Sermons/Posts:


July 10, 2011

The Underutilization of the Potent Weapon of Prayer

Rev. 5:6-8; Rev. 8:2-4; 1 Thess. 5:16-18; James 5:16; 1 John 5:14-15; Mark 11:22-25; Matthew 6:5-8; James 4:3; John 14:13-14; Eph. 6:18; Phil. 4:6-7

Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders… And… the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the PRAYERS of God’s people.

And … another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the PRAYERS of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the PRAYERS of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand.

Rejoice always, PRAY continually, and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. … The PRAYER of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him."

"'Have faith in God,' Jesus answered. ’I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, "Go, throw yourself into the sea," and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand PRAYING, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.'"

"When you PRAY, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth; they have received their reward in full. But when you PRAY, go into your room, close the door and PRAY to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And … do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." …"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

"And PRAY in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of PRAYERS and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on PRAYING for all the saints....Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by PRAYER and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

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Barb-B-Q, Beer, Best Friends & Family
by Pastor Bob, 7/3/2011

Unfortunately, for many in America, that will be the extent of their 4th of July celebrations tomorrow! “What’s wrong with that?” you might ask.  For all too many of us, we have forgotten the high cost of freedom that this day is supposed to represent! The notion of another leisurely day, opportunity to recreate, watch some fireworks and a short work week to follow, can drub out the thoughts of and solemn reality of the graves of our men & women who gave their lives for the freedoms we have.  All across the U.S. people will celebrate the tremendous freedom we enjoy. Truly we are blessed! We who know Jesus Christ as our Savior have another kind of freedom to celebrate. We are free from the bondage of our sin and death. I Corinthians 15:1-4 gives a concise picture of the freedoms we have in Christ.

First, “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.”
He died for one reason: to pay the penalty necessary for our sins. He took our place. Because of His death, we are made free from the death penalty of sin and stand righteous before God. This is our justification.

Second, “that He was buried.”
Romans 6 tells us that through faith we died with Him and were buried with Him and are now dead to the power of sin over us. Sin no longer has dominion over us, so we can choose to live righteous, holy lives. We are free from sin’s control over us! This is our sanctification.

Third, “that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
His death alone could not save us; it was the resurrection that showed God’s acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice, and that gives power unto salvation. In Colossians 3:1 we read that we are risen with Christ. His resurrection guarantees a future in Heaven for us where we will be free from the presence of sin. This is our glorification.

From that past moment when I truly believed, I am free from the penalty of sin . . . Free from the present power of sin over me . . . And guaranteed to one day be free from the presence of sin. Now, that’s cause for celebration—every day!

Lord Jesus, let me never forget the great gift of freedom that You give to me as Your follower.

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February 27, 2011

Who is Leading Whom? – Part 4
 
Part 1 – “I Being in THE WAY, the Lord led me!” –Gen.24:27

Part 2 – Life through the Holy Spirit show evidence and bears fruit; -Romans 8, Key – listen & allow the Holy Spirit to lead & guide & direct you

Part 3 – More about the Holy Spirit? - Part of the Trinity, God thinks differently than we do; It takes the help of the Holy Spirit to understand & worship God, Perils & warnings of not following the Spirit – Rev. 2-3 & 1 Kings 13; Jesus promise of the Holy Spirit John 14:15-31

Part 4- Illustration of Unbeliever, Carnal or Immature Christian & Mature Christian.

To walk in the Spirit is to fulfill our ultimate potential and capacity of our life on earth as God's children.

1.    Surrendering your life to Christ – Eph. 5:19-6:9

Ephesians 5:18-6:9 

18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Instructions for Christian Households

21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Ephesians 6

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.

9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. 

