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A HEARTY SHALOM TO ALL OF YOU.
JEFFREY SEIF HERE WITH ZOLA LEVITT PRESENTS.
PRESENTING THE 7TH OF AN 8 PART TREATMENT
OF "SAR SHALOM - PRINCE OF PEACE".
AND GOODNESS KNOWS WE NEED MORE OF IT.
SOMETIMES ONE OF THE GREATEST PEACE ROBBERS
IS FEAR AND FRETTING.
WE'RE TOLD IN THE SCRIPTURE THAT IF WE SEEK HIM
WE'RE GOING TO FIND HIM
AND THERE'S A VICTORY FOR US.
LET'S HEAR JESUS ON THAT NOW AND MORE.
A WOMAN STANDS AT AN UNOPENED DOOR NOT LIFTING A FINGER...
"KNOCK AND IT WILL BE OPENED", SAYS THE LORD.
"SEEK AND YOU WILL FIND."
IT SEEMS SHE HAS THE SEEKING PART JUST FINE.
SHE LOOKS THROUGH THE WINDOW,
BEHIND THE HOUSE
AND THEN RETRACES HER STEPS
STILL UNABLE TO FIND AN ENTRANCE.
COULD IT BE SHE HAS OVERLOOKED ONE ADMONITION?
SIMPLY... KNOCK AND IT WILL BE OPENED.
ANXIOUS ARE WE?
A LITTLE RESTLESS PERHAPS?
IF NOT NOW,
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN AT A PLACE IN YOUR LIFE
WHERE YOU WERE LOOKING FOR ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS...
YOU HAD A NEED....
YOU HAD A PROBLEM...
OR TO USE THE JEWISH EXPRESSION,
YOU HAD "TZOROS"... "TROUBLES"...
TROUBLES LIKE YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE!
IF SO YOU'LL BE PLEASED TO KNOW
THAT I'M COMING TO YOU FROM BETHSAIDA IN THE GALILEE.
BETHSAIDA IS FROM AN ARAMAIC TERM
MEANING "THE HOUSE OF FISH".
IT'S AN OLD FISHING VILLAGE
POPULATED BY THE LIKES OF PHILIP, ANDREW, PETER
AND OTHER OF JESUS' DISCIPLES.
WHEN JESUS TOLD THE STORY ONCE ABOUT "SEEK AND YOU'LL FIND",
"KNOCK AND IT WILL BE OPENED",
I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER IF MAYBE, JUST MAYBE,
HE WAS ALLUDING TO EXPERIENCE HERE IN BETHSAIDA,
PERHAPS A WOMAN, PERHAPS A MAN,
SOMEONE GOING HOUSE TO HOUSE LOOKING FOR A NEED.
I THINK WE ALL HAVE A NEED
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO LOOK IN THE SCRIPTURES
AND SEE THIS FAMOUS STORY AND HOW IT MIGHT APPLY TO US TODAY.
I WANT YOU TO LOOK WITH ME...
DON'T GET COMFORTABLE WITH ME
BUT LOOK WITH ME HERE PLEASE IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 7, VERSE 7.
AND THE REASON WHY I SAY DON'T GET TOO COMFORTABLE WITH ME
WILL BECOME APPARENT IN A MOMENT.
JESUS SAYS "ASK AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU".
YOU GO "YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WANT...GOD TO GIVE IT TO ME."
OKAY...
HE SAYS "SEEK AND YOU WILL FIND".
"YEAH, THERE YOU GO GOD...YEAH HOOK ME UP."
"KNOCK AND IT WILL BE OPENED TO YOU."
SOUNDS GOOD DOESN'T IT?
GOD IS THERE AND WE JUST TAKE OUR PRAYERS TO HIM
AND HE'S LIKE THE PIZZA DELIVERY MAN, HE'LL GET IT TO YOU QUICK.
IN VERSE 8, "FOR EVERYONE WHO ASKS RECEIVES"
"AND HE WHO SEEKS FINDS"
"AND TO HIM WHO KNOCKS IT WILL BE OPENED."
SOMEONE CAN GO..."YEAH THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKIN ABOUT..."
"I CAN USE SOME RELIGION LIKE THAT."
"HERE I AM DOWN HERE ALL MESSED UP"
"AND GOD'S WILLING TO SHOW UP."
