Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn. 00:00:01.06\00:00:02.40 Did you know that speaking God's promises over your life 00:00:02.43\00:00:06.15 and praying them back to Him has transforming power? 00:00:06.18\00:00:10.62 Please join us today on Pressing in 00:00:10.65\00:00:12.79 to His Presence to learn why? 00:00:12.82\00:00:14.98 Welcome to Pressing in to His Presence. 00:00:36.54\00:00:39.07 In this series, we are learning 00:00:39.10\00:00:41.10 how to draw ever closer to God in prayer. 00:00:41.13\00:00:45.56 We have already considered the spiritual benefit 00:00:45.59\00:00:48.23 of including praise and repentance 00:00:48.26\00:00:50.31 at the beginning of our prayer. 00:00:50.34\00:00:52.12 And now what we are going to do after looking last week 00:00:52.15\00:00:57.05 we began to see how using God's words 00:00:57.08\00:01:00.85 as in returning His promises to Him in prayer. 00:01:00.88\00:01:04.92 What kind of a power that has? 00:01:04.95\00:01:07.21 It becomes an affirmation of our faith. 00:01:07.24\00:01:09.77 And we saw that Christ will sustain us 00:01:09.80\00:01:13.30 with His mighty word of power. 00:01:13.33\00:01:15.38 That's what Hebrews 1:3 says. 00:01:15.41\00:01:17.84 Is he sustains and upholds 00:01:17.87\00:01:19.58 and maintains the world by His mighty word of power. 00:01:19.61\00:01:23.55 And as you learn to wheel the sword of the spirit, 00:01:23.58\00:01:27.08 He'll do that for you. 00:01:27.11\00:01:28.78 We also noticed that when we reach this point 00:01:28.81\00:01:32.18 of Pressing in to His Presence, our confession of God's word 00:01:32.21\00:01:37.78 can be likened to the priest 00:01:37.81\00:01:40.26 eating the showbread in the Holy Place. 00:01:40.29\00:01:43.27 Now, in this series we are using a companion book 00:01:43.30\00:01:46.56 that I was privileged to write 00:01:46.59\00:01:48.40 and it's also titled Pressing in to His Presence. 00:01:48.43\00:01:51.39 If you're following along in the book, 00:01:51.42\00:01:53.46 today we begin on page 92. 00:01:53.49\00:01:57.95 Sustaining power is marvelous, but equally as wonderful 00:01:57.98\00:02:03.35 is that Jesus uses the word 00:02:03.38\00:02:05.96 to wash the influences of the world from our mind. 00:02:05.99\00:02:10.17 Ephesians 5:25-27 says this, 00:02:10.20\00:02:15.59 "Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 00:02:15.62\00:02:20.64 that He might sanctify and cleanse her 00:02:20.67\00:02:23.51 with the washing of water by the word, 00:02:23.54\00:02:26.69 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, 00:02:26.72\00:02:31.54 not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, 00:02:31.57\00:02:35.94 but that she should be holy and without blemish." 00:02:35.97\00:02:40.81 You know, the washing of the water cleanses our mind 00:02:40.84\00:02:44.70 and it helps in the process of sanctification. 00:02:44.73\00:02:48.49 And that's just a big word. That's a synonym for holiness. 00:02:48.52\00:02:52.58 And even holiness just means to be set apart 00:02:52.61\00:02:56.50 from worldly attitudes and behaviors. 00:02:56.53\00:02:59.89 In John 15:7 Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, 00:02:59.92\00:03:06.33 and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, 00:03:06.36\00:03:10.89 and it shall be done for you." 00:03:10.92\00:03:13.61 Abiding in the word of God is a way to abide in Christ. 00:03:13.64\00:03:20.23 And as His promises enter into your heart, 00:03:20.26\00:03:23.87 your mind is transformed. 00:03:23.90\00:03:26.32 God's thoughts become your thoughts. 00:03:26.35\00:03:29.87 His desires become your desires. 00:03:29.90\00:03:33.56 You want to do all things for His glory. 