Supernatural, Part 7 Sunday, October 14, 2012
“Atmospheric Conditions”
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: I Corinthians 12:1 (NKJV)
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts. I Corinthians 14:1 (NKJV)
How can we move into this realm as a people?
There are many ways we could describe this, but I want to zero in on one that I think summarizes much what it means to be in an atmosphere in which God can move.
Illustration: Read from THE VISION.
What atmosphere are we talking about?
EXPECTANCY
FAITH
WHOLE HEARTED WORSHIP
Then we get into some more relational things like
THE LOVE OF GOD
UNITY
COOPERATION
I want to summarize this entire thing called atmosphere in a word: HONOR
“A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty. “It is you priests who show contempt for my name. “But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ Malachi 1:6 (NIV)
Key Words are:
“A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty. “It is you priests who show contempt for my name. “But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ Malachi 1:6 (NIV)
New King James uses the word DESPISE.
Question: WHERE IS THE HONOR?
This is a condition in all of our society. It has detrimental affect in our world, but deadly affect in the church.
Four Areas:
1. Government
2. School
3. Church
4. Home
5. Your Own Person
1 “And now, you priests, this warning is for you. 2 If you do not listen, and if you do not resolve to honor my name,” says the Lord Almighty, “I will send a curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not resolved to honor me. Malachi 2:1-2 (NIV)
Definition of HONOR
OT Word: Kabed
NT Word: Timao
To make heavy or weighty
Word means: to add value. Weighty
Illustration: if there is a boulder in the road ahead of you.
Opposites:
Honor – Contempt
Weighty – Take it Lightly
Treat things as common or ordinary that we should take seriously.
Illustration: Use of cellphones.
How we treat each other: being on time.
An Atmosphere of Honor:
1. The degree of the HONOR determines the degree of the GIFT.
Two OT words:
SUBMIT – Kachash, which means to do it though you don’t want to. “Your enemies shall submit themselves to you.”
OBEY – Shamea, which is similar to the Heb. Word for HEAR. Which means to do it because you hear and understand.
Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Mark 6:1-3 (NIV)
4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith. Mark 6:4-6 (NIV)
2. FAMILIARITY can breed DISHONOR.
Root word of FAMILIARITY.
As in heaven, so on earth.
See people as God sees them.
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10 (NIV)
Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. Romans 15:7 (NIV)
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:21 (NIV)
3. Honor means CELEBRATING who people are instead of STUMBLING over who they are not.
Atmosphere of forgiveness.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. I Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)
You can’t honor that which offends you.
You’ve got to get over those things that
We de-humanize people
Example: in traffic
4. An atmosphere of honor produces FREEDOM.
A safe place
An atmosphere that “pulls” the ministry out.
But earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best gifts and graces (the higher gifts and the choicest graces). And yet I will show you a still more excellent way [one that is better by far and the highest of them all—love]. I Corinthians 12:31 (Amplified)
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