Being filled with the Spirit involves surrendering one's will, intellect, emotions, as well as one's time, talent, and treasure to God's complete control. It is the death of self-will. When you are right with God and are filled with His Spirit, you will be right with everyone else. You will speak to others in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19); be thankful for all things (v. 20); and submit yourself to fellow believers (v. 22). Wives will submit to their husbands (vv. 22- 24), husbands will love their wives as Christ loved the church (vv. 25-33), children will obey their parents (6:1-3), parents will not provoke their children to wrath (v. 4), servants will be obedient to their masters (vv. 5-8), and masters will treat their servants correctly (v. 9). Being filled with the Spirit results not in ecstatic experiences, but in right relationships with God and man.

2. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit

Paul did not accuse the Corinthians of being immature and sinful because they did not yet have the Holy Spirit. He didn't exhort them to seek the Spirit to remedy the situation. Rather he reminded them that each one of them already possessed the Holy Spirit: "What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you?" (1 Cor. 6:19). Even when a Christian falls into sin, the Holy Spirit is there convicting him, and it is that very fact that makes his sin even worse. The Corinthians were not sinning because of the Holy Spirit's absence but in spite of the Holy Spirit's presence.

a) Galatians 2:20--Paul said, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me." It is the Spirit of Christ that lives in all believers.

b) John 7:37-39--John said, "Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water. But this spoke he of the Spirit, whom they that believe on him should receive." All who believe in Christ receive the Holy Spirit.

The New Testament is unlike the Old in that David cried out, "Take not thy Holy Spirit from me" (Ps. 51:11). Ever since the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit comes as a permanent resident to every believer.

Just as the believer is never commanded to “be baptized by the Holy Spirit”, neither is he commanded to be indwelt by the Spirit. Both are guaranteed for the person who places his faith in Christ for salvation. We are sealed by the Spirit (cf. Eph. 1:13). The command to be obeyed is to be filled or controlled by the Holy Spirit.

3. Our Relationship with the Spirit

a) Ephesians 4:30--Paul said, "Grieve not the Holy Spirit, by whom ye were sealed."

b) 1 Thessalonians 5:19--Paul said, "Quench not the Spirit."

4. The possession of the Holy Spirit – Romans 8:9

Every Christian possesses the Holy Spirit in all His fullness from the moment he believes. As was mentioned above, there is no such thing as a Christian without the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:9 says, "If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him" (NASB). I heard a person say, "I have been a Christian for a long time but I just found out that I didn't really have the Holy Spirit. Since then, I asked God and He gave me the Holy Spirit and now my entire life has changed." I understood what he was trying to say--that he now realized what obedience to God was all about--but there is simply no such thing as a Christian without the Holy Spirit. When you become a child of God, He takes up residence by putting His Spirit within you, and as a result, you will be obedient to Him. Every Christian possesses the Holy Spirit in all His fullness. A Christian does not receive the Holy Spirit in bits and pieces. You do not even have to ask for more of the Spirit because He is there totally at salvation.

5. The baptism of the Holy Spirit

Even to the immature, worldly Corinthian believers, Paul said, "For by one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Greeks, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit" (1 Cor. 12:13). All believers have received the Holy Spirit and been baptized into the body of Christ.

There are seven references to the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament and not one of them is a command. The believer is never commanded to be baptized by the Spirit because that occurs at salvation. The baptism of the Spirit is not an experience; it is an act whereby the Holy Spirit puts you into the body of Christ when you believe. It is a theological reality. You do not feel it physically, nor do you see or hear it. Christ--the baptizer--who through the agency of the Holy Spirit, places you in His body. You are saved and given the blessed Holy Spirit at the exact same time.

6. Our NABC doctrinal statement regarding the Holy Spirit statement of Beliefs – Why with scriptural support.

The Holy Spirit inspired men to write the Scriptures (II Peter 1:21).  Through this Word, He convicts individuals of their sinfulness and of the righteousness of Christ, draws them to the Savior, and bears witness to their new birth (James 1:18; John 16:7-11; I Thessalonians 1:5-6; Romans 8:16).  At regeneration and conversion, the believer is baptized in the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:13).  The Spirit indwells, seals and gives spiritual gifts to all believers for ministry in the church and society (Romans 8:9-11; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 12:5-8; I Peter 4:10).  He empowers, guides, teaches, fills, sanctifies and produces the fruit of ‘Christ likeness’ in all who yield to Him (Acts 4:31; Romans 8:14; I Corinthians 2:10-13; Ephesians 5:18; II Thessalonians 2:13; Galatians 5:16; 22-23).


