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Knock: The Power of Persistence

8/27/2016

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FIVE KEYS TO POWERFUL PRAYER

Terry R. Baughman
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7–8).
    Persistence is not always seen as a virtue. A persistent child may weary you with the continual repetition of a request. Regardless of how many times you refuse to grant the plea the child continues to find another way to present the question to produce the desired outcome. Finally, in exasperation you may grant the request only to give you some peace of mind, thus further confirming to the child that persistence pays and if one asks long enough the desire will be granted. 
    That was the story of the woman in Scripture who sought a legal remedy from an unsympathetic judge. (See Luke 18:1–8.) Though the judge cared little for the opinions of people or the personal problems of the widow, he did care about his own peace of mind. It became apparent that he would get no rest until he heard the case of this woman and provided an answer to her situation. God is not an unrighteous, uncaring judge. He is concerned about our needs and ready to hear our petitions. We can trust Him to hear our cause and judge fairly.
    The King James Version of the Bible uses an old English form in some verbs that denote a continuing action. It is the addition of the “eth” in the verb form that denotes this action as seen in this verse, “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:8 KJV). So the one who continues to ask, seek and knock will continue to receive, and find, and experience open doors. This is the power of persistence. Jesus instructed us to keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keep on knocking!
    A real knock is seldom just a single tap on the door. That type of knock is more like an, “I don’t want to disturb you, but if you hear this tap maybe you’ll come to the door.” A knock that seeks to be heard and desires an answer is often repeated. It is firm and sure. It is a knock that insists on a response. A persistent knock will not be ignored and demands attention. 
    Jesus again spoke of someone who had a late night guest and was compelled to prepare food for the traveler. However, lacking bread he hurried to a neighbor to seek to borrow some. Being late, everyone was asleep and did not wish to be disturbed. They tried to ignore the knock of their friend at the door. When he did not give up, but continued to knock and call for assistance, finally the man arose and gave him what he sought. (See Luke 11:1–7.)
    Later in the chapter Jesus pointed out the comparison of an earthly father with the heavenly, “If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:11–13). We can be assured that God hears us when we pray and it is His pleasure to give us the desires of our hearts. Keep on knocking!
Scripture:
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).

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LifeChurch Bulletin 8/28/16

8/26/2016

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Seek: The Power of Searching

8/20/2016

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FIVE KEYS TO POWERFUL PRAYER

Terry R. Baughman
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
    This generation seeks answers instantly on the internet. Our vocabulary has expanded to accommodate contemporary usage. While Google is an expansive tech company, they are well known for their search engine which can instantly find answers to frequently asked questions. The entry of keywords will produce thousands of websites in response to a query. The name of the company has become a verb to identify the search action. One might hear someone say, “I googled to find the answer.”
    Unfortunately, Google cannot help us find all the answers. In our search for the “Will of God” we will not see it materialize on our device screen as a result of our questions. Google cannot return answers or resources for the weighty questions of eternity or the moral dilemmas of ethical situations. We can use internet resources to define words and perhaps bring up articles of what others have found in their search for answers, but it will not result in the answers to the most perplexing questions in our quest for God. 
    Even though the Apostle Paul did not have the internet he was aware that there are some things that cannot be seen or understood with natural wisdom. The things of eternity and the wonders of God’s preparation cannot be viewed with human eyes or comprehended with natural ears. But, Paul said, “God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10). 
    Some answers will only be found through the Spirit of God as we seek Him through prayer and meditating on His Word. He desires us to know His Word and His will for us. He has given us His Word and His Spirit so that we might seek after Him and find Him. “God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us” (Acts 17:27 NIV).
    Without the Spirit of Christ we are unable to understand some spiritual concepts. Paul said, “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV). However, the Holy Spirit is a free gift available to all. As we seek God we must first seek to be filled with His Spirit. It is a promised gift from our good and great God, “If you … know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13).
    Through the Spirit we can begin to understand the things of the Spirit. It is not that God is so mystical or elusive, but rather that we are carnal and blinded through our natural inclinations. The more we seek God the more we will comprehend the things of the Spirit. By the power of the Spirit we find the answers we are seeking. Take confidence in the words of the Proverb, “Those who seek me diligently will find me” (Proverbs 8:17). 
​

Scripture:
“You will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 4:29).

