HOW TO RECEIVE FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT:

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HOW TO RECEIVE FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT:

OCT. 29, 1995

Rev 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he

that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst

of the seven golden candlesticks; (KJV)

Rev 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst

not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they

are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: (KJV)

Rev 2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured,

and hast not fainted. (KJV)

Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy

first love. (KJV)

Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the

first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy

candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (KJV)

Rev 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which

I also hate. (KJV)

Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the

churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life,

which is in the midst of the paradise of God. (KJV)

IF WE WERE TO LOOK AT THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS TODAY WE WOULD SEE A FULLY

GROWN AND MATURE BODY OF BELIEVERS THAT HAVE LABORED AND WORKED HARD AND HAVE

BEEN PERSISTENT IN THE FACE OF OPPOSITION. WE WOULD SEE A BODY OF BELIEVERS WHO

EXERCISED THE GIFT OF DISCERNMENT HAVING MATURED TO THE PLACE WHERE THERE

SPIRITUAL SENSES HAD BEEN ADEQUATELY TRAINED SO AS TO TRY THOSE MINISTRIES THAT

ARE FALSE AND NOT OF GOD. IF WE JUST LOOKED AT THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS ON THE

SURFACE WE WOULD SEE A VERY HARD WORKING MATURE BODY OF BELIEVERS WHO WERE

SERVING THE LORD TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY. BUT GOD DOESN'T LOOK ON THE OUT-

WARD, HE LOOKS AT THE CONDITION OF OUR HEART. THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS WAS DOING

ALL THESE GREAT THINGS OUT OF A SENSE OF DUTY, DISCIPINE AND OBLIGATION AND NOT

BECAUSE THEY WERE IN LOVE WITH THE LORD. Rev.2:4 Neverthelest I have somewhat

against thee, because you have left your first love. WE HAVE A TENDENCY TO

PLACE SO MUCH EMPHASIS ON GROWING UP AND MATURING AS THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF

GOD THAT WE LEAVE OUT AN IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE THAT WOULD HELP US MAINTAIN INTI-

MATE LOVE WITH OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. THERE IS IN EVERY MATURE SON OF GOD A

LITTLE BOY THAT THE FATHER LOVES, PLAYS WITH AND ENJOYS. THERE IS IN EVERY MAT-

URE DAUGHTER OF GOD A LITTLE GIRL THAT FATHER GOD LOVES, PLAYS WITH AND ENJOYS.

WHAT IS TRUE IN THE NATURAL ALSO APPLIES TO THE SPIRITUAL. MARY AND I HAVE

FIVE CHILDREN THAT WE ARE TRYING TO RAISE AS MATURE, RESPECTIBLE AND RESPONSI-

BLE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. WE TEACH THEM TO OBEY AUTHROITY, TO CLEAN THEIR ROOMS,

TO DO CERTIAN JOBS AROUND THE HOUSE--BUT THEIR WHOLE LIFE IS NOT ABOUT SERVING

US ITS ALSO ABOUT PLAYING WITH US AND HAVING FUN WITH US AND LOVING US. THERE

IS IN MY OLDEST SON A LITTLE BOY THAT I LOVE TO PLAY BASKETBALL, TENNIS OR FOOT-

BALL WITH. THERE IS IN MY OLDEST DAUGHTER A LITTLE GIRL THAT I LIKE TO HOLD AND

HUG AND JUST LET HER LNOW THAT I LOVE HER. YOU SEE WE CAN NEVER MAINTAIN OUR

LOVE FOR THE FATHER UNLESS WE ALLOW THE FATHER TO LOVE US. THERE IS SOMETHING

IMPORTANT ABOUT BEING A LITTLE CHILD WHEN IT COMES TO RECEIVING THE FATHERS

LOVE.

