Hello Everyone,
Notice in our text that the Galatians had turned back to the weak and miserable principles of this world for their help and guidance -rather than turning to God.

Read with me: Galatians 4:8-11 8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by

them all over again? 10You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

The word “miserable” that’s used here means …that which is without grace.
How is it that you are turning back to - that which is without grace?

Don’t you know that every principal that has none of God’s grace in it is…?
A. Weak B. Miserable and C. Enslaving?

It’s like trying to drive a car without any gas in the tank.

That’s why in every one of the 13 books Paul wrote –he declares to the reader: “Grace to you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ….

Why: Without grace what I am about to tell you just does not work!

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Illustration: 3rd verse of the hymn Amazing Grace:
Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come;
Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

It does not say –tis worldly principals have brought me safe thus far and worldly principals will lead me home.

Why do people who profess to know God still turn back to weak and miserable principals for their guidance and help rather than turn to God?

We will look at some reasons the rest of this week.

Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

To start off this week I want to ask a question: Are you living like you know God?

Galatians 4:8-11

8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

Paul starts out by saying in the past you did not know God (v8)

Listen, every man or woman who does not know God is living in slavery to something. If God is not your God – then something else is.

He goes on to say now you know God (v9)

Every man or woman who knows God is… known by God.
But doesn’t God know everyone? You might ask.

Jesus will say to every unbeliever: “Depart from me …I don’t know you…”

If you don’t know God- He does not know you as being one of His children.
But here is the problem:

Now that you know God why then are you living like you don’t know God? Is the question that Paul asks? (V9b-11)

“How is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.”

It’s not any different today…

In America – millions and millions profess-to knowing God. But how many of those millions really live like they know God?

Quote: If you want to know whether a man knows God, don’t ask him, observe him.

What could we observe in order to find out if a person really knows God?
The very same thing Paul observed with the Galatians.

He Observed: Where people turned, for their help and guidance?

9b“How is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

If you want to know if a person really knows God watch where they turn to for help and guidance.

Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

Being filled with the Spirit and being continuously filled with the Spirit also involves.

Being In The Word

Those of us who want to be continually Spirit Filled should be spending time in the Word.

Is Studying the Word:

1. A Drudgery?

2. A Duty?

3. A Discipline?

4. A Delight?

2 Tim 3:16-17

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. NKJV

Read the Bible! Study it! Be instructed by it! Obey its commands! Let it correct you!

The Word of God has been given to make you a COMPLETE, WELL- EQUIPPED CHILD OF GOD!!!

You cannot be Spirit influenced or filled without it.

Also to be filled with the Spirit and essential is to be Submissive.

A person who keeps letting the Holy Spirit fill him will consciously, continuously, and voluntarily place himself under God’s influence or control.

No we don’t lose self-control. In fact, we have far more self-control than a person who is not filled with the Spirit.

We are freed from slavery to the sinful habits that once controlled us.

When we have centered our life on Jesus, when we are in the Word of God and it is in us, and when we have submitted to the Holy Spirit’s influence, we can know that we have done our part.

And we can be absolutely sure that God has done His part.

He will respond by filling you with the Spirit.

And we can live a life Under the Influence of the Holy Spirit.

BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT!!!!

Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

Paul commanded the believer’s at Ephesus- and every Christian- to be “filled with the Holy Spirit”

This could literally be translated, “Let the Holy Spirit keep feeling you,” or “Keep letting the Holy Spirit

fill you.”

When Paul told us to be filled with the Spirit, he was telling us to let Him so fill us that everything we think or do is influenced or controlled by Him.

But the question is still “How?” God’s part is clear: He will fill us.

But what is our part?

I believe that being filled with the Spirit and being continuously filled with the Spirit involves some essentials.

First of all we must be Be Christ-Centered

Jesus Christ must be the very center of our lives.

He must be the very focal point of all our thoughts, hopes, and dreams.

In everything we do He must be our example to follow.

When we are Christ centered, we are pleasing the Holy Spirit because that’s what He wants us to do.

Jesus Said in John 16:14: He [the Holy Spirit] will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. NKJV

Whenever we focus our attention on Christ, the Holy Spirit is in partnership with us.

Being Christ-centered, is an essential part of being Spirit Filled.

Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

When we are talking about being under the Influence we see the truth of this when it comes to the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 5:18 Paul says:

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. NIV

A person who becomes drunk on alcohol places himself under its influence or control.

When we submit to the leading of the indwelling Holy Spirit we put our self under His influence or control.

Both the person who either is under the influence of alcohol or under the influence of Holy Spirit have placed themselves under the control of something or someone outside themselves.

Now I want to make sure you understand that the similarity’s are only on the surface.

