Introduction 

David’s Building Campaign (Background) 

• Acts 13:36 (ESV): 36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption.

 David’s Building Campaign (the Ceremony) 

1 Chronicles 29:1 (ESV): 1 And David the king said to all the assembly, “Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the work is great, for the palace will not be for man but for the Lord God.  

• How do you do something for God?

1 Chronicles 29:2 (ESV): 2 So I have provided for the house of my God, so far as I was able, the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, and the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, besides great quantities of onyx and stones for setting, antimony, colored stones, all sorts of precious stones and marble.  

• Do what you are able.

1 Chronicles 29:3-4 (ESV): 3 Moreover, in addition to all that I have provided for the holy house, I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my devotion to the house of my God I give it to the house of my God: 4 3,000 talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and 7,000 talents of refined silver, for overlaying the walls of the house,  

• Give what is personal.

1 Chronicles 29:5 (ESV): 5 and for all the work to be done by craftsmen, gold for the things of gold and silver for the things of silver. Who then will offer willingly, consecrating himself today to the Lord?”  

• Give willingly.

• 2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV): 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 
• Make your vow to the Lord, not the church.

1 Chronicles 29:6-8 (ESV): 6 Then the leaders of fathers’ houses made their freewill offerings, as did also the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officers over the king’s work. 7 They gave for the service of the house of God 5,000 talents and 10,000 darics of gold, 10,000 talents of silver, 18,000 talents of bronze and 100,000 talents of iron. 8 And whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the Lord, in the care of Jehiel the Gershonite.  

• Be a leader.

1 Chronicles 29:9 (ESV): 9 Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.  

• Joy follows sacrifice if it’s given willingly, wholeheartedly and freely.
• Willingly
• Wholeheartedly
• Freely

1 Chronicles 29:10-14 (ESV): 14 “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.  

1 Chronicles 29:10 (ESV): 17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. 18 O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you. 19 Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision.” 

The Purpose of the Building is to Gather 

Beyond Financial Sacrifice 

Spiritual Commitment: Devotional or Cultural? 

Happened to the Things We Used to Do? 

The Trade-Offs of the Culture of Convenience 

We Win Together, We Lose Together 

Keep That Same Energy 

The Jewish Building Campaign as a Catalyst for Revival 

2 Chronicles 5:1-6 (ESV): 1Thus all the work that Solomon did for the house of the Lord was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, and stored the silver, the gold, and all the vessels in the treasuries of the house of God. 2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ houses of the people of Israel, in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion. 3 And all the men of Israel assembled before the king at the feast that is in the seventh month. 4 And all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the ark. 5 And they brought up the ark, the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; the Levitical priests brought them up. 6 And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered. 

2 Chronicles 5:12-14 (ESV): 12 and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, their sons and kinsmen, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood east of the altar with 120 priests who were trumpeters; 13 and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever,” the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God. 

2 Chronicles 7:1-3 (ESV): 1 And As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2 And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house. 3 When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”  

New Testament Example of God Receiving the Sacrifice of Praise 

• Acts 4:24 (ESV): 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 
• Acts 4:31 (ESV): 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. 

The Early Church was Devoted to the Gathering 

• Acts 2:42–47 (ESV): 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. 

We are the Building 

1 Peter 2:4–5 (ESV): 4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

Introduction 

• PULL OUT THE COMMITMENT CARD
• PEOPLE WHO ALREADY GAVE
• OUTLINE OF NEXT WEEK

Review 

• Jeremiah 17:5 (ESV): 5 Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.  
• Jeremiah 17:6 (ESV): 6 He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.  
• Jeremiah 17:7 (ESV): 7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. 
• Jeremiah 17:8 (ESV): 8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” 
• Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV): 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?  
• Jeremiah 17:10 (ESV):10 “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”  
• Genesis 4:25–26 (ESV): 25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time, people began to call upon the name of the Lord. 

Abraham 

• Hebrews 11:17–19 (ESV): 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 
• Romans 4:19–21 (ESV): 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. 20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 

• Genesis 18:14 (ESV): 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time, I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” 
• Matthew 19:26 (ESV): 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 
• Genesis 12:1–3 (ESV): 1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 
• Genesis 15:5 (ESV): 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 

Nimrod 

Genesis 10:8–12 (ESV): 8 Cush fathered Nimrod; he was the first on earth to be a mighty man. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord. Therefore, it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10 The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 From that land he went into Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah, and 12 Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city. 

• Genesis 11:4 (ESV): 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” 
• Genesis 11:5–6 (KJV 1900): 5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 

Knowing Who We’re Called to Serve 

• 1 Corinthians 9:20–22 (ESV): 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law, I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

The Disney Example 

• “I felt that there should be something built where the parents and the children could have fun together. So that’s how Disneyland started. . . .from a daddy with two daughters, wondering where he could take them where he could have a little fun with them, too.”–The Quotable Disney (51)
• “I don’t want the public to see the world they live in while they’re in [Disneyland]. I want them to feel they’re in another world.”–The Quotable Disney (59)

Zoe’s Target Audience  

• 1 Corinthians 1:19–21 (ESV): 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. . . . .29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. . . .31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Imagine 

• Imagine that we are back gathering in our main sanctuary for worship.
• Imagine that the rest of our campus is renovated, upgraded, and expanded with the same spirit of innovation that is in the sanctuary. 

