Eyes & Ears

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Eyes & Ears

Pt 7 - The Spiritual Ear

November 14, 2021 • Pastor Bracken Christian

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Matt 13:11 Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

15 for the heart of this people has become dull, with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes, otherwise they would see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return, and I would heal them.’

3 MAIN DISPENSATIONS RECOGNIZED IN THE BIBLE.
ONE REQUIREMENT IN EACH DISPENSATION. HEARING HIS VOICE

THE THING THAT SINGLES THE BELIEVER OUT FROM ALL OTHER PEOPLE IS THEY HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD.

WHEN WE TRULY HEAR FROM HEAVEN IT CHANGES OUR STANDARDS, OUR VALUES, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE WAY WE LIVE.

3 DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF HEARING GOD’S VOICE.
1) HEARING GOD’S VOICE IS PERSONAL
2) HEARING GOD’S VOICE IS INTANGIBLE
3) HEARING GOD’S VOICE IS PRESENT

1) HEARING GOD’S VOICE IS VERY PERSONAL.

OUR PROTECTION AND BLESSING IS IN HEARING HIS VOICE.

2) HEARING GOD’S VOICE IS INTANGIBLE. IT CAN’T BE TOUCHED.

GOD’S VOICE IS NOT RESTRICTED TO A PLACE.

3) HEARING GOD’S VOICE IS PRESENT

HEARING HIS VOICE FORCES YOU INTO A PRESENT RELATIONSHIP, A PRESENT EXPERIENCE.

HEARING HIM GIVES US THAT PERSONAL AND PRESENT RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

IF WE ARE CALLED TO LIVE A FAITH LIFE THEN WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF HEARING IN CONNECTION WITH THAT WALK OF FAITH.

THE RESULT OF HEARING IS FAITH
Rom 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

TWO GREEK WORDS FOR THE WORD…“WORD”

LOGOS; THE MIND OF GOD, THE PURPOSE, TOTAL COUNSEL OF GOD

RHEMA; THE SPOKEN WORD

WE ARE INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT WHICH IS THE WORD (RHEMA) OF GOD (Eph 6:17).
SOMETHING SPECIFIC WE USE FOR THE MOMENT (NEED)

Matt 4:4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD (RHEMA) THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’”

LOGOS; ETERNAL IN THE HEAVENS, UNCHANGED
RHEMA; THE SPOKEN WORD, SPECIFIC. TO YOU OR FROM YOU

IN Matt 4:4 Jesus compared the Rhema with natural Bread.

GOD’S WORD NOURISHES AND FEEDS OUR SPIRIT WHEN WE HEAR.

THE HOLY SPIRIT QUICKENS THE WORD TO US FOR OUR DAY OR TIME.

THIS WAS THE LIFESTYLE OF JESUS HIMSELF

Isaiah 50:4 The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples,
That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple. 5 The Lord GOD has opened My ear; And I was not disobedient Nor did I turn back.

THE RESULTS OF JESUS LISTENING ARE IMPORTANT.

1) HE HAD WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR OTHERS.
2) HE RECEIVED PERSONAL DIRECTION FOR HIS LIFE EACH DAY.
3) HE RECEIVED STRENGTH

John 8:47 He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.”

HOW DO WE LEARN TO HEAR AND DEVELOP OUR LISTENING?

WE ARE LIKE BABIES WHO HAVE TO GROW UP. (1 Pet 2:2)

DEVELOPING OUR SPIRITUAL EAR… “A HEARING HEART”

1 Kings 3:9 So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

“UNDERSTANDING HEART” IN THE HEBREW LITERALLY SAY’S, “A HEARING HEART”

WE NEED TO CULTIVATE AN INWARD SENSITIVITY TOWARD GOD

THE REAL KEY TO BLESSING IS A HEART SENSITIVE TO HIS VOICE.