A person, who is under the influence of alcohol, and under its control, suffers from impaired judgment.

He says and does things he normally wouldn’t do, and a lot of times he can’t remember what he did.

But on the other hand the person who is filled with the Holy Spirit, and under His influence or control, has improved judgment, acts in a responsible way, and has clear recollection of what he said and did while under the influence of the Holy Ghost.

We are influenced by whatever it is that “fills” us.

If we are filled with anger we might say things and do things that we may later regret.

To be filled with the Holy Spirit, then is to be so influenced by, controlled by, or permeated by Him that we will reflect God’s moral character and at the same time be strengthened by His POWER.

Then we will be loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self- controlled.

Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

What Is The Infilling Of The Holy Spirit?

The infilling of the Spirit is the influence or control the Holy Spirit has in our lives when we yield ourselves to Him.

The Spirit of God, that has given us new life and who has taken up residence in us, wants to fill our lives with His goodness and His Power.

He wants us to let Him take control of our lives.

He does not use His power as God to overwhelm us; He fills us only as we submit to Him.

So being filled with the Spirit means that we have placed ourselves under His influence and control.

We have yielded to Him letting Him take over our lives.

For example a person can be filled with:

*Anger

*Fear

*Jealousy

*Grief

*Pride

*Love

*Anxiety

The word filled is used in the Word the same way:

Luke 6:11 But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

NKJV

Acts 5:17 Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, NKJV

Acts 13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.

NKJV

To be filled with something, means to be under its influence or control.

This week we want to see what we are Under The Influence Of?

Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

The Apostle Paul also saw a door of opposition. He said, "There are many who oppose me." It’s true. There will always be those who oppose the advancement of the Gospel.

In Ephesus there was Demetrius who made silver idols & sold them for profit.

When the Gospel was proclaimed & people became Christians they stopped worshiping idols, & Demetrius went out of business.

So he became an opponent of the Gospel, & started persecuting Paul.

But many times the most challenging opponents to the advancement of the Gospel are not its enemies. They are the people who sit in the pews & who are nominal Christians.

They hear the messages. They see the blind people wandering towards the cliff, but they go home unmoved & uncaring.

And they are some of the greatest opponents.

Let us be careful not to just live nominal Christian lives.

Doors, all kinds of doors, are swinging open. And there will be opponents, no question about that. But we do not look at the problems.

We must see the opportunities and our own personal obligation to go into all the world & preach the Gospel.

We are standing in front of A GREAT OPEN DOOR. Let’s walk through it.

Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,
Paul also saw a door of obligation. He said, "The door is opened to me." He didn’t say it was opened to Timothy or Barnabas or someone else.

It had opened to him.

He felt a personal obligation to stay in Ephesus & preach the Word of God to them.

Each of us must realize that I can’t do your work for you, & you can’t do my work for me. We have a personal obligation to share the Gospel wherever we are.

As we see more and more people hurting and in need as we see new homes being built in our neighborhoods as we see new families move from other cities it is an opportunity to reach out to more & more people.

God is opening doors. But it becomes my obligation & your obligation to walk through this door of opportunity and obligation.

Can you hear the voice of God saying as He did to Isaiah, `Whom shall I send??’ "

The world is lost there is a cliff & people are walking blindly toward it. Does anybody care? Will anybody stand with Isaiah & say, "Here am I, Lord, send me"?

Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

Ephesus was not exactly a place where most Christians would have wanted to settle.

Yes, it was a big city, one of the major cities in the eastern Mediterranean area. It was a financial & commercial center & a very rich city.

It boasted one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The Temple of Diana was there with all its immorality & legalized prostitution.

It was a city where people were superstitious & believed in magic. They were constantly looking for soothsayers & fortune tellers to guide their lives.

It was not a place where Christians would normally want to live.

But when Paul looked at Ephesus & saw the thousands of people going about their daily activities, he said, "There is an open door here & I guess I’ll stay on a while longer." He saw the opportunity that was there.

Someone has said that the difference between a pessimist & an optimist is that a pessimist sees a problem in every opportunity. But an optimist sees an opportunity in every problem.

Paul saw the opportunities. There were so many people who needed to hear about Jesus, & Paul was determined to share the Gospel with them.

Paul was a master missionary. He said, "I have become all things to all people." "If you need a preacher, I’ll be a preacher. If you need a teacher I’ll be a teacher. If you need a tentmaker, I’ll make tents with you. I will become all things so that some of you might come to know Christ Jesus."

We must also realize that there is more than one way to get the job done.

Remember that in the 8th chapter of the Book of Acts persecution came to the church in Jerusalem. And many Christians had to flee from Jerusalem to escape the persecution.

