Preparing to Stand in the Coming Storm

Carter common from the historic Times Square Church in New York City. Things God may be licensed on things is going to stand welcome this week to a call to the nation with Carter, in this week's message. Hunter asks the questions as a follower of Jesus Christ. What is the purpose of life. What are the true resources and riches of Almighty God from Matthew chapter 7, Carter tells us that you can find complete confidence that the things you ask for God will give you according to his will. Let's join Carter now and learn about this gracious generosity preparing to stand in the coming storm. Matthew chapter 7 going to start verse seven. Ask and it shall be given you seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asks, receives, and he that seek find and to him that knock. It shall be opened for what is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, really given stone or fiesta fish will be given the serpent. If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him.

Therefore, all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you. Do you even so to them for this is the law and the prophets stop there for a moment prevented big with your s'more this text will stop verse 12 and I haven't really fully understood how much and how lavishly God wants to give to us until I became a grandfather don't have a concept of God is the father on. I've often thought of that myself over the years as a father. We have a tendency to say so on those shoes are good enough you can wear them for another semester at school or those pants are sufficient, or that it separates out there. When we reason our giving, and it seems that when you become a grandfather. Your reasoning goes right out the window as far as giving the last summer I was with my little grandson Landon and we were eating together at McDonald's restaurant in Canada and chicken fingers and fries and were having a great talk grandpa to a 2 1/2-year-old.

At that time. Then he said to me pointed out the window to a small strip mall across the street and he said I want to go there. I said okay let's go there and I thought I thought he would want to sit on the more tractors and such like things that are there as you go into this this little mall and he took me by the hand when we went in the door. He led me into the store and then he said, where is it and he went to this huge basket of stuffed animals and wandered around and finally said there is anything found this polkadotted fire dog stuff fire dog pulled it out. Took it to the counter and put it on the counter and sought without questioning. I just went and I paid for his fire dog under his arm grab me by the hand and out the door and we want very methodically down the hall to another store walked in to the store went to the farther style on the left, down halfway down the and it was that trucks all kinds of trucks toy truck city pours through a lot of the things one way into the back and he said there is any pull it out. He said this is a really cool truck. We walked together to the cash he put it on the cast. He said to the saleslady. This is a really cool truck never any never any doubt that is his property to pay for this so we put these things in bags. We headed home and I when we got to the door. He took his stuff out put it on the countertop and his mother immediately says Landon I told you last week that you couldn't have those things and I thank God that that's how he sees his grandfather and it's it's good when you and I understand how much God wants to give to us.

Jesus himself said it in you being evil. That's in comparison to the goodness of God.

If you if you being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to those who ask him how much more you got to see God. This way you and I have to see him this way is a longing in the heart of God to bless his children as a longing in his heart to give us the things that we need and you got to see that.

I can fully comprehend what were going to be talking about. I want to give all of my grandchildren those things which God has planted within my heart that it help me to understand who God is and more so help me to understand who he is and me why I live on this earth. What is the purpose of life as a follower of Jesus Christ. And where is the highest purpose of this calling found. What are the true resources and riches of Almighty God.

And where was Debbie found so that I can do as he is done as a young grandson.

I can go to the counter. I can go with complete confidence that the things I'm asking for my father is going to give me because Jesus did say if you ask it will be given you.

If you seek, you will find if you knock it will be open to you.

Verse seven going through diverse 11 talks about this generosity of God how he wants to give to his children.

He says I will not withhold from you. You come to me and you ask and I will give it to you but verse 12 brings everything into it the clarity it was. This verse shows the root of mature thinking that will unlock this incredible generosity of God that spoken about in the previous five verses. He says therefore that means if you can't think that verse and separated from verses 7 to 11 it's it's a summation is just delaying these incredible statements seek ask knock. I'll give to the things you want. Therefore, he said, all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them for this is the law and the prophets everything you would want somebody to do for you. If you are in this world without God) with God and in a place of distress.

If you were in prison if you were wounded if you were suffering.

If you're depressed, if you had no clothing.

If you have no food. If your without shelter. If you and I were wondering only aimless empty sick orphaned or friendless.

What would you want someone else to do for you. That's the question if you are found there. What would you want someone else to do for you is that what I would want them to come to me. I want them to help me. I want to give me courage. I want them to speak something into my life. I want them to come with authority.

Let me out of depression.

I want them to have the resources to give me clothing and food and shelter. I want them to be able to tell me how to find my way through this endless labyrinth of confusion in the living I want to be a friend if I was only caught one, and assuming the direction if I didn't know where to go.

