We won't dream any bigger than what we think is possible.
Reality shrinks the "what's possible" down to "what's manageable"
(Photo of Colton in Rome)
The Colosseum in Rome was 144ft tall. It had 72 different "marked" entrances. Plus 4 more. 2 - VIP entrances, Gladiator Entrance, and the Emperor's entrance.
Construction was started in 72 A.D. by Vespasian and Completed in 80 A.D. by Titus
In the 1700's Pope Benedict the 7th Dedicated the Coliseum to the Christian Martyrs who died there.
Did not recognize His purpose
It was Passover, same time as when God sent a destroyer of enemies.
Moses set them free on the Passover. Was Jesus the one they have been waiting for?
Did not accept His terms
I want there to be a God as long as he gives me what I want, when I want it, on my terms.
Jesus often times said, "He who has an ear to hear, let him hear" In this story of the rich man and Lazarus, Abraham says the brothers of the rich man would not believe in God even if a dead man came back to life and told them. - Those who see, take off their shoes - Those who don't, go through life like "this" is all there is.
The Blessing comes to those who seek him with their whole heart. We have divided passions. We have divided loyalties. We must take time to clear the mechanism. (For love of the Game)
Sermons on giving that are NOT being preached today
Giving is a Sacrifice…an offering of our First Fruit
Giving is Heart Transforming Heb. 7 - The Lesser is Blessed by the Greater…and the Lesser Tithes to the Greater Year of the Towel - I am to be a servant. It’s a Humility thing
Giving is a Sowing and Reaping Exercise in Faith Luke 6:38-39 - The measure you use …
Moses’ point isn’t that “life doesn’t matter," his point is that your only hope for significance is to put yourself into the context of what God is doing.
Vs. 11 - If we could see God as He is, we would give Him the reverence that is due Him.
God’s glory is so powerful you would burn up if you laid eyes upon it.
The Bible reads like a who’s who when it comes to fasting:
Moses
David
Elijah
Esther
Daniel
Paul, and all the remaining Apostles
Jesus
Church history reveals that Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley all fasted. Secular history also shows that great thinkers like, Confucius, Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Hippocrates all fasted.
Jesus wasn’t tempted because he was weak from fasting (not like us, James – drawn away and enticed) Jesus went willingly to do battle -Fasting was his preparation
If the physical is not linked to the spiritual then it is a waste of time and effort.
Fasting for a Spiritual Breakthrough
Small group – Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel, Mark, Acts - Linking of the spiritual and physical through fasting and prayer.
POWERFUL spiritual breakthroughs (Mark 9 – ONLY with prayer and fasting)
Daniel - fasting, praying, confessing making requests to God’s holy hill….Gabriel appeared and said, “I have come to give you INSIGHT and UNDERSTANDING”!!
Genesis 24:26 - "And the man bowed down his head, and worshiped the LORD."
Exodus 4:31 - "then they bowed their heads and worshiped."
Exodus 12:2 - "And the people bowed their head and worshiped."
Exodus 34:8 (ASV) - "And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped."
Kneeling
1Kings 8:54 - "Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven."
Ezra 9:5 - "I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God,"
Psalms 95:6 (ASV) - "O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker."
Isaiah 45:23 - "That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear."
Luke 22:41 - "And Jesus was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,"
Ephesians 3:14 (ASV) - "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,"
On the face before God
Numbers 20:6 - "and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them."
Joshua 5:14 - "And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship"
1Kings 18:42 - "And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,"
2 Chronicles 20:18 - "And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with [his] face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshiping the LORD."
Matthew 26:39 - "Jesus went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed"
Revelation 7:11 - "fell before the throne on their faces, and worshiped God"
Note that slanderers were listed with homosexuals.
It’s funny how some Christian people consider homosexuality to be so perverse and anathema but we wouldn’t bat an eye before tearing someone down with our words.
People lie. Southerners are the worst at this….we are protective liars (to protect you from the truth) but we are really APPROVAL ADDICTS and we don’t want you to think bad about us or worse…talk bad about us so WE WON’T TELL YOU THE TRUTH!
“For every thousand hacking at the leaves of evil, there is only one striking at the root”
~ Steven Covey
We all know we have a “word” problem, but all we do is to address a few of the peripheral issues and never strike at the root.
What is going on inside my heart to cause that to overflow?
Why do people slander? Gossip? Deceive? Tear down others with their words?
It is because HURTING people HURT people.
We tear others down to NUMB the PAIN of our own sin, our own weaknesses, our own mistakes.