WELL FOR YOU I'VE GOT SOME GOOD NEWS AND SOME BAD NEWS.
THE GOOD NEWS IS HE MEANS WHAT HE SAYS AND HE DOES SHOW UP.
HE WILL SHOW UP.
THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS.
THE BAD NEWS IS THAT THIS STORY ISN'T ABOUT WHAT HE'LL DO
AS MUCH AS IT'S ABOUT WHAT HE WANTS US TO DO.
THE REASON WHY I SAY THAT,
HE SAYS "YEAH, GOD'S GOING TO HOOK YOU UP,"
"GOD'S GOING TO HELP YOU."...
REALIZING THAT... WHAT SORT OF MEN AND WOMEN OUGHT WE TO BE?
THIS IS THE POINT IN VERSE 12,
MINDFUL THAT WE HAVE A LOVING GOD WHO'S GOING TO TAKE CARE OF US, JESUS SAYS,
"THEREFORE, WHATEVER YOU WANT MEN OR WOMEN TO DO TO YOU DO ALSO TO THEM",
WHICH IS THE POINT OF THE STORY,
"FOR THIS IS THE TORAH", OR "THE LAW",
OR "THE TEACHING", "AND THE PROPHETS",THE "NEVI'IM".
IF ONE LOOKS AT JESUS' POINT,
NEVER MIND OUR OWN WANTING THE LORD TO SHOW UP AND BE OUR SANTA WITH PRESENTS IN HAND,
THAT BEING TRUE, HE'S WILLING TO DO THAT;
WHAT HE WANTS FROM US IS
HE WANTS US TO DO UNTO OTHERS THE WAY THAT WE WOULD HAVE GOD TO DO UNTO US.
NOW LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION,
IN YOUR HEART OF HEARTS DO YOU HAVE THAT MESSAGE,
"WHATEVER YOU WANT MEN TO DO TO YOU DO ALSO TO THEM"?
INASMUCH AS YOU WANT TO BE SERVICED BY GOD AND OTHERS,
BE OF SERVICE YOURSELF TO OTHERS
AND YOU'LL SEE THE LORD COMING THROUGH FOR YOU IN WAYS YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE.
IT'S A NARROW, PRECARIOUS PATHWAY.
SOME HAVE FOUND THEIR WAY TO THE TOP SUCCESSFULLY,
WHILE OTHERS HAD NOT.
THERE'S LITTLE QUESTION THAT THE WAY IS DIFFICULT,
LITTLE QUESTION THE OBSTACLES ARE REAL
BUT THE GOAL IS WORTH THE PRIZE.
WAITING JUST AHEAD AT THE END OF THE PATH
IS LIFE ETERNAL
AND THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
AND JESUS SAID "ENTER BY THE NARROW WAY,"
"THE WAY THAT LEADS TO LIFE".
HE SPOKE OF THE OTHER WAY AS A WAY THAT LEADS TO DEATH.
I'VE DISCOVERED BY THE WAY
THAT PEOPLE CAN LEAD THEMSELVES TO RUIN VERY EASILY.
JESUS SAYS THE WAY TO LIFE IS RATHER HARD TO FIND,
IT'S A NARROW WAY
AND THOSE THAT MAKE THEIR WAY TO IT ARE FEW.
THE BROAD WAY, THE WIDE WAY IS THE EASY WAY, IS RATHER SIMPLE,
IT'S RATHER NATURAL AT ONE LEVEL.
YOU CAN GO THE WAY OF RUIN ONE FORK FULL AT A TIME,
ONE SODA POP AT A TIME,
EATING THE WRONG FOOD,
DRINKING THE WRONG DRINK
COULD JUST BRING YOU DOWN.
IT CAN BE YOUR ADDICTION, YOUR LOVE OF ALCOHOL,
YOU CAN JUST DRINK YOURSELF INTO RUIN,
YOU CAN EAT YOURSELF INTO RUIN,
YOU CAN JUST FOLLOW THE NATURAL INCLINATION OF *** APPETITES GONE AWRY
AND BRING YOURSELF INTO RUIN THAT WAY.
AND WE LIVE IN A WORLD TODAY DON'T WE,
WHERE THERE IS SO MUCH PAIN,
SO MUCH DESPAIR,
SO MUCH DISORIENTATION,
SO MUCH RUIN.