Imagine: You’re Part of Something Bigger.

Introduction 

• Loan
• Infrastructure
• Lighting
• Projection
• Stage
• Communication
• Seating

Easy Way to Remember What to Do 

• Prayer
• Devotion
• Commitment

Review 

To offer some perspective on our fundraising campaign this month we are looking closely at Old Testament figures who were faced with similar circumstances as we are. 

• As with us, they were challenged to give sacrificially, and God used their sacrifices to test their hearts and help them grow spiritually. 

Last week we looked at Cain and Able and examined them by examining their offerings. 

• They each presented an offering to the Lord.  
• Able’s offering was received. Cain’s offering was rejected. 

The differences in the reception were 

• Thier attitudes. 
• Thier motivations. 
• The kind of thought they invested in the gift. 
• The degree of sacrifice that was involved.

When you’re invited to give a sacrificial offering to the Lord, there can be a ripple effect on your life–and the lives of others. 

Another Look at Cain 

What Cain’s Rejected Offering Reveals About Him 

Genesis 4:5 (ESV): 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.  

• Genesis 4:1 (ESV): 1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” 
• Genesis 4:11–12 (ESV): 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” 
• Deuteronomy 8:18 (ESV): 18 You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. 
• Judges 16:6 (ESV): 6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you.” 
• Genesis 4:12 (ESV): 12 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. [Power] 

What Was Cain Keeping from God? 

• God wants to bless us materially, but when we hold possessions, there’s always the temptation to become attached to them 
• We get seduced by the power that those possessions offer us. 
• Possessions offer us godlike powers (money, power, fame, status symbols) 
• So, then we substitute God with the possessions.  
• Deuteronomy 8:11–18 (ESV): 11 “Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, 12 lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, 13 and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, 15 who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, who brought you water out of the flinty rock, 16 who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end. 17 Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ 18 You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. 

Sacrifices Save Us 

God uses the sacrificial gift as a means by which to cultivate a dependence on Him. 

God is rejecting Cain’s offering, but He’s not rejecting Cain. 

God Uses Sacrifices to Disciple Us 

• Genesis 4:6 (ESV): 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?  
• Genesis 4:7 (ESV): 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted?. . .   
• Genesis 4:7 (ESV): 7. . . .And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. 
• 1 Peter 5:8 (ESV): 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 
• 1 John 2:15 (ESV): 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 
• Genesis 4:7 (ESV): 7. . . .Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” 

The Consequences of Cain’s Decision 

Introduction

• Loan
• Infrastructure
• Lighting
• Projection
• Stage
• Communication
• Seating

The Best Is Yet to Come

Handing Out and Explaining the Booklets

The Booklet Explanation

Commitment Card Explanation

Easy Way to Remember What to Do

• Prayer
• Devotion
• Commitment

Review

• Matthew 6:21 (ESV): ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Introducing the Stewardship Theme

Cain and Able’s Offering

• Genesis 4:1–2 (ESV): ¹ Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” ² And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.
• Genesis 4:3 (ESV): ³ In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground,
• Genesis 4:4 (ESV): ⁴ and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering,
• Genesis 4:5 (ESV): ⁵ but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.

Cain & Able Anticipate What Moses Writes

• Genesis 4:4 (ESV): ⁴ and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering,
• Deuteronomy 15:19 (ESV): ¹⁹ “All the firstborn males that are born of your herd and flock you shall dedicate to the Lord your God. You shall do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.
• Leviticus 3:16 (ESV): ¹⁶ And the priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering with a pleasing aroma. All fat is the Lord’s.
  • “The fat attached to the vital organs is the best part of the animal. . .[and is considered to be a] fine delicacy” [Jewish Boston.com] (https://www.jewishboston.com/read/sacred-fat-vulnerability-and-gods-choice/)
  • “The fat was the tastiest, most fragrant, most calorie-dense portion of food available in an often desolate and calorie-poor land. In other words, in those days, it was the BEST.” [Pastor Maggie Erikson] (https://www.quora.com/What-does-fat-mean-in-Leviticus-3-17)
• Genesis 4:3 (ESV): ³ In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground,
• Leviticus 2:1 (ESV): ¹“When anyone brings a grain offering as an offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it
  • “Grain offering,” consisted of. . .“fine flour” or the “finest wheat.” The offerer covered the grain with oil and frankincense (“incense”). The oil served the purpose of aiding the combustion process, while “frankincense,” was the main ingredient in incense. [Mark F. Rooker, Leviticus, vol. 3A, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 94–95.]

Deep Down Inside, We Know

Cain, Able and the Spirit of the Tithe

How You Give Matters

Do You Think You’re a Steward or an Owner?

• Matthew 21:33–46 (ESV): ³³ “Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. ³⁴ When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. ³⁵ And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. ³⁶ Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. ³⁷ Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ ³⁸ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ ³⁹ And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. ⁴⁰ When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” ⁴¹ They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.” ⁴² Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? ⁴³ Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. ⁴⁴ And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” ⁴⁵ When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. ⁴⁶ And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.

