Listening Day
April 18, 2015
Summary Statement:
“A Call to action and perseverance resting in our identity as sons and daughters of the King. Pray boldly, Act with mercy, and Trust Him always.”
Key passage: Jude 1:17-25 (Note: Judy, Rob and others were directed by Spirit to this passage)
17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18 They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. 20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. 22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. 24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
WE ARE IN TIMES OF TESTING
(The Daily Readings: Dan 3:19-30 “Furnace Test” Luke 4:1-13 “Jesus Testing by Satan”)
We are in trying times at New Wine and testing times in our world.
We live among the pagans & scoffers - (Like Daniels friends)
1 Peter 2:12 Live among the Pagans so “they may see your good deeds and glorify God.”
The church and individuals sense a time of spiritual warfare and testing.
WE ARE TO KEEP OURSELVES IN GOD’S LOVE
Isaiah 61:3b We will be the planting of the Lord, oaks of righteousness, for His display
Jude 1:20 “Build yourselves up” How? In love by caring for each other. But also
reminding each other of God’s goodness in times of testing (like Daniels friends)
WE ARE TO PRAY BOLDY
Jude 1:20 We are to pray “in” the Spirit, informed by the mind of Christ, taught by Word
As Children of the King we can speak with authority against spiritual warfare.
Isaiah 61:1-2 In the Spirit we can bind up and proclaim release in the spiritual.
WE ARE TO ACT MERCIFULLY
Isaiah 58:6 “True fast” do justice, aid the oppressed, clothe the naked, feed the hungry
James1:22 Do not just be hearers of the Word but doers of the Word.
example: Follow the Riverside brother who spent his life “sharing the Word”
Jude 1:23 “Snatching them (the lost) from the fire”
Isaiah 61:1f Bind up the broken hearted, proclaim freedom, release captives, comfort
those who mourn, proclaim the good news
(Note June & Judy P were lead to James1:22 once again)
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
WE ARE TO PERSERVE
Jude 1:24 We are not to ‘stumble” but to persevere
A word spoken: “Do not falter when we do not see fruit from what we plan, but seek
God’s plan and pursue after it!”
Matt 5:48 Be “perfect” in loving the hard to love.
“Keep loving, O people my people, keep loving!”
1Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourself and He will lift you up in His time. Worry not He cares for you!
WE WILL HAVE THE VICTORY IN CHRIST
Luke 4:1f Like Christ we are tested, but our victory is found in TRUSTING the Lord.
Prophetic Word: “I will BE There” Again I say “I will BE There”
Psalm 20 our appointed psalm is a “Psalm of Victory” & reminds us in the end the Lord wins!
Jude 1:24 In the end He will present us “perfect” without fault and with great joy.
Despite the times of testing and hardship the victory is assured! PTL
Follow Up Questions:
What will we, New Wine Mission, do in the weeks and months ahead in response to this day?
How will we work at going deeper and resting in the Love of God?
How will our times of meeting with God change?
How will your language of prayer change as you battle the enemies of God?
How is God calling you to action? What new level of doing will you commit to?
How will we encourage each other & remind each other of His promise to “be there”?
