Subtitle: The Great White Throne Judgment & Judgment of satan, fallen angels and demons

Subtitle: God’s Judgment of the Nations (at the 2nd Coming of Christ)

Subtitle: The Judgment Seat of Christ

Subtitle: God’s Judgment of the world during the Great Tribulation

Subtitle: Discerning between the mercy & the wrath of God

The daily declarations handout is available from https://victorychristiancentre.co.nz/outlines

News articles mentioned in message:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/28/world/middleeast/oct-7-attacks-hamas-israel-sexual-violence.html
https://nypost.com/2023/10/08/horrifying-images-show-victims-of-hamas-attack-at-nova-music-festival/
https://www.dw.com/en/latest-videos/s-62391524
https://themedialine.org/top-stories/horrific-footage-of-hamas-atrocities-revealed-by-idf-shakes-global-media/

Learn How to CONNECT with your guardian angels in a biblical way?
God has assigned guardian angels to guard us and to prosper our way. Vanessa explains who these guardian angels are and how we can connect with them in a biblical way.
This is a powerful prophetic teaching ....

How can we access the supernatural help of angels in a biblical way? Vanessa shares, from Hebrews 1:14, and Psalm 103:20 – God’s angels’ function by God’s Word; God’s Word has been given to us, so according to how we know how to speak, angels will function.

Please Note: Part 1 was not recorded.

• Peter had just been used by God to work a miracle of healing a lame man who was begging at the temple gate
• A crowd began to gather because of the miracle that just happened
• Peter began to preach to those present about the resurrection of Jesus
• Then he called on everyone to repent and be converted
• He continued saying (if you do), your sins will be blotted out
• Then he prophesied about future events:
o Times of refreshing will come from the presence of God
o And, God will send Jesus Christ (2nd Coming of Christ)
• Jesus Christ had only just ascended to heaven a short while ago
• And as prophesied, He will return to earth to set up His 1,000 year reign

Acts 3:19 (WUESTNT) Therefore repent at once, instantly changing your attitude, and perform a right-about-face in order that your sins may be obliterated, in order that there may come epoch-making periods of spiritual revival and refreshment from the presence of the Lord …

• Peter prophesied times (plural) of spiritual revival and refreshing
• Right throughout the church age, there have been periods of spiritual revival and refreshing “from the presence of the Lord”
• We call these times:
o Revivals
o Outpourings of the Spirit of God
o The former and the latter rain of the Spirit
 The former rain of the Spirit took place on the Day of Pentecost
 The latter rain is taking place in these last day before the rapture
 There were periods of intermittent rain for the last 2000 years
• When God’s people repent of their sins, it always brings times of spiritual revival and refreshing
• When times of spiritual revival take place, more people will repent of their sins and get converted

• It is interesting, but many Christians are waiting for god to send revival
• But God is waiting for His people to repent of their sins

• Revivals and times of refreshing are never random acts of God
• Revivals and times of refreshing are always in response to God’s people repenting of their sins and seeking God for His will for their lives

• When John the Baptist came he preached “repentance”
• When Jesus first came, He preached “repentance”
• When Peter first preached, He preached “repentance” (Acts 2:38, 3:19)
• All revival preachers throughout the church age preached “repentance”
o John & Charley Wesley – the Great Awakening (AD. 1700’s)
o Charles Finney - the Second Great Awakening (1800’s)

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

• God says: If My people – those called by My name (Christians)
o Will humble themselves
o Pray
o Seek my face (for His will for their lives)
o Turn from their wicked ways (repentance!)
• I (God) will:
o Hear from heaven
o Forgive their sins
o Heal their land

1 Peter 4:17 (NKJV) For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

• Jesus Christ wants to cleanse His church of all stains & wrinkles
• He is leading His church into new levels of holiness

Five sins that prevented Israel from entering the Promised Land

1 Corinthians 10:1–11 (NLT) I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground. 2 In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses. 3 All of them ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, 7 or worship idols as some of them did. As the Scriptures say, “The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.” 8 And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day. 9 Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. 10 And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. 11 These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.

The five sins were:

• Craving evil things (lusting after evil things)
• Worship of idols (anything that draws our love away from God)
• Engaging in sexual immorality (all sexual activity outside of marriage)
• Putting Christ to the test (contention about water. Is God among us?)
• Grumbling (murmuring & complaining)

Hebrews 12:14 (AMP) Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will [ever] see the Lord.

Practical things to do:

• Cleanse our lives of all things that displease the Lord
• Cleanse our homes of all things that displease the Lord
• Forgive everyone who has ever hurt or offended us
• Choose to walk in love towards everyone
• Put God first in our lives (time, talent, treasure)

Hebrews 12:1–3 (NKJV) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

• lay aside every weight
• and the sin which so easily ensnares us
• run with endurance the race that is set before us
• look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith
• consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself
• lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls

• Apostle Paul addressed this Letter of 2nd Timothy to Timothy, and to all future generations of Christians

• He said that in the last days there will be times of great stress

• Of course, there have been times of great stress before for many believers in previous generations and in various localities

• But Paul's warning about times of great stress in the last days should be understood as:

  • Definitely applicable to the last generation of believers
  • A world-wide situation

• When Jesus spoke about end times, He used the phrase: "Distress of nations, with perplexity" (Luke 21:25)

• A minister of the Gospel recently said: There is not one single Scripture in the Bible that says that things will be easy in the last days

• For NZ Christians, things have been "so good for so long", that most are shocked by these new conditions of great stress

• We have to adjust to these "new" conditions, and ramp up our faith walk to a new level

• Great faith will cause us to overcome in times of great stress

Finding your "secret place" & "trusting in the Lord"

Psalm 91:1–4 (NKJV) He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust." 3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. 4 He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge;__His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

• God has a "secret place" for every believer
• Not every believer has found his/her secret place yet
• Some visit it from time to time
• But God wants us to live (dwell) permanently in our secret place
• When you trust God fully with all aspects of your life, you have found your secret place

Good prayers to pray:

• Lord, I fully surrender my life to you now …
• Lord, I entrust you with my whole life …
• Lord, I fully trust you concerning my life and my future …
• (Walking in faith and trusting the Lord is the self-same thing)

Proverbs 3:5–7 **(NKJV)**_ **Trust in the Lord _ with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;fear the Lord and depart from evil.