Vows

• Deuteronomy 23:21–23 (ESV): ²¹ “If you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay fulfilling it, for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin. ²² But if you refrain from vowing, you will not be guilty of sin. ²³ You shall be careful to do what has passed your lips, for you have voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth.
• Leviticus 27:1–2 (ESV): ¹The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ² “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, If anyone makes a special vow to the Lord involving the valuation of persons,
• Leviticus 27:9 (ESV): ⁹ “If the vow is an animal that may be offered as an offering to the Lord, all of it that he gives to the Lord is holy.
• Leviticus 27:14 (ESV): ¹⁴ “When a man dedicates his house as a holy gift to the Lord, the priest shall value it as either good or bad; as the priest values it, so it shall stand.
• Leviticus 27:16 (ESV): ¹⁶ “If a man dedicates to the Lord part of the land that is his possession, then the valuation shall be in proportion to its seed. A homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver.
• Leviticus 27:26 (ESV): ²⁶ “But a firstborn of animals, which as a firstborn belongs to the Lord, no man may dedicate; whether ox or sheep, it is the Lord’s.

Hannah and Eli

Hannah

• 1 Samuel 1:11 (ESV): ¹¹ And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”
• 1 Samuel 1:21–22 (ESV): ²¹ The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. ²² But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and dwell there forever.”
• 1 Samuel 1:24 (ESV): ²⁴ And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young.

Eli

• 1 Samuel 2:27–29 (ESV): ²⁷ And there came a man of God to Eli and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Did I indeed reveal myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt subject to the house of Pharaoh? ²⁸ Did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? I gave to the house of your father all my offerings by fire from the people of Israel. ²⁹ Why then do you scorn my sacrifices and my offerings that I commanded for my dwelling, and honor your sons above me by fattening yourselves on the choicest parts of every offering of my people Israel?’

 

Introduction

Thank Past Contributors

Prepping the Video

Rationale of Earlier Campaigns

Counting the Costs

Borrowing As Leverage

Emphasizing and Expounding on Key Points from Video

• • 1. We’re paying back the loan
  • 2. We’re installing infrastructure.
  • 3. We’re enhancing the stage and backstage experience for our communicators, artists, and engineers.
  • 4. We’re enhancing the lighting and visual experience
  • 5. We’re enhancing the visual projection experience
  • 6. We’re enhancing the physical experience of the audience

The Best Is Yet to Come

Handing Out and Explaining the Booklets

• • Psalm 50:7–15 (ESV): ⁷ “Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God. ⁸ Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me. ⁹ I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds. ¹⁰ For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. ¹¹ I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. ¹² “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. ¹³ Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? ¹⁴ Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, ¹⁵ and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

The Booklet Explanation

Commitment Card Explanation

Easy Way to Remember What to Do

• Prayer
• Devotion
• Commitment

The Heart of David

• • 1 Samuel 16:6–7 (ESV) ⁶ When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” ⁷ But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
  • Acts 13: 22 (ESV): ²² . . . he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’
  • 1 Chronicles 21:18–27 (ESV): ¹⁸ Now the angel of the Lord had commanded Gad to say to David that David should go up and raise an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. ¹⁹ So David went up at Gad’s word, which he had spoken in the name of the Lord. ²⁰ Now Ornan was threshing wheat. He turned and saw the angel, and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. ²¹ As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David and went out from the threshing floor and paid homage to David with his face to the ground. ²² And David said to Ornan, “Give me the site of the threshing floor that I may build on it an altar to the Lord—give it to me at its full price—that the plague may be averted from the people.” ²³ Then Ornan said to David, “Take it, and let my lord the king do what seems good to him. See, I give the oxen for burnt offerings and the threshing sledges for the wood and the wheat for a grain offering; I give it all.” ²⁴ But King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” ²⁵ So David paid Ornan 600 shekels of gold by weight for the site. ²⁶ And David built there an altar to the Lord and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings and called on the Lord, and the Lord answered him with fire from heaven upon the altar of burnt offering. ²⁷ Then the Lord commanded the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath.
  • Matthew 6:21 (ESV): ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
  • Luke 21:1–4 (ESV): ¹Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, ² and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. ³ And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. ⁴ For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
  • Luke 18:9–14 (ESV): ⁹ He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: ¹⁰ “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ ¹³ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Heart of Saul

• • 1 Samuel 13:8–14 (ESV): ⁸ He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. ⁹ So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. ¹⁰ As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. ¹¹ Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, ¹² I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” ¹³ And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. ¹⁴ But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”
  • 1 Samuel 15:1–23 (ESV): ¹ Thus And Samuel said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the Lord. ² Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. ³ Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ” ⁴ So Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand men on foot, and ten thousand men of Judah. ⁵ And Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley. ⁶ Then Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart; go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. ⁷ And Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt. ⁸ And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and devoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword. ⁹ But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction. ¹⁰ The word of the Lord came to Samuel: ¹¹ “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night. ¹² And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal.” ¹³ And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed be you to the Lord. I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” ¹⁴ And Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?” ¹⁵ Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God, and the rest we have devoted to destruction.” ¹⁶ Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! I will tell you what the Lord said to me this night.” And he said to him, “Speak.” ¹⁷ And Samuel said, “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel. ¹⁸ And the Lord sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ ¹⁹ Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord?” ²⁰ And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. ²¹ But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” ²² And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. ²³ For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.”

The Importance of Seeking the Lord

• • 1 Chronicles 14:8–17 (ESV): ⁸ When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went out against them. ⁹ Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the Valley of Rephaim. ¹⁰ And David inquired of God, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up, and I will give them into your hand.” ¹¹ And he went up to Baal-perazim, and David struck them down there. And David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like a bursting flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. ¹² And they left their gods there, and David gave command, and they were burned. ¹³ And the Philistines yet again made a raid in the valley. ¹⁴ And when David again inquired of God, God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; go around and come against them opposite the balsam trees. ¹⁵ And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” ¹⁶ And David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer. ¹⁷ And the fame of David went out into all lands, and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations.

 

Congregational Reading

Acts 10:1–48 (ESV)

Cornelius’ Answered Prayer

10 ¹At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, ² a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. ³ About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” ⁴ And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. ⁵ And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. ⁶ He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” ⁷ When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, ⁸ and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

⁹ The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. ¹⁰ And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance ¹¹ and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. ¹² In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. ¹³ And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” ¹⁴ But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” ¹⁵ And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” ¹⁶ This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

Peter’s Invited to Do a House Call

¹⁷ Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate ¹⁸ and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. ¹⁹ And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. ²⁰ Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” ²¹ And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” ²² And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.”

Peter Visits Cornelius

²³ So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. ²⁴ And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵ When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. ²⁶ But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” ²⁷ And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. ²⁸ And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. ²⁹ So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”

Cornelius’ Testimony

³⁰ And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing ³¹ and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. ³² Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ ³³ So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Gentiles Hear the Good News

³⁴ So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, ³⁵ but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. ³⁶ As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), ³⁷ you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. ³⁹ And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, ⁴⁰ but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, ⁴¹ not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles

⁴⁴ While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. ⁴⁵ And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. ⁴⁶ For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, ⁴⁷ “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” ⁴⁸ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

 

• Will the culture wars from social media show up in our sanctuary?
• Will politics in the pulpit foster a particular agenda that only appeals to some people and offends others?
• Will we abandon our focus on the Word?
• Will our Christian light be dimmed?
• Is it even biblical to talk about politics from the pulpit?

Cornelius: A Devout Man

Acts 10:1–2 (ESV): ¹At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, ² a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.

• While Cornelius was not a Christian in any formal sense, he was someone who feared God enough to pray
• Cornelius prayed continually

Cornelius Hears from God

Acts 10:3-4 (ESV): ³ About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” ⁴ And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.

• We know the sincerity of his prayer because God responds.
• Notice that both his prayers and his alms are mentioned.

Cornelius Sends for Peter

Acts 10:5-8 (ESV): ⁵ And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. ⁶ He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” ⁷ When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, ⁸ and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

• Peter is being put in motion because of another man’s prayers.

 

• Peter’s life is interrupted because of what someone else needed from God.

The Prayers of the Pure in Heart: A Sermon X-Factor

• Cornelius—who is not even really a Christain yet—influences Peter’s actions and eventually His words.
• The prayers of a member of the congregation or a prospective listener can shape the sermon— sometimes spontaneously

How Tongues and Interpretation Impacts Bible Teaching

• One of the ways the gift of interpretation gets expressed is through teaching from the pulpit.

 

• • 1 Corinthians 14:6 (ESV): ⁶ Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
    • Revelation
    • Knowledge
    • Prophecy
    • Teaching

Clergy as Spiritual EMT

• As we saw with Cornelius, another person’s prayers can reshape the spiritual direction of the man or woman of God, even if the person is praying in a human language.
• This is because God’s messengers also serve as spiritual EMTs:
  • Acts 16:6–10 (ESV): ⁶ And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. ⁷ And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. ⁸ So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. ⁹ And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” ¹⁰ And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
• There’s an Old Testament example of this:
  • Exodus 3:9–10 (ESV): ⁹ And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. ¹⁰ Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
• What if the reason there are competing positions on a political subject is because the subject is multifaceted?
• Competing positions on issues don’t necessarily have to conflict with each other. They can also complement each other.
• Consider the relationship between Dr. Robbie George and Dr. Cornel West, one conservative, the other liberal, one white, the other black
• They have deep disagreements on a number of issues and debate those issues around the country.
• But they’re both Christians, they’re close friends and value the fact that the other has a different point of view.
• They learn from each other when they debate with each other.
• Links to their debates and conversations on Video:
  • Cornel West and Robert George (PBS)
  • Truth Matters: Fruitful Disagreement
  • Cornel West and Robert George in Conversation
  • Book (Available on Amazon)
  • Truth Matters: A Dialogue in Fruitful Disagreement in an Age of Division by Robert P. George and Cornel West
• Consider this about the nature of God’s wisdom
  • Ephesians 3:10 (ESV): ¹⁰ so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
• Consider that God’s wisdom is multifaced and may require that he draw out that wisdom through people articulating it from different points of view.
• In an age where people can access information, who knows who God is talking to through the screen?

Reasons to Reconsider Your Objections to Politics in the Pulpit:

• Reason # 1: The prayers of other people affect sermon content
• Who are we to say what a person needs to hear from God?
• God will customize messages to people and deliver that message to them when he wants and how he wants.
• Why would we think that God would not comment on political matters?
• Who are we to tell God how He can communicate?
• The Bible communicates to us through poetry, biography, history, law, prophecy, letters, parables
• Why would discussions of politics be excluded from his teaching methods?
• Reason # 2: There are no Scriptures restricting or even warning about political communication from the pulpit.
• Reason # 3: There are numerous examples of God’s messengers commenting on the behaviors and policies of political figures.
• Especially in the Old Testament
  • e.g. Most Prophets
• New Testament
  • e.g. John the Baptist
    • Corrupt Law enforcement officials
    • Corrupt heads of state (i.e. Herod)
• Reason # 4: Some biblical topics are inherently political.
  • e.g. Ephesians/Colossians: slaves obey your masters
  • e.g. Romans: Obey the head of state, obey law enforcement officials
  • e.g. James comments on rich people
    • James 1:9-11
    • James 1:27
    • James 2:1-7
    • James 2:15-17
    • James 4:13
    • James 5:1-6
  • e.g. Proverbs 31 Mother

 

• Reason # 5: Some political matters are impractical to avoid and provide no neutral position.
  • e.g. Covid
  • e.g. The persecuted church around the world
  • e.g. China
• State Run church or underground church
  • e.g. The historical black church
• Gatherings regulated by the government
• Reason # 6: The exclusion of political subject matter from the pulpit eliminates large categories of practical Bible application.

Accountability For the Pulpit

Naturally, this raises an important question:

• Can the preacher just say whatever he or she wants in the name of prophecy and spiritual gifts?
• Couldn’t the preacher be in error?
• Couldn’t someone take advantage of this to manipulate people and advance a personal agenda?
  • 1 Corinthians 14:27–29 (NKJV): ²⁷ If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. ²⁸ But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. ²⁹ Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.
• Here Paul is talking about a system for evaluating public communication, whether it’s spontaneous or communicated from the pulpit.
• All public communication in church is subject to the evaluation of wise judges.

Peter’s Day Is Interrupted

• Acts 10:9-10 (ESV): ⁹ The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. ¹⁰ And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance

Peter’s Served the “Wrong” Order

• Acts 10:11-12 (ESV): ¹¹ and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. ¹² In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air.
• Acts 10:13 (ESV): ¹³ And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”
• A sermon is not an omelette made to order.
• The Lord is the chef. The preacher is the cook and server.
• God makes what he knows will nourish His people, not necessarily what His people think will taste the best.

Peter’s Personal Doctrine

• Acts 10:14-16 (ESV): ¹⁴ But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” ¹⁵ And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” ¹⁶ This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
• What’s a personal doctrine?
• A personal doctrine is an individualized code of ethics reflecting what someone personally thinks is right and wrong.
• There’s nothing wrong with a personal doctrine until it clashes with what is truly right and wrong.

From Disorientation to Reorientation

• Acts 10:17 (ESV): ¹⁷ Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate
• Being “inwardly perplexed” offers us vital information about ourselves.
• Inward perplexity as an invitation to learn and grow.
  • Acts 10:28-29 (ESV): ²⁸ And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. ²⁹ So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”
• Across 12 verses, Peter goes from “inwardly perplexed” to “no objections”
• He went from confusion to clarity, from ignorance to enlightenment, and from being frustrated to being inspired.
  • Key Question: Am I inwardly perplexed because the preacher is in error or because God is challenging my personal doctrine?

Criteria for Evaluating a Concerning Message from the Pulpit

Determine Your Concerns

• Question # 1: Was it unbiblical?
• Question # 2: Was it un-Christlike?
• Question # 3: Was it untruthful?
• Question # 4: Was it unwise?
  • Luke 7:33–35 (ESV): ³³ For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ ³⁴ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ ³⁵ Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.”
  • Verifying the wisdom of something often requires observing its long-term effects.
• The immediate effects of something, while meaningful, are not necessarily reliable indicators of its wisdom or effectiveness.
• God’s top priority when communicating with people is not avoiding offense.
• He cares how people feel and instructs us to speak the truth in love.
• Speaking the truth in love does not guarantee that someone won’t be offended.
• You don’t control whether someone is offended with you—they do.
  • Jeremiah 1:7–8 (NKJV): ⁷ But the Lord said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. ⁸Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.
  • Jeremiah 1:9-10 (NKJV): ⁹ Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. ¹⁰See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.”
  • Jeremiah 20:7–9 (ESV): ⁷ O Lord, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me. ⁸ For whenever I speak, I cry out, I shout, “Violence and destruction!” For the word of the Lord has become for me a reproach and derision all day long. ⁹ If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot,
• Question # 5: Was the problem a matter of intent, execution or both?
  • Some offence is inevitable, but you don’t want to create unnecessary offences, misunderstandings or frustrations.
• Question # 6: Has the Holy Spirit made you uncomfortable about it?

Document Your Concerns

• Create three columns
  • Column # 1: Write down the specific words in the message that fit in each category.
  • Column # 2: Write down the Scriptures that correspond with each category.
  • Column # 2: Explain how and why the words in the message violate the related Christian principle.

Analyze Your Concerns

• The more Scriptures, explanations and quotes from the message, the more likely the message is in error.
• The fewer Scriptures, explanations and quotes from the message, the less likely the message is in error.

The Spiritual Fruit of Our Inward Perplexity

Acts 10:44-48 (ESV): ⁴⁴ While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. ⁴⁵ And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. ⁴⁶ For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, ⁴⁷ “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” ⁴⁸ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

• God is not presenting pigs to Peter to get him to eat pork, but to get him to see the people who do.
• Some of us view politics the way Peter views pork.
• John 1:14 (ESV): ¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. . .

1 Corinthians 9:19–21 (ESV): ¹⁹ For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. ²⁰ To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. ²¹ To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

1 Corinthians 9:12–23 (ESV): ²² To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. ²³ I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

• Adapting our approach to the needs of the culture is not always a compromising move. It also has the potential to promote the gospel.

Consider the examples of Jesus:

• Luke 15:1–2 (ESV): ¹ And Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. ² And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
• Here Jesus is breaking bread with people who practice condemnable behavior.
• And having read Peter’s story in Acts, we can understand why the Pharisees would be disgusted with what Jesus His doing
• Because in other versions of the story, the writer makes clear that Jesus is actually eating with them:
• Matthew 9:10 (ESV): ¹⁰ And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.
• But if we look at Jesus response, it explains everything:
  • Luke 15:3-7 (ESV): ³ So he told them this parable: ⁴ “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? ⁵ And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶ And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ ⁷ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

The Pastoral Voice vs. The Prophetic Voice

 

 

Don’t Judge Me

• Matthew 7:1(ESV): ¹ “Judge not, that you be not judged.
• Matthew 7:2 (ESV): ² For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.
• Judgment is reciprocal.
• Matthew 7: 3 (ESV): ³ Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
• Matthew 7: 4 (ESV): ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?
• In the same way, before we cast judgment, we need to evaluate ourselves by that same standard judgment.
• And then upon reflection, if we see something in our lives that needs attention, then we need to address that first.
• Matthew 7: 5 (ESV): ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

The Elephant in the Room

1. Self-Examination
2. Empathy (the natural byproduct of self-examination)

A Civil Rights Reflection

The Call to Judge

 

• 1 Corinthians 6:1–8 (ESV): ¹ When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? ² Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? ³ Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! ⁴ So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? ⁵ I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, ⁶ but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? ⁷ To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? ⁸ But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!

 

• James 3:13 (ESV): ¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

 

• James 3:14-16 (ESV): ¹⁴ But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. ¹⁵ This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
• James 3:17 (ESV): ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

 

• James 3:18 (ESV): ¹⁸ And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Judge with Righteous Judgment

What principles guide the way we handle conflict brought to us directly or inadvertently?

• John 7:24 (ESV): ²⁴ Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

How do you acquire insight beyond appearances?

• Secure knowledge from primary sources.
• Matthew 18:15–17 (ESV): ¹⁵ “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. ¹⁶ But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. ¹⁷ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
• Hear all sides of the issue.
• Proverbs 18:17 (ESV): ¹⁷ The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.
• Proverbs 18:13 (ESV): ¹³ If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.

“Appearances” are not just the result of what we see, but of what we feel.

• Things can “appear” a certain way because they seem a certain way based on our feelings.
• Reasons why we might feel a particular way about something:
• What we’re hearing sounds like personal experiences of our past
• What we’re hearing validates preconceived ideas we have about a person or a type of person
• What we’re hearing triggers emotions from past wounds
• You take sides with the aggrieved person because it resonates with you emotionally.
• But the Scripture warns us about this:
• Proverbs 26:17 (ESV): ¹⁷ Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.

How do we counter the false impressions created by our feelings?

• We employ Word as a tool to help us judge.
• 2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV): ¹⁶ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness
• We can’t judge rightly without Scripture.
• We also need to rightly handle the Scripture.
• 2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV): ¹⁵ Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
• Don’t just quote passages out of their specific context or out of the context of entire Bible for the purpose of justifying yourself.

Handle it or report it

• Exodus 18:21–22 (ESV): ²¹ Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. ²² And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.
• You’re responsible for judging most conflict brought to you.
• You are responsible for defending the ministry, its leadership and its vision against people who slander it or create division in the church.
• Only bring the matter to senior leaders when the matter is beyond your capacity to judge.

Introduction

• Matthew 18:21-22 (ESV): ²¹ Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” ²² Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
• But unlimited forgiveness is not just a method or a practice.
• It is also deeply tied to a way of life, a way of thinking–a lifestyle of peacemaking.

As believers, we should be poised to rise above the petty matters that feed conflict.

Chloe ‘Nem

• 1 Corinthians 1:10 (ESV): ¹⁰ I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
• 1 Corinthians 1:11-12 (ESV): ¹¹ For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. ¹² What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 
• 1 Corinthians 1:13 (ESV):¹³ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
  • • What he concludes is that they are all wrong for dividing into factions.
• 1 Corinthians 3:1(ESV): ¹ But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.

• 1 Corinthians 3:2 (ESV): ² I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,
• 1 Corinthians 3:3-4 (ESV): ³ for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? ⁴ For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?

Divine insight into the source of the conflict.