00:03:33.59\00:03:37.07 And prayers are no longer just vain babbling, 00:03:37.10\00:03:41.50 rather you ask for His action 00:03:41.53\00:03:45.28 according to His revealed will and scripture. 00:03:45.31\00:03:49.86 In 1 John 5:14 and 15, 00:03:49.89\00:03:55.23 this is what the apostle has to say, 00:03:55.26\00:03:59.07 "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, 00:03:59.10\00:04:02.72 that if we ask anything 00:04:02.75\00:04:05.55 according to His will, He hears us. 00:04:05.58\00:04:09.18 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, 00:04:09.21\00:04:12.26 we know that we have the petitions 00:04:12.29\00:04:14.61 that we have asked of Him." 00:04:14.64\00:04:18.22 Praying His word back to Him 00:04:18.25\00:04:21.26 is the sure way of praying according to His will. 00:04:21.29\00:04:25.47 He promises to watch over His word to accomplish it. 00:04:25.50\00:04:30.69 He promises that everything, every purpose 00:04:30.72\00:04:34.57 for which He sent His word is going to be fulfilled by Him. 00:04:34.60\00:04:39.52 Praying the word brings powerful results. 00:04:39.55\00:04:44.82 You might be familiar with the philosopher Socrates 00:04:44.85\00:04:49.15 who said, "Knowing thyself is the height of wisdom." 00:04:49.18\00:04:54.29 Now that sounds really smart on the surface, 00:04:54.32\00:04:57.04 but I beg to differ with this famous philosopher. 00:04:57.07\00:05:00.68 Jesus said to know God and to know Jesus Christ 00:05:00.71\00:05:04.78 whom He sent is eternal life. 00:05:04.81\00:05:08.02 Knowledge of God is superior to wisdom or knowledge of self, 00:05:08.05\00:05:13.45 but that being said, 00:05:13.48\00:05:15.13 I will add in the vain of Socrates thought. 00:05:15.16\00:05:19.35 It is vitally important for Christians to understand 00:05:19.38\00:05:23.70 who we have become now that we are His children 00:05:23.73\00:05:28.66 and now that we have as 1 Peter 1:23 says, 00:05:28.69\00:05:32.92 "Being born again through the word of God 00:05:32.95\00:05:37.32 which lives and abides forever." 00:05:37.35\00:05:40.45 We have a new born-again identity in Christ. 00:05:40.48\00:05:45.78 A serious situation exists in the church today though 00:05:45.81\00:05:50.22 and I call it 'The Identity Crisis.' 00:05:50.25\00:05:53.66 This is not mere psycho-babbling technology. 00:05:53.69\00:05:58.95 Our crisis of identity is a critical problem 00:05:58.98\00:06:02.58 which causes Christians to suffer spiritual defeat. 00:06:02.61\00:06:06.77 What is our identity crisis? 00:06:06.80\00:06:09.28 We don't know who we are and who we have become, 00:06:09.31\00:06:13.72 now that we have been recreated to be like Christ. 00:06:13.75\00:06:18.33 Like 10 of the 12 men who spied out the Promised Land, 00:06:18.36\00:06:23.40 we suffered from the grasshopper identity syndrome. 00:06:23.43\00:06:27.94 We're thinking that there is giants in the land 00:06:27.97\00:06:31.29 who are greater than we are who walk with God. 00:06:31.32\00:06:35.38 We don't consider the Lord's promise 00:06:35.41\00:06:38.38 and power to change our nature. 00:06:38.41\00:06:41.38 You know, God promises in 2 Corinthians 5:17, 00:06:41.41\00:06:45.75 He says, "If anyone is in Christ, 00:06:45.78\00:06:49.38 he is a new creation all things have passed away 00:06:49.41\00:06:54.19 behold all things have become new." 00:06:54.22\00:06:59.34 God's testimony of what He has done for us in Christ is sure. 00:06:59.37\00:07:06.05 Our destiny is to become like Jesus 00:07:06.08\00:07:09.67 and it's not a matter of chance, but choice. 