Vs. 4 tells us that "Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went."

Wherever they went, they shared their faith. And they turned the world upside down with the gospel. The whole world started changing because wherever they went they told others about Jesus.

People from all over the world are coming to our cities. God can use this to give us opportunities to share the Gospel with the world.

Today doors are opening all over. I believe God is getting ready for a great surge before He comes again.

As never before, we have opportunities to go through doors & preach the Gospel to people who or ready to hear.

⁹because a great door for effective work has opened to “us”.

What an Opportunity!

Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

Read with me:1 Corinthians 16:5-9

⁵After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you—for I will be going through Macedonia. ⁶Perhaps I will stay with you awhile, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. ⁷I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. ⁸But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, ⁹because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me. (Emphasis added)

God was opening up a great door for Paul in Ephesus.

Paul ends up staying 3 years there, more than twice as long as he ever stayed any place else on his journeys.

God not only used Paul to start a great church in Ephesus, but while he was there, many more churches were started in the towns & cities around Ephesus.

It became a center from which the gospel flowed throughout all the area around them.

Now the point I want to make is this: When Paul saw that great door opening for him, he saw that it was a door of opportunity, a door of obligation, & a door of opposition.

I know without a shadow of doubt that for the Freedom Center “a great door for effective work has opened”.

Let’s GO THROUGH IT!

Oh How HE Loves US!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

What are the rewards when the Spirit helps us?

• Confidence in the midst of uncertainty. (27)

“…the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will”.

The word “intercede” means to “speak in behalf of, to appeal and plead for.”

Prayer in the Spirit is a side bar. (The Judge in a court setting says for the Lawyer and the defendant to come up to the bench.)

God says time out come up to the bench.

So we have certainty in times of uncertainty.

• Direction in times of darkness. (26)

“We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit…”

Prayer in the Spirit is”Night Vision”. It gives us access to God’s will.

Charles Spurgeon captures this best when he said: “The Holy Spirit’s intercessions have in them such a blessed blending of all that is good that they come up as a sweet perfume before the Lord…That prayer which came from heaven will certainly go back to heaven. If the Holy Ghost prompts it, the Father must and will accept it, for it is not possible that He should put a slight (to make trivial or insignificant) upon the ever blessed and adorable Spirit.”

“…the Spirit HELPS US…”

All Through the Word of God we see how we ought to pray. If there is anything that needs to be clear it is this: the people of God are called to be a people of prayer.

If we want to bring glory to God, our lives must be consumed with seeking the face of God.

Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

“the Spirit helps us in our weakness”

Not from a weakness that we would need to recover from. This word literally means “without strength”. Exhausted or incapacitated.

I’m really glad to know this.

Some of us think that we have to be strong in order for God to use us. Actually, God goes to work when we’re weak.

2 Corinthians 12:10 says: “For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Hebrews 4:15 tells us that the Son sympathizes with us when we feel feeble: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses…”

• Life demands more than we can give. Ministry demands more than we can give. (26)
• Prayer can be difficult. (26)
• God’s will can be difficult to find. (27)

When we pray in the natural there is.

God’s will ^/ Mind of the Spirit^/ Our hearts >.

When we pray in the Spirit there is.

God’s will^/ Mind of the Spirit^/Our hearts^.

Prayer in the Spirit requires spiritual brokenness. (26)

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

Prayer in the Spirit requires our active participation. (26)

“…with groans that words cannot express”.

It’s so intense that words are inadequate to express it.

In Paul’s time silent prayer was not a part of the culture.

Prayer in the Spirit requires a life of obedience. (27)

“And he who searches our hearts…”

The word for “search” means to make a thorough investigation.

This is God’s continual activity. He never stops or takes a break.

1 Chronicles 28:9: “…For the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.”

Psalm 44:21: “…He knows the secrets of the heart.”

I don’t know what God’s will is. But the Spirit does.

Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

We have a prayer partner the Spirit helps us when we pray. Read with me.

Romans 8:26-27 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. ²⁷And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

²⁸And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ²⁹For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

From this text we know four truths about prayer:

#1 The Holy Spirit helps us to know what and how to pray (verse 26)
#2 The Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf (verse 26)
#3 God hears our hearts more than the words we pray (verse 27)
#4 Prayer is always answered (verses 28-29), though not always according to our agenda.

At a meeting of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Bobby Richardson, former New York Yankee second baseman, offered a prayer that is a classic in brevity and to the point: "Dear God, Your will, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. Amen."

To many times our focus when it comes to being filled with the Spirit is the “ought to” instead of the “why”?

How can I pray in faith when I am living in a time that is so uncertain?

That is the question that we are going to answer this week.