• We should – trust in the Lord with all our heart
• We should not – lean on our own understanding
• We should - acknowledge God in all of our ways
• God will - direct our paths (notice the sequence!)
• We should not - be wise in our own eyes

Isaiah 28:16 (NKJV)**_Therefore thus says the Lord God: **"Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;__ whoever believes will not act hastily. _

• Those who believe do not act hastily
• Don't let stress motivate you into making rash decisions
• By all means, prepare, but don't act out of step with God's leading

Psalm 18:1–3 (NKJV)I will love You, O Lord, my strength. _ 2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies._

Psalm 20:7 (NKJV)Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;__but _ we will remember the name of the Lord our God. _

• Chariots and horses were means of natural warfare
• The answers to today's stresses won't be natural answers

Proverbs 18:10 (NKJV) The_ _ name of the Lord is a strong tower ; the righteous run to it and are safe._

Psalm 118:8–9 (NKJV)It is better to _ trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. 9 It is better to_ _ trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes._

• Many of today's princes (politicians) aren't part of the answer, they and their demands are part of the problem

Psalm 37:39–40 (NKJV)But _ the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble. 40 And the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him. _

Psalm 37:3 (NKJV)**_ **Trust in the Lord, _ and do good;__dwell in the land, and _ feed on His faithfulness. _

Psalm 73:28 (NKJV)But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works.

Psalm 112:5–8 (NKJV) A good man deals graciously and lends; he will guide his affairs with discretion. 6 Surely he will never be shaken; the righteous will be in everlasting remembrance. 7 He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. 8 His heart is established; he will not be afraid,__until he sees his desire upon his enemies.

Things got very close before:

• The crossing of the Red Sea during the Exodus
• Enemy armies surrounding Judah in the days of Jehoshaphat

Exodus 14:13 (NKJV)And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.

2 Chronicles 20:17 (NKJV)You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you."

• There is no promise in God's Word that says that we will not be inconvenienced
• But there are numerous promises in God's Word that promise us deliverance from the evil plans of the enemy

Today is our last Sunday in our “Overcoming Faith” Campaign. We’re on a spiritual journey designed to strengthen & build our faith, to see God’s miraculous power released in and through our lives in a fresh way. We’re receiving: 

• Fresh Faith to lay hold of all of God’s promises
• Fresh Faith to overcome life’s challenges
• Fresh Faith to walk in:
• God’s Peace & Joy, Provision, Protection & Healing
• Fresh Faith for God’s will to manifest in our lives, families, city & nation 

Last week we spoke about how to pray the Prayer of Faith: 

1. Find a promise in God’s Word that covers your specific need
2. Take this Scripture to God in prayer, along with your need
3. Receive the answer/provision to your need at the time when you pray
4. Then continue to thank God that He has answered your prayer, and that He has met your need

Today we will talk about how to walk by faith.

Most of us know the common saying: “Seeing is believing”. 

Yet the Bible exhorts us to “believe without seeing”.

If we choose to “believe without seeing”, we will (eventually) “see what we believe”. 

2 Corinthians 5:1 (NLT)For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.

2 Corinthians 5:6–8 (NKJV)So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7For we walk by faith, not by sight.8We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

This Scripture speaks about our new resurrection body that awaits us in heaven. And is also tells us to walk by faith and not by sight. 

• When we become born again, we learn to walk by faith instead of by sight
• This is not only true concerning our new body that awaits us in heaven, or concerning heaven itself, but concerning all of God’s promises
• We don’t see heaven with our physical eyes, yet we believe in it’s existence
• Why? Because the written Word of God tells us about it!
• We don’t see our new resurrection body with our physical eyes, but we know we will have it at the time of our resurrection
• Why? Because the written Word of God tells us about it!
• So the Word of God becomes our new parameter and modus operandi for living instead of the things we can see, feel and touch
• Walking by faith then means:
• walking by the written Word of God
• Walking by the leading of the Holy Spirit of God (Rom. 8:14)

Thomas refused to believe without seeing: 

John 20:25–29 (NKJV)The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”26And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”28And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”29Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

• Thomas said: I must see physical evidence before I am willing to believe
• Jesus said: Thomas, do not be unbelieving, but believing
• Refusing to believe without seeing physical evidence is called UNBELIEF
• Jesus said: Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed
• Those who have not seen and yet believe are those who “walk by faith” and not “by sight”

1 Peter 1:7–9 (NLT)These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 8You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

Apostle Peter commends the saints for loving God even though they have never seen God. Instead of demanding visible proof of God’s existence, they chose to “walk by faith”. 

The Bible says: 

• We walk “by faith” (2 Cor. 5:7)
• We stand “by faith” (Romans 11:20)
• We live “by faith” (Gal. 2:20)
• We overcome the world “by faith” (1 John 5:4)
• We are sanctified “by faith” (Acts 26:18)
• We are justified “by faith” (Romans 5:1)
• “By faith” we have access to God’s grace (Romans 5:2)
• Hebrews chap. 11 lists the heroes of faith who “by faith” did astounding things (18 times “by faith”)

The example of Abraham & Sarah who walked by faith:

Hebrews 11:11-12 (NKJV) By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.12Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

In the natural, it was impossible for Sarah to have children. She was barren, and at a certain time she was past the age of child bearing. Furthermore, Abraham also was too old to produce children. And yet, they had a son called Isaac. 

Question: How did Sarah receive strength to conceive?

Answer: She received strength to conceive “by faith”!

Sarah: 

• Heard God’s Word (His promise) about a son
• She believed it in her heart
• She confessed it with her mouth
• She acted on the Word & came together with Abraham to conceive Isaac

So then, walking by faith is:

• Hearing what the Word says
• Believing in your heart what the Word says
• Confessing with your mouth what the Word says
• Doing what the Word says

Again, walking “By faith” means 4 things:

1. Hear what the Word of God says
2. Believe in your heart what the Word of God says
3. Confessing with your mouth what the Word says
4. Do what the Word says

Hebrews 11:6 … without faith it is impossible to please Him, …

…. for he who comes to God must believe ...

