It’s a Heart Thing (lesson two)

Hypocrisy is sickening.       

However, we seem to have distaste for it when we see it in someone else.

Then we will tolerate it in our own lives.  The Pharisees were hypocrites and the Lord let them know it.  When we start to act that way GOD will judge us too.

This series will help us live in light of the coming judgment.

Luke 11:42-44 NASB “But woe to you Pharisees!  For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.  (43)  "Woe to you Pharisees!  For you love the chief seats in the synagogues and the respectful greetings in the market places.  (44)  "Woe to you!  For you are like concealed tombs, and the people who walk over them are unaware of it."

Avoiding Judgment requires attention to the inside.  The Pharisees even gave tithes of their garden herbs.  They had all these rules, which were just add-ons.  They had neglected the love of God.

They didn’t really love God they only wanted to keep the rules.  Somewhere down through time their traditions caused they throw God out.  The Pharisees wanted the best seats in church.  Up front where they could be seen. 

The Pharisees wishing to be seen would greet others in the Marketplace with a formal salutation.  The Pharisees looked good on the outside but what was on the inside led people to death.  

Jesus brings a new covenant and makes us a new creature.  It is all about what is on the inside.  This inward change shows on the outside.

It’s a Heart Thing (lesson one)

Hypocrisy is sickening.       

However, we seem to have distaste for it when we see it in someone else.

Then we will tolerate it in our own lives. The Pharisees were hypocrites and the Lord let them know it.  When we start to act that way GOD will judge us too.

This series will help us live in light of the coming judgment.

Luke 11:37-41 NASB Now when He had spoken, a Pharisee asked Him to have lunch with him; and He went in, and reclined at the table.  (38)  When the Pharisee saw it, he was surprised that He had not first ceremonially washed before the meal.  (39)  But the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness.  (40)  "You foolish ones, did not He who made the outside make the inside also?  (41)  "But give that which is within as charity, and then all things are clean for you.

Avoiding Judgment requires a heart that focuses on what’s important.  How can we determine what is important to us?

Look at how you spend your time and money.  The Pharisees were concerned with how things looked on the outside.  They had written their own book of dos and don’ts called the Mishnah.

Jesus was saying that they focused on the external and neglected the internal.  In Luke 16:14 they are called lovers of money. 

We need to have a heart that dedicated to Jesus.  When we do, we find that we put others first, and the external things are meaningless.

PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens) Bonus Lesson

Our Prayer life is the most important thing we have in our Christian life.  It is our communication line to God.  The Bible gives instructions for us to have an effective prayer life.  

Luke 11:9-10 NASB (9) “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  (10)  "For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. 

Over the past three weeks, we have studies how to have an effective prayer life.  Week 1, we saw that an effective prayer life is steadfast.  Week 2, we studied that our prayers should be specific and full of faith.  Week 3, we examined how we need to believe that our father will give us the good things we need.  This week let us take a moment to explore His Holy Spirit.

Everything that has ever happened to God’s children has come as a byproduct of His Spirit.  No one confesses Jesus as Savior except drawn by His Holy Spirit.  We come to understand the bible through His Holy Spirit.  His Holy Spirit is the Seal of our Salvation.  Once we are saved His Holy Spirit dwells within us.  His Holy Spirit gives us our own ministry.

What is the role of the Holy Spirit in your life?

Think about the word PUSH.

Every time you walk through a door, you see this word.

How can this word help us in our pray life?

The word PUSH stands for

(Pray Until Something Happens)

If we are going to have a successful ministry for him, we must PUSH our prayers all the way to His Throne.

PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens) Lesson 3

Our Prayer life is the most important thing we have in our Christian life.  It is our communication line to God.  The Bible gives instructions for us to have an effective prayer life.  

Luke 11:11-13 NASB

(11)  "Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he?

(12)  "Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he?

(13)  "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"

An effective prayer life believes the father will provide what is good.  How many of you would do everything you could to give your child what they need?  That seems to be second nature; we all want our children to have the best we can give them. 

Now, how do we know we can trust God?  The answer can be found in James chapter 1 verse 17.  James tells us that every good thing and every perfect thing is from God.  He also tells us that God is the only constant in the world.  James puts it like this “with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. 

What part does the Spirit play in our prayers?  Paul gives us that answer in Romans Chapter 8.  In Verses 26 and 27, Paul says the Spirit also helps in our weakness.  We do not know how to pray but the Spirit Himself makes intercession

An effective prayer life believes the father will provide what is good.