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PROTECTION BOUNDARY/INTERCESSION
Well, maybe in the perspective of the big picture God's purposes for the world are going to be established. Always! His purposes of the way He's going to bring it too, but maybe the sovereignty of God's will in your life requires a little co-laboring. The sovereignty of the fullness of His purpose to be accomplished. I've found that over and over again there have been many things that I had to fight for in intercession both for my family, myself, and for this Church before I ever saw it come to pass. Matter of fact in those things where I had let down my guard many times, I've even seen the enemy come in and steal, rob, and destroy God's purposes. One of the first things the enemy is going to try to do is to try to rob you of your prayer life. How many of you know that you are on a downhill slide already when your prayer life is already on the bottom of the barrel? 1. You're not connected. You're not standing in God's power. You're pretty much walking in your what? Own power! There's no communication, there's no relationship, there's nothing really going on; and like anything else if there is a lack of communication, like James put it, you don't have because you don't ask. And so a lot of Christians believe that protection from accidents and destruction, and satanic traps and assaults I put here; is automatic for the Christian. And that we can't do anything to stop it or to keep it from happening. Some are based on the sovereignty of God alone, for the individual believer. Truthfully I believe the sovereignty of God showed very clearly as we talked about intercession, that He actually engaged us to be partner with Him. And even in that context always He is doing a work in our lives to move us closer and closer to that relationship with Him in which He took hold of you, but if you are not engaged, you can be one of the casualties of this war! How many don't want to be a casualty? And I say that with soberness because I've watched too many base their whole lives on that kind of sovereignty rather than God saying "no I have given; laid down some governing principles that I've already established in the Christians life. That's why Paul labored over people in prayer until Christ was birthed in them! Teaching them; striving until they stood firm in Christ! That's why John talks about; in 1st John; "Thank God you have become young men in the Lord." "You have finally because the Word of God is in you, you have overcome the what?, the evil one." So in this process I realize that some times we believe simply whether or not that God will just always deliver you from destructive things without your participation. Without your involvement in His life. I am here to share with you today that, that is not true. I don't believe biblically that anywhere in the bible does the bible paint that picture about Christians. As a matter of fact, I think it paints just the opposite. Of that truth. God's sovereignty of His Church will inevitably end up exactly where He wants it; it will exactly finish the purpose He intended for it but you as individuals inside that situation, are having an effect, and are having an impact; and even so much so, Peter says; "live holy lives because in so doing so, you hasten the return of Jesus Christ." In other words; how we are acting, how are lives are completely dedicated to God, actually has an impact on Whose return? Jesus Christ's return. So, in that process, God has said I have determined to have people involved. I'm not going to do it without you. And I am not going to set up protective boundaries without you either. He may have mercy for a season in our ignorance. How many know babies need lots of mercy? God establishes a perimeter of more mature Christians around babies that what; that are in constantly in what for them; prayer! The intercession for them. God is directly in control of everything but His will is not necessarily being done! In everything! How many of you understand what I am trying to say? He is in control of the destiny of this planet, of the destiny of where this is going to go, and to the people He is choosing and directing and saying; "I'm choosing you out to come and be a part with me." But He's leaving the sovereignty of men's choice and even the suffering of those choices many times to what? to men! And so I know for a fact that God would never decide a person should be raped or abused! Why? Because that's purely what; evil!!! God first of all, does not do evil; and He is not tempted by evil, and so He doesn't set evil into what; motion. So when that happens there may be things in the process that we can gain; whenever evil happens to people, that we should always gain something, some insight, revelations, and some understanding about the Lord; but one of the things I see happen too often is people being completely wounded in their faith because they don't any longer understand suffering. They don't understand how evil can be in the world when God can put a stop to it. Because God will not violate His own principles. The principle of that man will have the freedom to sovereignly what; choose! But, for him who trusts in the Lord, I can put a protective boundary. I can establish a perimeter that builds on them. That keeps them