our passion for god

8/6/2019 Our Passion for God

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Our Passion For God

Acts 12: 4-16 KJV

4-And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to

four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth

to the people.

5-Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the

church unto God for him.

TMB1-4 thats when King Herod got it into his head to go after some of the church

members. He murdered James, John's brother. When he saw how much it raised his

popularity ratings with the Jews, he arrested Peterall this during Passover Week,

mind youand had him thrown in jail, putting four squads of four soldiers each to

guard him. He was planning a public lynching after Passover.

Peter was on a mission and God had a plan, the devil wasnt strong enough to stop

him even though he continued trying. His passion is what drove him to trust in and

have that hope that even though the situation he was in it was not too big for his

God to handle.

TMB 6-Then the time came for Herod to bring him out for the kill. That night,

even though shackled to two soldiers, one on either side, Peter slept like a baby.


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And there were guards at the door keeping their eyes on the place. Herod was

taking no chances!

7-9- Suddenly there was an angel at his side and light flooding the room. The

angel shook Peter and got him up: "Hurry!" The handcuffs fell off his wrists. The

angel said, "Get dressed. Put on your shoes." Peter did it. Then, "Grab your coat

and let's get out of here." Peter followed him, but didn't believe it was really an

angelhe thought he was dreaming.

10-11-Past the first guard and then the second, they came to the Iron Gate that led

into the city. It swung open before them on its own, and they were out on the

street, free as the breeze. At the first intersection the angel left him, going his own

way. That's when Peter realized it was no dream. "I can't believe itthis really

happened! The Master sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's vicious little

production and the spectacle the Jewish mob was looking forward to."

12-14-Still shaking his head, amazed, he went to Mary's house, the Mary who was

John Mark's mother. The house was packed with praying friends. When he

knocked on the door to the courtyard, a young woman named Rhoda came to see

who it was.


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But when she recognized his voicePeter's voice!she was so excited and eager

to tell everyone Peter was there that she forgot to open the door and left him

standing in the street.

15-16 -But they wouldn't believe her, dismissing her, dismissing her report.

"You're crazy," they said. She stuck by her story, insisting.

They still wouldn't believe her and said, "It must be his angel." All this time poor

Peter was standing out in the street, knocking away.

16-17-Finally they opened up and saw himand went wild! Peter put his hands

up and calmed them down. He described how the Master had gotten him out of jail,

and then said, "Tell James and the brothers what's happened." He left them and

went off to another place.

Talking points:

1-Your faith can move your mountains.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things

not seen.

TMB.Hebrews 11

Faith in What We Don't See. Wind, Cars, chairs, bench, Water, Air, etc.


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So we ask ourselves Is anything too hard for God?

1-2-The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm

foundation under everything that makes life worth living.

It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what distinguished our

ancestors, set them above the crowd.

Do you think while the Disciples were waiting for the Holy Ghost in the upper

room for ten days they may have been thinking? Well is anything really going to

happen? Jesus said that He was going to send us another comforter. Oh well maybe

he has forgotten us. Is that not what the devil wants us to believe? Go to the altar

stay a few minutes, about time God gets ready to bless us we get up and leave.

Because sometime we have to wait longer than we think we should, we give up

and think that God has not heard us when all the time He is working behind the

scenes.

2- Sometimes we go through seasons that we are living in the land of nothing and

the only thing that will get us through that nothing is our passion for God.

Passion: the state or capacity of being acted on by externalagents or forces.


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There were "Three mighty men in the Bible that had a great passion for

God."

1-Mosesat the age of 40 left the splendor of the palace. Can you imagine being

a Prince in the Palace how Moses must have felt?

The Palace where they had Servants, butlers, maids to wait on them, the finest

clothes one would ever want. He no doubt had everything that one could ever

dream of having. Just think of the meals that he had everyday. Meals that were

prepared for a King! He sat at the Kings table everyday. Wow! But God had plans

for him that changed his life forever.

Jer. 29:11- I know the thoughts (plans) I have for you, thoughts (plans) of good and

not evil, plans to give you an expected end.

He then stayed on the back side of the wilderness for another 40 years. So what

kept him going? I believe his passion for God is what kept him strong as he no

doubt encountered many obstacles along the way. (Actually Moses was running

from a crime, if you remember he had killed a man).

Then at the age of 80 something happened to him that changed his life forever. He

had an encounter with the burning bush God had called him to. Moses, take your


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shoes off for you are standing on holy ground. He was definitely in the land of

nothing. But everything had to be on Gods time table not Moses.

2-What about Danielin the Loins Den?

Daniel 6:16

Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of

Lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest

continually, he will deliver thee.

Daniel 6:19

Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of

lions.

Daniel 6:20

20-And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel:

and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy

God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

21-Then Daniel said to the king, O king, live forever!


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22-My God has sent His angel and has shut the lions' mouths so that they have not

hurt me, because I was found innocent and blameless before Him; and also before

you, O king, [as you very well know] I have done no harm or wrong.(D)

23-Then the king was exceedingly glad and commanded that Daniel should be

taken up out of the den.

Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no hurt of any kind was found on him

because he believed in (relied on, adhered to, and trusted in) his God.

24-And the king commanded, and those men who had accused Daniel were brought

and cast into the den of lions, they, their children, and their wives; and before they

ever reached the bottom of the den, the lions had overpowered them and had

broken their bones in pieces.

(I will not stop praying to my God) His passion for God kept him raising those

windows and trusting God. What happened to Daniel?

God locked the jaws of the Lions put them to sleep and Daniel use one of them for

a pillar to sleep on through the night. The next morning the King came in and had

him taken out.

3- Three Hebrew Boysin Fiery furnace


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(We will not bow down to you because the God we serve is on our side).

Daniel 3:3-5 A herald then proclaimed in a loud voice: "Attention, everyone!

Every race, color, and creed, listen! When you hear the band strike up, fall to your

knees and worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.

Anyone who does not kneel and worship shall be thrown immediately into a

roaring furnace."

Daniel 3:7-9 Yougave strict orders, O king, that when the big band started playing,

everyone had to fall to their knees and worship the gold statue and whoever did not

go to their knees and worship it had to be pitched into a roaring furnace. Well,

there are some Jews hereShadrach, Meshach, and Abednegowhom you have

placed in high positions in the province of Babylon. These men are ignoring you,

O king.

They don't respect your gods and they won't worship the gold statue you set up.

"When the men were brought in, Nebuchadnezzar asked, "Is it true, Shadrach,

Meshach, and Abednego that you don't respect my gods and refuse to worship the

gold statue that I have set up? I'm giving you a second chancebut from now on,

when the big band strikes up you must go to your knees and worship the statue I


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have made. If you don't worship it, you will be pitched into a roaring furnace, no

questions asked. Who is the god who can rescue you from my power?"

Daniel 3-16 - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar,

"Your threat means nothing to us. If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can

rescue us from your roaring furnace and anything else you might cook up, O king.

But even if he doesn't, it wouldn't make a bit of difference, O king. We still

wouldn't serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up."

Daniel 3:19

Nebuchadnezzar, his face purple with anger, He ordered the furnace fired up seven

times hotter than usual. He ordered some strong men from the army to tie them up,

fully dressed from head to toe, and throw them into the roaring furnace. Because

the king was in such a hurry and the furnace was so hot, flames from the furnace

killed the men who carried Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to it.

Daniel 3:24- Suddenly King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in alarm and said, "Didn't

we throw three men, bound hand and foot, into the fire?" "That's right, O king,"

they said.

25- "But look!" he said. "I see four men, walking around freely in the fire,

completely unharmed! And the fourth man looks like a son of God!"


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26 -Nebuchadnezzar called, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the

High God, come out here!" All three walked out unharmed.

27- The fire hadn't so much as touched the three mennot a hair singed, not a

scorch mark on their clothes, not even the smell of fire on them!

Their passion for God led them into the fire, through the fire and brought them out

of the fire unharmed. What a God!!!!

4- David while watching over hissheep (killed a Lion, a Bear and a Giant.)

1 Samuel 17:34 David said, "I've been a shepherd, tending sheep for my father.

Whenever a lion or bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I'd go after it, knock

it down, and rescue the lamb. If it turned on me, I'd grab it by the throat, wring its

neck, and kill it. Lion or bear, it made no differenceI killed it. And I'll do the

same to this Philistine pig who is taunting the troops of God-Alive. God, who

delivered me from the teeth of the lion and the claws of the bear, will deliver me

from this 1 Philistine." Saul said, "Go. And God help you!"


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Samuel 17:4-10 The Philistines drew up their troops for battle,A giant nearly ten

feet tall stepped out from the Philistine line into the open, Goliath from Gath. He

had a bronze helmet on his head and was dressed in armor126 pounds of it!

He wore bronze shin guards and carried a bronze sword. His spear was like a fence

railthe spear tip alone weighed over fifteen pounds. His shield bearer walked

ahead of him.

8-10 - Goliath stood there and called out to the Israelite troops, "Why bother using

your whole army? Am I not Philistine enough for you?

And you're all committed to Saul, aren't you? So pick your best fighter and pit him

against me. If he gets the upper hand and kills me, the Philistines will all become

your slaves. But if I get the upper hand and kill him, you'll all become our slaves

and serve us. I challenge the troops of Israel this day. Give me a man. Let us fight

it out together!"

Passion:the state or capacity of being acted on by external agents or forces.

Wow! I would say there were definitely agents and forces camping all around

David. I would call them Gods Angels)!!

(KJV)


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Psalm 91:11

For he shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways!

Talking Points continued:

5- Passionate people are willing to take risks and try new things. If we stay in the

Word we know it is our shield of protection against demons and devils. Gods

Word is our shield of the Spirit that drives the enemy back.

(Isaiah 59:19 When, the enemy comes in like a flood the spirit of the Lord will

raise up a standard against him!

Trust Him for His ways are eternal to deliver and what He establishes is not

removed. When our anchor grips that solid rock we can be assured the ship is not

going down.

6- In this story we find that Herod was after Peter and had him locked up with 16

guards (four at each watch) to be sure he did not escape. This was the 3rd

time

Peter had been in Jail.


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We must not be so afraid of what people say about us, that we abandon the things

that God has promised He would do for us. We need to get a belly full of fire,

passion, and enthusiasm, and seize the opportunities God sends our way.

We must believe that as soldiers in Gods army we can do all things through Christ

who strengthens us. And be reminded of the scripture that says, Stir up that gift

that is within you.

All of us today feel that God has something for us to do. But we keep asking Him

what it is and which way do we go. God what is happening things are not working

out the way I thought they would work out!

Lord I have completely sold out to you but I do not see anything happening. What

more can I give you than to give you my all? Lord I give you me!!

1-The enemy is trying with all force to make us believe that it will never happen.

Go back to the definition of passion. (Passion: the state or capacity of being acted

on by external agents or forces.) The Force of the enemy is trying to attack our

passion here. But when Christ makes us a promise, that promise is never broken.

Even the forces of hell will not come against it. I have always said I believe you

can live next door to hell and still live for God if you have the passion in your heart

to serve Him no matter what.


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1- Again go back to verse 6, Peternever lost sight of his visionand that is whyhe could sleep while chained to the prison and the soldiers. A vision will

always reveal Gods Glory!!

2- Physically speaking, we as Gods Sons and Daughters are locked up as Peterwas.

3- We are in a wilderness and it seems we do not know which route to take.Peter couldnt do anything on his own.

4- The main thing for him to do was just stay there wait and trust in God.(Waiting is one of the hardest things for us to do.) When we ask God for

something we expect Him to act right then. Come on God where are you? I

asked you for this yesterday I thought I would have my answer by now.

5- So what are we doing today as we face difficulties? I know what we shouldbe doing. Fasting, praying, and seeking God for His directions.

6- Also we know we must hold on to Jer.29:11 God says I know the thoughts Ihave for you. Thoughts of good and not evil. Thoughts to give you an

expected end.


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Psalm 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things

you planned for us no one can recount to you were I to speak and tell of them, they

would be too many to declare.

Now that doesnt sound like to me He is going to desert us.

7- I believe Peter was living with those same expectations. It was so miraculousthat when it happened it actually was shocking and not only to him but all

the others that were praying. We do this same thing. Pray for something but

when it happens we are at awe!

V11- And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that

the LORD hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and

from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

He now knows that this had not been a vision or dream, but that he had truly been

delivered by an Angel.

The time they were praying was around the clock. Bible scholars believe that the

time of his rescue was between 3:00 Am- 6:00 Am.

Peter knocked on the door of the gate. (this was a gate at the fence that surrounded

the house. They say that they normally kept it unlocked.


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Now Rhoda was (a little servant girl) that went to the gate when she heard the

knock. But the gate and wall was tall and she was unable to see who was knocking.

So she opened the gate.

She was so amazed that she didnt say anything to Peter; she takes off running

back to the house without even asking Peter in. As she tells them what has

happened it is so astounding, as to unbelievable! (Like the miracle that Wallace

and Jewell just experienced).

V15-"You're crazy," they said. She stuck by her story, insisting. They still wouldn't

believe her and said, "It must be his angel."

Is this not what people say to us or about us when we tell them of some great

miracle that has happened to us? Oh that was just luck, or God doesnt work like

that. They look at you as if you have lost your mind.

What amazed me so much about this story is: The disciples were in shock and

believed that she had gone mad and was seeing Peters Angel.

But Rhoda constantly affirmed that it was so. She persists to her claim being made

with more and more conviction.

V16- All this time poor Peter was standing out in the street, knocking away.


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Today is my day and Im the one He is to heal. I call this the Now faith

Heb.11:1.She had gotten to the point she didnt care what anybody in that vast

multitude of people said about her.

Her goal- her push- her determination was touching Jesus. The passion inside of

her was what drove her to touch Him no matter the cost. You see the devil had her

believing otherwise. But yet even through the passion of desperation which means:

1-passion of desperation!! : Loss of hope and surrender to despair

2: astate of hopelessnessleading to rashness

She turned her passion of desperation which was in her physical body and mind to

the spiritual realm which gave her a passion of desperation to get to Jesus.

It would be so great that we as Christians would be that determined to touch Him.

She had served her time. Waited long enough for this moment and now it had

come and she wasnt about to allow the devils crowd with all their complaining to

stop her. She had come to the one who could change her situation. And she knew

no matter what.. she had to connect with this man Jesus.

Do you think if she had never had this problem for twelve years that she would

have developed so much faith and fearlessness? Of course not!


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She would have missed Jesus too. Just like so many today are doing.

Sometimes we have to go through seasons when we are living in Gods nothing. It

is so we will seek Him with passionate desperation.

2 Cor. 4:16-18 TMB

16-18- So we're not giving up how could we? Even though on the outside it often

looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new

life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.

These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish

celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things

we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will

last forever. Through eternity! How long is eternity? (Forever)

It is the fire of suffering that brings forth the gold of Godliness. God has a purpose

behind every one of our problems and dont you ever forget that.

He uses circumstances to develop our character. In fact, he depends more on

circumstances to make us like Jesus than He depends on us reading His Word.

Listen now, we may stay in the Word for a few hours some maybe a few minutes a

day. But we are actually in the face of circumstances 24 hours a day.


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Life is a series of problems. Every time you solve one there will be another one to

rise up. Not all of them are big, but all are significant in Gods process for us. If it

is a concern for you then it is a concern for God. That is how much he really cares

for us.

Peter assures us that problems are normal, saying this Dont be bewildered or

surprised when you go through the fiery trials ahead, for this is no strange unusual

thing that is going to happen to you.

The scripture says The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. He rescues those who

are crushed in spirit. So what does broken mean?

Broken: 1- violently separated into parts: shattered

2: damaged or altered by breaking:

C: violated by transgression a broken promise

B: subdued completely: crushed, sorrowful a broken heart.. A broken spirit

4a: cut off: disconnected

5: not complete or full

Conclusion of the matter is:


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Refuse to give up. Be patient and persistent Let the process go on until your

endurance is fully developed and you will find that you have become that man or

woman of mature character, with no weak spots. Ask God to set you on fire for

Him. Give me more passion for your work, that I might be a soul winner for you.

So think about it when you are living in the land of nothing - God is really up to

something.

1- Your seemingly insurmountable problems can become launching pads foryour faith.

2- Sometimes we must go through seasons when we are living in Godsnothing so we will seek him with passionate desperation.

3- Make a positive confession. Open your mouth with Praises; confess thatyour God is able! Because He is!!! Be passionate about your walk with God.

4- Which means, I am so hungry for you God that you are all I long for.5- David said, I long to see your Glory in the Sanctuary. What about your

passion for God tonight? Are you really hungry for Him?


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our passion for god

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