The Overruling Power of God 1 Samuel 5

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1)  God’s enemies despise the word of God.

1 And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.

2)  God’s enemies attempt to cut off the word of God from God’s people and to cut off God’s people from the word of God.

2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

They hope to minimize or marginalize the word of God, to attribute powerlessness to God.                                                                                                                 

3)  God’s people may not even be aware of the power of God’s defense on their behalf.

3 And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was

fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

                                                                                     

4)  The obstinence of the enemy towards God is fully understood by God; God deals with rebellion of the enemy’s heart.

4 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. 5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.6 But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.7 And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.

5)  Occupying a position of faith, God’s people may rely on God to take care of the enemy.

8 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither.9 And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the Lord was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts.

6)  The promises God makes through His word to His people are real and cannot be halted by any enemy.

11 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

7)  The word of God advances its inherent victories to the children of God, to accomplish that which God has purposed and promised; the enemy is always defeated.  Ch 6, 7

Attempting to Serve Without Praying Luke 22: 46

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(And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into

temptation.)

1. There are many occurrences to come which the believer cannot presently see.

2. There are matters within the heart of the seeker which are thought to be 

        settled but really are not.

3. There are matters of service that cannot be satisfied without having the

strength of Christ presiding in the heart.

4. It is a mistake to doubt the existence of temptation.

5. It is unwise to believe one can overcome temptation without the power of

  God ruling in his heart.

6. Effective praying cannot come with the servant asleep.

7. Wise praying is to proceed the onward march for Christ.

The Reward of Prayer Acts 12: 12

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(And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the

mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered

together praying.)

1. Fellowship with our heavenly father.

With Christ, His prayer evidence of oneness;  fellowship with His Father.

2. Fellowship with one another.

3. An endearing dependency on Christ.

Nothing endears the heart like God’s proven sufficiency.

Nothing exposes the heart to God’s sufficiency like prayer.

4. An increasing faith in Christ.

5. A defined priority.

Locks in-targets-stays on

6. An intense burden.

The sobriety of prayer.

7. A real life answer of release.

Why I Can Live for Jesus 1 Thessalonians 5: 24

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click to Read the passage: I Thessalonians 5  (a new browser window will open)

(Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.)

1.Because I didn’t save myself; I was blood bought.

2.Because I didn’t follow my way, I followed His way.

3.Because it is not my work; it is His work.

4.Because it was not my name, but His name.

5.Because it was not my will, but His will.

6.Because it was not my righteousness, but His righteousness.

7.Because it was not my works, but His faithfulness.

It was not by works of righteousness which I have done, but according to His mercy He saved me. Titus 3:  5

The Power in Prayer Acts 12: 5-16

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v.5 1.  God’s people are called to prayer in crises, for those in crises.

Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

v.5 2.  God’s people need know God is at work, and be comforted thereby.

v.5 3.  The place of prayer is a protected place.

v.6 4.  God does beyond the believer’s expectation.

And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

v.14 5.   God’s answers to some are readily accepted.

And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.   

v.15 6.   God’s answers to some are too good to be true.

And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. 

V,16 7.   God’s answers to prayer truly are astonishing, revealing Jesus’ unique power and glory.

But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw

him, they were astonished.                                                                                                                                                                                     

Truth Challenged, but True Mark 14: 53-60

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v.53 1. The message of the word (truth) will be challenged by men assembled in

                high places.

(And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled 

                all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.)

Religion will always challenge biblical Christianity.

v.54 2. Men of the word by their association with and submission to truth will 

                likewise be challenged and their faith threatened.

(And Peter followed Him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest, and

                he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.)

v.55 3. Ungodly men seek to bring an accusation of untruth against the truth.

(And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to 

                put Him to death; and found none.)

The fight comes from the ungodly, usually the unsaved.

Thus false accusation is an easy step for them.

v.55 4. Ungodly men sought to bring accusation of untruth against the author of the

                word.

(against Jesus)

v.55 5. Ungodly men desire and intend to destroy  truth.

(to put Him to death;)

This is satan’s intention. Thus, he fights to keep truth from coming to pass.

v.56 6. Ungodly men can only bear false accusation against truth- the word of God.

(For many bare false witness against Him, but their witness agreed not 

                together.)

v.56, 7. Any witness against the truth will not withstand a constant measure.

   59 (but their witness agreed not together.) (But neither so did their witness 

                agree together.)

v.57, 8. Ungodly men cannot understand truth and take the message they hear 

                out of context.

  58 (And there arose certain, and bare false witness against Him, saying,)

                (We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, 

                and within three days I will build another made without hands.)

v.60 9. Truth does not have to defend itself to be truth.