Elders position on Spiritual Gifts & manifestations of the Spirit

“Whereas some focus on the gifts of the Spirit, we choose to focus on the Giver of the gifts!”

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February 20, 2011 

Who is Leading Whom? – Part 3

Part 3 – More about the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is a Person – A Study of the Holy Spirit by Mary Fairchild

The Holy Spirit is included in the Trinity, which is made up of 3 distinct persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The following verses give a beautiful picture of the Trinity in the Bible:

Matthew 3:16-17
As soon as Jesus (the Son) was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God (the Holy Spirit) descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven (the Father) said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." (NIV)

Matthew 28:19
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” - Jesus (NIV)

John 14:16-17
“And I (Jesus) will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (NIV)

2 Corinthians 13:14
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (NIV)

Acts 2:32-33
God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

Romans 8:14 - For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

John 4:24 - God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." 

Rev. 2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 2:29; 3:6; 3:13; 3:22 – Common admonition given to all the 7 churches as Jesus addresses each of them – “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” NIV 

Perils of NOT Following the Spirit – the Young Prophet

1 Kings 13 - The Man of God From Judah

1 By the word of the LORD a man of God came from Judah to Bethel, as Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make an offering. 2 By the word of the LORD he cried out against the altar: “Altar, altar! This is what the LORD says: ‘A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who make offerings here, and human bones will be burned on you.’” 3 That same day the man of God gave a sign: “This is the sign the LORD has declared: The altar will be split apart and the ashes on it will be poured out.”
4 When King Jeroboam heard what the man of God cried out against the altar at Bethel, he stretched out his hand from the altar and said, “Seize him!” But the hand he stretched out toward the man shriveled up, so that he could not pull it back. 5 Also, the altar was split apart and its ashes poured out according to the sign given by the man of God by the word of the LORD.
6 Then the king said to the man of God, “Intercede with the LORD your God and pray for me that my hand may be restored.” So the man of God interceded with the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored and became as it was before.
7 The king said to the man of God, “Come home with me for a meal, and I will give you a gift.”
8 But the man of God answered the king, “Even if you were to give me half your possessions, I would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water here. 9 For I was commanded by the word of the LORD: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water or return by the way you came.’” 10 So he took another road and did not return by the way he had come to Bethel.
11 Now there was a certain old prophet living in Bethel, whose sons came and told him all that the man of God had done there that day. They also told their father what he had said to the king. 12 Their father asked them, “Which way did he go?” And his sons showed him which road the man of God from Judah had taken. 13 So he said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” And when they had saddled the donkey for him, he mounted it 14 and rode after the man of God. He found him sitting under an oak tree and asked, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?”
“I am,” he replied. 15 So the prophet said to him, “Come home with me and eat.”
16 The man of God said, “I cannot turn back and go with you, nor can I eat bread or drink water with you in this place. 17 I have been told by the word of the LORD: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came.’”
18 The old prophet answered, “I too am a prophet, as you are. And an angel said to me by the word of the LORD: ‘Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.’” (But he was lying to him.) 19 So the man of God returned with him and ate and drank in his house.
20 While they were sitting at the table, the word of the LORD came to the old prophet who had brought him back. 21 He cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah, “This is what the LORD says: ‘You have defied the word of the LORD and have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you. 22 You came back and ate bread and drank water in the place where he told you not to eat or drink. Therefore your body will not be buried in the tomb of your ancestors.’”
23 When the man of God had finished eating and drinking, the prophet who had brought him back saddled his donkey for him. 24 As he went on his way, a lion met him on the road and killed him, and his body was left lying on the road, with both the donkey and the lion standing beside it. 25 Some people who passed by saw the body lying there, with the lion standing beside the body, and they went and reported it in the city where the old prophet lived.
26 When the prophet who had brought him back from his journey heard of it, he said, “It is the man of God who defied the word of the LORD. The LORD has given him over to the lion, which has mauled him and killed him, as the word of the LORD had warned him.”

