis 34:24-30 (NKJV) Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”
“Do YOU have the tenacity and endurance to see YOUR miracle happen?
Revelation 3:20 (NKJV) Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
Hosea 6:3 (NLT) Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. “Most approach God to get something; he desires that we know him.”
When Paul first met Jesus (Acts 9) Acts 9:18 (NIV) Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.
“Eyes to see and ears to hear.” Matthew 13:11–17 (NIV) 11 He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ 16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
Intimacy: Psalm 139:1 (NIV) O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. John 17:3 (NIV) Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
1. Be open to the means Mark 7:32–35 (NIV) 32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man. 33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”). 35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.
2. Get around those who can help you see
2 Kings 6:15 17 (NIV) 15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked. 16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 7 And Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
3. Consider how you listen Luke 8:18 (NIV) “Consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.”
Psalm 36:9 (NIV) For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
“Feelings are inadequate to discern the voice of God.”
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV) We, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
1 Samuel 3 (ICB) 3 The boy Samuel served the Lord under Eli. In those days the Lord did not speak directly to people very often. There were very few visions.2 Eli’s eyes were so weak he was almost blind. One night he was lying in bed. 3 Samuel was also in bed in the Lord’s Holy Tent. The Ark of the Covenant was in the Holy Tent. God’s lamp was still burning. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “I am here!” 5 He ran to Eli and said, “I am here. You called me.” But Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” So Samuel went back to bed.6 The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel again went to Eli and said, “I am here. You called me.” Again Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed. 7 Samuel did not yet know the Lord. The Lord had not spoken directly to him yet. 8 The Lord called Samuel for the third time. Samuel got up and went to Eli. He said, “I am here. You called me.” Then Eli realized the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So he told Samuel, “Go to bed. If he calls you again, say, ‘Speak, Lord. I am your servant, and I am listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in bed. 10 The Lord came and stood there. He called as he had before. He said, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel said, “Speak, Lord. I am your servant, and I am listening.” 19 The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up. He did not let any of Samuel’s messages fail to come true. 20 Then all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, knew Samuel was a prophet of the Lord. 21 And the Lord continued to show himself to Samuel at Shiloh. He also showed himself to Samuel through his word.
Relationship: Truly Knowing Him
Samuelhadn’t yet had a personal encounter with God— he had religion, but he didn’t recognize God’s voice because he had yet to develop a relationship with God.
“The Church is not a servant bride.”
“We should be loyal to Jesus because we love Him, and have a relationship with him.”
Praise: Building a Relationship
“Praising is something that we do to show a thing or a person how good it is, and how much we love it.”
“The more time you spend with something, the more you’re going to copy it.”
“If we worship something imperfect, we copy attributes that are imperfect.”
"We have to be careful that we worship Jesus: not our religion, our pastor, or our teachers."
John 14:6 (ICB) Jesus answered, “I am the way. And I am the truth and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.”
Getting Closer to Jesus
1. Read the Bible “There won’t be a day where you regret reading, but you will regret not reading.”
2. Pray Often “You will feel the connection if you start the conversation.”
3. Worship Meaningfully. “If there is a way to help you focus on the time you dedicate to God, do it!”
