, what we believe

Tenants of our faith

IN 1987 The Reverend John Hogan broke from the Pentecostal Holiness Church and set out to develop a ministry teaching that God's Grace reconciles all that believe in Him. His aim was to teach everyone that they were forgiven by the Word of God through the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. In 1988 He founded the Word of Grace Fellowship Ministry and held Sunday Services in Summit, NJ, where he stayed till his death.

Rev. Hogan had a Masters degree from Jersey City State College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. He taught for 32 years in the urban Newark Public School System after his term in the US Army. He also held an advanced degree from the Word of Faith Leadership and Bible Institute in Dallas Tex. He served as a Director of the Institute for 5 years. He also taught on Wednesday nights at Evangelistic Center for several years and led a Home Fellowship for 5 years as well. He was licensed & ordained by Word of Grace Fellowship as its Pastor in Oct 1988 and remained the Pastor until his death in Sept 2006

Hogan Scriptures: These are Scriptures that when seen remind us, and are clearly identified with, Rev. Hogan.

Gal 5:4 - Those of you seeking to be justified by the law, you have fallen from grace.

John 3:16

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD...

Other Hogan Scriptures

Col 1:21-22 - And you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unprovable in his sight:

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Prosperity in OT History 2

Introduction: Prosperity and all the benefits of God are throughout the Bible. The benefits of God and our relationship with Him did not just start with Jesus for they are part of the covenant of Abraham. The blessing is what we have because God wanted a family and wants to bless us. He wants to have us in his life. He prospers us because he loves us.

Focus Scripture 2 Sam 22:28-34 28 And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.29 For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness.30 For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.32 For who is God, save the Lord? and who is a rock, save our God?33 God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.34 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places.

Part of this is quoted in Psalm 18. God wants us to know that God will brighten any dark area, SO when things are bad and we are in a bad situation God will be our light and be our source. HE will give us enough energy so we can leap over a wall. God wants to be our power and strength. God wants to be all we need. God wants to be our everything! HE is perfect and wants to perfect us in all our ways even our finances. HE wants us to win!

1st Samuel talks about the reigns of King Saul the first King of Israel and the reign of David and the defeat of the Giant Goliath. So it helps us to understand the beginning of the line of the Kings in Israel’s history. Samuel was one of the greatest prophets and was also considered a judge from the period of the judges so it is the transition from the book of Judges to the Kings. The book is named after the principal prophet! So learn about the joy that we have because of listening to the Lords prophets! The acronym for this Book is PEW for we need to sit in the church PEW to learn of God and establish our victory in our life!

25:5-8 And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name:6 And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.7 And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.8 Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.

Praise- The first step is to learn how to praise HIM in all situations. When our finances are going sour then Praise Him! When things are wrong in our life then Praise Him! If you need peace then praise. Peace will help to give a reason to praise! I have found out that when you praise God it produces peace in our life. When we have peace then it usually means we are doing well in our life, but when we are not doing well then we have financial issues.

2:7 7 The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

Exalt the Lord and praise Him. When we exalt Him he exalts us. He will exalt us in every area of our life. God is the one who truly prospers people. God wants us to prosper and make us rich but he wants us to lift him up and not lift up ourselves. The issue is a heart issue. When our heart is right then we will God can trust us with prosperity. God wants to be able to trust us and one of the most important areas is our finances. How we bless others is crucial to whether we will prosper or not!

17:45-47 45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands.

Win-David killed the giant Goliath and went to him. David was not afraid of Goliath even though the rest of Israel was. David went forward with joy and expected to win. David went forth in a spirit of power and demonstrated his ability. He was able to use the God given ability and his relationship with the Lord and put it in one package. The fear Satan gives us cannot defeat someone who is led by the Spirit of God!

2nd Samuel- this is part 2 and begins with the death of Saul and the end of the reign of David. So David is the main character in this book. Samuel is also the principal prophet but Nathan was also a prophet mentioned in this book. Originally 1 and Samuel were considered to be one book. Later it was divided into 2 books. The Word for this section is BIG for God wants to give BIG blessings to you and not small so believe for all you can!

9:3-11 3 And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.4 And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.6 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!7 And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.8 And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.10 Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.11 Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons.

Blessed- Mephibosheth was blessed because of the kindness and mercy of King David. King David had a heart of mercy and wanted to show mercy to David. Mephibosheth (Mep) was blessed because of the covenant that his father had with the King. The other sons of Saul were not blessed but he was because of a covenant that he did not even know existed. HE was blessed because of who he belonged to. HE was special. The answer was in the covenant. Our answer is in our covenant! Our answer is in our King who brings us to the table even though it is obvious we do not belong. Mep was lame in his feet and was unable to do anything for himself but he was provided for the same as if he could! God blessed him! God blesses you just like he blessed Mep!