00:07:09.70\00:07:14.04 We must choose each day to accept by faith 00:07:14.07\00:07:18.58 what God has said 00:07:18.61\00:07:20.11 because without faith we cannot please Him. 00:07:20.14\00:07:24.09 And little wonder, 1 John 5:10 tells us 00:07:24.12\00:07:28.17 that "If we doubt God's testimony, 00:07:28.20\00:07:31.90 we are regarding Him as a liar." 00:07:31.93\00:07:36.59 Our problem is 00:07:36.62\00:07:38.01 that we don't always feel like a new creation, 00:07:38.04\00:07:40.99 harassed by the devil or old flesh natures, 00:07:41.02\00:07:44.55 sometimes rehearse his ugly head 00:07:44.58\00:07:47.23 and suddenly we let our feelings overcome our faith, 00:07:47.26\00:07:52.19 making it difficult to believe 00:07:52.22\00:07:53.89 the oldest passed away and the new has come. 00:07:53.92\00:07:57.06 We began to think and speak about ourselves 00:07:57.09\00:08:00.39 in a way that doesn't line up in agreement with God's word. 00:08:00.42\00:08:05.32 You know, Proverbs 23:7 tells us 00:08:05.35\00:08:07.26 something that's critical for us to remember. 00:08:07.29\00:08:09.84 It says, "As a man thinks in his heart so his he. 00:08:09.87\00:08:13.72 What you think of yourself is important." 00:08:13.75\00:08:16.79 Do you see yourself as a spiritual failure? 00:08:16.82\00:08:20.31 Continue with His frame of mind and you will never be anything, 00:08:20.34\00:08:23.86 but God does not force His will upon you, 00:08:23.89\00:08:28.46 He asks you to choose and to become Christ-like. 00:08:28.49\00:08:33.37 You must recognize your new identity in Him 00:08:33.40\00:08:36.98 and sees hold of your destiny. 00:08:37.01\00:08:40.17 How? By faith accept what God promises. 00:08:40.20\00:08:44.63 Surrendering your lower thoughts to His higher thoughts 00:08:44.66\00:08:49.25 because 2 Corinthians 1:20 assures us of this, 00:08:49.28\00:08:55.10 "All of God's promises are ours, all of God's promises, 00:08:55.13\00:08:59.09 find their yes answer in Christ 00:08:59.12\00:09:01.44 all not just some of God's promises are ours." 00:09:01.47\00:09:06.21 If we're in Christ, they all are. How is that? 00:09:06.24\00:09:10.80 The Apostle Paul gives us the answer. 00:09:10.83\00:09:13.83 We become like Christ by the grace of God. 00:09:13.86\00:09:19.05 In 1 Corinthians 15:10 Paul writes, 00:09:19.08\00:09:22.38 "By the grace of God I am what I am 00:09:22.41\00:09:25.65 and His grace toward me was not in vain." 00:09:25.68\00:09:30.77 You see, God's grace is more than just spiritual favor. 00:09:30.80\00:09:36.85 It is super natural assistance 00:09:36.88\00:09:40.45 and the power of God unto salvation. 00:09:40.48\00:09:44.73 By the transforming power of His spirit 00:09:44.76\00:09:47.51 and His word, we are changed. 00:09:47.54\00:09:50.74 Every promise God has made, He will also performed 00:09:50.77\00:09:55.44 in our lives if we accept them by faith. 00:09:55.47\00:09:59.19 What you speak into your life is important. 00:09:59.22\00:10:02.96 Proverbs 18:21 plainly says, 00:10:02.99\00:10:05.56 "That the power of deaf in life is in the tongue." 00:10:05.59\00:10:09.38 Speak life by speaking God's word 00:10:09.41\00:10:13.57 and He will reprogram your thoughts. 00:10:13.60\00:10:17.10 You will posses a spirit of faith 00:10:17.13\00:10:21.86 and speak with that spirit of faith. 00:10:21.89\00:10:25.02 Just as Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:13, 00:10:25.05\00:10:29.51 listen to these words. 00:10:29.54\00:10:31.68 Paul writes, "And since we have the same spirit of faith, 00:10:31.71\00:10:37.94 according to what is written, 00:10:37.97\00:10:39.68 "I believed and therefore I spoke 00:10:39.71\00:10:42.94 we also believe and therefore speak." 00:10:42.97\00:10:48.98 Isn't that an amazing thought? 00:10:49.01\00:10:51.92 You know, affirmations from scripture 00:10:51.95\00:10:55.49 will charge your spiritual battery, 00:10:55.52\00:10:58.83 if they will fill your heart with hope. 00:10:58.86\00:11:02.47 Now that word hope in the original language was not 00:11:02.50\00:11:06.12 just mere wishful thinking, it meant eager anticipation. 