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We are called to follow the strategy of God – to spread the news of Christ like wildfire. Step one: Revealing. Christ begins calling a person to faith, and sends someone to proclaim the gospel to him. Step two: Reviving. Christ is proclaimed to that person, he believes, comes alive, and is baptized. Step three: Rejoicing. The new Christian rejoices, while God calls the evangelist to keep working. Where do we fit in? Who sets out the strategy for our lives? Genesis 12:1,4. Which persons are excluded? Isaiah 56:3-7. How are we all linked in? Matthew 5:16 and 28:18-20.

Jesus taught us to pray for God's reign over all things. 1. The history of two kingdoms clashing. 2. The uniqueness of God's kingdom reign. a. The plan for God's reign. b. The purpose for God's reign. c. The increase of God's reign. 3. We remember three things as we pray "Thy Kingdom Come." a. This is a request that we are to make, not an action we can do. b. Kingdom reigning and ruling belongs to God. c. There is an aspect of the reign of God that has not yet come! What does this petition truly mean? 1. How did Jesus rebuke the Pharisees? Matthew 12:28 2. What two kings appear in Matthew's 2nd chapter? Mt. 2:1-11 3. Where else is the kingdom of God? Luke 17:21, Isaiah 57:15

Christ paid the price to give us the free gifts of joy and power. 1. Christ's free gift of great joy. (v.1-8) 2. Christ's free gift of Spiritual power cannot be bought. (v.9-20) 3. Without Christ's gift: a heart not right, full of bitterness, captive to sin (v.21-25). Receiving Christ's Gifts: What is the explanation for such joy? Philippians 4:7 How can we test for true spiritual power? 1 John 4:1-6 From what were we lifted? Colossians 1:13-14

1. Know that God is Light. (v.5) 2. Don't pretend, live honestly before God. (vv.6-7) 3. Don't deny, deal honestly with sin. (vv. 8-10)

1. Life Begins with Jesus. (v.1-2) 2. Our Message Begins with Jesus. (v.2-3) 3. Fellowship Begins with Jesus. (v.3) 4. Joy Begins with Jesus (v.4)

Jesus taught us what to pray first. 1. We make God's name central. 2. We consider the honoring of God's name to be our priority. 3. We remember that we bear God's name – Christian. To know the Son is to know the Father. (Baptized into the name of…) What is to be our priority prayer? 1. What is central to our lives; the main thing? Philippians 4:8 2. What is first in our prayers; how do we begin? Psalm 143:8 3. How should we live, since we bear the name of God? John 14:13

The Son of Man revealed His glory in the witnessing of Stephen. 1. Christ revealed His glorious judgment in Stephen's cutting evaluation of the crowds. (v.54-55) 2. Christ revealed His glorious reign by filling Stephen with His Spirit to enable him to see God and to die well. (v.56-59) 3. Christ revealed His glorious mercy through Stephen's prayer for his killers to be forgiven. (v.60) Applying to Christians: What impact did this event have on Saul/Paul? Acts 22:20 What promise stands before us (and Stephen)? 1 Thess. 4:14 How does the Son of Man affect our prayers? Daniel 7:13-14

God's permanent home is with His people by His Spirit. 1. Not the tabernacle. (v.44-46) 2. Not the temple. (v.47-50) 3. The Holy God lives with sinners! (v.51-53). Does this sink in? Where does God live? 1 K. 8:27 Is. 57:15; 66:1-2 Jn. 14:23 Who rejected God's prophets? Mt. 23:30 Lk. 11:47-51 What is the promise of God's presence? Mt. 18:20 and 28:20.

1. Praise the Lord 2. Remember our benefits in the Lord 3. Rejoice wholeheartedly in the Lord

INTRODUCTION: The state of our world occasions many responses, including fear. John teaches us to focus on Christ in all times, for 3 reasons, discovered in 3 constants over time. CONSTANT 1: PAST REMEMBRANCE (.1-9) A. "Who... freed us from our sins" 1. Eternal God 2. Effectual salvation 3. Everlasting promise B. Pt: Christ is the God of grace C. Application: Get grace CONSTANT 2: PRESENT REALITY (.10-17a) A. "When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead" 1. Divine symbolism 2. Dreadful appearance 3. Devotional response B. Pt: Christ is the God of glory C. Application: Glorify God CONSTANT 3: PROPHETIC RESOLUTION (.17-20) A. "'The mystery of the seven stars is...'" 1. Controlled future 2. Clarified understanding 3. Commanded responsibility B. Pt: Christ is the God of guidance C. Application: Grasp Gospel CONCLUSION: FOCUS ON CHRIST! A. Otters: Know Christ B. Ostriches: Get to know Christ C. Ocelots: Help others know Christ D. Opossums: Trust Christ

When we talk to God, there are things we must always remember. 1. To call Him Father! (v.9) 2. That He is in heaven. (v.9) 3. That He knows our needs before we ask. (v.8) 4. That we share our Father with our brothers/sisters. (v.9) a. we pray with unifying awareness of family. (v.9) b. yet we each pray in secret with our Father. (v.6) How to improve our prayer lives… 1. What does it mean to us to address God as Father? How does it impact our talking with God to recall that He is in heaven? 2. Try this 'vitamin supplement' of truth for a sickly prayer life: write a note to yourself that reads, "HE ALREADY KNOWS YOUR NEED" on it, and then pray with your eyes open, continually reading the note. 3. How do our prayers change after this 'vitamin'? Longer or shorter? Sense His love more or less? Want to give up praying, or pray more? Is God pleased when we focus on this truth in our prayers?