Lenten Spiritual Health Checkup Mid Week Instructions Reid Temple AME Church Pastor Washington

Transcription

1 Lenten Spiritual Health Checkup Mid Week Instructions Reid Temple AME Church Pastor Washington S

2 Sermon Reflections Men s Day S Yeah But Can You Serve 7:15 Rev. Omari Hughes Main idea: In postmodernity learning to serve is a thing of the past. S S Nehemiah served the King and received resources Nehemiah acknowledged the King as his covering. S Going Through Testimony 9:30 Rev. Jonathan Weaver Main idea: Your testimony is the only theology some people know. S S Your testimony should be consistent regardless of circumstances Can you praise God when you are in the midst of oppression?

3 Sermon Reflections Men s Day (Cont.) S We Need To Build More Walls 11:15 Rev. Omari Hughes Main idea: Walls provide security to family, marriage, and our souls. S Low walls allow the enemy easy access to our lives. S Walls safeguared our standards and values in life.

4 Gen. 15:1-8 But You Promised (7:15 a.m.) S General idea: We make promises but when there is no evidence of the promise we panic. No need to Panic over a Promise S Some promises are easier than others but what good is a promise if the person may not have the power to keep it or perform it.

5 Gen. 15:1-8 But You Promised (7:15 a.m.) S Abraham staggered not at the promise but struggled with the promise. God shatters our thinking by saying to us, do not be afraid, I am your shield, your very great reward. S If we grow to a place of understanding like Abraham we realize it is not the circumstances but God who makes the promise believable.

6 Luke 13:31-35 Facing Your Herod s (9:30 a.m.) S General idea: There is no peace for the wicked but always war for the righteous. Every true born again child of God is going to have enemies and haters. S Jesus provides three actions to face our haters.

7 Luke 13:31-35 Facing Your Herod s (9:30 a.m.) S Courageous Confrontation S Courageous Determination S Courageous Continuation

8 Luke 13:31-35 No Intimidation (11:15 a.m.) S General idea: Accomplishing what God has called us to do requires faith, prayer, the word of God and boldness. S Boldness is not talking smart mouthed, or telling people off or cursing people out that is immaturity of spirit.

9 Luke 13:31-35 No Intimidation (11:15 a.m.) S Question the true motives of those who never are with you and suddenly offer you their advice. S Attacks may never cease, but you don t have to be intimidated when God will do the unthinkable.

10 Annual Lenten Spiritual

11 Critical Check up Area: Your Thinking

12 Critical Check Up Area: Your Speech

13 Critical Check Up Area: Your Vision

14 Critical Check Up Area: Your Decision Making

15 Examination Appointment S Test me, O Lord and try me, examine my heart and my mind. Psalm 26:2 S O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down, you are familiar with all my ways. Psalm 139

16 Examination Appointment S Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith, test yourselves, do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you unless, of course you failed the test.

17 Are You Prepared? S Heaven s X-ray machine sees everything! God knows exactly what is necessary for your future. S In addition the Lord is watching our lives, he asks us to take an introspective look at ourselves.

18 Are You Prepared? S Are you prepared for the examination? Let s take a close look at a particular area of our lives and begin by asking: What are the strongholds of your life?

19 Stronghold S What is it in your life that has a stronghold on your life? Tonight it is time to deal with the problem yourself. S God wants you to personally take charge of that situation. You may have been struggling with it for a long time.

20 Stronghold S There maybe certain things that won t leave you alone, or leave your life. You have been prayed for, anointed with oil, and thought you were delivered. S You thought you could bind this thing, but you can t use that principle to deal with strongholds because there are more issues involved.

21 A Larger Issue S You have heard the expression, when you lay down with dogs, you get up with fleas. Just because you separate yourself from the dog, doesn t mean you are free of fleas. S You can t simply say, I bind this stronghold, since you are most likely still a carrier of the problem.

22 A Larger Issue S You may tackle one specific thing but have you addressed the entire issue? In scripture there is no account of Jesus ever binding an evil spirit or demon. S Jesus either rebuke them, or told them to leave. Binding what is evil will simply restrain or deactivate a spirit s power; it is not a total resolution to the problem.

23 Where Does It Begin? S A stronghold is a fortress of wrongful thoughts that are formed in your mind that affect your life. S It gives the enemy a protected place of influence. Strongholds are not in heaven; they are in your mind and must be pulled down.

