Hebrews 11:32-39
32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:
33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again.
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword.
They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—
38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,
Our lives in 2016 are so BUSY. We are running, running, running and can’t catch up.
We are busy people on a busy planet. Day-Care, sporting events, school, work, shopping.
O’ you need a new wineskin and you have to reach beyond for something.
Church, God is LOOKING for people who will spend time with Him.
Prayerlessness is leaving God alone and He does NOT want to be left alone.
When Jesus was physically on the earth, they were there, always around Him, until He got crucified, then they scattered.
I believe one of the greatest sins in the church IS LEAVING GOD ALONE.
HE is why we must NOT leave God alone.
There are trials we will face that we must have faith for.
Hebrews 11:32-33
32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:
33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
I refuse to lose my levels of authority.
These heroes of faith in Hebrews received miracles because they were persistent in KEEPING what was theirs.
Prayer is what made the church powerful.
Acts 12:1-3, 5
1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.
2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.
5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
Herod is either killing, harassing or putting into prison Christians.
But the church was in constant prayers for Peter and an angel broke him out.
It was the cry of refusal.
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
I have made my mind up. At the beginning of the year it was “Whatever He tells you to do, DO IT.”
And now it will be “I refuse to leave You alone.”
Then I will know what to do.
Elijah would not leave God alone.
What about:
Jacob – He would not leave God alone until God blessed him.
Problem for some, they won’t wrestle because they don’t want to walk different.
Moses – When God wanted to be left alone – Moses refused and saved his nation. Exodus 32.
Hezekiah – refused to die and got 15 more years.
Acts Church – Prayer during persecution grew the church.
The lady who needed her daughter healed was willing to eat crumbs and her persistence saw her daughter healed.
Bartimaeus refused to be quiet and got healed.
When people refused to leave Jesus alone, He blessed them.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