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LifeChurch Bulletin 8/21/16

8/19/2016

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Ask: The Power of Petition

8/14/2016

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FIVE KEYS TO POWERFUL PRAYER

Terry R. Baughman
“You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:2-3 NIV).
    Prayer is a privilege and a responsibility. It is communicating with God in a personal and meaningful way. While some may focus on the posture of prayer, like kneeling, sitting, or prostrating on the floor, others memorize phrases and recitations to repeat as they count beads or mark off minutes in prayer. Over the next five weeks we will learn some biblical keys to powerful prayer.
    Jesus taught us to pray, first by example and then by instruction. He went into the wilderness for a time of prayer and fasting in preparation for His ministry. He frequently prayed and asked the disciples to join Him in prayer. When the disciples asked that Jesus would teach them how to pray He gave them an example in what we have identified as, The Lord’s Prayer. (See Matthew 6:9–13 and Luke 11:2–4.) 
    A study of prayer in the New Testament will give us some useful keys to powerful prayer. The first key is ASK. There is power in petition. When we frame our words and speak what we desire from God we are fulfilling an important part of prayer. Jesus gave us an assurance that if we will ask, it will be given. “Everyone who asks receives” (Matthew 7:7–8).
    On the other hand, James warns that sometimes we do not receive simply because, “You do not ask,” or perhaps that we ask with impure motives seeking only to fulfill our own pleasures (James 4:2–3). When we ask God for the things we need or we are requesting His intervention in something that will fulfill His purpose we can fully expect answers to our prayers. Jesus said, “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:13–14). 
    God gives us many blessings that we have not requested. We have seen His intervention before we even prayed. We have received protection from harm or provision for an unexpected need. However, the fact that God has graciously provided for us in the past does not negate our need to pray, or nullify our need to present petitions in the future. Even though God knows our needs before we do He still expects us to ask. 
    One of the benefits of our petitions in prayer is that when the answer comes we can give witness to the miraculous provision of God. When we ask for specific direction in situations or miraculous intervention in a hopeless condition and we see the answer come, there is no doubt that God has heard our prayer. God moves in response to our faith filled petitions and increases our capacity to ask for more in the future. Answered prayer is one of the greatest testimonies we can share. This results in greater faith for future needs and inspires others to pray in faith.
    A failure to ask is a missed opportunity in prayer. It results in a failure to receive an answer from God and a missed opportunity to grow in faith. The lessons of Scripture are to remind us to ask, present your petitions with expectation for the answers that are on the way. 


Scripture:
“If we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:15).

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LifeChurch Bulletin 8/14/16

8/13/2016

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Reflecting God in our Faith 

8/6/2016

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THE PURPOSE OF WORSHIP
Terry R. Baughman

​“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together” (Psalm 34:1–3). 
    Worshipping God is both internal and external. It causes us to acknowledge the reality of God’s involvement in our lives while bringing attention to Him in our social circles. Others come to know God through our worship and we internalize the truth of His powerful presence in the process. As this is accomplished we begin to reflect God thoughts and God’s character as we live out our faith in this world. 
    In Psalm 34 David declared, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Worship is to be a constant part of our lives, not just a weekly (or even daily) ritual. Worship is not something we do, rather something we are. It goes on continually and at all times. Obviously we cannot be clapping, dancing, or singing all the time, so the implication is that worship will become so much a part of our lives that our conversation brings glory to God, our activities give evidence of the influence of God’s presence in our lives, and our faith in God is reflected in all we do. 
    David said, “My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.” Not everyone will be impressed with our display of faith in God. The atheist will protest that worship should be a private matter and a psychological crutch. The agnostic will be annoyed with God-talk and the acknowledgement of God’s presence in our lives. The carnal citizen will be uncomfortable with the evidence of divine accountability in everyday decisions, but there are some who will “hear of it and be glad!” 
    Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). The humble shall be exalted. The “poor in spirit” will receive the blessings of the kingdom of God. Humility is a powerful virtue. When we come to God in humility we have the assurance of His attention and the promise of His grace. “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). The “humble shall hear” and they will be glad!
    True worship will bring us in fellowship with others of the same desire. As God is reflected in every part of our lives others will be attracted both to you and to God. There is a fellowship of worship that will evolve from our connection with others who are like minded. David said, “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.” When we come together for the purpose of worship there is great unity and further exaltation of the greatness of God. A few believing disciples who discover the purpose of worship will become a great congregation of power. 
    His presence is an external witness of an internal conviction. God dwells where praise abounds. When we worship Him we can expect the visitation of the Almighty God. His fame becomes greater as we exalt His name together!


Scripture:
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10).

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LifeChurch Bulletin 8/7/16

8/5/2016

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    Author

    Terry R Baughman is Lead Pastor for LifeChurch in Gilbert, AZ.  See his complete bio at trbaughman.com 

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