16:1-4 And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.2 And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.3 And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.4 Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.

Increase- when we think of prosperity we think of increase. We looked at Mep for he was told someone else would take care of his land. Here is a result of the produce that he had. He went from a state of poverty to a state of blessing. He had more prosperity then he knew what to do with an he did not have to work for it. God blessed him just as if he were on disability. God blesses us despite us sometimes!

22:20-26 20 He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.21 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.23 For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.24 I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.25 Therefore the Lord hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.26 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.

Grace- to receive prosperity we need grace in life. We need to receive grace from God. Grace allows us to let go of our failures and allows us to grow from mistakes. Notice here that he delights in me. He gives us favor. He makes me clean in his sight. He calls me righteous. God relates to us based on how we relate to others. HE will be merciful and extend righteousness to the merciful and righteous, for all of that comes from the grace God gives to us in Christ. When we receive grace from God it makes us righteous and gives us mercy to share with all men. GO to the throne of grace to obtain mercy. God does not see my sin instead he sees my substitute. God sees me according to the cross!

1st Kings begins with Solomon and takes us to the reign of Ahaziah who was the son of Ahab. The kings were considered good or bad based on whether they served the Lord or foreign deities. The morality was not what made them right in the sight of God for many of them were immoral but what mattered is their relationship with GOD. Our relationship with GOD is the most important part in our life! To be blessed we need to have a PURE heart and a PURE mind for we must think like God thinks!

2:1-4 Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,2 I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;3 And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:4 That the Lord may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.

Prophecy- King David gave King Solomon a prophecy and told him what to do. We need to have prophecies to help us hear the Lord! Sometimes they give instruction. When we obey the Word it helps us to prosper. And when we prosper it causes us to prosper in all we do and what we desire to do. God wants to prosper you in everything you do. It does not matter what walk of life we are in God wants to bless us!

3:11-14 11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

Understanding- I found that I need understanding in many areas of my life. God wants us to have understanding in every area of my life. King Solomon asked for understanding and not to take care of his enemies or for riches. God gave his young man riches and many women, just what a young man would want. The Bible does not tell us how many kids but he must have had a lot! He had 1,000 women in his life that he had a sexual relationship with! HE needed a staff to take care of his women! 1,000 birthdays and 700 anniversaries and 1000 names to remember and 1000 rooms to remember and who knows how many rooms to recall! So search wisdom and get understanding for in your prosperity you need to also understand 1) praise God first 2) understand to remember the people in your life 3) understand to love one another 4) understand what to do to stay blessed!

10:14-23 14 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,15 Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.16 And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target.17 And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.18 Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold.19 The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays.20 And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.21 And all king Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.22 For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.23 So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.

Riches for us the riches are the focus of our benefit but for King Solomon it was a side benefit of the request he made. Here we have a list of the things that he had to demonstrate his riches. Silver was useless in his day! He had so many sending him these riches. God blessed him from every nation. He had so many riches that he was the richest man who ever lived. He was the wisest and richest man who ever lived! Riches can be a burden but this passage describes some of the blessings King Solomon had. He did not use silver for even his drinking vessels were made of gold! King Solomon was lavish in his prosperity so there is nothing wrong with us being lavish as well!

11:36-39 36 And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.37 And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.38 And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.39 And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.

Eternal- God will one day give us eternal blessings. We have blessings in the here and now but also in the eternal reign of the Lord Jesus who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We are the Kings and Lords for He is our King and Lord! Listen to the Word! Listen to the Spirit! God blessed others because of David long after David died because of how much he loved David! God blesses you because of Jesus and his work. You have forever rights with God because of Jesus Christ. So rejoice in what you have because of Jesus Christ!

2nd Kings this book takes us from Ahaziah to the captivity of Nebuchadnezzar. So once we get to the captivity we find out that there was much change in the lives of Israel. Things were not the same once they returned. We need to learn to ASK of God and when we do then we will receive for Jesus told us to ASK , seek and , knock. ASKing is important for we must learn that God wants us to come to Him in faith!

4:1-7 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not anything in the house, save a pot of oil.3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.