1. Faith believes …

God IS in the ‘NOW’ of our lives – FAITH IS NOW!

Psalm 46:1 God IS our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore I will not fear

– FAITH … believes God IS a present help … in trouble …
– FAITH … believes God IS a REWARDER …

1. Faith begins where the WILL of God is known

FAITH KNOWS …

(James 1:17) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

The Starting Point to GREAT Faith that pleases God is:

i. KNOWING God has only good gift
ii. KNOWING the Lord is my Refuge, my fortress, my God in whom I will trust
iii. KNOWING the WILL of God

1 John 5:14-15 NIV
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us–whatever we ask–we know that we have what we asked of Him.
3. Mark 11, Jesus demonstrated, then taught on The God-kind of FAITH

Mark 11:22-24 … “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

a) Jesus said, … we have ‘the faith of God’
b) The God-kind of faith works for …. whoever
c) The God kind of ‘faith’ has authority to speak to the mountain …
d) Whoever says … he will have whatever he says – (good or bad!)
e) Faith goes to work immediately at the ‘root’ (the unseen)
f) Faith does not doubt in the heart, but believes …
g) Faith SPEAKS – Mark 11:24 – 3 to 1 ratio

1. What does Great Faith Look Like?

a) The God operates in Great Faith
b) Faith is of the heart

1. The Centurion – Great Faith

Matthew 8:5-10, 13 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” 7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
8 The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.
9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! … 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.

a) Great Faith will work for ‘whoever’

b) Great Faith – is of the heart
The Centurion had compassion for his servant
Matthew 8:5-7 … a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” 7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”

c) Great faith flows from a heart of honor and humility

Matthew 8:6-8 (re-read)
“Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” 7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.

A Roman Centurion only bowed to Caesar but he recognised a higher authority and humbled himself to One who he saw had higher rank.

i. Honor humility is not weakness – it is power under control …
ii. Honor and Great Faith versus Dishonor and unbelief
– The Centurion who walked in GREAT FAITH
– People in Jesus’ hometown (Mark 6:5)

iii. Great Faith is of the heart: The heart behind Great Faith is humility
 Humble yourself under the hand of God that He may exalt …
 God resists the proud but gives His grace to the humble
 The greatest in the kingdom is a servant, …

d) Great faith positions itself under authority (Matthew 8:8-9)

i. This Centurion recognised Jesus was a ‘Man’ under authority.
ii. He recognised ‘authority’ when he saw it.
iv. Bible authority: being UNDER authority grants us the privilege
and freedom to ‘HAVE’ authority
v. Being UNDER authority is a key to operating in great faith

e) Great Faith understands the Power of the spoken Word (Matthew 8:7-9)

f) Great Faith speaks the Word only
6. By faith Jairus’ daughter was raised from the dead

a) Faith is of the heart

Mark 5:22-24, 35-42
… when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea 23 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet 23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” 24 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.
... 35 While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” 37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. 39 When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.” 40 And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. 41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement.

a) Great Faith – flowed from a heart of honor and humility
b) Great Faith identifies the problem (mountain) that needs to be moved
c) Great Faith speaks life to the dead
d) Great faith – stands on the Word in the face bad news
e) FAITH puts the doubt out!
f) Power of Agreement

In Closing … ‘Faith is of the Heart’ … we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God.

As part of our worship to God, we choose to put ourselves UNDER God and UNDER the authority of His Word, as we do we will find Great Faith rise within us… to a place where the WORD IS ENOUGH …

1. Learning to walk by Faith is essential to receive the promises of God

Whatever we receive from God is a result of faith.

1. Jesus taught on ‘faith’ & demonstrated what a life of faith looked like

1. All things are possible to him who believes … (Mark 9:23)
2. Have the FAITH OF GOD (Mark 11:23) … that can move mountains!
3. faith is like a servant … (Luke 17:7)
4. Jesus identified different levels of faith people operated in ... 

1. The word ‘faith’ can mean different things to different people

1. People ask: ‘what “faith” are you in’
2. Natural human faith believes what it can see with the 5 natural senses 
3. We are talking about the God-kind of faith.

1. Understanding faith is one of the most important subjects in the Bible

1. Without faith it is impossible to please God

Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

1. We are saved by faith (Ephesians 2:8)

1. The just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17)

1. We walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7)

1. The victory that HAS overcome the world, is our faith (1 John 5:4)
2. Above all we are to take the shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16)

1. We are told to fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life 

1 Tim 6:12   Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession

1. By faith we stand (2 Corinthians 1:24)

1. 1 Timothy 1:9 talks about faith that has been shipwrecked

1. Through faith and endurance, we receive the promises (Heb 6:12)

1. The Bible describes different levels of faith people can be at

1. Strong Faith (Romans 4:20)
2. Weak Faith (Romans 14:1)
3. Great Faith  (Matthew 8:10) 
4. Little Faith (Matthew 14:24–31) 
5. Dead Faith (James 2:17) 
6. Perfect or complete Faith (James 2:22)
7. Exceedingly growing Faith (2 Thessalonians 1:3)

1. God’s definition of Faith

1. Faith is an attribute of God

Hebrews 11:1, 3Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 3By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so thatso that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

1. Faith is or has substance – faith is NOT nothing

1. Faith is ‘not seen’ or ‘visible’ with the natural eye. 

1. Faith is creative power

Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

ESV   By faith we understand that the universe was created by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

1. Faith is NOT Future – Faith is NOW

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is …

What tense is this?  It’s PRESENT TENSE –

1. Faith is the substance of things hoped for

Hope is like a dream, a goal, a vision. Faith gives substance to the thing I hope for.(Hebrews 11:1a)

1. Faith does not look at the natural realm – it looks into the spirit realm

2 Corinthians 4:18   while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

The two realms: the ‘seen’ and ‘not seen’ ­

1. “seen”, natural realm, 5 physical senses, see, hear, taste, touch, smell 

1. “not seen”,  refers to the spirit realm. 