Matt 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the

greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" (NIV)

Matt 18:2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. (NIV)

Matt 18:3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like

little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (NIV)

Matt 18:4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in

the kingdom of heaven. (NIV)

JESUS TELLS US A TRUE STATEMENT IN VERSE 3; UNLESS YOU CHANGE AND BECOME

LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN YOU WILL NEVER ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. HOW MANY OF

YOU REMEMBER THE SERIES ON THE KINGDOM OF GOD THAT I TAUGHT AT THE BEBINNING OF

THE YEAR. THERE ARE TWO SPECIFIC TRUTHS ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD, 1 THE KING-

DOM IS A REALM THAT WE ENTER INTO AND ENJOY NOW AND 2. THE KINGDOM IS A FUTURE

PLACE WE LOOK FORWARD TO ENJOYING THROUGHOUT ETERNITY. PAUL TELLS US IN ROMANS

THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT MEAT NOR DRINK BUT RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE AND JOY

IN THE HOLY GHOST. PEACE AS A PART THE THE KINGDOM HAS REFERENCE TO A WHOLE-

SOMENESS OF SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY AND EQUATES TO DIVINE HEALING IN ALL THOSE

AREAS. HERE WE SEE THAT JOY IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD--JUST

THINK WHAT HEAVEN WOULD BE LIKE WITHOUT ANY JOY, WELL OUR FATHER GOD WANTS US

TO EXPERIENCE HIS JOY WHILE WE ARE IN HIS KINGDOM HERE ON EARTH. WHY ARE

CHRISTIANS LAUGHING IN THE SPIRIT TODAY--MAYBE ITS BECAUSE FATHER GOD IS PLAYING

WITH HIS CHILDREN AND SHARING HIS JOY WITH THEM. THE RENEWAL THAT GOD IS BRING-

ING TO HIS CHURCH TODAY IS JUST AN EXPRESSION OF GOD LOVING ON HIS CHURCH. IS

IT OK FOR GOD TO LOVE US IN THAT WAY? THE REAL PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE WITH THAT

IS THE FEAR OF EMOTIONALISM THAT I WILL DEAL WITH IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS.

HERE IN MATT.18:3 JESUS TELLS US ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES IN

MAINTAINING OUR LOVE WITH THE FATHER--WE MUST CHANGE AND BECOME LIKE LITTLE

CHILDREN. (SHARE EXAMPLE OF PASTOR'S MEETING AND TORONTO EXPERIENCE ABOUT BEING

GOD'S LITTLE BOY) CHILDREN HAVE SOME GOOD CHARACTERISTICS THAT WE NEED TO MAIN-

TAIN IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR HEAVENLY FATHER:

1. GOD PLACES A VERY HIGH VALUE ON THE INHERENT HUMILITY OF A LITTLE CHILD.

2. GOD PLACES A VERY HIGH VALUE ON A CHILD WHO IS VERY SIMPLISTIC IN THEIR

ABILITY TO TRUST. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY LEARNED FROM THEIR PARENTS

AT A VERY EARLY AGE. THEIR PARENTS PROVIDED FOR ALL THEIR BASIS NEEDS

AND SO THEY LEARNED TO SIMPLY TRUST THEM FOR ALL OF THEIR NEEDS.

3. CHILDREN HAVE THE ABILITY AND DESIRE JUST TO HAVE FUN. ALL WORK AND NO

PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY. WHY IS CHRISTIANITY SO DIFFICULT TODAY--ITS

BECAUSE WE'VE TAKEN THE FUN OUT OF IT. WE'RE TOO SERIOUS ALL THE TIME.

MOST OF US HAVE SOME CHILDREN AND WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE PLAYING WHEN THEY

SHOULD BE WORKING, OR GOOFING OFF WHEN THEY SHOULD BE DOING THEIR HOME-

WORK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THER JUST PLAYING AROUND AND DON'T TAKE LIFE

SERIOUS ENOUGH. HERE JESUS IS CALLING US TO BE LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN.

NOW THERE IS A SCRIPTURE IN I COR.13 THAT SAYS WHEN I BECAME A MAN I PUT

AWAY CHILDISH THINGS BUT HERE JESUS IS SAYING NEVER GET SOPHISTICATED

ABOUT THE THINGS OF GOD. DON'T GET SO THEOLOGICAL AND FULL OF PURPOSE

WITH YOUR OWN STRADEGIES AND PERSOANL AGENDAS AND CAN'T BE LIKE A LITTLE

CHILD AND HAVE FUN, AND BE SIMPLE AND TRUSTING AND UNCOMPLICATED, AND BE

OPEN AND READABLE. THERE'S A CALL HERE TO GET REAL. LET'S GET REAL HERE

AND STOP PLAYING OUR RELIGIOUS GAMES OF LOOKING GOOD ON THE OUTSIDE BUT

WE ARE MISERABLE ON THE INSIDE. OUR FATHER CAN CHANGE THAT IF WE WILL

CHANGE AND BECOME LIKE A LITTLE CHILD.