Ask- I want you to go and ask your friends for things. She had nothing with which she could repay. She did ask anyway. She obeyed the prophet! She may have sold these pots of oil to the same neighbors she borrowed those pots from! She was in great debt and she kept pouring until she had no more vessels. She had just a little oil and it kept pouring! 1) Answers do not come from your wisdom for the answer comes from the one that God put in your life! The minister of God is given to you for the time when you need an answer so seek him out! 2) Seek out your minister and ask him what to do- too often we think I can pray or I can do this but the answer is in the one whom God put you under! Obey the servant of God that God put in your life! For when we obey there is a blessing in that! 3) Knock on doors to find the ones God sent you to! Kneel in prayer and do what God said for you to do. When we listen to the Lord and do what he said then prosperity shows up! Blessings come when we obey the ministers of God!

6:14-17 14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

See in the Spirit!- THE most important thing I have said is that we need to see in the Spirit realm! When we see in the Spirit we can see what God is doing! Do you see what God is doing for you in this situation? Do you see what God wants to do for you in this situation and how to bless others? Or, do you see how upset things are making you! Too often we respond to things with fleshly answers and allow the flesh to dictate our response! The answer has to come from the Spirit of God! God opened the curtain and allowed him to see the angels there with him! Angels are around us all the time yet we never see them!

18:3-7 3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father did.4 He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.5 He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.6 For he clave to the Lord, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses.7 And the Lord was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.

Keep the Commands- Now the Apostle John tells us that we need to believe in Him and love one another in 1 John 3 and 5. Jesus is the commandment keeper according to the Apostle Paul in 1 Cor. 5 Galatians and Colossians. We are expected to keep the commands by what Jesus did. Here it says we need to keep the commands by getting rid of the high places. We need to not follow other gods. When we followed other gods we committed murder or committed adultery. When we break Commandment #1 we would break the other 9. Gal 3 and James say that if you break 1 command then you are guilty of breaking all of them! So the kings were looked at as keeping the commands when they followed Command 1!

Conclusion: When I sit in the PEW weekly then I will learn how to dream BIG and how to have BIG blessings in my life. I will learn how to walk in what is PURE for I will have PURE thinking so I will learn how to ASK correctly and then I can receive the prosperity I am seeking. I must find the provider and the provider is not my friends or my family or my job. The provider is my LORD and GOD. God is the one I need to focus on when I sit in the PEW and I need to take my dreams so he will enlarge me for God wants to be a BIG GOD in my life and wants me to come with a PURE heart so we can ASK Him based on his WORD.

Prayer: I want to pray for you based on the prosperity that was provided at Calvary! Pray this with me for your prosperity: Heavenly Father your Word says that you want to prosper me big in my life. You want me to ask big and have a pure heart. Today I speak that your Word desires my prosperity. I need to prosper because of ______________ ( tell God what area you need prosperity in – what is your specific need- job, debt, problem at work or an idea for prosperity) Help me to want to listen to the man of God so I can receive what your Spirit has for me. Give me a pure heart so I can ask according to your Word and receive because of that which you instilled within me! Thank you Lord for providing my need in Jesus name amen!

Next week: Prosperity in OT History 3

This sermon is copyrighted @2020 and is the property of our Pastor- Rev. Dr. Don Carson. Used by permission and for more information or questions call Pastor Don during the day at 732-668-1583

JESUS

Holiness

My son Holiness is about living as I lived in the earth. Holiness

Healing in the NT

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Jan. 7 2023

SUNDAY SERMON

Jan 14, 2024

Spirit of Understanding

Introduction: The word Understanding it to gain insight into something. Wisdom is to apply knowledge. Knowledge is facts, Understanding is revelation and wisdom is applying the facts you learned in your life! The Spirit of understanding is when the Holy Spirit gives us the revelation or understanding into something. The Holy Spirit will help you understand what you need to know when you ask him. The Spirit of Understanding helps me to be WISE for Wisdom and Understanding goes together!

Focus Scripture Isa 11:2 2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;

The spirit of understanding means the Holy Spirit helps us to understand what God wants us to do in a situation. This can also mean that the holy Spirit gives us understanding as a gift from God. What God gives to us is by grace for all the gifts are undeserved. So God wants us to understand what he wants from us. This was Isaiah telling us that 700 years before Christ!

OT Verses:

Who receives Understanding in the OT it was given to those that sought God. God wants to know what is going on and to understand his Word. He loves us and wants us to know Him. When we understand Him. When we love someone, we should want them to understand us. The spirit of understanding is to help us know Him! We should know that we are SET in Him and that God desires us to know Him!

Spirit in Man Job 32:8-9 8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.9 Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.