2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 

1. Faith calls things which do not exist in the natural as though they did

Romans 4:17(as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations” ) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;

Example 1:         God called Abraham the father of many nations

Example 2:         By faith God restored the earth

Hebrews 11:3 GNT  It is by faith that we understand that the universe was created by God's word, so that what can be seen was made out of what cannot be seen.

Genesis 1:1-3  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darknesswas on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; … 

The same FAITH has been given to us to walk in … not matter how dark it looks, no matter how void of God the circumstances are, we use the creative substance called faith – God’s Word and call … it into the seen realm …

• Our physical senses may tell us we are sick

God’s Word tells us by His stripes you WERE healed

• People’s emotions may tell them they are depressed, defeated

Romans 8:37 says, we are more than a conquerors through Christ.

• The natural mind may torment believers with fears of the future

2 Timothy 1:7 God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

God has brought us out into our wealthy place:

… healing, freedom from every bondage, blessing, favour, … promotion, are in the unseen realm … the spirit realm …

God has given us FAITH to use to bring our inheritance from His unseen realm (the spirit realm) into the natural realm. 

1 Samuel 2:8a   He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap; to set them among princes and make them inherit the throne of glory …

Psalm 66:12b NLT   … we went through fire and flood, but You brought us to a place of great abundance.

Psalm 66:12b KJV 2000   … we went through fire and through water: but You brought us out into a wealthy place.

“wealthy”  – revayah –“running over wealth, saturation”

There is a “WEALTHY PLACE” that is running over – a place of GREAT ABUNDANCE that God has for each of us. It’s a place of WEALTH that God created before the curse of SIN entered into the earth.

When we talk about OUR WEALTHY PLACE IN CHRIST – it includes but reaches beyond “money.” 

1. Money cannot buy a home in Heaven! No matter how rich a person may be!
2. Money cannot buy physical health
3. Money can’t buy peace in mind (though money can certain help)

1. God is RICH – He is NOT POOR!

One of God’s Covenant Names is:             El Shaddai – “the God who is more than enough”

Haggai 2:8NLT  The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

Psalm 50:10  …for every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.

Ref.  Rev 21:21

If financial prosperity and wealth is a sin – then God would be guilty. These Scripture passages let us know that possessing wealth, … having an abundance is the problem!

1. God’s abundant prosperity is a central theme throughout the Bible

Genesis 1:28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over ….

Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.

“rich”– ashar –“to become rich, wealthy, (causative) to make rich…”

1. God takes pleasure in your prosperity

Psalm 35:27    Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause; and let them say continually, let the Lord be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.

“prosperity” – shalom  “completeness, soundness, welfare, safety, health, prosperity, peace (from war), peace (in human relationships)”

There’s a KEY here:  “Let them SAY continually” – we’ve got to SAY….what God says about us…

God has the heart of a Father – He LOVES people.When He sees us doing well, succeeding, prospering, like a natural human father – He takes pleasure in His children prospering.

Isaiah 48:17b  … “I am the LORD your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go.

1. Poverty is NOT God’s plan for our lives – it is a result of the CURSE that entered the earth when Adam sinned.

Some scholars say the curse is:   “poverty, sickness, spiritual death”

1. Jesus Christ came to redeemed us from the curse of poverty

Galatians 3:13  Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.’

Galatians 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

2 Corinthians 8:9b  AMP  …  He was [so very] rich, yet for your sakes He became [so very] poor, in order that by His poverty you might become enriched (abundantly supplied).

1. Jesus said we have an enemy (a thief) who is trying to keep us out of our wealthy place

John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.

‘life’ –  ‘zoe’ – “life in its absolute fullness, excessive, exceedingly, abundant” the God-kind of life

1. Five Areas God wants us to be enriched, and abundantly supplied

Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set a liberty those who are oppressed; 19 to proclaim the acceptable Year of the Lord.

3 John 1:2Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” 

“prosper” – “euodoo” – “to succeed in business affairs, have a prosperous journey”

God’s prosperity includes:  the spirit, the soul (our mind, will, emotions), Physical body (health), relationships, financial

1. Psalm 66:12 gives a key to experiencing CHRIST’S ‘WEALTHY PLACE’ 

Psalm 66:12b KJV… we went through fire and through water: but You brought us out into a wealthy place.

• To enter God’s WEALTHY PLACE we have to …come out of where we are … out of the fire and the flood … 
• Not everyone is WILLING to come out of where they are … 

1. We need to leave the OLD life behind ­ – Jesus said: you must be BORN AGAIN

1. We need to leave the OLD mind sets of fear, defeat, poverty lack behind

Our outer world is a reflection of our inner world. We cannot rise above the image we have on the inside of us.

Proverbs 23:7a      For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

How do you see yourself?  Do you see yourself as a victim or a victor?

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.

‘transformed’ – ‘metamorphoo’ – transfigured, transformed

1. Speak and agree with WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE

… THE CHOICE IS OURS TO LIVE IN OUR WEALTHY PLACE in CHRIST …

The need for believers to depend on the Holy Spirit has never been greater.

Deception is running rampant. We must stay firm with the Word of God, and keep close to the Spirit of Truth to keep ourselves from falling prey to clever lies and sophisticated schemes.

John 14:15–20 (NLT) If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. 20 When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

• In John chs. 12 & 13 Jesus told His 12 disciples that His hour had come to be crucified
• In John chs. 14, 15 & 16 He began to teach them about the Holy Spirit and His function in their (our) lives
• After Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, He again emphasised the need for believers to be baptised with, and empowered by the Holy Spirit

• I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate … 
• another - Gr. ‘allos’ – another one of the same kind 

(as opposed to ‘heteros’ - another one of a different kind)

• Advocate Gr. ‘parakletos’ - One who draws alongside to help
• KJV –   Comforter
• NKJV – Helper
• Ampl. - Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby
• Msg. - Friend 

• He will never leave you … 
• Jesus said: I am about to leave you to go back to my Father, but when the the Holy Spirit comes, He will never leave you

• He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth
• We cannot grasp any truth without the help of the Holy Spirit
• Anyone wishing to grasp deeper truths from the Word of God must develop a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit

• The world cannot receive him
• We must be born again before we can receive the Holy Spirit
• (to be born again means to surrender our life to Jesus Christ)
• Only a ‘forgiven’ human spirit can be indwelled by the Holy Spirit

• But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you
• We only understand this phrase if we understand the tri-une nature of God (Father, Son & Holy Spirit = Trinity)
• In vs. 9, Jesus said: If you have seen Me you have seen the Father
• In Jn. 10:30 Jesus said: I and my Father are one 
• All three Members of the Trinity are:
• “allos” (same) in nature and in character
• “heteros” (different) in operation
• but “ONE” in unity

• No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you
• I will come to you – on the Day of Pentecost, Jesus came to us in the power of the Holy Spirit
• Today, Jesus is with us “by the power of the Holy Spirit”

John 14:25–26 (NLT) I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

• I am telling you these things now while I am still with you
• Jesus taught His disciples for about 3 ½ years while He was physically present with them
• On the Day of Pentecost, the Father sent the Advocate – the Holy Spirit, as Jesus’ Representative:
• To teach the church everything
• To remind the church of everything that Jesus had told them

• The Holy Spirit is the true Teacher of the church!
• Any believer who wishes to understand truth needs to develop a relationship with the Holy Spirit

John 15:26 (NLT) But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me.

• Jesus said: I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth
• The Holy Spirit is also called “the Spirit of truth”
• The Holy Spirit always leads us in line with the truth of God’s Word
• The Holy Spirit will never contradict or circumvent the Word of God

• He will come to you from the Father
• On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came from the Father 

• He will testify all about me
• Testify – speak well of, commend
• GNB – he will speak about me 
• The more the Holy Spirit moves, the more Jesus Christ is lifted up

John 16:7 (NLT) But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.

• It is best for you that I go away 
• It was good when Jesus was with His disciples
• But He said it would be better after His departure when the Holy Spirit would come 
• When Jesus was present He was with them
• But after his departure the Holy Spirit was in them

John 16:8–11 (NLT) And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. 9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. 10 Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. 11 Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.

• The Holy Spirit’s main function in the life of the believer is to lead us and empower us
• The Holy Spirit’s main function in the life of the unbeliever is to convict them of sin, of righteousness and of judgment

John 16:12–15 (NLT) There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 14 He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’

• When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth
• We don’t end up in truth by ourselves of by accident
• We are guided by the Holy Spirit into all truth 
• The Holy Spirit is the Spirt of wisdom and revelation (Eph. 1:17)
• It is He who opens the eyes of our heart to see truth (Eph. 1:18)

• He will tell you about the future
• KJV – he will show you things to come
• One of the functions of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to reveal future events to us
• David Yonggi Cho said: The language of the Holy Spirit is visions and dreams
• Acts 20:22 … the Holy Spirit testifying in every city that chains and tribulation awaited Paul … 
• Acts 11:28 .. the prophet Agabus foretold by the Spirit that a great famine would come

• Foundation of moral decency
• Foundation of the sanctity of life
• (NZ’s foundations were built on Judeo-Christian values & principles)

There has been a gradual eroding of the moral foundations of our nation. Successive ungodly politicians have passed ungodly laws in our nation. 

The bedrock of our Judeo-Christian values & principles has been attacked, and is being replaced with atheistic & socialistic beliefs and practices.

• (Socialism is the doctrine of secular humanism)
• (Secular humanism is the religion of atheists)

Romans 8:26 (NKJV)Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

• The Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses (limitations)
• We do not (always) know what, or how we should pray as we should
• The Holy Spirit makes intercession (prayers) for us with groanings
• These groanings include praying in tongues
• He (the Holy Spirit) makes intercession for us (in tongues - through us)

Our General Elections are now behind us!

But we continue to pray towards the formation of a coalition government from yesterday’s election results. We pray for a “best-case scenario” that the elections results can deliver, instead of a worse-case scenario.

1. Praying & interceding with “stammering lips” and “another tongue”

Isaiah 28:9–11 (NKJV)Whom will he teach knowledge?And whom will he make to understand the message?Those just weaned from milk?Those just drawn from the breasts?10For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept,line upon line, line upon line,here a little, there a little.”11For with stammering lips and another tongueHe will speak to this people.

The context of this passage: 

• The Israelites were backslidden and had slipped into a lifestyle of drunkenness (Ephraim – Northern kingdom)
• The priests and prophets also had lost their way through intoxicating drink and begun to err in visions and in judgments 
• God sent Isaiah the prophet to deliver a message of repentance to them, but they would not listen
• Then God warned them that because of their unwillingness to listen or receive His word, the Assyrian army would invade their land
• He told them that the invading army were people that spoke with “stammering lips” and with “another tongue”

1 Corinthians 14:18–21 (TNIV) I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.20Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 21In the Law it is written:“With other tonguesand through the lips of foreignersI will speak to this people,but even then they will not listen to me,says the Lord.”

• Apostle Paul corrected the Corinthian believers concerning their wrong use of the gift of speaking in tongues
• They were giving public messages in tongues in their church meetings without anyone bringing the interpretation of tongues
• So he told them that (privately - for personal edification), he spoke in tongues more than any of them, but publicly, he would rather speak in a language they would understand so he could teach them something 
• Then he quoted the passage of Scripture from Isaiah 28:11 about stammering lips and another tongue, and applied it to the gift of speaking in tongues

What’s interesting is: 

• The “stammering lips” and “foreign tongue” in Isaiah 28:11was reference to the Assyrian invasion that would take place
• The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost was also an invasion – an invasion of the Holy Spirit
• And this invasion of the Holy Spirit resulted in God’s people speaking with “stammering lips” and with “another tongue”

Matthew 3:1-2, 8 (BCJ) ... John the Baptizer, by his own witness in the deserts of Judea, announced the beginning of Jesus' ministry. 2 He said to everyone who would listen, "Change your attitudes and your actions. Prepare yourself for an invasion of the Spirit dimension which is imminent." ...8 If you intend to participate in the imminent spiritual invasion, demonstrate a change in your attitude and actions.

Matthew 4:17 (BCJ) ... Jesus began His ministry saying to all the people, "Change your attitude and actions because an invasion of the Spirit is imminent...."