safe, advances My will in their lives and protects them through the process. As a matter of fact, that is what He said; "nothing will be able to harm you." By stating the basic laws of "sowing and reaping!" In Galatians it says that a man will reap (God won't be mocked), what he sows. The sinful nature you will reap death and destruction. Into the spirit He will reap eternal life. There's always sowing and reaping going on in your life. Whatever you are pouring your life into. Your Life is a seed. And whatever you are pouring your life into, the things of the Spirit, the Word, prayer, things of that nature, will have an effect. Will begin to reap certain things. And those things that are of the flesh will eventually reap certain things!! All promises of God are attached to various conditions, though His love has been unconditional towards you. How many of you know you needed God's unconditional love and mercy when you received Him? None of us were worthy to get to heaven, Amen? How many here have ever sinned? Those of you who haven't; you're deceived!!! All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God. And so I needed His mercy. I needed Him to be able to wipe the slate clean, take me out of the kingdom of darkness, put me in the kingdom of Light, and give me opportunity to live and abide with Christ forever, Amen? That was His mercy but then grace takes over; I am going to empower you, grow you, and develop you to become this vessel that glorifies the King. And lives in such a way that you realize that you are in a war. You are in a war according to these scriptures aren't you? In Ephesians; you are in a war and if you don't know you are in a war, then you won't pray like you are in a war, you won't use the warfare the instruments of warfare God's given you. And consequently, your life will constantly have a place of shambles. Your life will often never display the things God really wants to do. It will often be times be lacking the various aspects of the kingdom that are in your life and want to be in your life. I put here: If most of all, if not in all conditions have involved responsibility on our part; God's looking for involvement from His people. That's what intercession is. Creating meetings between God, and whatever the situation. So I often have to ask myself; why are we often offended in opposed teachings that talk about unbelief kept us from receiving something from Jesus Christ? But doesn't the bible teach that many of His miracles were done because of people's what? unbelief! Sometimes we have to take a good look at ourselves you guys and sometimes what trial and tribulations do is make me stop and look and see where I am not abiding with Christ. Could it be that unbelief is keeping me from receiving? It says he who doubts; God says if you are double minded about Jesus Christ at all, than him who's asking shouldn't expect that he's going to receive anything from the Lord. And so if you're in the process of doubting; God's says "I have faith for you" in the process and if you just want to look where ever that is in Matthew chapter 17, I want to show you some examples where that it is very inherent that we must be involved because in so many of our cases when we doubt or we waiver, it becomes our fault that we're not receiving from the Lord. Matthew 17:20-Because you have so little faith, I tell you the truth, how many of you know when Jesus says; "listen", what He is trying to tell you is; really grab what He is about to say because it will have eternal consequences in your WHAT; life! Whenever you see Jesus in the New Testament say; "I tell you the truth" WAKE UP! Underline it. Because at that moment He's going to tell you something that is going to have revelatory impact upon your life personally. If you have faith as small as a mustard seed you can say to this mountain; "move from here to there and it will what; nothing will be impossible for----you! "Nothing!" How many know that sometimes we don't receive what we have because of the lack of what; faith. Often times we're offended when our inability to persevere created a "lack". How many know that sometimes a lack of perseverance will create a lack in your life because God is looking to see if you're going to persevere. How many know trials and tribulations don't show you whether or not you have a character flaw. It just reveals it! Doesn't it! "Hi I'm in a trial and tribulation"; "Oh God, oh God, oh God!" And He says; "Hello?" How many know a lack of faith can be sin! We can major on the outside sins forgetting about the spiritual ones. If you're faithless you are in sin because anything that is not done in faith is what; sin! If I'm not having my faith in the Lord; so He says; "Hey trials only reveal character, but perseverance produces it. So if you want to grow up and look like Jesus you require some perseverance! So there are many things you won't receive in the kingdom of God. There are many things you won't get. Until the character He wants to produce is finally produced!! And so He uses perseverance to get it for you. But many of us are L-A-Z-Y! We have a McDonalds mentality about the kingdom of God. "I want a big Mac, with special sauce, lettuce, cheese, and everything else on it I can think of and I want it NOW! So I am in the middle of my trial. I haven't been busy interceding. I haven't been busy praying. I haven't been really busy with much of anything and then I find myself in trouble and I go: AAAAAAAUUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHH! WHERE ARE YOU GOD IN MY TROUBLE? And He goes; "I don't know" where have "you" been all my life? Hello? And like Hebrews chapter 6:12 says: "Hey, don't be lazy." "Be like those who through faith and perseverance inherited the promises of the kingdom. Through faith! And Perseverance. Why is it so many of us get so angry or confused when something or get failures in their lives concerning various kinds of things in the kingdom of God; maybe their jobs and things of that nature. And they really haven't been obedient to Christ. How many of you know obedience and abiding in Christ is a very important part of receiving something. What I want you to see is over and over again the bible tells us that there's a part that we have to what; play. We need to intercede at some point with God's governing principles. For those who what; obey, for those who walk, and for those who abide; they will inherit the good things of the what; land! Doesn't mean that they're not going to have the enemy sitting there with tremendous hope and opportunity to take you out wherever he can to devour you. I'll just keep you "busy" with problems. I'll keep you busy with trials so that you can't keep focused. How many hear what I am trying to say? And so over and over again a lot of times we have the gall to think that God should answer our prayers while we have unforgiveness in our lives. God shows us that bad things happen to good people because they're not in the process a lot of times. Especially Christians; they're not in the process with God. They're "Outside" the boundaries of His what; protection and will. Well, intercession is what set those boundaries up. By God's governing principles, those mandates in our lives. As you stand in the power of His might so that you what; might stand; make your stand against the devil's schemes means exactly that! Doesn't mean sit down and whimper and whine. It doesn't mean sit down and beg! He's literally saying; "there's going to come the devil's schemes. He's got a purpose. You're going to need the Lord's power in its time. You won't be able to do it on your own. And you better be setting up walls already!!! That are going to protect you. So when it comes, you're ready to what; not move backwards, how many know that doesn't look very victorious. That stand is "move forward." NO! Further! Can't come past this point! I got you and you're not going any further. How many know that's what He means in the power of His might. The devil has got plans you guys. He's got schemes. He's got schemes about the people you love. About your wife, husband, your kids, about the people around you, and what God needs is intercessors who know how to stand. I thought it was interesting that the word "paga"; is actually the word for intercession in the New Testament. It's also the same word used in Hebrew for boundaries! In other words; God's given you certain boundaries. He's given you a measure of grace. And also a measure of faith! So God has established a boundary in your life where you're to make a what; STAND! "You can't have this devil. And because as a senior pastor I realize that, that grace also has a measure for this whole family. So when I'm making stands I say, " NO MORE! YOU CAN'T HAVE THE MARRIAGES ANY MORE. Not in this house. I'm making a what; a stand. And I'm making it boldly! And I'm not making it in my power but in the power of His might. You all have a measure. And you're not to let that boundary down. And the way you build those boundaries is through intercession. You are to build upon the boundaries that God has what; set for your life. Because the devil is out running around looking for whom he may what; devour! He's just waiting and want to seize an opportunity to devour you. I have to wear everything especially intercession. The other parts of the armor are all about what you're what; doing. But prayer is all about what you are communicating. Intercession is all about what you're standing up for. And so He says; "Hey you guys, grab on!" "Make your stand." "Live a righteous life, make sure you got all the truth you need; put that thing around you, hold on to it, know what God says, and don't ever give the devil another opportunity to take that truth from you. Belt that thing! Gird it on you it says! Hold it on there! Make your heart centered on righteousness. If you center your heart on righteousness you'll find out what's right. Put your feet to wanting to bring the gospel of peace to people. In other words, instead of being busy about the worlds business, get your feet busy about Who's business; God's business! Get on the stuff that God says that is important. Not just along with the helmet of salvation which protects your mind, everything you've received because of what Christ has done for you upon the cross; put that on your mind; but more than that; pray! Take the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God. And then begin to use it through prayer. Start making your stand against the devil's schemes. Many of you have been tempted and fallen to temptation because one (1), your unwillingness to put yourself out of temptation, your unwillingness to what; run from temptation. You instead put yourself in it. God's says; wherever you're being tempted you don't have to worry; I'm not going to let you in a position where you are beyond what you can't; but wherever there is temptation I have already provided a way out for you. In other words, RUN from it; "I knew that was the devil! I know what he wants to do. He wants to kill me, he wants to rob from me, he wants to steal from me and he knew my weakness, he's got 17,000 files on me; He knows what my weak points are. You think he doesn't? You don't think he knows what's going on in your life? He's got screwtape letters. Keepin' files on you. When we don't pray Satan says to his demons; "Now's the time boys; now's the time!" He's not in connection, he's not with his Lord, he's not abiding, he's not in the Word, NOW IS THE TIME TO GET HIM!!! "Let's try subtlety first." Let's bring a good-looking babe along side who says she wants to help him! How many know; you are all capable of falling! But you see, intercession in prayer keeps that wall around those people you love. Set's up the boundaries around the people you love. And sets up boundaries around yourself. Why do you think in the Lord's Prayer He said; "Lord deliver me from what; evil!" But He also said; lead us not into temptation! These are some things that you can believe God. Now deliver me from evil is not just about not sinning, it means deliver me from what; evil! Whatever is evil, deliver me from it!!! Whatever schemes the devil's got planned to rob, steal, and destroy me with, and my loved ones, and my family; God deliver us from those! So there should be some time in prayer spent on what; making sure the protective boundaries in your life are established! "Through" perseverance. If they're not, you're going to find yourself caught in sin. You're going to find your- self in various positions that cross God's Word and put you outside His protective agency! When we're not dwelling with the Most High! So there are two keys for building protective boundaries through prayer. Look up Luke chapter 18; some would often say; "you know what, God doesn't need me to pray for 3 hours. I remember a story one time; my wife and I were driving down the road; for whatever reasons that morning, in my prayer time, the Holy Spirit had quickened me. Just got one of those thoughts, kind of a little vision in my mind, while I was sitting there before the Lord and He said to me: "The devil wants to kill you today." And I was inspired; "You pray a little bit longer today. I said; "really OK." So I stayed there another 20 minutes longer than I normally do. And He said; "little longer Bob." "OK." "A little longer." So I ended up being there for a total of 3 hours instead of my normal hour. Just over my family. And my wife and I had a nice day planned, we were going to Truckee, have dinner together, and we were going to come on back early and do a movie; I didn't know why but I just heard the devil wants to kill you today. Pray a little longer. So on our way there, nothing happened; we just kind of prayed protection over the car and stuff like that. On our way back my wife and I were talking and weren't paying too much attention, all of a sudden, out of the clear blue sky, jumps about 25 deer on to the road, as we were doing 65 mph down the road. ROOOOOMMM. Screeeeeech! And I mean they jumped right in front of our car! We got stopped and not one deer out of the 25 that had to be on the road, but they wouldn't leave the road! They wouldn't even move; we stopped and there was nothing we could do. And so we're standing there or sitting in the car "my gosh, praise God I was praying this morning!" Because we shouldn't have been able to stop in time not to hit one of those deer. When I looked in the rear view mirror, and here comes this van; he comes around this corner; he's coming and he's got to be doing 75 mph. Now I can tell by looking in the rear view mirror I said; "honey I don't think he sees us!" I don't think he's paying attention. And he's coming right at us! And we're sitting at a dead stop. And the closer he gets I can see in the mirror he's got his head down and he's looking for things while he's driving. He doesn't have a clue there's deer in the middle of the road, that we're in the road, or anything else. And I just leaned over; and my wife goes; "what are you talking about?" I said don't even bother; I started to put my hand on her chest and just started to pray in tongues. The guy looked up as I am looking in the mirror, thinking, "Well if I am going to die, praise God you know "here we go." I'm praying in tongues, and the guy looks up and he couldn't of been further than 10 feet when he decided to do something. There's absolutely no reason he should of not what; hit us! All of a sudden all Katie and I felt was sheeeewww. And the guy was in front of us. And not one deer got hit. Now some would say; "why in the heck would it have taken God to build that protective boundary around you two more hours of prayer time than the normal prayer time?" I don't know. "Why did He want Joshua to march seven times instead of one?" It really doesn't make any difference. The object was obedience! To the leading of the what; the Holy Spirit. So not only did I built protective boundaries by consistency, but I had