(And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, 

                Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?)

v.60 10. The challenge of untruth will sooner or later be exposed as a lie. Truth 

                shall endure forever.

(what is it which these witness against thee?)

Is. 40: 8

v.53 1. The message of the word (truth) will be challenged by men assembled in high places.

(And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.)

Religion will always challenge biblical Christianity.

v.54 2. Men of the word by their association with and submission to truth will likewise be challenged and their faith threatened.

(And Peter followed Him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest, and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.)

v.55 3. Ungodly men seek to bring an accusation of untruth against the truth.

(And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put Him to death; and found none.)

The fight comes from the ungodly, usually the unsaved.

Thus false accusation is an easy step for them.

v.55 4. Ungodly men sought to bring accusation of untruth against the author of the word.

(against Jesus)

v.55 5. Ungodly men desire and intend to destroy  truth.

(to put Him to death;)

This is satan’s intention. Thus, he fights to keep truth from coming to pass.

v.56 6. Ungodly men can only bear false accusation against truth- the word of God.

(For many bare false witness against Him, but their witness agreed not together.)

v.56, 7. Any witness against the truth will not withstand a constant measure.

   59 (but their witness agreed not together.) (But neither so did their witness agree together.)

v.57, 8. Ungodly men cannot understand truth and take the message they hear out of context.

  58 (And there arose certain, and bare false witness against Him, saying,) (We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.)

v.60 9. Truth does not have to defend itself to be truth.

(And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?)

v.60 10. The challenge of untruth will sooner or later be exposed as a lie. Truth shall endure forever.

(what is it which these witness against thee?)

Is. 40: 8

v.53 1. The message of the word (truth) will be challenged by men assembled in high places.

(And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.)

Religion will always challenge biblical Christianity.

v.54 2. Men of the word by their association with and submission to truth will likewise be challenged and their faith threatened.

(And Peter followed Him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest, and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.)

v.55 3. Ungodly men seek to bring an accusation of untruth against the truth.

(And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put Him to death; and found none.)

The fight comes from the ungodly, usually the unsaved.

Thus false accusation is an easy step for them.

v.55 4. Ungodly men sought to bring accusation of untruth against the author of the word.

(against Jesus)

v.55 5. Ungodly men desire and intend to destroy  truth.

(to put Him to death;)

This is satan’s intention. Thus, he fights to keep truth from coming to pass.

v.56 6. Ungodly men can only bear false accusation against truth- the word of God.

(For many bare false witness against Him, but their witness agreed not together.)

v.56, 7. Any witness against the truth will not withstand a constant measure.

   59 (but their witness agreed not together.) (But neither so did their witness agree together.)

v.57, 8. Ungodly men cannot understand truth and take the message they hear out of context.

  58 (And there arose certain, and bare false witness against Him, saying,) (We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.)

v.60 9. Truth does not have to defend itself to be truth.

(And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?)

v.60 10. The challenge of untruth will sooner or later be exposed as a lie. Truth shall endure forever.

(what is it which these witness against thee?)

Is. 40: 8

Works of Prayer Acts 12: 3-16

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Evidences in prayer:

v.3-5 1. Prayer is used to stop the advancement of evil.

(And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter

also. …) (And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, …)

v.3-5 2. Prayer believes in the importance of God’s work.

The church was important to God and in God’s plan.

Peter was used of God and was important as well in God’s plan.

The people of God recognized the importance of God’s work being sustained by

God.

The word of God was not in danger, but they were to give the support of their

faith.

v.6 3. In prayer one believes God is greater than any and every limiting circumstance.

(And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was 

sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before

the door kept the prison)

The one praying does not know how God will work, but is to believe that He will

work.

 

v.6- 4. Prayer counts God faithful even when His hand is not presently observable.

  10 (and the keepers before the door kept the prison) …

The church had no idea what was going on.

In prayer , realize there is a battle going on.

v.8- 5. Prayer is to be understood as just a means of cooperation with God; the power

                of deliverance is truly with God alone!

(And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he

did. …)

Prayer is no so much what the believer does, but what God does.

Believe in the superiority of God’s power and might.  Here God sends an angel.

v.12 6. There is a fellowship with God that occurs in prayer; it is sustained to continue 

                by believing faith.

(And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the

mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together

praying.)

v.13- 7. Continuing on in prayer the saints find God faithful and fit into God’s plan, 

16 strengthened for the next faith venture.

   …(But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.)

Their testimony and assurance is increased. They are strengthened in the battle.

They are more convinced of the importance of the work of God through His 

church.