4. A LITTLE CHILD IS UNPRETENTUOUS: IF YOU CHILD HAS TROUBLE SLEEPING AT

NIGHT, HE WILL COME AND TELL YOU ABOUT IT--HE WON'T JUST PRETEND EVERY-

THING IS OKAY. IF YOU CHILD IS HUNGRY THEY WILL COME TO YOU AND SAY

MOMMY, I'M HUNGRY. THERE IS A CALL HERE FOR US TO BECOME UNCOMPLICATED

AND COME AS A LITTLE CHILD AND DESIRE MORE FROM OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. IN

FACT JAMES TELLS US THAT WE HAVE NOT BECAUSE WE ASK NOT--LET'S NOT PRE-

TEND THAT EVERYTHING IS OK WITH US AS MATURE, RESPECTIBLE AND RESPONSIBLE

CHRISTIANS--LET'S BECOME AS A LITTLE CHILD AND TAKE OUR PROBLEMS AND

NEEDS TO OUR LOVING AND CARING HEAVENLY FATHER.

5. HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED THAT ADULTS HAVE DIFFICULTY RECEIVING GIFTS FROM

OTHER PEOPLE. THIS IS NOT TRUE WITH CHILDREN--THEY TAKE ANYTHING YOU

GIVE THEM WITH AN OPEN HAND AND AN OPEN HEART. IF WE WANT TO LEARN HOW

TO RECEIVE THINGS FROM THE SPIRIT OF GOD THEN WE MUST BECOME LIKE A

LITTLE CHILD.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down

from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither

shadow of turning. (KJV)

THIS VERSE TELLS US THAT GOD DELIGHTS IN GIVING GOOD GIFTS TO HIS CHILDREN:

ONE OF THE PEROGATIVES OF A PARENT IS THAT THEY CAN DECIDE HOW AND WHEN THE GIFT

WILL BE GIVEN. WHAT HAPPEN IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH FATHER GOD IS THAT WE WANT

TO RECEIVE THINGS ON OUR TERMS AND WE HAVE TO LEARN TO ALLOW HIM TO GIVE THINGS

TO US ON HIS TERMS. FOR SOME REASON GOD PLACES A HIGH VALUE ON FALLING DOWN OR

BEING SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT TO RECEIVE FROM HIM. YOU SEE, MOST OF US SEE A VALUE

IN RECEIVING THINGS FROM THE SPIRIT BUT IT HAS TO BE OUR WAY AND ON OUR TERMS

SO WE DON'T YEILD TO WHAT GOD WANTS TO DO TO US IN HIS OWN WAY. NOW THERE ARE

SOME WHO HAVE TROUBLE FALLING DOWN UNDER THE POWER OF GOD AND SO I WANT TO

ADRESS THAT AS AN ISSUE. I WILL SAY THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO FALL UNDER THE POWER

TO RECEIVE FROM GOD BUT THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT BECOMING LIKE A LITTLE CHILD

WHILE YOU ARE LAYING ON THE FLOOR THAT GOD LIKES.

THERE ARE THREE DYNAMICS THAT COME INTO PLAY HERE IN THE DIFFICULTY TO RE-

CEIVE FROM GOD IN THIS WAY:
1. CONTROL VERSES FAITH: CONTROL SAYS WE

HAVE TO BE IN CHARGE OF OUR FACULTIES;

FAITH YEILDS ALL OF IT'S MEMBER TO GOD

AND HIS CONTROL.

2. ANALYSIS VERSES INTIMACY: THAT IS THE

NEED TO UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THAT'S

GOING ON BEFORE WE BUY INTO IT.

3. FEAR VERSES FAITH:

2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of

love, and of a sound mind. (KJV)

1 John 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the

day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (KJV)

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because

fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us. (KJV)