I wanted to come with something that had weight if I was empty in my heart sick in my spirit if I was off and I want them to be of family to me if I was friendless. I want a friend, as the Scripture says that sticks closer than a brother. And Jesus says now whatever you would want men to do for you. Do these things for them now. This brings us back to verses 7 to 11 because we say where would I find the resources and the strength to do all of these things. Then he says, ask, seek, knock you come to me asking me and I'll give you courage and love that casts out all fear.

If you don't know how to minister to somebody was wounded, he said seek the healing that I have and am I will given to an abundant measure. It will begin to pour through you and you want have to pass by on the other side of the struggling and suffering people that we see every day. If you need wisdom to know how to unlock areas of depression in people's minds. He says does not demean us all open to give you these gifts out teach you how to be a friend help put something in your heart that's not there to get things of God are miraculous folks with the gifting of God. As a point of maturity is a point where you are not called to be children anymore in our understanding. You and I are the church of Jesus Christ will call to do the work of God in the earth, everything that Christ did.

You and I are called to do on a scale. He was one man in one body. He's now a son of God and in the power of the Holy Spirit is a body all of the earth doing as it is more than he was able to doing just that one body and one historical moment in time when you and I believe that Laura would be the key word to be God's provision as it is for those that are struggling and suffering in our generation. Praise God, he says in verse 13 enter in at the strait gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there be many that go in there. In other words, Christ is saying to those is teaching going this direction the world offers many seemingly more appealing and alternative pathways but adverse 14 exhibit strait is the gate narrow is the way which leads to life and there are few find.

He said there are a lot of pathways out there and a lot of opinions even Christians on today over what it means that as God for things and there is a narrowness in this. There's a straight way we are called to follow humanity.

It's not even debatable when you read the Scriptures.

There's no other opinion that is necessary because there is no other opinion we are to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness were to walk in the ways of Christ were to walk with the heart of God in Christ were to walk with the power of God. The authority of God. The purpose of God were to walk into the mountain of fallen humanity all around us. Praise God. There are other opinions about what it means to be Christian, and we are living in a time in history when there are as many opinions and Christianity is there are radio stations on the airwaves today, he said would go into this way because it's a white gate broad leads to destruction, and many go there because strait is the gate narrow is the way which leads to life and there are few find it now in verse 15 Jesus goes on. He is not left his text is not left is thought that we started with in verse seven. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are raving wolves fall spiritual voices will arise to take you away from that which God would've given you, and they do so by keeping you in a continuous state of childless self focus.

That's what the false prophetic voice will do will keep you as a church in a state of infancy, always going as a child, as it is for some new toy for some new thing never entering into the fullness of the purpose of God through your life. The purpose of God is not to just accumulate the most toys before you die get to the highest rung on the ladder or to be the best looking to have the nicest close of the biggest house that is not the purpose of God that is childlessness. We are to live way beyond that. Know the treasurer of God is fallen humanity. The treasurer of God is every person ever born into this world.

The treasurer of God is young and old, rich and poor every race, culture, language everywhere in the world. The treasurer of God is so important to him that he left you when I hear on the earth and we might become co-laborers with him going into this harvest, and compelling them to come home to God our father. Verse 16 Jesus said about the false prophets you know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles in other words, using the compassionate fruit of Christ for others is not found that that's how you identify the false prophetic folks. The compassion of Christ is not in it's all about the whole book is about zero. It's not about other people and ultimately it's about them verse 21 Jesus is not everyone that says to me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but neither does the will of my father which is in heaven.

Many will say to me in the day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name. Thy name cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works and then will I profess to them.

I never knew you depart from me, you that work iniquity.

Now here's the point. False teachers claim that knowing the mind of God having an appearance of fighting for the right side and having the ability to cause others to marvel at their seemingly personal accomplishments is sufficient what Christ calls it iniquity.

It's an amazing thing itself WE see first the kingdom of God as we seek God's kingdom advance and women find Christ as Lord and Savior to all the things that you need. I know what you need before you even have some praise God given to Thailand until you that's why Jesus said therefore don't live your day worried about where shall we live, what shall we eat all these things is, in fact, all these things the Gentiles.

Those outside of the kingdom spend whole day thinking about these things. Then he said no seek first the kingdom of God seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. Now the title of my message was preparing to stand in the coming storm. Make no mistake about it, were going into a season were in it now were going and deeper into when everything again be shaken is going to be shaken in some measure. I'm greatly thankful for that. In the chair in the context of the Christian church because everything unlike Christ is not going to stand in the days ahead.

Matthew 724 again he says therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine and does them, I will. I can enjoy wise men, which built his house upon a rock and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house it, it's all not for it was founded upon a rock of folks it's founded upon the very heart of Christ. That's why doesn't talk.

If you hold focuses about yourself when everything around you starts to think of course your house is going to fall. But if your focus is on others nothing changes, and does them not, shall be likened to a foolish man was built his house upon the sand in the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it fell in great was the fall of it preparing to stand in the coming storm. Listen to what David says in Psalm 41 Blessed is he that considers the poor girl the promises the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.

The Lord will preserve him and keep them alive, he shall be blessed upon the earth will not be delivered to the will of his enemies, the Lord will strengthen them on the bed of languishing. That means when he's in a place that would take away the strength of ordinary men.

God said this man, this woman will find strength that does not come to ordinary people it comes to those who are given to the work of God were found where he is at the right hand of the poor.

Verse 28 it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were still listed as doctrine free taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes were used to words, but they were just empty religious words, people with somewhat of an idea about God, but there they were never moved and looking at the vessels. Most of the vessels speaking. It had no power to live what they were speaking but when he had ended speaking, they were stunned, they were astonished. He taught them as one having authority, and really what that means. He spoke these words of someone who had the power to do, and enable others to do all that had been spoken authority. They looked at him and said this man can do what he just said this man will be true to his word. This man is unlocking to us as it is the heart of God. And there's the way can it do such a sense of all this come into our hearts, that if we are moving in this direction of God.

We can go to God and when we ask it will be given to us and when we seek we will find it when we not get shall be open to us. The soreness in his voice digital today. If you're doing the work of God, you should be expecting the miraculous value you respond like you almost almost, almost no persuade his you almost believe it.

I believe it with all my heart because this is not about me but I have to give testimony to God. I been taken all my life.

There was a Christian places I could never go on been given things to do. I could never hope to do.

I don't have the training to go to a lot of the places that God sends me to so I just go where I know I feel like my grandson where is God's is his right here so please sir know he had to search for that. That first spotted stuffed dog God says now take this okay let's go to the counter did yours take you got a new mind. I give you a new heart to give you new spirit and I'm going to go to take you through impossible places in your seat, your testimony will not be about to be about me that once you're not the one paid for this. I paid for this unit, you don't get it in your own strength. I give it to you folks.

This is a wonderful thing about God when everyone else says you can't, God says you can never win every argument put your way says it will not be yours villages just ask me just ask me and will go to the counter to get a new will be yours. It delights the heart of God.

Old folks if you and I could lay hold of this to Dave if we could see the exceeding greatness of the power of God that's available to us. Paul's thought is trying to explain it to the church of Ephesus, and I'm sure many didn't see it as well, but many didn't see it because the focus is not right. Paul was given for other men. Given first to the glory of God, but then given to the purpose of God given to blackening the heart of God given to the work of God given to going into following humanity all around whether it was accepted or whether he crawled out from under a pile of rocks. It made no difference. He was given, and because he was given Hammond was open because heaven was open. He saw the exceeding riches of God. He said to the church of Ephesus all that you could see what I see that your eyes could be open that you could see the exceeding power of God that's available to all who call out to him, but we can't do his children anymore. That season is gone it's time to put away time staying focused is coming storm is coming to the whole world. It's time to put away child things God may be voicing the storm caused me to stand God. God that's far beyond anything I've ever known in my mind when I read God in the earth. Praise be to God. Praise be to God.

Praise be to God. I know one thing for**no matter what comes down when Daisy is going to stand is going to stand before one thing, it is thing is going with to give you things that are so much deeper than anything you ever known, it's time to put away childish things. Time to put away child is Dave put away childish Internet bridging time to time to pick up his Bible and sing God Almighty send me the harvest field is for Lord not appearing before the God within the basket. One day, just a series of things I prayed for for myself on this earth pulled God help us as a church now help us Lord is God Almighty.

Praise God, I felt the Holy Spirit told me last night as I was preparing putting the final points to this he was wanting you to have the power to do something is calling you to do something that you don't get find within yourself the power to do it whether it's to love somebody in your family and your workplace to forgive somebody whether it's to reach out whether it's to make something of I'm not thought it would.

You know what it is.

Whether you yourself are behind a prison door and you just don't know how you ever going to get out what the Braves are dealing with this tormenting thoughts of the enemy. You don't how you ever to get out of it. David said in Psalm 19 God. I called out to you. You came to me and by your power.

I have linked over the wall by your anointing. I run through a troop. I don't care if 10,000 set themselves against me. David said I will not be afraid. He knew the power of God.

He knew the power of God do believe with all my heart in this generation. It's time to know the power of God again. It's time for the message today has been brought to you by Carter Conlon from Times Square church. For more information log onto TSC.invoicing TSC.invoicing plan to be with us next week for a call to the nation with Carter,