• Insight into the source of conflict is one of the things that distinguishes between mature people and immature people.
• The difference between mature and immature people is not whether they deal with conflict, but how they deal with conflict.
• Immature people deal with conflict at the surface level. Mature people deal with conflict at the roots.

What You Not Gon’ Do

“What You Not Gon’ Do” is the self-righteous attitude we hold when people don’t treat or respond to us in the way we think they should.

 

• James 4:1 (ESV): ¹ What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?
• If our motivations are not healthy, then they will create ripple effects in our relationships that breed perpetual conflict.

 

• James 4:2 (ESV): ² You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.
  • The reason why you’re not getting what you want is that you’re not going to God for what you need.
  • Your challenge is that you’re counting on something external to heal something internal.
• James 4:3 (ESV): ³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
• Luke 10:41–42 (ESV): ⁴¹ But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, ⁴² but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Practical Steps & Tools

In this last portion, we’re going to offer some practical steps to identify those things that trouble us (internally).

And then secure the good portion that Jesus promises.

So that we can address conflict in healthy ways and help our relationships to flourish.

Tools from Focus on the Family

Focus on the Family Naming Tool

• Name the Feeling, Name the Reaction, Name the Desire.

Care Cycle Tools:

• Book: 9 Lies That Will Destroy Your Marriage and the Truths That Will Save It and Set It Free
• Worksheet

The Care Cycle

(The following information is derived and quoted from the book and worksheet with listed above)

1. Aware
2. Accept
3. Allow
4. Attend
5. Act

Aware:

• Be aware. That is, “Recognize [that] your heart is triggered, and your heart is closed.”

Accept

• Accept responsibility. “Your feelings; your responsibility.”

Ask and Allow

• “Invite God to help care for you.”

Attend

• “Get to work.” (internally)

Act

• “Get to work” (externally)

Review

Earlier this month, we started a series titled, “I prayed about it. (But what does that mean?)”

The objective of this series is to get you to pray. . .

• Sincerely (Put your heart in it)
• Biblically (Follow Scriptural patterns and instructions)
• Attentively (Be responsive to promptings from the Spirit and your observations)
• Regularly (Make prayer a daily practice)
• Persistently (Pray through delays and denials)

In this series, we’re covering four prayer-related topics:

• The Posture of Prayer (My attitude)
• The Content of Prayer (My words)
• The Practice of Prayer (My habits)
• The Accessories of Prayer (My help)

Last week, we covered the practice of prayer.

Today, our focus is on the accessories of prayer.

Prayer Comes With Accessories

• Mark 11:22, 24 (ESV): ²² And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. . . .²⁴ Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
• 1 John 5:14–15 (ESV): ¹⁴ And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
• Hebrews 11:6 (ESV): ⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
• Psalm 103:7 (ESV): ⁷ He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.
• Hebrews 12:1–2 (ESV): ¹ . . . .let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. . . .
• Philippians 4:6 (ESV): ⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
• James 4:3 (ESV): ³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
• Asking to know Jesus better is the ultimate prayer request.

The Scripture

Knowing Jesus and knowing the Scripture are inseperable.

• Scripture tells us who Jesus is.
• Scripture tells us what Jesus said.
• Scriptuer tells us what Jesus wants us to believe.

The Scripture helps us develp our faith.

• Romans 10:17 (NKJV): ¹⁷ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
• Psalm 119:11 (NKJV): ¹¹Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
• Proverbs 4:4 (ESV): ⁴ he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.
• The only way to retain someone’s words in your heart is to revisit them through meditation.
• Psalm 1:1–3 (ESV): ¹Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; ² but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
• Joshua 1:8 (ESV): ⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
• Deuteronomy 6:6–9 (ESV): ⁶ And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. ⁸ You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. ⁹ You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
• Philippians 4:8 (ESV): ⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
• Romans 12:2 (ESV): ² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
• Colossians 3:2 (ESV): ² Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

The Scripture gives us a vocabulary for prayer content.

Godly Counsel

• Proverbs 14:12 (ESV): ¹² There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
• Proverbs 12:15 (ESV): ¹⁵ The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
• Proverbs 28:26 (ESV): ²⁶ Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
• Proverbs 11:14 (ESV): ¹⁴ Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
• Proverbs 19:20 (ESV): ²⁰ Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.
• Proverbs 24:5–6 (ESV): ⁵ A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might, ⁶ for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.

The Holy Spirit

• John 14:16 (ESV): ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
• John 14:26 (ESV): ²⁶ But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
• John 16:13 (ESV): ¹³ When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

Praying in the Spirit

• Jude 20 (ESV): ²⁰ But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, . . .
• Ephesians 6:18 (ESV): ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. . . .
• Romans 8:26–27 (ESV): ²⁶ Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. ²⁷ And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Spiritual Language (Speaking in Tongues)

• “For we do not know what to pray for as we ought”
• Sometimes my mind is not equipped with the words for what my prayer need requires:
• 1 Corinthians 14:14 (ESV): ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.
• 1 Corinthians 14:2 (ESV): ² For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
• “the Spirit himself intercedes for us”
• The Holy Spirit provides the words:
• Acts 2:4 (ESV): ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in
• “the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
• 1 Corinthians 2:11 (ESV): ¹¹ For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
• John 16:13 (ESV): . ¹³ When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. . .

The purpose of praying in tongues is not to be confused but to be clear.

• 1 Corinthians 14:13 (ESV): ¹³ Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.
• 1 Corinthians 14: 6 (ESV): ⁶ Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

Pray for the gift of speaking in toungues:

• 1 Corinthians 14:1(ESV): ¹ Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts. .
  • If spiritual gifts can be desired, then they can be prayed for
• 1 Corinthians 14:13 (ESV): ¹³ Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.
• If you can pray for the gift of interpretation, then you can pray for the gift of speaking in tongues.
• 1 Corinthians 14:39 (ESV): ³⁹ So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
• Speaking in tongues should not prohibited (but encouraged along with the other spiritual gifts)
• Speaking in Tongues

Establish a prayer life and not just a prayer practice

The Father, The Family, The Kingdom

• We should already be facing that direction.
• Are you praying to draw close to God to begin with

While you can seek God in an emergency – harder to hear Him if you have not already been seeking him (individually and collectively)

The significance of corporate prayer – God speaks in those meetings and in response to those meetings + another way of praying the us/we/our from the Lord’s prayer

Aligning Our Heart with the heart of God

Speaking in tongues.

Setting up ourselves to hear

• Be in the Word
• Be in the community
• Spiritual gifts
• Be submitted to Wise counsel
• Which means you need to have wise counsel

The importance of praying to draw close to God

• To Remember
• Deuteronomy 8:11 (ESV): ¹¹ “Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today,
• 2 Kings 22:11–13 (ESV): ¹¹ When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. ¹² And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, ¹³ “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”
• 2 Kings 23:2–3 (ESV): ² And the king went up to the house of the Lord, and with him all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and the prophets, all the people, both small and great. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord. ³ And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant.

 

Review

Earlier this month, we started a series titled, “I prayed about it. (But what does that mean?)”

The objective of this series is to get you to pray. . .

• Sincerely (Put your heart in it)
• Biblically (Follow Scriptural patterns and instructions)
• Attentively (Be responsive to promptings from the Spirit and your observations)
• Regularly (Make prayer a daily practice)
• Persistently (Pray through delays and denials)

In this series, we’re covering four prayer-related topics:

• The Posture of Prayer (My attitude)
• The Content of Prayer (My words)
• The Practice of Prayer (My habits)
• The Accessories of Prayer (My help)

Introduction

Lessons From Peter’s Big Catch

• • Luke 5:4 (ESV): ⁴ And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
  • Luke 5:5-7 (ESV): ⁵ And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” ⁶ And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. ⁷ They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.
  • James 5:16–18 (ESV): ¹⁶ . . . .The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. ¹⁷ Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. ¹⁸ Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

 

• Luke 5:8 (ESV): ⁸ But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” ⁹ For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken,

“Prayer is the elevating of the mind, the intellect, the soul, our perspectives, our perceptions to the reality of God. And then looking back at our reality, our circumstance with a totally different perspective. . . .It is accessing the reality of God so that we can now face our problems and circumstances and situations empowered by that reality, bringing God’s reality to our reality.”–Dr. A.R. Bernard

2 Corinthians 3:17–18 (ESV): ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Luke 5:10 (ESV): ¹⁰ . . . . “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” ¹¹ And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Keeping Jesus at the Center of Prayer

Philippians 3:7–8 (ESV): ⁷ But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

Prayer Practices from Scripture

Let’s look at them.

1. Pray at all the times
   1. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (ESV): ¹⁷ pray without ceasing,
   2. Ephesians 6:18 (ESV): ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
2. Pray at scheduled times
   1. Psalm 88:13 (ESV): ¹³ But I, O Lord, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
   2. Psalm 55:17 (ESV): ¹⁷ Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.
   3. Isaiah 62:6 (ESV): ⁶ On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the Lord in remembrance, take no rest,
   4. Acts 3:1 (ESV): ¹ Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
   5. Mark 1:35 (ESV): ³⁵ And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.
   6. Matthew 14:23 (ESV): ²³ And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
   7. Mark 6:46–47 (ESV): ⁴⁶ And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. ⁴⁷ And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land.
3. Pray in troubled times
   1. James 5:13 (ESV): ¹³ Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
4. Pray about things you don’t think you need to pray for
   1. James 4:13–16 (ESV): ¹³ Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— ¹⁴ yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
5. Pray when prayer goes unanswered
   • 1. Luke 18:1–8 (ESV): ¹And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. ² He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. ³ And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ ⁴ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, ⁵ yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’ ” ⁶ And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. ⁷ And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? ⁸ I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
     2. Luke 11:5–10 (ESV): ⁵ And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, ⁶ for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; ⁷ and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? ⁸ I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. ⁹ And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
6. Pray about all things
   1. Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV): ⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
7. Pray with all types of prayer
   1. Ephesians 6:18 (ESV): ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
      1. Petition
      2. Agreement
      3. Intercession
      4. Consecration
      5. Tongues
8. Pray in tongues
   1. 1 Corinthians 14:14–15 (ESV): ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. ¹⁵ What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.
   2. 1 Corinthians 14:2 (ESV): ² For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
   3. 1 Corinthians 14:6 (ESV): ⁶ Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?