WE DO WELL TO LOOK AND SEE WHAT JESUS SAYS ABOUT THAT NARROW WAY
AND THAT BROAD WAY.
AND HE SAID "ENTER BY THE NARROW GATE"
"FOR WIDE IS THE GATE AND BROAD IS THE WAY THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION"
"AND THERE ARE MANY WHO GO IN BY IT."
THE PATHWAY TO HELL IS THE HIGHWAY TO HELL.
CONVERSELY HE SAYS,
"NARROW IS THE GATE AND DIFFICULT IS THE WAY WHICH LEADS TO LIFE"
"AND THERE ARE PRECIOUS FEW WHO FIND IT."
THE WAY IS NARROW, IT'S HARD;
FEW FIND IT...
THIS SOUNDS VERY CHALLENGING TO ME.
WHEN THE LORD TALKS ABOUT WALKING ON THE PATH TO LIFE
HE'S HARKING TO A JEWISH EXPRESSION,
RABBINIC THEOLOGY SPEAKS OF "HALAKHA"
WHICH IS THE TORAH OBSERVANT WAY TO WALK FOR OBSERVANT JEWS.
THERE'S WHAT'S CALLED "MIDRASH HALAKHA";
THE WORD "HALAKHA" IN HEBREW COMES FROM "HALAK";
IT'S A VERB WHICH MEANS "TO WALK".
THE JOURNEY WITH GOD IS CALLED A WALK.
THE LORD BECKONED ABRAHAM TO WALK WITH HIM.
OTHERS WALKED WITH GOD;
IT SAYS, I BELIEVE, THAT ENOCH WALKED WITH GOD, STEP BY STEP,
DELIBERATELY GOING DOWN A PATH WITH THE MAKER.
IT'S INCUMBENT UPON DISCIPLES TO BE THUS MINDED,
TO BE THUS ORIENTED.
IN FACT, "DISCIPLES"... "DISCIPLINE",
THE WORDS ARE CUT FROM THE SAME CLOTH
BECAUSE THERE'S A KIND OF DELIBERATENESS,
THERE'S A DECISION,
THE LORD SAYS BROAD IS THE OTHER WAY,
IT'S EASY BY NATURE JUST TO BE LED AWAY FROM GOD.
I BELIEVE IT'S JOB WHO SAYS THAT MAN IS INCLINED TOWARDS SINS JUST LIKE THE SPARKS FLY UPWARD.
THE NATURAL INCLINATION OF THINGS IS TO GO AWRY.
IT'S EASY, ONE CAN EAT THEMSELVES TO DEATH WITH ALL THE WRONG FOOD,
THEY CAN DRINK ALL THE WRONG DRINK AND JUST BE MISERABLE INSIDE
BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT LOOKING GOOD,
THEY'RE NOT FEELING GOOD,
AND THEY'RE NOT THINKING GOOD.
PEOPLE'S EYES CAN LEAD THEM ASTRAY OFF THE PATH.
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR LOVE,
IT'S ALL ABOUT ***,
IT'S ALL ABOUT CONSUMERISM
AND PEOPLE SPEND THEMSELVES FOR THEIR OWN PLEASURES AND TREASURES
AND DESTROY THEMSELVES AND OTHER PEOPLE AROUND THEM IN THE PROCESS.
IT'S EASY TO GO THAT WAY
BUT JESUS BECKONS DISCIPLES TO BE DISCIPLINED.
HE SAID, "NARROW IS THE WAY THAT LEADS TO LIFE"
AND HE'S NOT TALKING ABOUT DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS TO FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH,
OR FIRST METHODIST CHURCH, OR FIRST ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCH.
THE WAY THAT LEADS TO LIFE, HOPEFULLY, IS TOLD IN A CHURCH
BUT IT'S THE WAY OF LIFE THAT'S LIVED OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH.
IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT THE LORD TALKED ABOUT ATTENDING TO OUR BUSINESS,
BROTHERS LEARNING TO DWELL TOGETHER PEACEABLY,
MEN AND WOMEN LEARNING TO COME TO TERMS,
ONE'S HOLDING THEIR *** APPETITES IN CHECK,
THEIR ANGERS, WHAT TO DO WITH THE MONEY, WHAT TO DO VARIOUS ENERGIES, ETC.