also built a protective boundary by what; obedience. So my wife and I drove down the road "praising God", and it was interesting that guy for whatever reason, you know he was sent by the evil one; you guys 'cause as he slowed way, way down and we got down around the corner, we're driving down the road, and there he is puttering along the road about 1 mph and he sees us and he starts cussing at us vilely. And he was giving me the finger. Not the good one either. And I'm going; "The Holy Spirit; "the devil wants to kill you today." "Pray!" Be alert! Because there is a devil out there and he's got one purpose guys; "how am I going to devour you?" Now it's very important that you understand that because very clearly as this whole process is taking place, you have to be in a place of consistency. You have to be in a place of dwelling with the Lord. Or you are going to lose things from the enemy. Some may seem minor, you think of them as insignificant. But none the less; every time that you give the intercession up, every time, you give and take a step back from the boundaries that God had what; established for you. You're losing something! Some of you are losing kids over it. They're walking away from the Lord, things are happening in their lives, because you've stepped back! What does it mean by the faith of the believing parent, sanctifies their children? Exactly that! You put a covering around them, through your intercession, and by your faith in the Lord, that allows them to keep what; moving forward. Towards the Lord. Second principle; is that thing called consistency. Look at Psalm 91. I prayed it over you this morning. Building boundaries through prayer. Establishing a boundary of God's protection. In this Church for the things and the evil things that the devil's trying to accomplish, and the things he's trying to destroy. To darken the minds of people who have very little faith or those who are weak in their faith. Doing whatever he can to rip people out of Church. How many know he's doing "anything" to keep you from hearing the Word of God!!! How many of you know he just loves apathy. And complacency. Eventually that will lead to destroying any healthy good work of Christ in your life. Or in the lives of others who are around you. Psalm 91 "Dwells" means the exact same thing as what Jesus said; "Abide in Me." Jesus said to always pray and NOT give up. He gives us a parable there of the woman going before the Judge. I want justice, I want justice! It's the same sign of your intercession before God. I want your will. This is Your will. I know it because it's in the Word! The same thing Abraham did about Lot; "would you destroy the righteous with the wicked." He knew God's heart! He knew God's will. He said "No God." How about 50, how about 25, how about 10! And he stayed in prayer. Until he had God's heart. Until he got God's answer. It's the same thing here for us. Consistency. Dwelling, in the high place will deliver you from the what; snare! From the one who tries to take you captive. The one who wants to take you out of the will of God. The one who wants to take you away and destroy your life and keep you from having a relationship with Jesus Christ. And the fullness of His victory's. And in the things of which He took hold of you for on the cross. He who dwells in the shadow of the Most High. He who abides there. Obedience, consistency, will help build the boundaries of prayer in your lives. The protective boundaries. That doesn't mean whenever something bad happens that it was your failure to pray. That's not what I'm trying to say. He says, "don't be suprised by all kinds of trials." There is a part that says; many of you have been robbed, and have been stolen from because, you're not there. And that's why you're not experiencing the joy of the Lord; you're not dwelling there. You're off dwelling where? Somewhere else. You're not busy enjoying the relationship of His protection, His purposes, and His will for your life you're busy off in other things, and then calling it God!!! James says; "you don't know what tomorrow will bring!" My part is to "dwell." Abide! And then when He set my boundary I want to keep asking Him to expand that boundary, but then when He has, I make my stand!!! Against the schemes that come and steal the boundaries in which God has put into my life. He does it all kinds of different ways. It requires an intercessory prayer life consistently that will help establish that in your life. Some of you are not use to that. So I am not telling you to start by going to 50 minutes of prayer! Some of you ought to be consistent with 10! Saying, "OK Holy Spirit what else?" Just reading the Word isn't enough! It's the Word "and" prayer. Always turn your time with the Word into what; talking to God about it! He's the One in Whom your power comes from. Amen? We don't want to become big bible heads without any power! Look at the devil; "IN JESUS NAME", and he says; "Paul I know, Jesus I know, but who are you?" "Let me kick your butt." Intimacy is what produces the power. Intercession is what gives God the desire to do whatever you ask. It's how you come to Him. May God bless you all who read this. Typed by Scott Morton. Teaching by Pastor Bob Salmon. |
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Last modified: April 27, 2003