00:11:06.15\00:11:12.34 Do ends of strive ever just come sweeping across your life, 00:11:12.37\00:11:17.01 storing waves of overwhelming circumstances? 00:11:17.04\00:11:21.17 Hope in God will be the anger for your soul, 00:11:21.20\00:11:24.44 keeping you steadfast. 00:11:24.47\00:11:26.66 You will draw near to God without being double-minded. 00:11:26.69\00:11:31.79 And let me tell you something, 00:11:31.82\00:11:33.08 double-mindedness is a condition to avoid 00:11:33.11\00:11:35.44 if you expect to receive anything from the Lord. 00:11:35.47\00:11:39.27 Speaking God's word is speaking by faith. 00:11:39.30\00:11:44.47 According to Romans 10:8 and 10 we will read. 00:11:44.50\00:11:49.97 Here's what Paul said, "The word is near you, 00:11:50.00\00:11:54.17 it is where in your mouth and in your heart that is, 00:11:54.20\00:12:00.11 the word of faith, 00:12:00.14\00:12:02.10 the word of faith is the word of God which we preach. 00:12:02.13\00:12:06.62 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, 00:12:06.65\00:12:11.37 and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." 00:12:11.40\00:12:19.29 Affirmations, taking God's words, 00:12:19.32\00:12:21.45 speaking them over your life and praying them back to Him 00:12:21.48\00:12:24.65 that plans God's word of faith in your heart, 00:12:24.68\00:12:27.84 it plans God's word of faith in your mouth 00:12:27.87\00:12:31.36 and it will prevent double-minded confession. 00:12:31.39\00:12:35.78 You know, Romans 10:17 tells us, 00:12:35.81\00:12:38.50 "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God." 00:12:38.53\00:12:43.60 God's promises are waiting in the wings just-- 00:12:43.63\00:12:47.49 They're ready for fulfillment 00:12:47.52\00:12:49.00 and they are ushered in by faith. 00:12:49.03\00:12:52.19 As you take His holy scriptures, 00:12:52.22\00:12:54.70 setting them out before Him in prayer 00:12:54.73\00:12:56.95 as the priest setout the showbread at the Sanctuary, 00:12:56.98\00:13:00.63 and you confess them over your life affirming you believe God. 00:13:00.66\00:13:06.06 These affirmations will add fuel to your faith. 00:13:06.09\00:13:10.14 His word becomes your testimony of your new identity 00:13:10.17\00:13:15.59 and hearing your own voice 00:13:15.62\00:13:17.15 speak His powerful truths is an incredible faith builder. 00:13:17.18\00:13:22.53 It is a way that we plug in 00:13:22.56\00:13:25.67 to the power source of His life-giving word. 00:13:25.70\00:13:29.56 Affirmations are the most efficient connection, 00:13:29.59\00:13:34.30 and as you plug in they transfer His mighty energy 00:13:34.33\00:13:39.72 and you are converted to His way of thinking. 00:13:39.75\00:13:43.21 Look at it this way, I can tell you all day long 00:13:43.24\00:13:47.25 that you are in new creation in Christ Jesus, 00:13:47.28\00:13:50.85 but you might think, well, Shelley doesn't really know me. 00:13:50.88\00:13:54.63 However, things are stirred in the spirit realm. 00:13:54.66\00:13:58.49 When you make the affirmation 00:13:58.52\00:14:00.84 from three Bible promises and speak aloud saying, 00:14:00.87\00:14:04.34 I am in new creation in Christ Jesus. 00:14:04.37\00:14:07.21 The old has gone and the new has come. 00:14:07.24\00:14:09.77 God is working in me to will and to do His good pleasure 00:14:09.80\00:14:14.34 and He will complete the good work 00:14:14.37\00:14:17.38 that He has begun in me. 00:14:17.41\00:14:19.80 Now, that's not always easy to accept it first. 