Depth

Psalm 42:7

Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;

Deep Calls unto Deep.

A Deep is not something you see outside.A Deep is innermost place.  

If you talk about Oceans, the deep of the oceans is unimaginable. Mariana Trench o challenger deep

If you throw mount Everest in mariana trench, it will complete submerge.

Such deep is the ocean. Thats a physical depth.

But more deeper is the heart of  a man.

What you see of a man, is mostly outward appearance or some thoughts when he talk and behaves.

That is why bible talks about InnerMan.

If you see in workplaces, some people a lot of depth in their knowledge of the work they do.

Some people, they just come to work for the sake of salary , they come and they do and they finish and go.

But when a challenge comes, a man of depth, a man who has deep understanding of the subject can resolve the issues during the challenging  time.

When it comes to a life of a believer, this depth plays a key role on how you continue your journey as a christian.

We so many poeple who come to Church. But you will easily know yourself whether you have that depth, do you go deep into things of God. or do you just do superficial stuff when come to Church.

Many come, attend Church, give offering and go away. but lives does not change. the reason is there is no depth in their spiritual lives.

2. Our first experience of Depth as a believer is Baptism - go deep in water.

When Israelites crossed the red sea.,

How deep will be a sea?

Psalm 106:9

He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it dried up;
So He led them through the depths,
As through the wilderness.

When people of Israel about to cross red sea, God rebuked the red sea and it dried up.

He led them through the depths.

How deep is the Red sea. But God led them through the depths.

Crossing of the red sea signifies the Baptism.

And In Baptism, you completely immerse in the water. Which signifies that you go deep.

Baptism is not about sprinkling,. But Baptism is about going to that deep place.

When you go in the deep,  there are 2 things that happen.

As you go deep, 2 things are death and life..

when you go into deep relationship with God. you have  been crucified with Christ.

It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.

Galatians 2:20

(20) I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Seed - Do you know when a seed is sown in the ground, what happens.

The seed has to go the depth, there is death and life.

John 12:24

 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much [d]grain.

If you want to build a house - do you directly build it on the ground.

Firs you go deep, you dig, you put foundation.Why?

Because you know with out a foundation, there building will collapse.

If you know for things on earth itself that a foundation is required, how much more as a  believer you have to dig deep.

Baptism signifies Death and Life.

Can we boldly say today, that it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.

Only a person who goes through that depth in the Word, in His walk with God. that person can say, no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.

Worship

When it comes to worship, too often people are caught up in the music, in the lights , in the sounds, in the ambience, in the atmosphere.

Remember, Paul and Silas have none of these where they were beaten and put in jail.

In Flesh, you cannot worship, because flesh deals with outside only.

John 4:19

19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”

21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Samaritan woman tries to relate Worship with mountain and a place.

Just like many of us relate worship with a nice worship leader, nice ambiance , nice music, 

Samartian woman also tried to relate worship with a place. 

And the Lord says, v 24, God is Spirit, and those who worship Him miust worship ON?

IN Spirti and Truth.

Samaritan woman says on the mountain,  The Lord says  IN SPIRIT.

Worship is a matter of depth.

Worship is a matter of inside.

Centurion : The more the depth, the greater the faith.

A man who has depth , his faith will be great.

Centurion, is a commander over 100 soldiers.

Managing one person is not easy, managing 100 is a bigger task.

But this centurion, he understood something

Difference between Martha ,Mary and Centurion.

Martha said Lord if you had been here, and Centurion says, please do not come just say a word.

Matthew 8: V 7,8,9,10

7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”

8 The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.

9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! 

Ezekiel 47 says

 5 Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed. 

Offering

God accepted Abel and his offering

God rejected Cain and his offering.

Psalm 66 ( V13-22)

 16 

Come and hear, all you who fear God,
And I will declare what He has done for my soul.

In the last week scripture , the Psalmist said in Verse 5

Come and see the works of God;

But now in verse 16 he says Come and hear.

We see so many around us, who can talk about Sports, Politics, Weather patterns,

Now we have many experts who can talk about the virus.

But did you every talk about God to others.

He is worthy to be praised.

He is worthy to be talked.

Psalmist says 

Come and Hear .

What he wants others to hear is

" What God has done for my soul"

That is the beauty.

We can talk testimony after testimony of what God has done to body.

but rarely do we see a testimony  that talk s about what God has done to my soul.

The Bible says

26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 

If we can declare what God has done for our soul.