24 Where Does It Begin? S Every temptation is first presented to your thought life. Eve looked at the tree and saw it was good. Mentally, she was attracted to something that distracted her away from God s will. S I ve met people who believe that spiritual warfare is about reaching into the air and rebuking the spirits of Satan. No the battle is between your ears.

25 Taking Root S A stronghold over your life is established by a progress of events. In many cases something unusual transpires that triggers an opening for a stronghold to take root.

26 Taking Root S A traumatic experience produces wrong patterns of thinking. Wrong patterns of thinking produces wrong behavior. Wrong behavior helps erect a stronghold to protect your right to do as you please. S This perpetuates the pain by keeping the trauma locked in and God locked out.

27 Released From Captivity 2 Cor. 10:3-6 S There is a war in progress and you need to be prepared. A vital part of the armor of God is the helmet of salvation. Eph 6:17.

28 Released From Captivity 2 Cor. 10:3-6 S God places something over our head to guard and preserve our minds. Your spirit my be born again, but your thoughts must be constantly refreshed. S We must be renewed in the spirit of our minds. Eph. 4:23

29 Replace it S To successfully deal with strongholds, you must demolish the old and replace it with something new. You must find a replacement. The same spirit that first influenced you will attempt to re-inhabit you again unless you replace the habit with behavior that is positive.

30 Replace it S Every empty space is going to be filled with something. The bible says, neither give place to the devil. Eph. 4:27 S If you give Satan an inch, he will take a mile. Don t allow him access.

31 You can t control what thoughts come to you but you have the power to determine which ones stay.

32 The Deceiver S By attacking our mind, Satan locks us into addictive and habitual behavior. That is how he holds God s people hostage. S I have met saved, sanctified, bible toting, scripture quoting believers who are still dealing with strongholds. They don t like to admit the fact they are struggling with situations beyond their control.

33 The Deceiver S Every fortress of Satan is set up through deceptions. John 8:44 to many of his falsehoods are accepted and believed. They give the devil a protected place of influence.

34 Satan s initial reaction to what he offers us is positive. It s the liabilities that come later.

35 It is a system S This may come as a shock to you but Satan does not have real power. He only has influence. Instead of physically controlling you, the devil preys on our weaknesses. He induces us to take the path of least resistance.

36 It is a system S The man and woman who become entangled in an illicit sexual relationship are not forced into the trap; they are enticed by Satan. S The devil doesn t need to enter your being and tell you what to do. Instead he sets up a hold over you which is systemic in nature. When Satan s system becomes entrenched, it will continue to function.

37 5 Components to Satan s System S FEAR worry and anxiety can paralyze your progress. S UNRECOGNIZED RESOURCES help is available if we will only open our eyes.

38 5 Components to Satan s System S COMFORT ZONE MENTALITY we close the door to our future by being too easily satisfied. S INFERIORITY COMPLEX we must see ourselves as children of the King worthy of His best.

39 5 Components to Satan s System S EXCUSES finding reasons for failure. You can always find an alibi for inaction. If you look for excuses, you will always find one.

40 Excuses are crutches for the uncommitted. Break free! Eliminate ties that keep you bound.

41 Your Great Future S Ask yourself, what excuse is holding you back? S If you need to be on a diet, don t tell people, my family is just big-boned! That is a weak justification.

42 Your Great Future S Clear your mind of everything that restricts your growth. Stop telling yourself, this is all I can handle! Who told you that? S How do you expect to change if you allow yourself to blame your present circumstances? Stop saying If I only had a chance. We all have opportunities every day.

43 Take Control S Some people pray, please Lord, tear down this stronghold! Those words aren t always necessary. Why? S Because you have been placed in the custodial care of your temple by the Father. God says I have already given you the power. Why are you waiting?

44 Take Control S You can remove Satan s grip on your life by making not only right decisions but righteous decisions. S With every spiritual choice we make, a hold on our life is systematically torn down. And once destroyed, fill the void with something beautiful, something good--- something from God.

45 Prescription Checklist Take 1 each day S Recognize that strongholds reside in your mind. S Beware of wrong thinking that produces wrong behavior S Protect yourself with the helmet of salvation.

46 Prescription Checklist Take 1 each day S Replace a negative habit with something positive S Eliminate your excuses for failure. S Ask God to remove the spirit of fear.

47 Prescription Checklist Take 1 each day S There is only one place a stronghold belongs; under your feet! Deuteronomy 28:13

48 Next Lesson: Check Up on Your Core Beliefs S See You Sunday S Sermons Luke 13:1-9 Never Give Up! The Lost Art of Waiting To Be Determined S Next week for Check up on Your Core Beliefs.