00:14:19.83\00:14:24.96 Your mind resist what God says about you, 00:14:24.99\00:14:28.87 but God declares the end from the beginning 00:14:28.90\00:14:33.83 because He knows what He will work in you. 00:14:33.86\00:14:36.82 And as you accept God's higher knowledge, 00:14:36.85\00:14:40.36 He multiplies grace and peace to you. 00:14:40.39\00:14:44.33 His divine power works in your heart 00:14:44.36\00:14:48.12 to make you a partaker of His divine nature. 00:14:48.15\00:14:52.67 Let's look at how Peter describes this process 00:14:52.70\00:14:55.30 because sometimes people say what are you talking about? 00:14:55.33\00:14:58.08 Let's look at 2 Peter, 00:14:58.11\00:14:59.93 and we're going to start with Chapter 1 verse 2. 00:14:59.96\00:15:05.50 One of my favorite, all time favorite scripture promises. 00:15:05.53\00:15:10.24 Peter begins in 2 Peter 1:2, 00:15:10.27\00:15:14.00 "Grace and peace be multiplied to you 00:15:14.03\00:15:16.87 in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 00:15:16.90\00:15:19.97 as His divine power has given to us, how many things, 00:15:20.00\00:15:25.86 all things that pertain to life and godliness." 00:15:25.89\00:15:29.48 So Peter is saying God's already given you everything 00:15:29.51\00:15:32.12 you need for abundant life on earth and godliness, 00:15:32.15\00:15:36.04 "Through the knowledge of Him 00:15:36.07\00:15:38.59 who called us by glory and virtue, 00:15:38.62\00:15:42.39 by which by His glory and virtue 00:15:42.42\00:15:45.26 have been given to us exceedingly 00:15:45.29\00:15:48.39 great and precious promises, that through these, 00:15:48.42\00:15:52.69 through what, through these promises 00:15:52.72\00:15:55.83 you may be partakers of the divine nature, 00:15:55.86\00:15:59.89 having escaped the corruption 00:15:59.92\00:16:02.12 that is in the world through lust." 00:16:02.15\00:16:06.77 At the Tomb of Lazarus, Jesus told Martha, 00:16:06.80\00:16:10.76 did I not say to you that if you would believe 00:16:10.79\00:16:13.87 that you would see the glory of God? 00:16:13.90\00:16:17.61 If you partake of His promises, 00:16:17.64\00:16:20.79 you are partaking of the life transforming power of His word 00:16:20.82\00:16:26.70 and if you believe you will see the glory of God. 00:16:26.73\00:16:29.91 Your thoughts begin to line up with His thoughts. 00:16:29.94\00:16:33.21 Your will with His will. 00:16:33.24\00:16:35.64 Praying and confessing God's promises is affirmations, 00:16:35.67\00:16:39.34 plans His word in your heart like, nothing else can. 00:16:39.37\00:16:44.41 It takes route, its spreads and it blossoms into reality. 00:16:44.44\00:16:49.88 That is a kingdom principle 00:16:49.91\00:16:51.96 that Jesus described in Mark 4:26-28. 00:16:51.99\00:16:58.25 And he said, "The kingdom of God 00:16:58.28\00:17:01.89 is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, 00:17:01.92\00:17:06.00 and should sleep by night and rise by day, 00:17:06.03\00:17:10.04 and the seed should sprout and grow, 00:17:10.07\00:17:13.38 so the man has planted it he's gone to sleep 00:17:13.41\00:17:16.42 and the seed is doing the work. 00:17:16.45\00:17:19.19 He himself does not know how." 00:17:19.22\00:17:21.73 He doesn't realize what all this seed is doing. 00:17:21.76\00:17:25.16 "For the earth yields crops by itself, first the blade, 00:17:25.19\00:17:30.74 then the head, and after that the full grain in the head." 00:17:30.77\00:17:36.46 You know, Jesus had explained in Luke 8:11 00:17:36.49\00:17:39.90 that the seed is the word of God. 00:17:39.93\00:17:43.60 Well, the potential of any harvest 00:17:43.63\00:17:46.59 is wrapped inside the seed. 00:17:46.62\00:17:49.48 If I have a handful of corn and a handful of wheat, 00:17:49.51\00:17:52.80 if I plant corn to my-- 00:17:52.83\00:17:56.95 This is my left, your right, but if I plant corn 00:17:56.98\00:17:59.39 in this direction, what am I going to reap? 00:17:59.42\00:18:02.22 Corn. 00:18:02.25\00:18:03.32 If I plant wheat to this direction, 00:18:03.35\00:18:06.35 what am I going to reap? 00:18:06.38\00:18:08.03 Wheat. 