"IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME"
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 20 viewsNotes
Transcript
INTRO
Recently the MLB build a baseball field in Iowa in the middle of a corn maze honor of the movie “field of dreams”. It was an epic idea and a memorable game.
If you are a fan of baseball, Then, you’ve probably watched the movie “field of dreams”. The movie, A farm owner by the name of Ray, hears a voice that tells him, “if you build it, they will come”.
he ultimately discovered that he had a passion for baseball and desired to play, or to at least watch a baseball game once more. The moral of the story was that if he would build a baseball stadium, which he did, then people from all over the world would come.
“If you build it, they will come.”
Today, I’m not saying that Citylight should build a baseball field and play ball, but I do want to preach about building an altar, specifically an altar of prayer.
I strongly believe “if we build it (an Altar) the souls will come”.
If we pray, people will come.
‘’If we build it” people will come:
1. To Citylight church
2. Your children will return to the feet of Jesus
3. Souls will draw near
The disciples saw that people all over would come to Jesus to hear him speak and do miracles, signs and wonders and they desired that!
There is no doubt that they wanted to serve Jesus and be used by him. They left everything behind to follow Jesus. Their intentions were right, but their hearts were yet to be molded through prayer.
Mark 9:28
28After Jesus had gone into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 29 Jesus answered, “This kind cannot come out, except by prayer.”
They were trying to build a kingdom on their own rather that allow Christ to be the center and the “chief cornerstone.”
Main text:
Matthew 6:9-10
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
REVELATION UNVEILS REALIZATION
REVELATION UNVEILS REALIZATION
“Our Father who are in heaven”
Our Father
Our Father
Father = refers to relationship. The title of a father carries much weight. I hear and see a lot of husbands that have kids and they share how many more kids they want, popping babies like candy from a vending machine, but fail as father’s to be a christ-like. I know I am not perfect but, my lord, every time I look at my son, Elias, I feel such a weight responsibility and a burden because I realize the nurturing that’s required with raising my children, especially in the times we are living.
Some christians may say “well this state is too liberal, i’m moving my kids out of here” and they base their decision off of social matters rather than thinking we need to raise kingdom children who stand in the gap of this state, who pray for this state, who shine their light were it’s most needed. If God call you to move, go, but do it because it’s God calling you out.
examples:
too expensive - yes it is - but is that the only reason you want to leave? What if its not the will of God? Does not Jesus own all the cattle on the hill? If you get to praying and seeking GOD YOU KNOW THAT HE WILL PROVIDE!
Culture - it’s going against Gods word and CA is one of the worst states. I hear it all the time “this state its too liberal”. God has us here for a reason, yes it’s harder here . Yes its going to be tough, yes i am going to have to seek the lord! But can i tell you again, the greater the trial the greater the victory! There’s no victory without fight.
Don’t base a choice off of what is safe for you and your family but base it off of where the lord is leading you to. Because the reality is that you’ll always be searching and never content until your reach your God given calling and purpose!
A father loves, cares and is willing to risk it all for their kids. A father deeply wants the best for their children. The term father represent relationship.
That is what Jesus is telling his disciples, that when you pray, pray “our father”
Our father loves us and wants the best for us and care for us. He is a good father.
“Who are in heaven”
A Chinese proverb says, “If you want to know what water is, don’t ask the fish.” Water is the sum and substance of the world in which the fish is immersed. The fish may not reflect on its own environment until suddenly it is thrust onto dry land, where it struggles for life. Then it realizes that water provided its substance.
Many times as Christians we fail to realize that God is our substance and the source of everything that we do! We go day by day under the covering of God over our lives but fail to realize just how important and great our God is in our life!
Because we fail to realize the God we serve and the authority and power he has given us we lose out on the benefits that we have.
Examples:
1. God has given us peace – listen to the noise all around us.
2. God has given us Joy – yet we live in misery
3. God has given us love – yet we hate everyone around us
4. God has given us a sound mind/SELF CONTROL – Yet we go crazy but what we hear on social media and go CRAZY!
Often times we finally realize the power we have is only when we go through difficulty and trials, that is when we have no other alternative but to trust in the the Lord and seek him.