IT'S ALL THERE IN THE SERMON.
HEAR JESUS' WORDS, IT'S A WAY THAT LEADS TO LIFE
AND YOUR LIFE WILL BE BETTER BY VIRTUE OF YOUR SO DOING.
FOR INSIGHTFUL PERSPECTIVES OF ISRAEL AND BIBLE PROPHECY
ASK FOR OUR FREE MONTHLY NEWS LETTER "THE LEVITT LETTER".
WHEN YOU CALL BE SURE TO ASK FOR OUR FREE CATALOGUE WITH THE LATEST VIDEOS, BOOKS, AND MUSIC.
OUR CORRESPONDENCE COURSE, "THE INSTITUTE FOR JEWISH CHRISTIAN STUDIES" INCLUDES
READING PACKETS, TEACHINGS CDs, AND MAIL-IN TESTS.
YOU MAY WANT TO JOIN US ON AN UPCOMING TOUR OF ISRAEL OR PETRA
OR CRUISE THE MEDITERRANEAN VISITING GREECE AND EPHESUS.
PLEASE CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION.
AS JESUS WALKED BY THE SEA OF GALILEE
HE SAW SIMON AND ANDREW CASTING A NET INTO THE SEA
FOR THEY WERE FISHERMEN.
TODAY THE GALILEE STILL BECKONS
AS DO THE FISHERMEN LIKE DANIEL CARMEL.
SHALOM.
I WANT TO INVITE YOU FOR A BOAT RIDE ON THE SEA OF GALILEE
ON THE SEA OF GALILEE WORSHIP BOATS.
JOIN US IN WORSHIP ON THE GALILEE.
FROM A HEBREW PERSPECTIVE,
TO KNOW SOMETHING IS TO EXPERIENCE SOMETHING.
AND TO REALLY KNOW SOMEONE IS NOT JUST TO KNOW FACTS ABOUT SOMEONE,
...IN THE HEBREW "I KNOW",
IT MEANS TO EXPERIENCE
AND WOULD THAT YOU REALLY EXPERIENCED THE BLESSING THAT IS ISRAEL.
OH MY WORD, PEOPLE ARE TRANSFORMED.
THAT'S WHY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GOING FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
JOIN ME,
CALL 1-800-WONDERS
IF YOU'RE WONDERING ABOUT IT
AND WE'LL SEND YOU A BROCHURE.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN GOING WITH US ON A JOURNEY INTO JESUS' WORLD,
ISRAEL IS ONE WAY,
ANOTHER WAY,
YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE US UP ON THE OFFER FOR TODAY.
THE LATE ZOLA LEVITT WROTE A TIMELESS CLASSIC CALLED
"JESUS, THE JEW'S JEW".
MANY PEOPLE LIKE TO CONSTRUE JESUS AS EX-JEWISH
OR ANTI-JEWISH
BUT THAT'S MORE THEIR OWN PREJUDICE.
JESUS WAS THE WORLD'S GREATEST JEW.
WE SEE THAT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
AND ZOLA WEIGHS IN ON IT IN BOOK FORM AND WITH THE CD AS WELL.
THERE'S MORE ON THAT TO COME.
IF YOU'D LIKE OUR MAGAZINE TO COME TO YOU,
"THE LEVITT LETTER",
IT'S YOURS FOR THE ASKING.
CALL 1-800-WONDERS
OR GO TO WWW.LEVITT.COM AND PICK IT UP.
AND SPEAKING OF PICKING UP,
LET'S HEAR MORE ABOUT JESUS.
JESUS SAYING THAT "YOU'LL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS"
TO MY WAY OF THINKING BECKONS TO A THEME THAT'S REPEATED OVER AND AGAIN IN THIS SERMON
AND THAT IS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PRETENSE GOING AROUND.
LATER ON IN THE NEXT LITTLE TEACHING MOMENT HERE
JESUS IS GOING TO SAY
"MANY OF YOU SAY LORD, LORD" AND CAST OUT DEMONS AND ALL THE REST,
"BUT THE TRUTH IS, IS THAT I REALLY DON'T KNOW YOU."
HERE AGAIN THERE'S PRETENSE OF RELIGION AND FAITH
BUT IT'S REALLY NOT THERE.