00:18:08.06\00:18:09.09 Well, likewise this is true in the spiritual realm. 00:18:09.12\00:18:13.55 All of your potential. 00:18:13.58\00:18:15.47 Listen to me, all of your potential is wrapped 00:18:15.50\00:18:19.49 inside this seed, the word of God 00:18:19.52\00:18:23.84 and anything if we ever hope to have His divine nature 00:18:23.87\00:18:28.96 we have to realize that it is the seed of scripture 00:18:28.99\00:18:34.66 that has this miracle working power to renew our minds. 00:18:34.69\00:18:41.67 James 1:21 tells us 00:18:41.70\00:18:45.34 that we need to receive with meekness, 00:18:45.37\00:18:48.88 the implanted word which is able to save your souls. 00:18:48.91\00:18:54.33 Affirmations are the most productive way that 00:18:54.36\00:18:57.47 I have ever practiced to plant God's word in my heart. 00:18:57.50\00:19:02.40 And that is another kingdom principle is-- 00:19:02.43\00:19:06.31 Another kingdom principle we need to consider 00:19:06.34\00:19:08.93 is that you become what you behold. 00:19:08.96\00:19:13.93 Let's look at 2 Corinthians 3:18, 00:19:13.96\00:19:16.99 I'm going to read from the amplified version 00:19:17.02\00:19:20.29 and it says, "And all of us, with unveiled face, 00:19:20.32\00:19:25.74 because we continued to behold in the word of God 00:19:25.77\00:19:29.63 as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, 00:19:29.66\00:19:33.11 are constantly being transfigured or transformed 00:19:33.14\00:19:37.26 into His very own nature in ever increasing splendor 00:19:37.29\00:19:43.31 and from one degree of glory to another, 00:19:43.34\00:19:46.63 for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." 00:19:46.66\00:19:53.03 Look into the Bible and see who God said you are. 00:19:53.06\00:19:58.73 Now that you have been born again. 00:19:58.76\00:20:01.51 Our mirror is the word of God. 00:20:01.54\00:20:04.78 It reflects the vision of our new nature 00:20:04.81\00:20:07.90 and our mirror image is Christ Jesus. 00:20:07.93\00:20:11.55 As you continue to behold, God will lead you 00:20:11.58\00:20:15.53 from one level of His glory, one level of His character 00:20:15.56\00:20:20.32 to the next by the power of His word and His spirit. 00:20:20.35\00:20:25.47 In Philippians 2:5 Paul says this, 00:20:25.50\00:20:31.37 "Let this mind be in you 00:20:31.40\00:20:34.52 which was also in Christ Jesus." 00:20:34.55\00:20:38.35 Now that is a tall order. Who can fill it? 00:20:38.38\00:20:43.54 Only God can, and He already has. 00:20:43.57\00:20:47.70 Paul tells us elsewhere 00:20:47.73\00:20:49.91 that we have been given the mind of Christ. 00:20:49.94\00:20:53.86 Oh, I want it. I need it. 00:20:53.89\00:20:56.91 Don't you? How do we receive it? 00:20:56.94\00:21:00.84 The mind of the living word Jesus Christ 00:21:00.87\00:21:05.35 is represented in His written word. 00:21:05.38\00:21:09.33 The seed of the miracle is in the word of God. 00:21:09.36\00:21:14.39 And as you partake of His promises, 00:21:14.42\00:21:17.30 you partake of His divine nature. 00:21:17.33\00:21:20.59 So, basically the more you confess 00:21:20.62\00:21:24.20 the word of God over your life, 00:21:24.23\00:21:26.41 the more you begin to think with the mind of Christ. 00:21:26.44\00:21:31.39 Think like Him and you will act like Him. 00:21:31.42\00:21:35.29 There is a kingdom principle of sowing and reaping 00:21:35.32\00:21:40.19 and it is found in Galatians Chapter 6, 00:21:40.22\00:21:43.84 we'll look at verses 7 through 9. 