Jesus teaches About the gift of the Holy Spirit in John 14:15-31

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
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.
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 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.
28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
Come now; let us leave.

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February 13, 2011

 Who is Leading Whom?  -  Part 2   

Last week - Gen. 24:27 - I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren. story of Abraham's servant who went out to find his master's son Isaac a wife. We focused on the role of the Holy Spirit had to play & the servant's responsibility to allow the Spirit to lead! 

Life Through the Spirit  - Romans 8:1-17

1 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. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.  And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.  

Fruit of the Spirit - Galatians 5:22-25 

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Acts of the Flesh - Galatians 5:19-21 

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Acts 19:1-9 - Paul in Ephesus 

1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered,
"No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
3 So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?"
"John's baptism," they replied.
4 Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus."
5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.
8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. Spiritual Impotence - No - Love, Power & Sound Mind 

2 Tim. 1:7 - "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."  

1 Corinthians 6:19 -20 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Isaiah 30:21 - Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."  

The road ahead
...Stretches into the night.
The way is murky
Hidden from sight.
There's no GPS,
No crystal ball.
Only a small voice.
Listen. Hear it call?  - Camino Escondido
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February 6, 2011

Who is Leading Whom?  -  Part 1 

NIV Gen. 24:1-27 - Isaac and Rebekah 

1 Abraham was now very old, and the LORD had blessed him in every way. 2 He said to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh. 3 I want you to swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, 4 but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.”
5 The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?”
6 “Make sure that you do not take my son back there,” Abraham said. 7 “The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father’s household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’—he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there. 8 If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.” 9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.
10 Then the servant left, taking with him ten of his master’s camels loaded with all kinds of good things from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor. 11 He had the camels kneel down near the well outside the town; it was toward evening, the time the women go out to draw water.
12 Then he prayed, “LORD, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. 14 May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”
15 Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. 16 The woman was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again. 17 The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.”
18 “Drink, my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink. 19 After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.” 20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels. 21 Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful.
22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels. 23 Then he asked, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”
24 She answered him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milkah bore to Nahor.” 25 And she added, “We have plenty of straw and fodder, as well as room for you to spend the night.”
26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD, 27 saying, “Praise be to the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.” 

KJV Gen. 24:26 - 27

26 And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD. 27 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren. 

I Being in THE WAY, the Lord led me!
I Being in THE WAY, the Lord led me!
I Being in THE WAY, the Lord led me!

Who is leading you? Who is leading me? Who is leading the church? Who leads your leaders here in this church?

Who leads your household at home? 

Fact: Scripture calls the church to call men who are led & filled with the Holy Spirit to be their spiritual leaders! Elders should be known as men of faith, tried & tested in the faith walk, men who are spiritually minded, who know & can teach God's Word.  Nothing could be more destructive than an elder who is not a Spirit-led man or a man who has an agenda that is not spiritually minded! 

We are reminded that deeds sown in the Spirit will reap eternal rewards; those who do sow deeds in the flesh reap destruction... that is, they don't meet God's standard and they don't bear the kind of fruit that lasts... 

Scripture calls that every man be led by the Holy Spirit! 

Ephesians 5:18 - Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

Romans 8:5 - Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

So How does the Christian overcome the challenges that they face daily? How do they overcome the spiritual challenges they face? How does the Church as a community of believers overcome persecution, spiritual opposition? 

Zechariah 4:6 - So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.” 

Galatians 5:24-26 - Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. 

Many people are led by anything other than the Holy Spirit! 

Some of those things include but aren't limited to: Anger, Anxiety, Bickering, Bitterness, Self-centeredness, Fear, Pride, need to have & maintain control, Narcissism, Ignorance, Rumors, Refusal to forgive Slander, Meddling. 

 

 

Links:
Bible Gateway http://www.biblegateway.com/