The fulness of this Holy Spirit invasion took place some 3 years later, on the Day of Pentecost. 

1. Praying for another invasion of the Holy Spirit 

When we pray in tongues and intercede for our nation, we are preparing the way for God to bring a fresh Outpouring of His Spirit in New Zealand. 

• We are preparing our own hearts so we ourselves can participate in the next spiritual invasion
• We also pray for the hearts of others to be softened and prepared so they can participate in the next spiritual invasion

God wants to invade every home in our nation, and captivate the heart of every man, every woman and every child.

God wants to invade our Parliament, and arrest the hearts of our politicians and all of their advisors and policy writers.

God wants to invade every factory, every board room, every hospital, every prison, and every sports field and grip the hearts of the people there and turn them toward Himself. 

When the Spirit invades the lives of people, we can expect the following to happen:

John 16:8 (NKJV)And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

• Conviction of sin in the lives of the spiritually lost people is the sole function of the Holy Spirit
• Conviction of sin in the lives of believers is also the sole function of the Holy Spirit

We need more Holy Spirit!

Acts 2:17 (NKJV)And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh … 

When we pray in tongues, God pours out of his Spirit on all humanity.

• Foundation of moral decency
• Foundation of the sanctity of life
• (NZ’s foundations were built on Judeo-Christian values & principles)

Our (outgoing!) Labour-led government has passed a law to decriminalise the killing of unborn babies in abortions, right up to birth.

This ungodly law further contributes towards eroding our nation’s foundations.

Our 2020 General Elections include 2 Referendums that, if voted “yes” by a majority of people, will further destroy the moral foundations of our nation:

1. Cannabis legalisation and control referendum
2. End of Life Choice referendum     (Euthanasia) [binding referendum]

Evil can only flourish when good people do nothing, or worse, when good people vote incorrectly and unbiblically. 

Romans 8:26 (NKJV)Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

• The Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses (limitations)
• We do not (always) know what, or how we should pray as we should
• The Holy Spirit makes intercession (prayers) for us with groanings
• This groaning is reference to praying in tongues
• He (the Holy Spirit) makes intercession for us (in tongues - through us)

1. WHEN I PRAY IN TONGUES, MY SPIRIT PRAYS

1 Corinthians 14:14 (NKJV)For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

• The gift of tongues is a hugely under-rated and under-used ‘facility’ given to us by the Holy Spirit
• Many ‘tongue-talking believers’ do not talk in tongues much, because mostly, they do not understand the benefits of this powerful gift
• Many Christians do not speak in tongues at all because of a mis-understanding of one verse of Scripture (1 Corinthians 12:30)

There are two basic and distinct applications of tongues:

1. The gift of tongues for personal edification 

(personal prayer language)

1. The gift of tongues for public utterance 

(a public message given in tongues, together with it’s interpretation)

• One is private and for personal edification (a.)
• The other is public and for other people’s edification (b.)
• One is a believer speaking to God (a.)

(man to God)

• The other is God speaking through a believer to a group of people (b.)        (God to men)

1 Corinthians 14:4 (AMP)He who speaks in a [strange] tongue edifies and improves himself …(a.)

Jude 20 (NKJV)But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. (a.)

1 Corinthians 14:5 (ESV)Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.(b.)

1. Every believer can & should speak in tongues for personal edification (a.)
2. Not every believer will operate in the public gift of tongues for the church’s edification (b.)

Acts 2:4 (NKJV)And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.(a.)

1 Corinthians 12:30 (NASB95) All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?(b.)

When Paul said: “…All do not speak with tongues, do they?..”, he was:

• specifically referring to the gift of tongues for public utterance (b.)
• and definitely not referring to the gift of tongues for personal edification (a.)

1 Corinthians 14:18 (AMP)I thank God that I speak in [strange] tongues (languages) more than any of you or all of you put together;

1 Corinthians 14:18 (LB)I thank God that I “speak in tongues” privately more than any of the rest of you.

1. WE ARE A THREE-PART BEING – SPIRIT, SOUL & BODY 

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NKJV)Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our complete being is made up of:

1. Our spirit
2. Our soul
3. Our body 

1 Corinthians 14:14 (NKJV)For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

Unfruitful – non-productive & disengaged

• When we pray in tongues, our spirit prays, but our understanding is non-productive and largely disengaged
• Our “understanding” has to do with the mind which is part of our soul

In other words, when we pray:

• we can either pray out of our understanding (English)
• Or we can pray out of our spirit (tongues)

1 Corinthians 14:15 (NKJV)What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit (tongues), and I will also pray with the understanding (English). I will sing with the spirit (tongues),, and I will also sing with the understanding (English).

• Our understanding (soul) is subject to human interference
• Our spirit is not subject to human interference 
• Our born again human spirit is occupied by the Holy Spirit
• When we speak in tongues, the Holy Spirit gives us the words

1. WE ARE IN SUPERNATURAL TERRITORY

We have never been here before. We are not only in the last day before the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, but we are also in the days where we could easily loose our freedom of speech and our legal right to preach the gospel freely in our nation.

• We need less human-inspired prayers
• We need more Holy Spirit-inspired prayers

Acts 2:4 (NKJV)And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Earlier this year, our current (outgoing!) Labour-led government has passed a law to decriminalise the killing of unborn babies in abortions, right up to birth.

This ungodly law, passed by ungodly & nasty people (liberal MPs), has further contributed towards the destruction of the foundations of our nation:

• Foundation of moral decency
• Foundation of the sanctity of life
• Etc.

Our upcoming General Elections will include 2 Referendums that, if voted "yes" by a majority of people, will further destroy the foundations of our nation:

1. Cannabis legalisation and control referendum
2. End of Life Choice referendum (Euthanasia) [binding referendum]

Psalm 10:4 (D-R)For they have destroyed the things which thou hast made: _ but __ what has the just man done? _

Evil can only flourish when good men do nothing.

Quotes by Edmund Burke:

• All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing

• When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptable struggle

Question:

What are we doing, the good, the just and the righteous, to stop the destruction of our nation's foundations.