00:21:43.87\00:21:47.23 Paul writes, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, 00:21:47.26\00:21:52.33 for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 00:21:52.36\00:21:56.50 For he who sows to his flesh 00:21:56.53\00:21:59.09 will of the flesh reap corruption, 00:21:59.12\00:22:01.44 but he who sows to the Spirit 00:22:01.47\00:22:04.21 will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 00:22:04.24\00:22:08.48 And let us not grow weary while doing good, 00:22:08.51\00:22:11.99 for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." 00:22:12.02\00:22:18.77 Do you want to reap everlasting life? 00:22:18.80\00:22:21.84 Then sow the seed of God's word into your heart. 00:22:21.87\00:22:25.57 Do you want His life source to be active in you? 00:22:25.60\00:22:28.85 Then remember what Jesus said in John 6:63. 00:22:28.88\00:22:32.95 It is the spirit who gives life. 00:22:32.98\00:22:35.20 The flesh profits nothing. 00:22:35.23\00:22:37.24 He said the words that I speak to you, 00:22:37.27\00:22:39.09 they are spirit in life. 00:22:39.12\00:22:41.86 Open your spiritual mouth and eat His word 00:22:41.89\00:22:46.70 then confess it with your living voice. 00:22:46.73\00:22:50.51 And in this manner, 00:22:50.54\00:22:52.29 affirmations can be compared to the priests of all 00:22:52.32\00:22:56.73 who were eating the bread of His presence, 00:22:56.76\00:22:58.79 the showbread in the Holy Place. 00:22:58.82\00:23:01.47 You know, Proverbs 3:5-6 says, 00:23:01.50\00:23:06.00 "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart 00:23:06.03\00:23:08.63 and lean not on your own understanding. 00:23:08.66\00:23:11.24 In all of your ways acknowledge Him 00:23:11.27\00:23:14.13 and He will direct you pass. 00:23:14.16\00:23:17.55 If we're not going to lean on our own understanding 00:23:17.58\00:23:21.36 then whose understanding shall be our foundation? 00:23:21.39\00:23:25.46 God's, God's alone should be our understanding. 00:23:25.49\00:23:31.40 And it's found in the Bible 00:23:31.43\00:23:34.03 from our limited human understanding. 00:23:34.06\00:23:39.01 Much of what God says seems impossible of fulfillment, 00:23:39.04\00:23:44.21 but remember, His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. 00:23:44.24\00:23:48.10 He knows the end from the beginning. 00:23:48.13\00:23:50.19 We must strive to know Him by accepting His word 00:23:50.22\00:23:55.02 with total, total trust believing in the Bible 00:23:55.05\00:23:59.72 as testimony from Almighty God who cannot lie. 00:23:59.75\00:24:04.57 So let's summarize the few points 00:24:04.60\00:24:06.21 that we've learned in these last two programs. 00:24:06.24\00:24:09.59 Affirmations go beyond claiming. 00:24:09.62\00:24:12.38 Affirmations are calling things 00:24:12.41\00:24:14.67 that are not as though they already existed. 00:24:14.70\00:24:17.70 They are a confession. 00:24:17.73\00:24:19.76 They are a word of faith that declares we agree 00:24:19.79\00:24:23.90 with God's wisdom confessing His word 00:24:23.93\00:24:27.10 confirms that it is our life source. 00:24:27.13\00:24:30.77 It causes His way of thinking to become our way of thinking. 00:24:30.80\00:24:37.29 Planting and practicing his promises 00:24:37.32\00:24:41.25 validates God's testimony. 00:24:41.28\00:24:43.38 And as we return God's word to Him, 00:24:43.41\00:24:47.38 it will accomplish His purposes. 00:24:47.41\00:24:50.05 And finally, God's word or God rather 00:24:50.08\00:24:55.32 watches over His word to preferment. 00:24:55.35\00:24:59.08 This practice during our time of Pressing into His Presence 00:24:59.11\00:25:03.74 is like setting out the loaves on the Table of Showbread. 00:25:03.77\00:25:07.54 Affirmations serve as a memorial 00:25:07.57\00:25:10.14 that God is the provider of our spiritual nutrition. 