Sunday Sermon
GETTING INTO THE RIVER OF GRACE - Part 2
COOPERATING WITH GOD’S WILL THROUGH PRAYER
Date: December 9, 2007
Speaker: Pastor Gerry Gregoire
Scriptural Reference: Romans 5:12; Matthew 17:20-21
Listen to Audio Sermon

ROMAN 5:12 AND MATTHEW 17:20-21
17For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive [God's] overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

MATTHEW 17:20-21 –
20He said to them, Because of the littleness of your faith [that is, your lack of firmly relying trust]. For truly I say to you, if you have faith that is living] like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to yonder place, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. 21But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.

I KEEP REITERATING ROMANS 5:17. THE IMPACT OF CHRIST’S ACTION HAS TO HAVE A GREATER EFFECT ON THE WORLD THAN THAT OF ADAM. BUT MOST CHRISTIANS DON’T COMPREHEND THIS FACT, THAT WE HAVE POWER TO ENFORCE GOD’S WILL ON THIS EARTH TODAY. SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE IT GOT LOST AND MUCH POWER HAS EVAPORATED FROM THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL. OH, THIS POWER IS EXERCISED BUT ONLY IN BITS AND PIECES AS SOME CHRISTIAN CATCH ONTO WHAT THE PLAN OF GOD REALLY IS. CAN YOU SEE THIS? WE ARE TO HAVE DOMINION ON THIS EARTH AS A COMMAND AND GIFT OF GOD. PRAYER NOT ONLY KEEPS YOU CLOSE TO THE FATHER BUT IT ALSO CAN AND WILL CARRY YOU INTO THE RIVER WHERE YOU CAN RECEIVE THE GRACE YOU WILL NEED IN THIS LIFE TO GET GOD’S WILL DONE EFFECTIVELY.

IN MATTHEW 17:20-21 THE LORD TELLS US THAT EVEN WITH A LITTLE TINY FAITH WE CAN ACCOMPLISH SUPERNATURAL WORKS. HE HAS GIVEN US THE ABILITY TO MOVE MOUNTAINS. CAN YOU RECEIVE THAT TODAY? YOU CAN COMMAND THINGS THAT APPEAR TO BE FIXED IN PLACE AND MOVE THEM TO WHERE YOU WANT THEM TO GO.

WE ARE GOD’S MEDIATORS ON THIS EARTH. IN CHRIST ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. I WANT TO CORRECT SOME THINKING THAT I THINK PERSIST IN THE CHURCH. GOD GIVES YOU AS MUCH GRACE AS YOU NEED TO GET HIS WILL DONE ON EARTH. GRACE DOESN’T EVEN ENTER THE PICTURE WHEN WE WANT TO DO THINGS THAT ARE NOT IN LINE WITH HIS WILL. DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT? I.E. HE DOES NOT WANT YOU FORNICATING, COMMITTING ADULTERY, ROBBING BANKS, HURTING PEOPLE, LYING ETC , SO HIS GRACE WILL NOT BE IN THOSE THINGS.

WHEN YOU READ THE PASSAGE IN MATTHEW 16:19 –
19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth ]must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven.

SO THE THINGS THAT WE BIND ON EARTH AND LOOSE ON EARTH HAVE TO BE ALREADY BOUND OR LOOSED IN HEAVEN. SO WHEN WE PRAY, WE ARE MERELY ENFORCING WHAT GOD’S WILL IS FOR THE EARTH. SEE 1 JOHN 5:14 –
14And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.

HE TRYING TO GET US TO COOPERATE WITH HIM TO GET HIS WILL DONE ON EARTH. HAVING THE HOLY SPIRIT WITH POWER IS HOW THIS GETS DONE. ARE YOU UNDERSTANDING THIS?

THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDES AND LEADS US INTO ALL TRUTH AND THE GIFTS AND FRUIT COME TO US SO THAT WE CAN GET GOD’S WILL DONE WITH GOD’S POWER AND WITH HIS CHARACTER BEING ALIVE IN US. LOVE, JOY, PEACE ETC –

LOOK AT JOHN 16:13 —
13But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].

WHY DOES HE GUIDE YOU? SO THAT YOU CAN GET THE FATHER’S WILL DONE ON EARTH IN THE GRACE THAT GOD GIVES TO US. GETTING INTO THE RIVER TO RECEIVE HIS FAVOR/GRACE TO DO HIS WILL IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. LAST WEEK WE GAVE YOU THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF MEDITATING TO GET INTO THE RIVER OF GRACE. NOW, WE WANT TO LOOK AT HOW THE DISCIPLINE OF PRAYER WILL GET YOU INTO THE RIVER SO WE CAN START DOING IN THE GRACE, FAVOR AND STRENGTH OF GOD WHAT HAS TO BE DONE ON EARTH. ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT GOD’S WILL ALWAYS PREVAILS. ABOVE ALL ELSE, IT’S HIS WILL FIRST AND MANY OF US HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT OR MAYBE HAVE NEVER KNOWN THAT TRUTH.