Oh How He Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

WAITING FOR GOD TO ANSWER IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL THINGS IN OUR PRAYER LIFE THAT WE CAN DO.

Luke 11:8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

The neighbor didn’t leave without having his need met.

The man was asking for another person’s need. (Intercessory)
He was asking for a need.

*He wasn’t leaving till the need was met.

Keep praying until God answers your prayer.
(Okay. I know what you’re thinking. How do you know what God’s answer is?

God answers every prayer in one of three ways....

1. YES (The prayer is answered immediately.)
   *MK 10:52 "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! [9] If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, [10] then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed)

2. YES, BUT NOT RIGHT NOW. (The prayer is answered eventually)

*Raising of Lazuras
JN 11:1 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. [2] This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. [3] So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick." [5] Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. [6] Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. {17} On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.

*Jesus is the only friend I have who can be six days late and still be just on time!

3. NO. (The prayer is answered negatively)
*2 Cor. 12:7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. [8] Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. [9] But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. [10] That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Quoting Jim Cymbala in Fresh Wind Fresh Fire:

Does anyone really think that America today is lacking preachers, books, Bible translations, and neat doctrinal statements? What we really lack is the passion to call upon the Lord until He opens the heavens and shows Himself POWERFUL.

God will show Himself POWERFUL when we pray. WHY?

Because He Loves Us So!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

PERSISTENCE is a major key in a powerful prayer life.

Luke 11:7b "..don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.

When he heard this, how do you think it made him fill? (Disappointed, hurt, frustrated, hopeless, mad, ticked off)

How many of you would have gone home? NOT THIS GUY!!!!
*He knocked harder in spite of being told "no" the first time.

LUKE 11:8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s BOLDNESS he will get up.."

*Jesus is telling his followers to shamelessly bug God with their prayers.
(NOT THE ONLY TIME HE TELLS THEM TOO!!!)

*Luke 18:1-8 (The Message) Jesus told them a story that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. He said, "There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. A widow in that city kept after him: `My rights are being violated. Protect me!’ "He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said to himself, `I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. But because this widow won’t quit badgering me, I’d better do something and see that she gets justice—otherwise I’m going to end up beaten black and blue by her pounding.’" Then the Master said, "Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think God won’t step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won’t he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?"

* Keep praying until something happens!!!

Powerful prayer is persistent’

I Thess. 5:17 "pray continuously" HOW?
*How does a mother love her child w/o ceasing?
*How do you breath/see/hear w/o ceasing?
*A healthy mom does it NATURALLY. Healthy people do it NATURALLY.
*If you are spiritually healthy, you’ll pray without ceasing...NATURALLY.

Heb.4:16 "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

*Without pride. Without shame. Without dignity. Without ego.
*Don’t care what others think, feel or believe...You’re Going To God out of shamelessness....persistently!!

God wants us to shamelessly crank up our prayers. Consistently, Persistently. (No regard to pride, ego, self,...)

You learn to pray by praying!!!!! "Pray without ceasing!"

How long do you pray? Until God answers.

Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

PERSISTENCE is a major key in a powerful prayer life.

Luke 11:7b "..don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.

When he heard this, how do you think it made him fill? (Disappointed, hurt, frustrated, hopeless, mad, ticked off)

How many of you would have gone home? NOT THIS GUY!!!!
*He knocked harder in spite of being told "no" the first time.

LUKE 11:8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s BOLDNESS he will get up.."

*Jesus is telling his followers to shamelessly bug God with their prayers.
(NOT THE ONLY TIME HE TELLS THEM TOO!!!)

*Luke 18:1-8 (The Message) Jesus told them a story that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. He said, "There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. A widow in that city kept after him: `My rights are being violated. Protect me!’ "He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said to himself, `I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. But because this widow won’t quit badgering me, I’d better do something and see that she gets justice—otherwise I’m going to end up beaten black and blue by her pounding.’" Then the Master said, "Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think God won’t step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won’t he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?"

* Keep praying until something happens!!!

Powerful prayer is persistent’

I Thess. 5:17 "pray continuously" HOW?
*How does a mother love her child w/o ceasing?
*How do you breath/see/hear w/o ceasing?
*A healthy mom does it NATURALLY. Healthy people do it NATURALLY.
*If you are spiritually healthy, you’ll pray without ceasing...NATURALLY.

Heb.4:16 "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

*Without pride. Without shame. Without dignity. Without ego.
*Don’t care what others think, feel or believe...You’re Going To God out of shamelessness....persistently!!

God wants us to shamelessly crank up our prayers. Consistently, Persistently. (No regard to pride, ego, self,...)

You learn to pray by praying!!!!! "Pray without ceasing!"

How long do you pray? Until God answers.

Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil