Turning Hearts to God and Spiritual Fathers - Evangel Christian Fellowship

Evangel Christian Fellowship Turning our Hearts to Spiritual Fathers Ludwig 07/04/19

Luke 1:16-17 16And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Evangel Christian Fellowship

How Do We Know The People Are Prepared? 1. When many hearts turn to the Lord God 2. Hearts of the fathers turn to their children and the hearts of the children turn to the fathers (Naturally and Spiritually) Evangel Christian Fellowship

Review 1. Preparation For Increase 2. Purpose of the Person 3. The Goal of Intimacy (Sincerity of the heart) 4. Abiding in Christ (Word) Loving God and Loving others are inseparable It is a heart issue. The turning has to do with hearts. Evangel Christian Fellowship

Added to the Lord, then added to the Church Acts 5:14 14And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, Acts 2:4 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Evangel Christian Fellowship

2 Corinthians 8:5 5And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. Evangel Christian Fellowship

Mantle of Elijah was thrown onto Elisha This is the starting point God uses Elijah to tune Elisha From that time until Elisha received the mantle was 14 years. There is a process. Elisha is to continue what began in Elijah (Spirit and power of Elijah) Evangel Christian Fellowship

Romans 1:11 11For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established Evangel Christian Fellowship

1. Respond (1 Kings 19:20) There must be a response and action. Willingly, without making excuses (Matt 22; Luke 14) NOW Matthew 22:14 14 For many are called, but few are chosen. Evangel Christian Fellowship

Luke 14:16-24 16Then He said to him, A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, 17and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, Come, for all things are now ready. 18But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused. 19And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused. 20Still another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. Evangel Christian Fellowship

Luke 14:25-27, 33 25Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 33So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. Evangel Christian Fellowship

Hebrews 3:7-11 7Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you will hear His voice, 8Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, 9Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years. 10Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways. 11So I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest. Evangel Christian Fellowship

2. Follow (2 Kings 19:21) Follow closely in covenant Elisha bade his father and mother farewell, not letting them hinder his call. Forsaking all, denying self Home, parents and relations are not first Elisha followed closely (2 Kings 2:2, 4, 6) 50 men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance (2 Kings 2:7). We easily blame when we follow from afar. We won t be made if we don t follow (Matt 4:19) Evangel Christian Fellowship

Luke 9:61-62 61And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Evangel Christian Fellowship

Matthew 8:18-22 18And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. 19Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go. 20And Jesus said to him, Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head. 21Then another of His disciples said to Him, Lord, let me first go and bury my father. 22But Jesus said to him, Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead. Evangel Christian Fellowship

Matthew 22:1-3 1And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Evangel Christian Fellowship

Ruth 1:16-17 16But Ruth said: Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. 17Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me. Evangel Christian Fellowship

3. Serve (1 Kings 19:21) Motif behind serving? My ministry? (Haggai) What I receive and have is to be a son and build the house (YC). Serve your spiritual parents. Diverse giftings but the same work Contribute to your local house (home) first before serving in other forms. A good servant (follower) makes a good leader Evangel Christian Fellowship