PREVIOUSLY JESUS WENT ON RECORD TALKING ABOUT HOW SOME PEOPLE,
THEY'RE ALL PIETISTIC IN THEIR PRAYERS FOR SHOW,
THEY'RE CHARITABLE YES,
BUT FOR SHOW
AND THEY GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS OF HAVING SOME KIND OF BIBLICAL FAITH
BUT THE TRUTH BE KNOWN IT'S MORE SHALLOW THAN SUBSTANCE.
AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT
YESHUA IS ON RECORD SAYING,
"YOU'LL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS".
NOT JUST THAT,
YOU'LL KNOW THEM BY THEIR '***'.
YOU KNOW AS WELL AS I DO THAT SOME PEOPLE CAN TALK A GOOD TALK
BUT THEY REALLY DON'T WALK THE WALK.
IT'S NOT BEYOND THE PALE OF REASON TO LOOK TO CONSIDER
WHAT DOES JESUS ACTUALLY MEAN WHEN HE SAYS,
"YOU'LL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS"?
IF ONE LOOKS AT THIS SERMON ON THE MOUNT
THEREIN HE TALKS ABOUT A NUMBER OF THINGS
THAT HE'S LOOKING TO SEE MANIFEST OVER TIME,
A GENTEEL KIND OF SEEKING AFTER GOD,
DIFFICULTIES NOT WITHSTANDING,
A PRIVATE PRAYER LIFE,
PERSONAL PIETY IS MANIFESTED IN CHARITY,
THE JUST AND EQUITABLE EMPLOYMENT OF FINANCIAL RESOURCE FOR GOD'S GOOD PURPOSES,
NOT JUST ONE'S OWN.
IN DIFFERENT WAYS INDIVIDUALS ARE BECKONED TO CULTIVATE THIS
WHICH IS THE KIND OF LIFE THAT THE LORD'S LOOKING FOR.
IT'S NOT JUST A QUESTION OF SHOWING UP AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH,
OR FIRST WHATEVER CHURCH
AND SINGING THE HYMNS
AND SPEAKING THE RIGHT KIND OF LANGUAGE,
HAVING THE RIGHT KIND OF TALK
BECAUSE YOU CAN RECALL PERHAPS THE LORD WHO SAYS,
"THEY PROFESS ME WITH THEIR LIPS"
"BUT THEIR HEARTS ARE FAR FROM ME".
THE WAY TO HAVE A HEART THAT'S WITH HIM
IS THROUGH DEEDS
NOT JUST CREEDS.
LOOK WITH ME HERE AS JESUS TALKS ABOUT IT
AND WE'LL CONSIDER MORE DELIBERATELY WHAT HE HAS TO SAY.
IN CHAPTER 7, VERSE 15, HE SAYS,
"BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS WHO COME TO YOU IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING"
"BUT INWARDLY ARE RAVENOUS WOLVES."
THEY HAVE THE PRETENSE OF BEING AMONG US BUT TRUTH BE KNOWN,
THEY'RE BENT ON DEVOURING US.
AND HAVE YOU EVER MET SUCH PEOPLE?
I HAVE AND IT'S NOT PLEASANT.
IT'S IN THE WAKE OF THIS WARNING WHEN YESHUA,
WHEN JESUS, AGAIN WEIGHS IN FORCEFULLY SAYING
"LISTEN, YOU'LL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS."
HE SAYS AS MUCH IN VERSE 16,
"YOU'LL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS"
AND HE GOES ON TO EXPLORE THAT A LITTLE
AND THEN HE REPEATS IT AGAIN IN VERSE 20,
"THEREFORE BY THEIR FRUITS YOU WILL KNOW THEM."
I MEAN GUYS LISTEN, HE SAID IT TWICE IN JUST A FEW SENTENCES
AND THAT CAUSES ME TO BELIEVE THAT HE'S SERIOUS ABOUT IT.
THERE ARE OTHER REASONS THAT I BELIEVE THAT HE'S SERIOUS ABOUT
US BEARING THE KIND OF FRUITS IN OUR LIFE AND TEMPERAMENT.