When pastor David Yonggi Cho was asked about the secret to the success of the Christian church in South Korea, he said:

1. We pray (and)
2. We obey

We too adopt this same strategy, especially with view of the upcoming Elections and Referendums.

1. We pray defeat over the liberal left and the mad far right
2. We pray defeat over both (Government-initiated) referendums
3. We obey God's instructions by voting for God-fearing candidates & conservative parties (Electoral Vote and party Vote)

Psalm 75:6–7** , ** 9–10 ** (LB) For promotion and power come from nowhere on earth, but only from God. _ He promotes one and deposes another. _ … _ 9 ** But as for me, I shall forever declare the praises of the God of Jacob._ _** 10 ** "I will cut off the strength of evil men," **_ says the Lord, "and _ increase the power of good men in their place."**_

Based on this Scripture, we can (and should) pray for evil people to be removed from Parliament, and for good people to be raised up in their place.

1. Praying in the Spirit

Romans 8:26 (NKJV)Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but _ the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. _

• The Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses (limitations)
• We do not (always) know what, or how we should pray as we should
• The Holy Spirit makes intercession (prayers) for us with groanings

Groanings: Gr. stenazo - to express grief by inarticulate or semi-articulate sounds

The Holy Spirit doesn't make these groanings without us or outside of us.

He lives in us and He prays & groans through us.

J.B Phillips N.T. … but his (__God's) Spirit _ within us _ is actually praying for us in those agonising longings which never find words.

(Douay-Rheims) … the Spirit himself asketh for us with _ unspeakable groanings. _

This groaning in Romans 8:26 is reference to praying in tongues.

Praying in tongues is a heavenly prayer language that we receive when we are baptised with the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:27 (NKJV)Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because _ He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. _

• He (the Holy Spirit) makes intercession for us (in tongues - through us)
• … according to the will of God.

Praying in tongues is praying Holy Spirit-inspired words that are always in line with God's perfect will.

Acts 2:4 (NKJV)And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and _ began to speak with other tongues _, _ as the Spirit gave them utterance. _

When we pray in tongues, we do the speaking, but it is the Holy Spirit who gives us the words.

Therefore, praying in tongues (also called "praying in the spirit") is a co-operation between us and the Holy Spirit within us.

• We pray verbally and out aloud
• The Holy Spirit supplies us with the words to pray

1. " Prayer Walk the Nation 2020" – Saturday 3 October

When you go out into your neighbourhood next Saturday during "Prayer Walk the Nation 2020", pray strongly in tongues as you go:

• For the families who live in the streets around you
• For God to pour out His Spirit in your neighbourhood
  • For spiritual blindness to be removed from the people's eyes
  • To give them ears to hear the gospel and an open heart to received Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour
• Pray against the Coronavirus and its effect the people and on the nation
• Pray for God to give the population discernment in the upcoming election & referendums
• Also pray for God to take down ungodly politicians in the upcoming election, and to replace them with God-fearing people

Jude 20 (NKJV)But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, _ praying in the Holy Spirit. _

Praying in tongues has numerous functions and multiple benefits:

1. It is a supernatural prayer language
2. It is a "pre-approved" form of prayer that changes things
3. It is praying the perfect will of God for every person and every situation
4. It is an effective form of intercession for cities, regions and nations
5. Its "flow-back" effect is that:

• It lifts you out of the natural realm into the realm of the Spirit
• It is the doorway into the supernatural
• It builds you up spiritually
• It positions you to receive revelation knowledge

Colossians 4:12 (NKJV)Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, _ always laboring fervently for you in prayers _, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

If our prayers lack passion, they also lack power!

So when you pray (in tongues), pray fervently and passionately!

James 5:16 (NKJV) Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. _ The effective, _ _ fervent _ _ prayer of a righteous man avails much. _

Ampl. … The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

Lets continue to pray boldly & fervently - we are changing the nation!

• The family unit is the basic building block of any society or nation
• If the family unit is strong then the nation will be strong
• If the family unit is broken down, the nation will be broken down also
• The seeds of family breakdown are many times sown in people’s lives during their childhood, through:
• Observing & adopting dysfunctional family dynamics 
• Lack of proper child training & wrong child training

Today is Father’s Day. In today’s message we will toggle between:

• Acknowledging & honouring God as our heavenly Father
• Acknowledging & honouring our earthly fathers 

1. A son honours his father 

Malachi 1:6 (NASB95) “ ‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?’ says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name… 

In the Bible, it is understood and expected that a father is honoured & respected. Honouring father (and mother) is enshrined as the 5th of the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 20:12)

God says to the priests:   … if I am a father, where is My honor?

… if I am a master, where is My respect?

Then He tells them that they actually despise His name.

In practice, a lack of honour towards somebody manifests either as indifference, or descends into outright contempt and distain for that person. 

Malachi 1:6–7 (Msg) “Isn’t it true that a son honors his father and a worker his master? So if I’m your Father, where’s the honor? If I’m your Master, where’s the respect?” God-of-the-Angel-Armies is calling you on the carpet: “You priests despise me!“You say, ‘Not so! How do we despise you?’“By your shoddy, sloppy, defiling worship.“You ask, ‘What do you mean, “defiling”? What’s defiling about it?’7“When you say, ‘The altar of God is not important anymore; worship of God is no longer a priority,’ that’s defiling.

God interpreted their shoddy and sloppy worship as dishonour and disrespect.

Their attitude of relegating worship as something unimportant, and their contemptuous words of demeaning worship of God as a low priority demonstrated their contempt and distain for God. 

Interestingly, in the Westminster Shorter Catechism, the most famous of its 107 questions and answers states: 

Q. What is the chief end of man?

A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

1. Elijah’s preaching turns the hearts of fathers and children towards each other 

Malachi 4:5–6 (NLT) Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives. 6His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.

It appears that Israel’s culture during the time of Malachi had descended into dishonour and disrespect, which had even crept into families, affecting the relationship between fathers and their children. 

There is something about honour (or lack of) in the relationship between fathers and their children that God’s feels sufficiently strongly about, to warn His people about striking the land with a curse if honour is missing. 

The message is: Do not be flippant about things that God’s feels strongly about.