MANY ARE SAYING THAT PRAYER DOESN’T WORK, I HAVE TRIED IT AND HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY RESULTS. WELL-LET ME TELL YOU THAT NOTHING GETS DONE ON EARTH WITHOUT SOMEONE PRAYING TO GET IT DONE AND WHAT GETS DONE IS GOD’S WILL. MAYBE THAT’S WHY YOU HAVE NO RESULTS IN YOUR PRAYER LIFE. GETTING INTO THE RIVER WILL LET YOU NOW WHAT GOD’S WILL IS. ARE YOU LISTENING?

YOUR LIFE, YOUR SALVATION, YOUR PURPOSE IS ALL GOD ORDAINED AND HE WAITS FOR YOUR COOPERATION. WHAT HE SAYS TODAY IS THAT YOUR PRAYERS BECOME EFFECTIVE WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS GOD’S FAVOR BEHIND IT.

WHAT POWER IS BEHIND OUR PRAYERS? WELL, HIS WORD IS BEHIND OUR PRAYERS FOR ONE. THE HEART OF PRAYER IS ASKING GOD TO INTERVENE IN THE WORLD TO FULFILL HIS ETERNAL PURPOSE FOR MANKIND. WHEN YOU PRAY, YOU ARE GIVING GOD EARTHLY LICENSE FOR HEAVENLY INTERFERENCE. HIS WORD CONTAINS HIS WILL FOR US. CHECK IT OUT!

IT IS THROUGH GOD’S WORD THAT WE CAN KNOW, BELIEVE, AND AGREE IN FAITH WITH GOD’S WILL. WITHOUT HIS WORD, OUR PRAYERS HAVE NO FOUNDATION.

LOOK AT JOHN 1:1 –
1IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.
SINCE GOD AND HIS WORD ARE ONE THEREFORE HIS PRESENCE BECOMES PART OF OUR PRAYER AS WE PRAY HIS WORD.
SINCE GOD AND HIS WORD ARE ONE, THEN THE WORD REVEALS HIS NATURE THAT REFLECTS HIS WILL. HIS WORD REVEALS HIS CHARACTER AND PURPOSES.
LISTEN REAL CLOSE, GOD AND HIS WORD ARE ONE.

LOOK AT NUMBERS 23:19 –
19God is not a man, that He should tell or act a lie, neither the son of man, that He should feel repentance or compunction [for what He has promised]. Has He said and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken and shall He not make it good?
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD IS HONORABLE AND THAT HE WILL KEEP HIS WORD? A CARDINAL PRINCIPLE OF ANSWERED PRAYER IS BELIEF IN THE TRUSTWORTHINESS OF THE ONE TO WHOM YOU’RE PRAYING. THE POWER OF YOUR PRAYERS DEPENDS ON IT.

GOD’S WORD IS ALIVE. CHECK OUT DEUT. 32:46-47
FROM THE NLT –
46 he added: “Take to heart all the words of warning I have given you today. Pass them on as a command to your children so they will obey every word of these instructions. 47 These instructions are not empty words—they are your life! By obeying them you will enjoy a long life in the land you will occupy when you cross the Jordan River.”
JOHN 6:63–
63 The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

HIS WORD IS THE ESSENCE OF LIFE. WHAT DID GOD SEND TO THE WORLD TO REDEEM US? HE SENT HIS WORD. SEE JOHN 1:14 –
14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
CAN YOU SEE AND UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF THE WORD IN OUR PRAYERS AND THAT IS WHAT CAN AND WILL BRING YOU INTO THE RIVER? THE WORD BUILDS FAITH. ROMAN 10:17 –
17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.
YOU NEED FAITH TO GET INTO THE RIVER.

ANOTHER THING BEHIND OUR PRAYERS IS THE NAME OF JESUS. AND FAITH IN THAT NAME WILL GUIDE YOU INTO THE RIVER OF HIS GRACE..

BECAUSE JESUS GAVE US HIS NAME TO GO TO THE FATHER WHEN YOU PRAY IT IS LIKE JESUS HIMSELF IS GOING TO THE FATHER WITH A REQUEST.

MANY BELIEVERS’ PRAYERS AREN’T BEING ANSWERED BECAUSE THEY MISUNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS. WE TEND TO THINK WE CAN PRAY ANY TYPE OF PRAYER AND THEN SAY, “IN JESUS NAME, AMEN,” BELIEVING THAT THE PHRASE ALONE IS WHAT MAKES OUR PRAYERS EFFECTIVE WITH GOD. IT DOESN’T WORK THAT WAY.
WE SHOULDN’T TRY TO DIGNIFY OR SANCTIFY OUR PRAYERS BY TACKING THE NAME OF JESUS ON AT THE END. JESUS’ NAME IS NOT A MAGIC FORMULA OR A PASSWORD THAT GUARANTEES AUTOMATIC ACCEPTANCE OF ALL OUR PRAYERS. THE BIBLE WAS NOT REFERRING TO THE WORD
J-E-S-U-S AS SUCH. IT’S NOT THE NAME, BUT WHAT THE NAME REPRESENTS THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE.

TO ILLUSTRATE THE POINT LET’S TURN TO ACTS 19:13-17 –
13Then some of the traveling Jewish exorcists (men who adjure evil spirits) also undertook to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, I solemnly implore and charge you by the Jesus Whom Paul preaches! 14Seven sons of a certain Jewish chief priest named Sceva were doing this. 15But [one] evil spirit retorted, Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you? 16Then the man in whom the evil spirit dwelt leaped upon them, mastering two of them, and was so violent against them that they dashed out of that house [in fear], stripped naked and wounded. 17This became known to all who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, and alarm and terror fell upon them all; and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled and magnified.

THIS STORY REVEALS THAT SOMEONE CAN USE THE NAME OF JESUS ALL HE WANTS, BUT HE WILL STILL HAVE NO AUTHORITY OVER THE DEVIL IF:
1) HE HAS NO RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.
2) HE DOESN’T UNDERSTAND HOW TO USE THE NAME OF JESUS. YOU MUST LEGALLY BELONG TO JESUS TO USE HIS NAME.

LOOK AT JOHN 1:12 –
12But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name
AND REMEMBER THAT, SINCE JESUS WON BACK MANKIND’S DOMINION OVER THE EARTH, WE CAN ALSO LEGALLY RULE ON THE EARTH AGAIN THROUGH HIS AUTHORITY.
LOOK AT THIS GREAT PROMISE FROM JESUS IN JOHN 16:23-24 23And when that time comes, you will ask nothing of Me [you will need to ask Me no questions]. I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that My Father will grant you whatever you ask in My Name [as presenting all that I AM]. 24Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as presenting all that I AM]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete.

ALL THAT I AM IN VERSE 23 MEANS WHAT HIS NAME STANDS FOR ( HEALER, DELIVERER, PROVIDER, ENCORAGER, ETC.) AND HIS CHARACTER BEING FORMED IN US.

NOW LOOK AT JOHN 14:12-14 –
12I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father. 13And I will do [I Myself will grant] whatever you ask in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son.
14[Yes] I will grant [I Myself will do for you] whatever you shall ask in My Name [as presenting all that I AM].

AS YOU ARE PRAYING, IT LEADS YOU INTO THE RIVER OF HIS GRACE AND YOU START DOING THE THINGS THAT HE DID BECAUSE NOW GOD’S GRACE (FAVOR) IS WITH YOU.

ARE YOU ABLE TO SEE THIS NOW?

ANOTHER POWER BEHIND YOUR PRAYERS IS THE HOLY SPIRIT.

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE POWER THAT GETS THINGS DONE. HE HAS THE GIFTS YOU NEED TO HEAL AND SEE MIRACLES. HE IS THE SOURCE OF PROPHESY AND WORDS OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE. AS YOU PRAY, THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE POWER BEHIND YOUR PRAYERS AND WILL GUIDE YOU INTO THE RIVER OF GRACE BECAUSE WHEN YOU START DISBURSING HEALINGS AND MIRACLES, AND ENCOURAGEMENT IT’S ALL, (NOW GET THIS,) BY GRACE. YOUR ABILITY TO OPERATE WITH THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IN YOU LIFE, SUCH AS LOVE, PEACE, JOY, GOODNESS, KINDNESS, GENTLENESS, FAITHFULNESS, SELF-CONTROL AND PATIENCE, IT’S ALL BY GRACE. SO YOU CAN SEE WHY YOUR PRAYER OFFERED IN FAITH TAKES YOU INTO THE RIVER OF GRACE. BECAUSE IN ORDER TO LIVE THAT TYPE OF LIFE IT CAN’T BE YOU MY FRIEND, IT HAS TO BE GOD.

CAN YOU SEE HOW THE DISCIPLINES OF MEDITATION AND PRAYER GETS YOU INTO THE RIVER OF GOD’S GRACE? CAN YOU SEE WHY YOU NEED TO BE IN THAT RIVER? GRACE, IT’S OUR ONLY HOPE. WE WILL NEVER SURVIVE OTHERWISE. IT’S HOW WE GET TO HEAVEN AND IT’S WHAT MAKES US GROW IN UNDERSTANDING AND NUMBERS. MAY THE LORD INSPIRE US TODAY TO GET INTO THE RIVER OF GRACE!