The Book of Ruth

September 18, 2024 • Pastor Brody Christian • Ruth 2

IN THE LAST FIVE DECADES, MARRIAGE RATES IN THE U.S HAVE DROPPED BY 60% 63% OF MEN UNDER THE AGE OF 30 ARE CHOOSING TO BE SINGLE 77% OF MILLENNIALS PREFER TO LIVE WITH THEIR PARTNER BEFORE MARRIAGE. 50% OF MARRIAGES END IN DIVORCE IF YOU DO WHAT MOST PEOPLE DO – YOU’LL GET WHAT MOST PEOPLE GET RUTH CHAPTER TWO – FIND THE LOVE YOU WANT RUTH 1:16 NIV But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. WHEN YOU TURN AWAY FROM MOAB, YOU’LL FIND GOD’S BLESSINGS IN BETHLEHEM RUTH 2:1 NIV Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz. RUTH 2:2-3 NIV And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.” Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” 3 So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. VS. 3 3 So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek. PROVIDENCE OF GOD – WHEN GOD USES NATURAL CIRCUMSTANCES TO BRING ABOUT HIS SUPERNATURAL PLANS. RUTH 2:4 While she was there, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters. “The Lord be with you!” he said. “The Lord bless you!” the harvesters replied. PEOPLE TALK ABOUT FIRST WHAT THEY VALUE THE MOST DON’T LET YOUR PAST TALK YOU OUT OF THE FUTURE GOD HAS FOR YOU RUTH 2:5-7 Then Boaz asked his foreman, “Who is that young woman over there? Who does she belong to?” 6 And the foreman replied, “She is the young woman from Moab who came back with Naomi. 7 She asked me this morning if she could gather grain behind the harvesters. She has been hard at work ever since, except for a few minutes’ rest in the shelter.” 4 THINGS WE SEE SHE’S FAITHFUL TO GOD. SHE’S LOYAL TO HER FAMILY. SHE’S A HARD WORKER. SHE HONORS GOD MORALLY. RUTH 2:8-9 Boaz went over and said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Stay right here with us when you gather grain; don’t go to any other fields. Stay right behind the young women working in my field. 9 See which part of the field they are harvesting, and then follow them. I have warned the young men not to treat you roughly. And when you are thirsty, help yourself to the water they have drawn from the well.” RUTH 2:12 May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.” QUALITIES IN BOAZ HE HONORS HER. HE PROTECTS HER. HE PROVIDES FOR HER. HE PRAYS FOR HER. RUTH 2:14 At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar.” When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over. WE ARE A LOT LIKE RUTH 1. SHE WAS A MOABITE AND SHE SINNED AGAINST GOD 2. SHE CAME EMPTY HANDED 3. BOAZ BLESSED RUTH WITH MORE THAN SHE EVER EXPECTED 4. BOAZ INVITED RUTH TO HIS TABLE VS. 3 As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.

What's Next?

September 15, 2024 • Pastor Brody Christian

2 CORINTHIANS 3:16-18 Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him. GALATIANS 5:1 NIV It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. WORLDLY FREEDOM TELLS YOU TO DO WHAT YOU WANT BIBLICAL FREEDOM IS TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE HAS FOR YOU BURDENED – GREED WORD - ENECHO – ENTANGLED OR TO BE ENSNARED WHAT PUTS US ENTANGLED 1. OLD MINDSETS - PERFORMANCE MINDSET - MY PERSPECTIVE OF GOD o MARTIN LUTHER – “ My temptations is this: that I think I don’t have a gracious God. This is because I am still caught up in the law. It is the greatest grief, and It produces death.” ROMANS 8:6 CSB 6 Now the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace. ROMANS 12:2 NIV Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 2. WORLDLY EXPECTATIONS GALATIANS 5:7 7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 3. MY SIN HEBREWS 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, HOW DO WE GET OUT OF BEING ENTANGLED AND FIND FREEDOM? GALATIANS 5:13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. CALLED – GREEK WORD – KALEO – INVITED OR TO BE CALLED BY NAME 1. ACCEPT GODS’ INVITATION MATTHEW 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 2. TRUST GODS’ AUTHORITY MATTHEW 11:29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. GALATIANS 5:17-18 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. PSALMS 9:10 Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. (ISAIAH 26:3 NKJV) You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. 3. KNOW WHAT JESUS DID ON THE CROSS WAS ENOUGH! ROMANS 8:1-3 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. THE WHIP: FREEDOM IN MY BODY. 1 PETER 2:24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” THE THORNS: FREEDOM IN MY MIND. JOHN 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. THE NAILS: FREEDOM IN MY HANDS. HEBREWS 8:12 “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” HEBREWS 9:14 NLT Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. THE SPEAR: FREEDOM IN MY HEART. (PSALM 147:3) He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 1 CORINTHIANS 11:23-26 The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. JAMES 5:16 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. YOU WILL ALWAYS STAY AS SICK AS YOUR SECRETS