KEEP IN MIND IF YOU WILL PLEASE
THAT WHILE HE'LL KNOW US BY OUR FRUITS,
KNOW THAT IT'S NOT FOR EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE WORLD
TO BE JUDGING OUR FRUITS
AND FOR THE REST OF US,
KNOW AS WELL THAT FRUIT DOESN'T ALWAYS APPEAR RIGHT AWAY.
ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION I'VE TRIED TO LOSE WEIGHT
AND I'D GET UP IN THE MORNING AND WEIGH MYSELF
AND LOOK FOR THE FRUITS OF MY LABOR.
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN RIGHT AWAY
BUT THE RIGHT KIND OF DECISIONS EVENTUALLY LEAD
TO THE RIGHT KIND OF MANIFESTATION.
LET'S MAKE SURE WE MAKE DECISIONS FOR JESUS
AND TRUST THAT WE WILL IN FACT BEAR FRUIT
AS A RESULT OF OUR SO DOING.
♪THERE SHALL BE A HIGHWAY IN THE DESERT♪
♪FOR THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD♪
♪AND FROM THE MOUTH OF THE LORD OF HOSTS♪
♪SHALL GO FORTH A FIERY SWORD♪
♪AND THE WORLD WILL SEE♪
♪YESHUA♪
♪AND THE WORLD WILL SEE♪
♪SALVATION♪
♪AND THE WORLD WILL SEE♪
♪YESHUA♪
♪AND THE WORLD WILL SEE♪
♪HE IS KING♪
♪THERE SHALL BE A FOUNTAIN IN THE CITY♪
♪TO CLEANSE ALL THE PEOPLE FROM SIN♪
♪AND WITH THE TREE OF LIFE IN THE MIDST OF HER♪
♪FOR THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS♪
♪AND ALL THE WORLD WILL SEE♪
♪YESHUA♪
♪AND ALL THE WORLD WILL SEE♪
♪SALVATION♪
♪AND ALL THE WORLD WILL SEE♪
♪YESHUA♪
♪AND ALL THE WORLD WILL SEE♪
♪THAT HE IS KING♪
♪AND ALL THE WORLD WILL SEE♪
♪YESHUA♪
♪AND ALL THE WORLD WILL SEE♪
♪SALVATION♪
♪AND ALL THE WORLD WILL SEE♪
♪YESHUA♪
♪AND ALL THE WORLD WILL SEE♪
♪HE IS KING♪
♪AND ALL THE WORLD WILL SEE♪
♪HE IS KING♪
♪...HE IS KING♪
SOMETIMES WHEN WE LECTURE PEOPLE OR PREACH
IT JUST THROWS THEM ON THE DEFENSIVE.
I BELIEVE THAT WORSHIPPING THE LORD
HELPS US TO LOWER THE DEFENSE
AND LET THE LORD THE MORE SO TAKE THE OFFENSE.
WORSHIP HAS A WAY OF REMOVING THE FENCE BY THE WAY
IN HELPING US TO PASS THROUGH THE GATE
INTO GOD'S PRESENCE.
WE'RE MORE THAN A LITTLE MORE SENSITIVE TO LEARNING OF HIS WAYS
AND COMPLYING WITH HIS WILL.
AND SPEAKING OF WILL,
WE HAVE OUR OWN AND WE DO THE BETTER...
I KNOW I'M PREACHING TO MYSELF IF NO ONE ELSE...
WE DO THE BETTER TO LEARN TO SURRENDER OUR STUBBORN WILLS
AND PICK UP WITH YESHUA'S AGENDA,
TO PICK UP WITH JESUS' WILL AND WAYS.
ZOLA LEVITT'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT JESUS
AND HE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT AS WE GO TO HIM NOW.
"THY WILL BE DONE" IS THE NEXT PHRASE.
THE LORD SAID IT IN THE GARDEN;
HE SWEATED DROPS OF BLOOD AS IT WERE
FALLING TO THE GROUND
AND SAID "NOT MY WILL BUT THINE BE DONE".
AND "GIVE US OUR BREAD, THE DAILY BREAD",
BREAD IS OF COURSE THE MANNA FOR THE JOURNEY,
THE SPIRITUAL STRENGTH FOR OUR OWN WILDERNESS JOURNEY.
FOR US IT'S MESSIAH, THE BREAD OF LIFE,
THE ONE BORN IN BETHLEHEM,
"HOUSE OF BREAD",
THE ONE WHO SAID "THE BREAD IS MY BODY",
"AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS".
BELIEVERS ARE CONSCIENCE OF THEIR SINS;
UNBELIEVERS DON'T KNOW THEY'RE IN DEBT TO GOD.
OLD TESTAMENT SACRIFICES WERE NECESSARY TO SQUARE ACCOUNTS WITH GOD,
NOW WE CAN CONFESS OUR SINS,
I JOHN CHAPTER 1, VERSE 9,
HE'S JUST AND MERCIFUL TO FORGIVE US.
FORGIVENESS IS MANDATORY IN THE KINGDOM.
THE LORD TEACHES IN THE SERMON,
"IF YE FORGIVE NOT, YOU WON'T BE FORGIVEN",
"AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION",
IT'S AN HONEST HEART PLEA BY THOSE CONSCIENCE OF THE SINS AND THEIR WEAKNESSES.
"THE KINGDOM, THE POWER, THE GLORY" SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
AND THIS WORD "AMEN" MEANS "I CONFIRM IT",
"I BELIEVE IT",
"I ENDORSE IT".
IF YOU HEAR "AMEN AND AMEN" YOU DOUBLY CONFIRM IT,
DOUBLY BELIEVE IT,
AND DOUBLY ENDORSE.
BE A GOOD CITIZEN OF THE KINGDOM; STUDY THIS SERMON,
MATTHEW CHAPTER 5 TO CHAPTER 7.
KNOW THE NEW LAW.
ZOLA TALKED ABOUT BEING A GOOD CITIZEN OF THE LORD'S KINGDOM.
LET'S EXPLORE WHAT THAT MIGHT MEAN A LITTLE BIT.
WHEN I THINK OF GOOD CITIZENSHIP
I THINK OF HONORING THOSE THAT ARE AUTHORIZED JUSTLY, I THINK
OF FOLLOWING THE CONSTITUTION AND THEIR CHARTER DOCUMENT,
I THINK OF PAYING TAXES,
I THINK OF LOOKING TO DWELL PEACEABLY WITH OTHERS.
THAT'S WHAT I THINK OF WHEN I THINK OF KINGDOM PRINCIPALLY.
AND THERE'S THE KINGDOM OF THIS WORLD YES
AND THEN THERE'S THE KINGDOM OF OUR LORD AND OF HIS CHRIST.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A GOOD CITIZEN IN THAT?
IT'S A RHETORICAL QUESTION TRUE,
BUT IT'S ONE THAT'S WORTH ASKING I BELIEVE
BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF BAD CITIZENSHIP GOING ON.
A LOT OF... ATTACKING MINISTERS,
A LOT OF NOT FOLLOWING THE CHARTER DOCUMENT, THE NEW TESTAMENT,
A LOT OF NOT PAYING THE TAXES,
NOT TITHING, OFFERINGS, AND THE LIKE;
I THINK WE DO WELL TO LOOK TO BE GOOD CITIZENS.
I KNOW HOW IT WORKS
THAT SOMETIMES WE THINK THAT IF WE REALLY LABOR TO BE A GOOD CITIZEN IN THE LORD'S KINGDOM
THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOSE SOMETHING,
WE'RE GOING TO LOSE MONEY,
WE'RE GOING TO LOSE OUR PREROGATIVES AND RIGHTS
BUT BE REMINDED OF THIS PLEASE,
THAT SAR SHALOM, THE PRINCE OF PEACE,
SAYS THAT IF WE LOVE OUR LIFE WE'LL LOSE IT,
BUT IF WE LOSE IT WE'LL FIND IT.
WITH ZOLA I THINK IF WE PLACE MORE OF A PREMIUM ON GOD'S KINGDOM, THE KING'S DOMAIN,
WE'RE GOING TO FIND THAT OUR OWN INTERESTS BELIEVE IT OR NOT
ARE GOING TO BE ENHANCED AND EXPANDED ON PLANET EARTH.
I HOPE YOU'RE LEARNING ABOUT GOD'S KINGDOM.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME INTO YOUR LIVING ROOM, HEADS AND HEARTS.
COME WITH US ON THE JOURNEY NEXT WEEK.
AND AS YOU GO NOW,
SHA'ALU SHALOM YERUSHALAYIM
PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM