Welcome to Sermon Sunday. First things first, due to our sermon we will be listening to, I’m going to start by posting an article:
My Meeting With Pastor Joseph Prince — Charisma News
Now that we’ve established that he’s someone we should listen to as a true teacher of the Gospel, I’d like to present notes pertaining to one of Joseph Prince’s sermons where he preaches at Lakewood Church. This is entitled, Mercy. I really want you to sit with the Lord for a long time, as we all need to do some thinking and prayerful studying of our own. This challenges a lot of things we have been traditionally taught. I’ll post the link below after the notes.
And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist (Colossians 1:17, NKJV).
This sermon begins by mentioning many times where Christ was in the midst of something.
Question: What would it look like if Christ were in the midst of your relationships?
In Christ, we are held together. If we just stay connected to the Vine, we should be fine (John 15).
Here are some questions that are asked rhetorically in the sermon that I want us to ponder for ourselves:
1. In all of the world in the days of ancient Israel, which nation was the holiest?
2. In all of ancient Israel, which city was the holiest?
3. In all of the city of Jerusalem, which is the holiest location?
4. In the temple, which place was the holiest?
5. In this place we’ve established is the holiest place in the temple, what is the center piece?
In the heart of God, the holiest thing you can find is mercy, grace and hope.
If a sermon does not produce faith, hope and love, it is nothing more than empty, dry teaching. Souls are not saved and people are not getting delivered. Selah!
And now abide faith, hope love these three; but the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13, NKJV). Selah!
This is the indictment to the Church at Ephesus. Pay close attention to what’s missing of their ministry:
“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ×These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; (Revelation 2:1-2, NKJV).
Let’s see what’s missing:
remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, (1 Thessalonians 1:3, NKJV).
You can have all the right doctrine and speak against ministries that produce faith, hope, and love, but you are persecuting and speaking against God (Acts 9). God is after what you are speaking against. Selah!
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for IT is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek (Romans 1:16, NKJV, Emphasis added).
The word salvation has to do with wholeness, prosperous family relationships, etc. and is an all-encompassing word.
Remember straight from the Scriptures as quoted above that more prayer and fasting is not “the power of God to salvation,” because you can pray and fast and NOT have power. According to the above Scripture, what is the power of God to salvation, then? Selah!
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; for it is written: “The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17, NKJV).
The sinfulness of man is not revealed in this gospel, but rather, the righteousness of God. Make sure you are listening to the right stuff and have the right Gospel.
Jesus made God approachable. He is Holy but is still approachable. This is what the Pharisees didn’t like.
Grace is greater than sin. Jesus didn’t get defiled by men, but they got changed by His touch. If sin could stop revival, it would have never begun in the first place. Revivals happen where there is a lot of sin. This is why there is a need for revival. Selah!
This is what stops revival: when men bring in their laws. Rules and regulations kill a revival. The letter (law) kills, but the Spirit gives life (2 Corinthians 2:4-6). Now, God sent Jesus so that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ (1 Corinthians 5:21). Selah!
Question: What are you today? A recovering addict? A glutton? A recovering Alcoholic? A sinner? Selah!
You may wonder, “How can I become the righteousness of God when all I’ve ever done is sin?”
Question: How did Jesus become sin when He was sinless? Selah!
The demons in hell, the religious spirits, etc. don’t want you confessing that you are the righteousness of God in Christ.
When you watch the sermon link I’ll be posting, pay very close attention to the video presented on the screen. Pause it, then spend some time prayerfully studying what is being presented with the Spirit.
When you believe right, you will live right. You will become “holy by accident,” as Joseph Prince says it, when you believe that you are the righteousness of God. Also, the goodness and blessings of God will come to you apart from your performance. In Matthew 6:33, when Jesus tells us to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness, we forget that it is not our righteousness we’re seeking. It is actually knowing that we are the righteousness of God in Christ. When we seek God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness, then everything else–food, clothing, prosperous relationships, etc. will come to us. Selah!
Never judge your righteousness by your behavior. Always judge your behavior by your standing. Selah!
To the religious, the truth sounds like heresy.
I have sworn by Myf;
The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness,
And shall not return,
That to Me every knee shall bow,
Every tongue shall take an oath (Isaiah 45:23, NKJV).
Let’s connect the dots. Here’s the fulfillment of this verse:
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11, NKJV).