“WHO ARE IN HEAVEN”
God is omnipresent - song- “he’s here he’s there, he everywhere”
this speaks of his authority and power.
our father is a loving and powerful FATHER
We see the story In the Bible after Jacob is on the run to his uncle Labans house because he stole the birth right of his brother therefore he is running for his life.
Genesis 28:10-12;
Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. 11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it
When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”
You can be going through your life day by day and fail to realize that the presence of God is with you, fail to realize the birthright you posses .
There, Jacob later builds an altar in that place.
Angels - are messengers and bring messages from GOD to people.
We ourselves are messengers, ambassadors of God and are to carry out the message of salvation God has given us.
Just like Jacob we need to realize the power and authority we carry!
2 Kings 6:15–17 (LEB)
The attendant of the man of God arose early and went out, and look, the army was surrounding the city with horses and chariots. His servant said to him, “Oh no, my master! What shall we do?” And he said, “Don’t be afraid, for more are with us than are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Yahweh, please open his eyes that he may see,” and Yahweh opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw, and look, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
optical illusion;
story of shoes in africa - two sides
Examples :
It is too expensive - what great way for God to pour out his blessing.
CA - is too liberal and lost - what great way for there to be an outpouring of the presence of God!
WE’VE GOT TO REALIZE THE POWER THAT WE POSSES!!
KINGDOME AGE
KINGDOME AGE
“THY KINGDOME COME”
What is the kingdom?
kingdom is the governing influence of a king over a territory, impacting that territory with his will, his purpose, and his intent, producing a culture and a moral standard for his citizens.
A kingdom is definitely a governmental system, but a kingdom is not a democracy or a republic. The king’s word is law, and he does not need to share his power with other branches of government. He is the”
“government. He is the sole and final authority. He is the law, the court, the judge, the cabinet, the congress, and the parliament. He is the head of state, the president, and the prime minister. And he does not have to worry about term limits. Nobody votes for or against him, because in a kingdom, nobody votes. Referendums are unheard of in a kingdom.
Jesus went about preaching the kingdom Of God!
Verses:
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 4:23 (KJV 1900)
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Matthew 6:33 (KJV 1900)
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Let me share with you a few but of far many benefits of being part of the kingdom of God.
Kingdom domain:
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
“Foundation” - since Adam
All of your problems, and stress of life boils down to one thing.
You do not control your circumstances.
who control your house? - unto you pay it off or you own - the bank or your landlord.
Who controls how much you make - your boss
Who controls how many teeth you keep or lose - the dentist.
Who controls your curfew - your wife ooops!
who manages your health and body - the doctor
Your life is basically in the hands of people that you hope they know what they are doing.
You don’t control those things and that is why you get high blood pressure and stress when the rent comes and light bill comes and when the light bill is due and the pressure hits you because you have no control.
Depression, stress, stress being the number source of all sickness.
stress is not being able to control your environment.
You are stressed, cause your controlled by needs that you cannot control.
You have no dominion over the environment you live in.
But Jesus came to restore that!
Peter, James and John were all business men.
They had their fishing company and there was a down turn in the economy when Jesus went there. Their boats were empty.
There were in an economic crisis .
When Jesus showed up he made them shut their business down and became in charge of their circumstances that was in charge of them.
The sea of galilea at one was so clear that fisher men had to fish at night so that the fish would not see their nets and swim away.
current - the way the current flowed from the north through the mountains and into the sea of galilea.
it was always caused a tie of current. the currents that would come would make the fish go with the currents.
They always put their boats in the shallow part. where the current went into the sea of galilea.
They always put their nets on the left side. so when the current would flow the fish would be driven in the net at night.
These mens were professional people they knew how to fish! that was their lively hood!
That was circumstantial
Therefore they were fishing in the shallow, but they caught nothing.
They have done everything they know how to do under the circumstances!
In other words if you are a victim of your enviroment you have to do what it says.
If it says no fish - no fish
Then Jesus tells them something differ:
Jesus tells them - lets go out again : they say - lord we fished all night.
IN THE DAY
GO IN THE DEEP
THROW YOUR NET ON THE RIGHT SIDE
The kingdom of God is not a victim of the earth the earth is a victim of the KINGDOM OF GOD!
Your kingdom your king, tells you to do the opposite!
When they cast their and they caught an overflowing amount of fish!
Circumstances tell you to leave CA, But God /Kingdom tells you to dominate and have dominion over your circumstances.
Circumstances tell you to file for a divorce - God/Kingdom says you can restore your marriage.
Circumstances say GIVE up on your son or daughter - God/KINGDOM their is the kingdom of heaven, they come back to the lord.
Circumstances say give up on finding your soul mate - God i’ve something great coming your way!
Circumstances say you cannot go to college, your poor, your not smart enough - God/kingdom you’ve got the same D.N.A as your king.
also to note here you is that they were fishing for temperal things Jesus says ill have you fish for eternal things!
The list goes on and on!
We are ambassadors of his Kingdom!
Ambassador -
In diplomatic circles, although ambassadors often live in foreign countries, they keep in touch with their head of state back home. Almost without exception, they know that person well.
Ambassadors cannot legislate. They do not create new governmental policies or declare war. Yet they occupy a special position, government-to-government. Their words carry weight. They are senior representatives who have been invested with authority from their governing authority.
In the Scripture quoted above, the Greek word translated as ambassador is presbeuo, which means” preacher
“someone just like that. Paul uses the same word again in his letter to the church in the city of Ephesus:”
And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
In the N.T. in the word ambassador means - preacher, proclaimer.
And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me,
And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.
“The kingdom of God is not meat nor drink, but peace, joy in the holy ghost. “
Notice how it is worded
“f the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.
My Lord, you have the authority and power to release power authority. (noah/the dove)
Jesus goes to the temple- flips the table there the doves were.
close with how God gave access to the kingdom with Adam.
You have the power and authority!
But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Pray for thy kingdom come!
THE BATTLE OF THE WILLS
THE BATTLE OF THE WILLS
“Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”
Many times we pray for our will to be done. Sometimes we are like small children trying to get our will. We are convinced that the best thing for us is always sweet and more.
bigger house
better car
finer clothes
Nothing wrong with those things but we have to pray that the lords will be done.
How can we call something a blessing when it stands between us and God
between prayer and the word of God
We are creatures with a multitude of desires, many of which are in violent conflict with each other. Again consider the "all things being equal" dimension of our moral choices. As a Christian I have a profound desire to please Christ with my life and to attain righteousness. That good desire for obedience to God is neither perfect nor pure as it struggles daily with other desires in my sinful personality. If I had no conflicting desires, I would, of course, never be disobedient. If the only desire I had, or if the strongest desire I had, were continuously the desire to obey God, I would never willfully sin against him. But there are times when my desire to sin is greater than my desire to obey; when that happens, I sin. When my desire to obey is greater than my desire to sin, then at that moment, I refrain from sinning. My choices reveal more clearly and more certainly than anything else the level of my desire.
Desire, like appetite, is not constant. Our levels of desire fluctuate from day to day, from hour to hour, and from minute to minute.
Our will will lead us into destruction, but the lord will will lead us to him!
Matthew 7:21–23 (KJV 1900)
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
The will of the father
(jesus praying not my will but your will be done)
The will of God is first most is to have communion with him through intimacy, by
praying, fasting reading of his word.
God wants know you, loves you! He died for you. he doesn’t want religion but relationship.
That is where they messed, of course God will responsed when you call him because he has too, but does not mean he knows you.
God wants to know you, in doing so you’ll want to do his will but out of LOVE.
LOVE NEVER FAILS
LOVES GOES THE DISTANCE
LOVES IS THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE WE HAVE.
THAT ALL GOD WANTS FROM US!
“Will be done on earth as it is in heaven”
Many we pray or desire to be with him and say lord please come or the lord is coming soon. We desire to go up, but God desire is not for us to be with him but for his kingdom to him and whatever is in heaven to be established on earth.
God wants whatever is in heaven to be here on earth!
the atmosphere of heaven is his presence, joy peace, worship. not sin no
sickness no disease no more suffering no more pain!
Closing:
Romans 12:1–2
(NKJV)
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
the altar & sacrifice:
Tie down - will
cut into pieces - brokeness
all on the altar- give everything
saying, “Father, if you are willing, take away this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.” ⟦