How I was before , what kind of person i was.

I might be a rebeliious person,  i might be one who is going after the passions of the world,

I might be the enjoying thepleasures of sin,

But today, when God has changed you, can you tell others and declare come and hear, what God has done to my Soul.

Amen.

Eyes of Faith

How many of us like to work from home? 
Elisha, the great prophet of God. He does many miracles just sitting at home.

Elisha's greatest character is seeing.
He can see in a way that no other could see.

Remember, when Elijah asked what you want me to do, Elisha asked for double portion of the Spirit, then Elijah said Only "If you could see."

2 Kings 2:9-12
9 And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?”
Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”
10 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12 And Elisha saw it, 

In Verse 12, the biggest strength of Elisha is he could see.

Your biggest test of life, could reveal your biggest strength.

So when test comes, do not fear, but the test is  a place your strength will be revealed.
SAT exams, or any examination that happens, in India will reveal the strength of the student.
Elisha calling was tested, and he cut the oxen.
But now his biggest test of the time has come.
He wanted a double portion of the Spirit, and when Elijah said "only if you see me"
Then Elisha did not shy away from the test.
But he was ready, even before he made that request.
Now tell me, what would Elisha need to do to see Elijah going away.
Elisha has to be watchful of Elijah.
If Elijah going for walk, he should walk along with him.
If Elijah is sleeping, he still has to be awake.
If Elijah is working, he still has to be watching him.
He should literally be with him all the time.
In One Word, Elisha had to be watchful.
Now when the time came for Elijah has to go, Elisha saw him going. Verse 12 says . Elisha Saw It.
Look at this , this is mentioned in the Word, that Elisha saw it.
Now that Elisha saw it. This seeing of Elijah helped him to see many things going forward.

To see few things that Elisha saw

2 Kings 5: 25,26
And he said, “Your servant did not go anywhere.”
26 Then he said to him, “Did not my heart go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants? 

Elisha might be sitting at his home, that he could see what Gehazi is doing 
Today many people hide their zoom, just to make sure, they will be on prayer call and at the same time they will be doing their own work.
Gehazi thought he could put zoom video on mute and do his personal work.
But you are dealing with a man of God who can see. 
Even when you hide, even when he is not along with you.
Because Elisha heart goes where his feet will not go.
You know why he could see.
Gehazis can see his time and his priorities are
 Is it time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants
if all that you could see is what i can posses, then you wont see what God has purposed for you to see.
The nature of possessing one after another, takes away the sight to see supernatural things.
Elisha , Man of God, for it is not the time to posses.
His time is to listen to God. His time is to see what God shows him.
his Time is for Kingdom of God. his time is for his righteousness.
when your heart is for God, you will see supernatural things hapenning.
Example of subway supernatural person.

---Walk by the Spirit

2 Kings 6:8-12
8 Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, “My camp will be in such and such a place.” 9 And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.” 10 Then the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice.
11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?”
12 And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”

The king of syria planned to camp in a place, but the prophet told the king of Israel and he was watchful.
So king of syria is troubled and he thought someone from his own camp is going and telling king of Israel.
but then one of his servants said, Elisha the prophet , he tells the words of syrian king to king of Israel.
These Words are amazing. Elisha stays at his place but can clearly see and hear what syrian king says.
How this can happen, because he is man who walks by Spirit.
A man who walks by Spirit, hears what the Spirit says.
but a fleshly man , all that his Spirit could see is fleshly things.

Recently, in the beluris blast, a pastor heard the Spirit said and asked his Church to take off.

2 Kings 6:14-17
14 Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. 15 And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”
16 So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

All that  servant could not see army of Syria. But Elisha could see armies of God.

Natural seeing is blindness in the realm of Spirit.

Elisha says do not fear, he could see what his servant could not see.
Elisha prayer for his servant is that " Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see"
Today , if you see media, social media,  they continuously preach and you see what they preach and believe.
But the Sunday morning, you come and see man of God and he says do not fear, believe in God, He will protect you.
That you cannot believe.
But what media says you will definitely believe.
because we are habituated to see the natural.

Natural seeing is blindness in the realm of Spirit.

Today if you see a prophet who says there is dangerous timings coming ahead, you wont believe it.
But if the media says something, then you will believe it.

Finally
The test that Elijah had put for Elisha to see when he is taken away is really been a great blessing for Elisha.
That seeing made him see what Gehazi is doing outside.
That seeing helped him see what syrian king is talking
That seeing helped him to see the horses and chariots of fire around him.
and even his prayer for his servant is that he may see.
Today what do we see? and what we believe?
Enough we lived in natural and see natural.
We are living in supernatural times where this is not natural.
Paul says the eyes of your understanding being enlightened.

Ephesians 1:18
18 the eyes of your [a]understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

Psalm 66 V(1-12)

66 Bef

Before going first verse,

Testing is part of life.

As a kid you have assignmens and test in schools,

and then you midldle school, high school and then test.

even after you goto colleege there are test.

and then we think we finished our education , now we get into a job, we think we are done with our tests.

No, actually in the job , your employer might be giving work and salary, but there is a test going on to see your performance, apprisals, bonus based on test.

then you get married, that is bigger test.

Your patience is tested, your endurance is tested.

When a company makes a product, it goes through rigorous testing.

With God, test to see your heart is really for Him or not,

He gives a promise, a dream , but He takes us through the testing.

God promised Israel that they going to inherit the land of canan. But He tested them in the wilderness.

Joseph got a dream about his brothers and parents bowing down to him.

The dream was glorious, and he went through series of testing.

Verse 10 says refined us as silver, aflliction on our backs, fire, water.

But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.

 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

let us go 

 10 10 For You, O God, have tested us;
You have refined us as silver is refined.
11 You brought us into the net;
You laid affliction on our backs.
12 12You have caused men to ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water;
But You brought us out to [b]rich fulfillment.

God will test us and also takes us to the rich fulfillment.

1 Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!

Psalmist is asking all the earth, Gods people to make a joyful Shout to God

If there is a deal in Costco, JC Penny, that one reason is enough for us to share with family, friends and colleagues and even to unknown people.

But we sing the song, bless the lord oh my soul. how manny 10000 reasons.

Your shout should never be the same.

We  are talking about God who created heaven and earth, sun, moon,stars , birds, fish, .

By the power of His Word, he created everything.

But man, He said let us make man and then breathed into man.

HE made man out of the earth. but he breathed .That is the God we are serving.

Noah

When the world is full of sin, wickedness, he destroyed the whole world, but remembered Noah, righteous one.

Abraham: Abraham believed in God and is counted a s rightoeusness.

There mights be multitude of people around, but when you believe 

Most importantly, while we were still sinners, He died for us.

With all these reasons, can we shout to God a Big hallelujah to

The neighbors should hear it.

The sickness should hear the praise and leave.

The mountain in life should hear the praise and leave.

A Joyful Shout 

Let us make a joyful Shout to God.

The neighbor should hear it,

Do you have mountain in your life , 

2 2 Sing out the honor of His name;
Make His praise glorious.

3 3 Say to God,
“How awesome are Your works!
Through the greatness of Your power
Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.
4 All the earth shall worship You
And sing praises to You;
They shall sing praises to Your name.” Selah

David

14 Then David danced[g] before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.

Kingdom Man - Part1

Kingdom:

Before we understand Kingdom Man,

We should understand what Kingdom means.

The Bible is about a King and His Kingdom and a royal family of children

Kingdom does not work on majority opinion.

Kingdom does not work on Democratic opinions, 

But Kingdom works on what King purposes in His heart.

In Bible, whenever heaven is referred, it is called Kingdom of Heaven.

Gods rule is referred as Kingdom of God.

Even when the Lord taught the disciples how to pray.

our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name, Thy Kingdom Come.

the 1000 years rule of Lord Jesus is called Millennial Kingdom.

Lord Jesus also talks about " My Kingdom is not of this world "

Even the inheritance of the saints is also about Kingdom.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Principles of Kingdom:

1) Kingdom has One King. - and His Word is Final. 

The decisions of the kingdom does not depend on the majority vote. It does not depend on the what all other kingdoms are doing. But what King Purposes in his heart, that will be established in the kingdom.

2) Kingdom and Kingdom people have dominion.

Genesis 1:26

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over [g]all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 

mamlakah - kingdom rule, sovregin power, royal power.

3) Kingdom - about coming into our lives.

too many christians became religious people.

All religions - try to reach God.

But Kingdom  is about God reaching to man.

religion is about escaping the earth,  Kingdom is about impacting and influencing the earth.

Matthew 23:13

13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

Kingdom Man.

Now to understand what it means to be a Kingdom Man.

There is no one better than our Lord Himself who personified what it means to be a kingdom man.

His Prayer, teachings, hearings, miracles, sermons, death, resurrection, - everything is about Kingdom.

Kingdom Man 

Priorities:

Matthew 6:25-27

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one [j]cubit to his [k]stature?

Mans first priority is Basic needs

1) food, water

2) Basic groceries

3) Clothes

4) house

Many of us think these are the priorities. who is the best person to explain that these priorities are not the right ones.

your wife.

Even if you bring best of the food to home, best of the groceries, best of the clothes, bought the best of the house ,  still she is not happy.

Why you think i buy everything to her, but still some issue, whats wrong.

Matthew 6

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Lord Jesus , here estalishes that our priority is not food, water, basic necessities. but it is about Kingdom.

Mans first priority is about seeking Kingdom of God.

Seek  means  pursue, study, explore, reach out, meditate, 

What Adam has lost in the garden, you seek that.

Kingdoms definition is Sovergien rule of  the King, establishing His will, His purpose, so that the people of the Kingdom will have life that reflects the Kings values.

First : not when you are free, not when all the netflix movies are done, not when friends are not hanging out, not when boring time,  not just on sunday morning.

Every moment, seeking His Kingdom and His Rigteousness.

And coming to Righteousness.

Look the most imporatant part of righteousness is that  - your seeking about Kingdom must be about Righteousness.

A kingdom mans  Right Standing before God brings him into alignment with Kingdom LifeStyle and Kingdom Authority to reflect the Kings Values in the life that he live.s

Tonight - As a Kingdom man, our first priority is about seeking first Kingdom and HIs Righteousnes

In next sessions, we will talk about How to Seek this Kingdom.

1) Psalm 128:

The Lord bless you out of Zion,
And may you see the good of Jerusalem
All the days of your life.
6 Yes, may you see your children’s children.

Peace be upon Israel!

The Lord bless you out of Zion.

The Kingdom mans when he seeks and pursues the Kingdom, he will know that the blessing for a man and his family is always from Zion.

The Lord will not bless out of Zion, but in the Zion.

Mount Zion, and on Mount Zion is the city Jerusalem and the Temple.

So every man, the head of the household would always be connected to Zion.

That is why in jewish history,  it is impossible to see any man that is not connected to the place of Worship.

But we see in modern history, it is always women who are mostly connected to Church.

SO what is connection between Zion and Church.

Hebrews 12:2

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels

It was the Father of the house, or man of the house who would take the family to Zion in biblical times.

But today , sadly it was women who goes and asks , can we go to Church today.

Kingdom Man - First seeks Gods Kingdom and His Righteousness.

Becoming a Father -

See when you are single, you would live as you want.But when you become father you will change atleast before your family.

Your talk before , your dress, your dealing - because you are responsible.

Kingdom Man - should be a father.

Identity

How do you know a sportsman belongs to a particular team.

Character - Truth

Influence - Daniel to Shedrach, Mesach, Abednego

Not just on Sunday -  

Monday to Saturday

1 Peter 2:9

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light

Jesus 

The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.

VBS 2020 Day 5

 

Theme

Key Verse

Bible Story

Jesus' power helps us be good friends

John 15:12 "Love each other in the same way I have loved you."

The church is united - Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-35

Acts 2:42-47

42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper[i]), and to prayer.

43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity[j]— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

Acts 4: 32-35

32 All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. 33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. 34 There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them 35 and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.

Acttivity

Sharing 

1 Cup , 1 Spoon and tissues

Phone, Compass, TorchLight

Scissors, Comb.

Skipping Rope, Basket ball

Noodles, Chicken Soup

sanitizer, gloves, mask

Potatoes, Spices, oranges

Story

They had everything in common. No one was in need, because everybody was sharing.

They even sold their stuff and bring to apostles feet.

It is not a sharing out of just your worldly wisdom,  

but there was teaching, and in that teaching, they submitted, and they had joy and they shared.

A life that is share is blessing. A lonely life is not useful for anyone. But a shared life is blessing to many.

Jesus is coming back for Church , not just for individual believers.

Share ..

A greedy man holds back.

But a blessed man shares.

A heart of sharing is  heart of God.

That is what God is.

What is that you are holding back to share

When God is inspiring to share , what are you holding back,

It is the people that God has  put in our lives.

Share with them.

Godly friends encourages you, Check your friends. Can they bring you out of your tough times. Can they encourage you, or do they keep Peer pressure on you.

Pray: for sharing

Memory Verse

John 15:12 "Love each other in the same way I have loved you."