Here’s the next verse. This verse is key in understanding that us confessing that we are the righteousness of God in Christ was foreseen even in the Old Testament:
He shall say,
×Surely in the Lord I have righteousness and strength.
To Him men shall come,
And all shall be ashamed
Who are incensed against Him.
In the Lord all the descendants of Israel
Shall be justified and shall glory.”∘ (Isaiah 45:bd-be, NKJV). Selah!
You may say, “That is positional righteousness. I’m talking about practical righteousness.” However, you are either righteous or you are not. There is no practical righteousness. Righteousness is a GIFT from God. Selah!
If you were to teach on what is known as “practical righteousness,” this is how Paul described it would be like:
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes (Romans 10:1-4, NKJV). Selah!
Christianity is where you start out complete in Christ. Now, walk out your completeness. Now, for those that object and say, “But where is that in the Bible–that I start out complete in Him?” I remind you of this verse:
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power (Colossians 2:9-10, NKJV). Selah!
If you sit well, you will walk well. You start seated in heavenly places also (Ephesians 2:6). Selah!
Jesus starts us off in rest (Sunday), and then we can walk in victory and power. This is why He rose from the dead on Sunday. Selah!
From what I gather from the link I’ll post, sweat is the beginning of rejection. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane sweat drops of blood. He was also handed over by Judas to be arrested there.
Now, sweat is a part of the curs; for it is written:
In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread
Till you return to the ground,
For out of it you were taken;
For dust you are,
And to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19, NKJV).
Now, Jesus, the second Adam, sweat drops of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane. Since His blood is live-giving, it redeemed us. So, now Jesus has redeemed us from sweat. Selah!
I want you to sit with the Spirit concerning what Joseph Prince says about the following verse:
Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father and you see me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged (John 16:7-11, NKJV).
Joseph believes that:
1. The Holy Spirit convicted you of your unbelief in Christ when you were lost, but then when you came to Christ, the Spirit only convicts you of,
2. Righteousness. He says that when you feel the evidence piling up against you that you are not righteous, the Spirit reminds you of your righteousness.
3. Joseph Prince says that according to Jesus, when the Spirit convicts the world of judgment, it is not ours, but Satan’s. However, one reason why I find fault with this is also found in Scripture. It is written:
For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God (1 Peter 4:17, NKJV). Therefore, I believe that with Peter being among the disciples of Jesus, had Jesus meant what Joseph Prince says He does, Peter would not have stated this verse. These, my frs, that I am writing to you today are only notes to be published for your edification. I ask that you would sit with the Lord with my notes and the link which I will post, and take your own prayerful notes.
Another point which was made is that when the Scriptures speak of not grieving the Spirit, it is pertaining to if you speak gracious words to people.
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, to whom you were sealed for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:29-30, NKJV).
Let’s look at the same passage from The Passion Translation:
And never let ugly or hateful words come from your mouth, but instead let your words become beautiful gifts that encourage others; do this by speaking words of grace to help them. The Holy Spirit of God has sealed you in Jesus Christ until you experience your full salvation. So never grieve the Spirit of God or take for granted his holy influence in your life (Ephesians 4:29-30, TPT). Selah!
Here’s a witness of the Holy Spirit that has never been preached:
Then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 10:17, NKJV). Selah!
Look at Matthew 12. The three rejections which the Religious Leaders of Jesus’ day commited are rejecting Christ as King, Priest, and Prophet. According to Pastor Prince, this is what blaspheming the Holy Spirit is: knowing full well who Jesus is and continually rejecting Him. He says that today, one can reject Christ’s love. I believe this could be one aspect, but I also believe that it is speaking against the Holy Spirit I.E. saying that tongues is not for today, or other spiritual gifts. However, seek the Spirit for the interpretation; for we only see darkly as in a mirror (1 Corinthians 13).
Next, everyone, glue your eyes to the screen when watching the video. He will be showing a video he and his team put together about how Jesus died on the cross. Pay attention to the love of God poured out for you.
Salvation:
If you have not received Jesus as your Lord and savior, you can either pray the prayer that Joel and those at Lakewood and online pray, or click the link below:
Salvation | Joseph Prince Ministries
Now, here’s the sermon link:
Please comment below on how God has touched you in this message–either the notes, the sermon, or both. Don’t forget to study this out with the Spirit yourself.
Blessings from God alv,
Patelin
Kingdom Advance 