00:25:10.17\00:25:13.98 We are reminded of His faithfulness 00:25:14.01\00:25:16.98 as we speak with the spirit of faith. 00:25:17.01\00:25:20.21 God is pleased. 00:25:20.24\00:25:22.48 Now what I want to do is to set the table before us. 00:25:22.51\00:25:27.53 I want to close with the prayer of affirmations from scripture, 00:25:27.56\00:25:31.22 and I hope that you recognize the scriptures-- 00:25:31.25\00:25:34.08 The scripture references that I'm using, 00:25:34.11\00:25:37.29 they are noted in the book, 00:25:37.32\00:25:38.35 but we won't have time today to do this. 00:25:38.38\00:25:41.34 But let's pray. 00:25:41.37\00:25:44.15 Father God, You are our God, earnestly we seek You. 00:25:44.18\00:25:48.12 Teach us to press into Your presence, 00:25:48.15\00:25:50.70 our soul thirsts for You because Your love 00:25:50.73\00:25:54.08 is better than life our lips glorify You Father. 00:25:54.11\00:25:57.80 You love us with an everlasting love 00:25:57.83\00:26:00.28 and draw us by Your love. 00:26:00.31\00:26:02.67 We are seeking You with all of our heart because we know 00:26:02.70\00:26:05.41 You have a plan for our lives 00:26:05.44\00:26:07.46 that is better than the one we're living. 00:26:07.49\00:26:09.96 You are our God who teaches us what is best for us, 00:26:09.99\00:26:14.99 who directs us in the path we should go. 00:26:15.02\00:26:17.79 You show us the path of the life 00:26:17.82\00:26:19.64 and we will find fullness of joy in Your presence. 00:26:19.67\00:26:23.61 Teach us to trust You with all of our hearts, Lord, 00:26:23.64\00:26:26.95 and to lean on Your word for understanding. 00:26:26.98\00:26:29.84 Help us to acknowledge You in every area of our lives. 00:26:29.87\00:26:33.37 Thank You for directing our paths, 00:26:33.40\00:26:35.02 thank You for supplying words seed 00:26:35.05\00:26:36.91 for sowing in the bread of life for spiritual nourishment. 00:26:36.94\00:26:40.29 We pray, You will multiply Your seed to us 00:26:40.32\00:26:42.45 and increase the fruits of our righteousness. 00:26:42.48\00:26:45.27 Father, You have equipped us to do Your will, 00:26:45.30\00:26:47.26 we're grateful that You're working in us 00:26:47.29\00:26:49.83 to make us pleasing in Your sight through Christ Jesus. 00:26:49.86\00:26:53.66 We praise Your faithfulness. 00:26:53.69\00:26:55.77 You would promise to sanctify us completely 00:26:55.80\00:26:58.02 and preserve us blamelessly 00:26:58.05\00:26:59.66 at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 00:26:59.69\00:27:02.04 and You will do it, hallelujah, 00:27:02.07\00:27:04.65 in Jesus holy name, amen and amen. 00:27:04.68\00:27:09.66 Oh, I pray that you will learn 00:27:09.69\00:27:14.18 to speak the word of God over your life. 00:27:14.21\00:27:18.63 Pray it back to Him because it is so powerful when you do. 00:27:18.66\00:27:24.57 Well, our time today has just really flown. 00:27:24.60\00:27:30.58 And I'm just so thankful that you joined us today 00:27:30.61\00:27:34.66 and we want to invite you back for next time 00:27:34.69\00:27:38.04 because what we're going to be considering next time 00:27:38.07\00:27:40.93 is the importance of intercessory prayer, 00:27:40.96\00:27:44.77 something that we all need 00:27:44.80\00:27:46.71 to have our practice of prayer polished in this area. 00:27:46.74\00:27:51.24 So today, again, thank you for being with us. 00:27:51.27\00:27:55.86 My hope for you is that the grace of our Lord 00:27:55.89\00:27:59.79 and Savior Jesus Christ, the love of the Father 00:27:59.82\00:28:02.32 and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit 00:28:02.35\00:28:04.98 will be with you not just today, but always. 00:28:05.01\00:28:09.01