Identified In Christ

September 11, 2024 • Jensen Christian

We were made in His image so the more we know Him, the more we become ourselves and who we are meant to be WE ARE TO BE A REFLECTION OF THE FATHER AS JESUS WAS! How do we come to know who we are? Know God, know His Word If you don’t know whose you are You’ll never discover who you are ROMANS 8:29-30 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Once you know how God sees you, You can become the vision that God has set before you It’s not a destination, it’s a journey! ephesians 1:3-8 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ephesians%201&version=nlt#fen-nlt-29173b] 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. YOU HAVE BEEN ADOPTED! IT GIVES GOD GREAT PLEASURE TO CALL YOU HIS CHILD! AS SOON AS YOU BECOME A NEW CREATION, EVERYTHING YOU NEED HAS ALREADY BEEN PLACED INSIDE OF YOU! YOU HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT!! Colossians 2:8-10 8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=colossians%202%3a8-10&version=nlt#fen-nlt-29463a] of this world, rather than from Christ. 9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=colossians%202%3a8-10&version=nlt#fen-nlt-29464b] 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. YOU ARE LOVED You are boldly, uniquely, unconditionally, relentlessly loved! GOD DOES NOT LOVE HIS CHILDREN EQUALLY, HE LOVES US UNIQUELY. Galatians 6:14-15 14 As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross,[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=galatians%206&version=nlt#fen-nlt-29163c] my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. 15 It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. Romans 5:8-11 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation YOU ARE REDEEMED REDEEMED FROM DEATH, SIN, YOUR OLD WAYS, FROM HELL! THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONDEMNATION AND CONVICTION Conviction is from the Holy Spirit Condemnation is from the enemy Conviction leads you to repentance and brings you back to God Condemnation keeps you hiding from God in your mess IT IS NOT HUMBLE OR MEEK TO STAY IN CONDEMNATION OR SHAME IT IS US SAYING WHAT JESUS DID ON THE CROSS WAS NOT ENOUGH! IF GOD WHO IS PERFECT CAN FORGIVE YOU… WHO ARE YOU NOT TO FORGIVE YOU (OR OTHERS) THE DEVIL WANTS YOU ISOLATED HE WANTS TO KEEP YOU IN SHAME WHEN WE HIDE IN OUR SHAME, WE LOSE SIGHT OF JESUS AND WHERE HE IS TAKING US INSTEAD HIDE IN THE SHADOW OF HIS WING So many times we let down or defenses to the enemy because we don’t know who we are! We open the door to fall victim to sin, strife, bitterness, etc., when we don’t know who we are in Christ! JUST LIKE PAUL KNEW HIS RIGHTS AS ROMAN CITIZENS WE SHOULD KNOW OUR RIGHTS AS CITIZENS OF HEAVEN AS CHILDREN OF THE ONE TRUE GOD AS JOINT HEIRS WITH JESUS Don’t take things that aren’t yours… The enemy can only have what you allow Him to Don’t let the enemy or even yourself put things on you that you were never meant to carry The very same power that raised Jesus from the dead Is alive on the inside of His children 1 john 4:4 But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. When you know who you are in Christ - you won’t be led by emotion - You don’t let others or society define you - you aren’t moved by circumstance - you are confident and know you are complete - You keep the enemy exactly where he belongs – under your feet WHEN YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE YOU SEE YOURSELF THE WAY GOD SEES YOU Get ahold of this picture in your heart: You are a treasure hunter's greatest dream. You have the treasure map. "X" marks the spot for the hidden treasure, but this time you don't have to go searching for the hidden treasure because the "X" is written on you! You are the hiding place for God's greatest treasure — the third Person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit! - So meditate on this truth today: You are valuable and precious in God's sight. Even though in the natural you may seem weak, fragile, and valueless, God has chosen your human body as the place to hide His greatest treasure. Now you can say, "When God looks at me, 'X' really does mark the spot." 2 corinthians 4:7 I am pursued I am holy I am anointed I am righteous I am justified I am redeemed I am loved I am valuable I am approved I am a joint heir with Christ I am more than a conqueror I am citizen of Heaven I am a child of the king I am a new creation I am whole and complete I am chosen I am bold and brave as a lion I am made in the image of God I am/have enough because He is more than enough!! David knew God intimately So then he could declare him publicly and boldly Stop looking for the streams of living water when it’s already on the inside of you waiting to bust out