In Malachi 4:5-6, God speaks about the prophet Elijah who would come before the Lord Jesus arrives, and his preaching would “… turn the heart of fathers towards their children, and the hearts of children towards their fathers”.

Actually, from everything we see in God’s Word, all preaching should turn the heart of fathers towards their children, and the hearts of children towards their father. 

To do that, all preaching should:

1. Include a strong “honour ethos”
2. Affirm the position & role of the father in the home and in society
3. Honour fatherhood as “sacred” and not as “common” or “optional”

The enemy of our souls knows that “honuorlessness” weakens families and nations. So he tempts people and societies away from any honour ethos, and deceives them into despising authority, beginning in the home.

Luke 1:13,16-17 (NKJV)But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John … 16And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

John’s main message was: Repent. 

If you haven’t honoured your father in the past: Repent.

Ask God to forgive you, and start to honour your father from today onwards. 

1. Fatherlessness lies at the base of family & societal breakdown

Broken homes typically are fatherless homes. 

Multiple studies have shown that the outcome of children growing up in fatherless homes isn’t nearly as good as the outcome of children where the father is present, and actively involved in their day-to-day lives. 

Many mothers are doing a splendid job in raising their children without the presence or help of the children’s father. 

However, a mother can never be a father, in the same way as a father could never be a mother. 

(Nowadays, when many politicians and sociologist would have us believe that any configuration of family is as good as any other, and that any family configuration will produce equal results, we should to go back to the Word of God and study God’s original plan and intend for families.)

1. Story of young juvenile elephants running amok

According to a story in the Los Angeles Times in the late 90’s, a social experiment in Africa with young elephants went all wrong after some older elephant bulls were culled during the 1970s, ‘80s and early ‘90s in the Kruger National Park. 

The younger orphaned male elephants were translocated to the Pilanesburg National Park where they went out of control without the presence and mentoring influence of the older elephant bulls. 

In the end, the park authorities realised that the single biggest cause for these juvenile male elephants running amok was the absence of the older male elephants, so they brought in some older elephant bulls to sort out the younger ones.

Our current focus is on "God in the Family", or "God-Empowered Families".

The family unit is the basic building block of any society or nation

If the family unit is strong then the nation will be strong

If the family unit is broken down, the nation will be broken down also

The seeds of family breakdown are many times sown in people's lives during their childhood, through:

• Observing & adopting dysfunctional family dynamics
• Lack of proper child training & wrong child training

         1. The Virtuous Woman of Proverbs 31

Proverbs 31:10–31 (NLT)Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. _ 11 Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. _ 12_ She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life._ _ 13 She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. _ 14_ She is like a merchant's ship, bringing her food from afar._ _ 15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day's work for her servant girls. _ 16_ She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard._ _ 17 She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. _ 18_ She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night._ _ 19 Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber. _ 20_ She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy._ _ 21 She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes. _ 22_ She makes her own bedspreads. She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns._ _ 23 Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders. _ 24_ She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants._ _ 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. _ 26_ When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness._ _ 27 She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness. _ 28_ Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her:_ _ 29 "There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!" _ 30_ Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised._ _ 31 _Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

• The book of Proverbs is filled with God's practical wisdom for our lives
• It covers virtually every facet of daily living
• It focusses strongly on good character & wise decision-making
• It speaks about the roles & functions of husbands, wives and children within the family unit

Proverbs 31:10-31 is an acrostic poem from the 22 Hebrew letters, that highlights numerous noble character qualities of the virtuous wife and mother.

• Every Christian woman should seek to become a virtuous woman
• All parents should endeavour to train their children to become virtuous adults

         2. The Virtuous Man in Scripture

There isn't a "block" of Scriptures like Proverbs 31 that speaks about the virtuous husband, but there are numerous passages scattered throughout the Scriptures that paint a clear picture of the godly husband and father.

Ezekiel 18:5,9 (NAB) … _ a man is virtuous — if he does what is right and just _ … 9 if he lives by my statutes and is careful to observe my ordinances, that man is virtuous …

Ephesians 5:25–33 (NIV)_ 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.

Colossians 3:19 (NIV)_ Husbands, love your wives _ and do not be harsh with them.

1 Peter 3:7 (NLT) In the same way, _ you husbands _ must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God's gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.

• Every Christian man should seek to become a virtuous man as described in God's Word.

        3. Becoming who God made us to be

When we receive Christ as our Lord and Saviour and become born again, God makes us a new creation and places His love in our spirits.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)This means that _ anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. _ The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

2 Corinthians 5:17 (Ampl) … the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

Romans 5:5 (NIV) … _ God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit _, who has been given to us.

• Through the new birth and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit within us, we are now a new person
• God's virtue now lives within our spirit
• We can all be virtuous men and women

Romans 12:2 (NASB95)And do not be conformed to this world, but _ be transformed by the renewing of your mind, _ so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

• Transformation from the "old" to the "new" takes place through renewing our minds with the Word of God
• God's Word not only tells us who God made us to be
• It also has the power to transform us to become who God already made us to be
• In our recreated spirit, we already are who God intends for us to be
• But our minds need to be re-programmed so that this new life can spring forth
• When our mind is being renewed to God's Word through meditating in it, we change into who God made us to be

Joshua 1:8 (Msg)And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. _ Ponder and meditate on it day and night _, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed.

Our current focus is on “God in the Family”, or “God-Empowered Families”. 

• The basic building block of any society or nation is the family unit
• If the family unit is strong then the nation will be strong
• If the family unit is broken down, the nation will be broken down also
• The seeds of family breakdown are many times sown in people’s lives during their childhood, through:
• Observing & adopting dysfunctional family dynamics 
• Lack of proper child training & wrong child training

1. God created 2 uniquely different and distinct genders – male and female

Genesis 1:27 (NKJV)So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Mark 10:5–9 (NKJV)And Jesus answered and said to them …. 6… from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’7‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

• In the beginning, God created human beings as “male” and “female”
• In Mark 10:2 Jesus was asked about the legality of a man divorcing his wife
• Jesus referred His inquirers back to creation in Genesis where God stated His original plan and intention concerning mankind

Law of First Mention: