February 28, 2021
Sunday AM
Luke 11:1-4 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”
2 So He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
4 And forgive us our sins,
For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.”
Exodus 20:18-21 Now all the people witnessed the thundering’s, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. 19 Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”20 And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.” 21 So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.
Your success in life will be determined by 3 things.
1. Your prayer life
a. Without a consistent, fervent prayer life, you will never know God nor will you have the ability to live the life He has prepared for you. As you pray His life flows to you and gives you a supernatural ability to walk out the scriptures.
b. Anyone can learn to pray and have their own personal prayer life. If you don’t have a prayer life, it is because you don’t want one.
2. How selfishly you will live your life
a. It is your choice how you will live your life. The question is, “how will you live your life?” NOT “what will you do with your life?”
b. If you choose to live your life for yourself and what you want in life, you will never have what God wants for you. But if you choose to live for Him, and what He wants in your life, that opens an avenue for Him to come in.
3. Will you stand at a distance, or draw near?
a. Exodus 20:21So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.
b. God came to meet them face to face. It was quite an experience. So much so, that many were literally afraid. They started to distance themselves and stood afar off. But, Moses drew near!
Luke 17:11-19 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”
Samaria was a place of rejection. It’s where the outcasts or “unclean” dwelled. Leprosy was incurable and very contagious. These people were “quarantined” in a way. Part of the law of that time, was that when you go to the priest, He would verify you as “clean” and that gave you the right to go back into society and the temple. According to the law, you couldn’t go to the priest until you were healed. But, in this passage, Jesus told them to do something that was totally against logic. All He was asking them to do was obey Him. (Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.)He tells them to go show themselves to the priest, all ten of them. They were not healed in an instant, but as they journeyed towards the priest. They were asked to do something. People are waiting for God to do something, before they do something. It does not work that way! If you operate like this, you will stay the very same and continue to be stuck in your own ways. You must decide you are going to obey. This is called faith! Faith is simple. It is acting on what God said to do. They were cleansed as they were on their way! One of them noticed what was happening on this journey and turned back. With a LOUD VOICE he glorified God. Fell down on his face and gave God the gratitude. Jesus was curious where the other 9 that were healed. “Your faith has made you well.” See what your faith can do for you? We have faith! We’re not trying to get faith; we already have it. Faith was redeemed in us when we were born again. We just need to learn to use the faith we have! We just need to obey! God has numerous ways of healing. In this instance, He simply spoke His word. If you’re going to have God’s best, you have to stop living your life so selfishly. The 9 were selfish and did not give the glory to God. Be the ONE not one of the nine! Don’t be ashamed or afraid! Thank Him for it even if you don’t see it or feel it! When Jesus sat down at the right hand of God, He said,” It’s done. It is completed. All I need to do has been done.” We ought to be the happiest people on earth! Most want God to do something for you before you give the thanks. Have you given Him thanks for the last thing He did for you? If people would live a thankful life, they would have less problems. Don’t be one of the nine who did not give thanks! Be the one!