THE CHURCH IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE HAS A DEFINITE FEAR OF EMOTIONS. WE

HAVE A FEAR OF EMOTIONALISM. DO LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE ANY DIFFICULTY IN EX-

PRESSING THEIR EMOTIONS OPENLY AND FREELY--NO, THEY DON'T. WHEN'S THE LAST TIME

YOU SAW A SIX YEAR OLD BEING TOO AFRAID ABOUT BEING TO0 EMOTIONAL? THEY JUST

LAUGH AND CRY AND HAVE A GOOD TIME. GAL.5:22 TELLS US THAT THE FRUIT OF THE

SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLE-

NESS AND SELF-CONTROL AGANST SUCH THINGS THERE IS NO LAW. WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT

COMES INTO US HE BRINGS ALL THESE THINGS WITH HIM. DO YOU SEE THAT THERE IS AN

EMOTIONAL COMPONENT TO MOST OF THOSE CHARACTERISTICS? AND THEN I SEE SOMETHING

I'VE NEVER SEEN IN THIS SCRIPTUE BEFORE--THERE NO LAW AGAINST THESE THINGS BUT

WE OPPOSE THEM ANY WAY IN OUR SPOHISTICATION AND ANALYTICAL MINDS. THERE AREN'T

ANY RULES WHEN IT COME TO EXPERIENCING GOD'S JOY--YOU CAN NEVER GET TOO MUCH

JOY OR HAPPINESS. YOU CAN NEVER GET TOO MUCH PEACE--OH NO, WAIT A MINUTE NOW,

YOUR SINNING AND GETTING TO MUCH PEACE.

WE HAVE AN UNREALISTIC FEAR OF EMOTIONS. WHERE DID YOU GET YOUR EMOTIONS

FROM? WHAT ARE THEY? CAN YOU GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND GET THEM OUT? WHO PUT

THEM THERE? THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT WE WERE CREATED IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS

OF GOD WHICH MEANS THAT GOD IS THE SOURCE OF OUR EMOTIONS AND HE HIMSELF POSS-

ESSES EMOTIONS AND EXPRESSES HIMSELF THROUGH ALOT OF DIFFERENT EMOTIONS THROUGH-

OUT THE SCRIPTURES. ONE OF MY FAVORITE IS FOUND IN:

Zeph 3:17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will

rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over

thee with singing. (KJV)

THIS WORD REJOICE LITERALLY MEANS THAT GOD IS SO PLEASED WITH US THAT HE

IS DANCING OVER US IN JOY. GOD FORBID THAT HE WOULD DANCE OVER US OUT OF THE

EMOTION OF JOY AND NOT BE DANCING IN THE SPIRIT WITH HIS EYES CLOSED. NOW WE

NEED TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING HERE: GOD GAVE US EMOTIONS BECAUSE HE WANTED US TO

EXPERIENCE HIS GOODNESS TO THE FULLEST. HOWEVER GOD OES NOT WANT US TO BE CON-

TROLLED BY OUR EMOTIONS BUT BY HIS SPIRIT. WE AS MEN NEED TO LEARN HOW TO CRY,

TO LAUGH AND TO ENJOY LIFE. WHY IS IT THAT MEN ALWAYS TRY TO HIDE THEIR TEARS?

THERE'S A FEAR OF SHOWING THEIR EMOTIONS WHICH HINDERS THEM FROM RECEIVING FROM

GOD. WHY IS IT THAT ITS THE WOMEN IN OUR CHURCH THAT YIELD TO LAUGHING IN THE

SPIRIT--IT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE USING THEIR EMOTIONS ALL DAY LONG BUT WE MEN WANT

TO BE IN CONTROL AND WE WANT TO UNDERTAND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON BEFORE WE

GIVEN IN AND YIELD TO IT. GOD WANTS US TO TAKE THE NEST-TEA PLUNGE INTO THE

RIVER OF HIS GODLY, SANCTIFIED EMOTIONS SO THAT WE CAN ENJOY THE THINGS OF LIFE

AND THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT.

THEN THERE IS ANOTHER ASPECT OF FEAR THAT HINDERS US FROM BEING ABLE TO RE-

CEIVE FROM GOD AND THAT IS THE FEAR OF DECEPTION. WE HAVE A FEAR OF RECEIVING

SOMETHING THAT'S NOT OF GOD AND SO WE ARE OVER CAUTIOUS TO THE POINT OF HINDER-

ING THE SPIRIT AND SO WE DON'T YIELD TO HIM.

Luke 11:11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give

him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a

serpent? (KJV)

Luke 11:12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? (KJV)

Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your

children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy

Spirit to them that ask him? (KJV)

WE HAVE A TENDENCY TO SO OVER RE-ACT TO THE POSSIBILITY OF DECEPTION THAT

OUR LIFE IS CONTROLLED BY FEAR. WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL WHO IS PRAYING OVER US.

WE NEED TO COVER EVERYTHING WITH THE BLOOD AND WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL TO PUT OUR

ARMOUR ON BEFORE WE LEAVE THE HOUSE. THESE ARE ALL REACTIONS TO THE FEAR OF

BEING DECEIVED OR THE FEAR OF THE ENEMY GETTING THROUGH AND HURTING US. NOW

FAITH TAKES HOLD OF THE PROMISE IN GOD'S WORD IN LK.10:19 WHERE JESUS GIVES US

AUTHORITY TO TREAD ON SERPENTS AND SCORPIONS AND OVER ALL THE POWER OF THE ENEMY

AND THE PROMISE THAT NOTHING SHALL BY ANY MEANS HURT YOU. WE NEED TO HAVE CON-

FIDENCE THAT NO ONE IS ABLE TO PLUCK US OUT OF THE FATHER'S HAND ACCORDING TO

JN.10:28 AND THAT NOTHING SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD ACCORDING TO

ROM.8:39. IF WE DAILY PREPARE OUR HEART TO COMMUNE WITH GOD AND WALK WITH HIM

IN THE SPIRIT AND WE AKE IT A LIFESTYLE WE DONT HAVE TO RE-ACT TO THE FEAR OF

DECEPTION. ** WE NEED TO HAVE MORE FAITH IN GOD'S ABILITY TO BLESS US THAN IN

SATAN'S ABILITY TO DECEIVE US.**

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him:*for HE THAT COMETH to

God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that

diligently seek him. (KJV)

Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom

of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. (KJV)

GOD IS WANTING US TO PRESS INTO THE THINGS OF GOD AND TO DILIGENTLY SEEK

HIM AND NOT HOLD BACK IN FEAR AND TIMIDITY. GOD DOESN'T WANT US TO PLAY IT SAFE

ANY MORE BUT PUT OUR WHOLE BODY, SOUL AND SPIRIT INTO SEEKING HIM AND RECEIVING

FROM HIM. IF PETER WOULD HAVE PLAYED IT SAFE HE WOULD HAVE NEVER GOT OUT OF THE

BOAT. HE'S THE ONLY OTHER MAN WHO EVER EXPERIENCED WALKING ON WATER EVEN IF IT

WAS FOR JUST A SHORT TIME. WE NEED TO STEP OUT OF OUR FEAR OF DECEPTION AND THE

FEAR OF THE ENEMY AND START LIVING HAPPY, SPIRIT FILLED, VICORIOUS LIVES. WHAT

HINDERED PETER FROM CONTINUING TO WALK ON THE WATER? HE TOOK HIS EYES OFF OF

JESUS UNTO THE STORM AND RE-ACTED IN FEAR INSTEAD OF WALKING BY FAITH. FEAR

HAS TOO MUCH CONTROL OVER OUR LIVES. WE NEED TO HAVE MORE FAITH IN GOD'S

ABILITY TO BLESS US THAN IN THE ENEMY'S ABILITY TO HURT US AND DECEIVE US.

ACCORDING TO LK.11:13 IF WE GO TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER LIKE A LITTLE CHILD, FULL

OF FAITH AND KNOWING HOW MUCH HE LOVES YOU AND SAY, "FATHER MAY I HAVE SOME

BREAD, THE BIBLE SAYS HE WILL NOT GIVE YOU A STONE OR A COUNTERFIET." WE NEED

TO PUT OUR FAITH AND TRUST IN GOD AS A LOVING, CARING, & FORGIVING HEAVENLY

FATHER, WHO HAS MADE UP HIS MIND TO GIVE US GOOD THINGS TO ENJOY!

John 18:6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward,

and fell to the ground. (KJV)

WE NEED TO LEARN HOW TO CONNECT HEART TO HEART WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT SO THAT

WE CAN FREELY RECEIVE FROM HIM. THAT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE EASILY WHEN PEOPLE

FALL DOWN UNDER THE SPIRIT'S POWER. NOW THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE

FEAR OF PHENOMANON AND THE FEAR OF FALLING DOWN. MAYBE THEY ARE PREGNANT OR

MAYBE THEY ARE OVER WEIGHT OR HAVE BACK PROBLEMS OR SOMETHING. THEY NEED TO

SETTLE THE ISSUE BRFORE THEY COME FORWARD FOR PRAYER OR ELSE THEY WILL BE DIS-

TRACTED BY THEIR FEAR AND NOT RESPOND IN FAITH. I WAS ONCE TOLD OF A MAN THAT

CAME FORWARD FOR PRAYER AND ASKED IF HE COULD LAY DOWN FIRST AND THEN RECEIVE

PRAYER. NOW WHAT DID HE DO? HE JUST GOT THAT WHOLE FEAR ISSUE OUT OF THE WAY AND

WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE FROM THE LORD. NOW GOD SEEMS TO PLACE SOME VALUE ON PEOPLE

FALLING DOWN UNDER THE SPIRITS POWER AS A MEANS OF RECEIVING FROM HIM. NOW YOU

MIGHT OBJECT TO THAT BUT LET'S DISCOVER WHY THAT MIGHT BE.

James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth

the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (KJV)

1. VULNERABILITY: HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED THAT WHILE YOUR LAYING THERE ON THE

FLOOR THAT YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE AND THAT EVERYBODY'S PROBABLY

WATCHING YOU AND YOUR NOT REALLY SURE IF YOU LIKE IT OR NOT. THERE ARE TWO

IMPORTANT INGREDIENTS HERE: VULNERABILITY AND HUMILITY. FALLING DOWN AND

LAYING ON THE FLOOR SEEMS TO BE SO FOOLISH IN THE EYES OF MAN AND YET THE

BIBLES TELLS US THAT THE FOOLISHNESS OF GOD IS WISER THAN MAN. ITS DURING

THIS TIME OF VULNERABILITY AND HUMILITY THAT GOD CAN REALLY WORK IN OUR LIVES

AND DEAL WITH THE DEEP ISSUES OF THE HEART.

2Ki 5:1 Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a

great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the

LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty

man in valour, but he was a leper. (KJV)

2Ki 5:2 And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought

away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she

waited on Naaman's wife. (KJV)

2Ki 5:3 And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with

the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of

his leprosy. (KJV)

2Ki 5:4 And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said

the maid that is of the land of Israel. (KJV)

2Ki 5:5 And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a

letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with

him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold,

and ten changes of raiment. (KJV)

2Ki 5:6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now

when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith

sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him

of his leprosy. (KJV)

2Ki 5:7 And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the

letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill

and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover

a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see

how he seeketh a quarrel against me. (KJV)

2Ki 5:8 And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the

king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king,

saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now

to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.

2Ki 5:9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood

at the door of the house of Elisha. (KJV)

2Ki 5:10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in

Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee,

and thou shalt be clean. (KJV)

2Ki 5:11 But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I

thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call

on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the

place, and recover the leper. (KJV)

2Ki 5:12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than

all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be

clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. (KJV)

2Ki 5:13 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My

father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing,

wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he

saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? (KJV)

WHAT ELISHA TOLD NAAMAN TO DO WAS A VERY FOOLISH AND HUMILIATING

THING--GO AND WASH YOUR SELF SEVEN TIMES IN THAT MUDDY JORDAN RIVER.

NOW IF HE HAD ASKED HIM TO WALK TO MT. SINAI, WALK AROUND IT SEVEN

TIMES, GO TO THE TOP AND OFFER 3 LAMBS AND TWO BULLOCKS AND COME BACK

DOWN AGAIN AND WALK ALL THE WAY HOME AND HE WOULD BE HEALED HE PROB-

ABLY WOULD HAVE GLADLY DONE THAT BECAUSE THEN HE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN

CONTROL OF THE SITUATION AND HAD THE FEELING OF EARNING HIS HEALING.

BUT GOD'S WAY WAS FOOLISH AND HUMILIATING BUT WHEN HE OBEYED IT AND

YIELDED TO IT HEAL WAS IMMEDIATELY HEALED OF HIS LEPROSY. IF WE WANT

TO RECEIVE MORE FROM GOD WE HAVE TO BEGIN TO YIELD TO THE SIMPLE

THINGS LIKE NAAMAN LEARNED TO DO.

IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE FROM GOD WE HAVE TO YIELD TO

THE FOOLISH THINGS AND HUMBLE OURSELVES AS A LITTLE CHILD. CAN YOU

ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE GOD'S LITTLE BOY OR GOD'S LITTLE GIRL WHOM HE

CAN FREELY AND UNABTRUSIVELY GIVE GOOD THINGS TO. I WANT TO LEARN

HOW TO BE GOD'S LITTLE BOY WITH SIMPLISTIC FAITH SO THAT I CAN RECEIVE