There is a spirit in man and the Spirit of God but the Spirit of God gives us his understanding for what we need in this life. We assume that old men are wise but that is not always so. We need to learn the Word and trust the Word to understand God. We need the anointing or the inspiration of God. The one who said this was Elishu who was younger than the other 3 friends of Job. He was sent there by God to speak to Job and after Elishu spoke then God spoke to Job! You can understand God when God gives you the revelation for a particular topic or issue!

Enter the Word - Ps 119:130 130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

The fact that we can have the Word of God give us light or revelation so even those who are not learned can understand. The simple means that one is humble. They focus on what God says and is not complicating things by listening to the world and what it says. When we allow ourselves to make things simple then we can hear God better! God wants us to keep things simple and to not complicate things. It is by grace so let God bless us!

The right way to understand Isa 28:9-13 9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.13 But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

There is a right way to do things and a wrong way! Isaiah tells us to that to understand we need to grow as a baby who is weaned from the milk! We need to grow line upon line and a little at a time. We cannot overwhelm ourselves for then we do not understand things well. Understanding comes when we allow the Lord to teach us concept on concept (precept on precept). When we speak what we understand then we can learn as we go. So, when we understand we can grow in the Spirit (that is what is meant by stammering lips)

I can have His Understanding – this is a promise of God and comes from the book of Proverbs. Solomon wrote Proverbs so this comes the wisest man who ever lived. His wisdom came from a gift of God. Understanding is a gift of God and comes from the Holy Spirit who gives to us his understanding that we need to deal with different situations. Understanding is a spirit but it is also given to us as a gift! You must be made FIT before God and then you can have his understanding about things!

Favor with God - Pr. 3:4-6 4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

You can have favor or grace when you have understanding when you go in the sight of God. Understanding comes by grace according to Solomon. Acknowledge Him and let God direct your way. Understand what God wants to do in your life! Trust Him from your heart! Rely on Him and know that when you lean to your own understanding then you cannot also rely on God’s understanding. IT is either your understanding, or His understanding! To know His understanding, realize that it comes from the Spirit of God and God gives you grace so you can know God is good and that we need to get in the presence of God to make it happen in our life!

I will Get Understanding Pr. 4:7 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Do you see what Solomon is saying here? Wisdom and understanding go together. Seek wisdom and then you can also seek understanding. He sought wisdom by going to God and praying to the Lord and then he could seek the understanding of God! The bible Is talking about what belongs to God! The wisdom here and the understanding is what belongs to God! So go to the Lord and get the understanding you need!

The Knowledge of the Holy Pr. 9:10 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Knowing God is here said to be understanding. God and understanding goes together. Understanding is connected with the fear of the Lord and wisdom! So, we need to connect the wisdom of God with how to understand we should be able to use wisdom. Knowledge and understanding go hand in hand. You cannot use the knowledge of God without understanding how to use it. You need to be holy in his sight!

NT Verses:

Speak from His Understanding- This means I must speak from his point of view! Everyone has a point of view about different things. We may not all have the same thoughts on the same things. We need to learn from each other. God is right on all things so it is important to learn from each other. God is the only one who is right on all things! HE’S right for HE is God on all things,

Heart Understanding Mt 13:13-15 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

What we have from the Lord comes to our heart. Spirit to Spirit, Heart to heart and mind to mind. God wants to be a part of every area of our life! Notice that Jesus says that you must understand with your heart and then you can be converted. The spirit of understanding helps to understand what God wants to do in your life! Hearing God will help you hear not only with your physical ear but also with your spirit. You need to hear in the spirit before you can understand with your heart!

Ears of the Spirit Acts 28:26-27 26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Notice the same words from Paul that Jesus said! They both quoted the prophets! God will use the witnesses of the past to help us understand the present. God will bring back the words of others when you need to hear them again. Maybe a pastor, or friend, or maybe a Scripture that you have not read in a while! God wants to heal you but you need to hear the Word so you will not close your eyes to what He wants to do in your life! You will see Him work in your life when you open your mind to Him!

Sing with the Understanding 1 Cor 14;14-15 14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

You can pray in the Spirit or pray with your understanding! You can sing in the Spirit or sing in the spirit. You can also sing with your understanding! How will you pray about things. The question is what will you do? Will you sing and speak your understanding? You can understand but the understand must come from the Spirit and not from your way of thinking! Will you pray with the spirit or in the Spirit to get the understanding that you need for the situation? You cannot understand what you pray in the Spirit without an interpretation. But praying in the Spirit increases your faith!

Evidence of His Understanding in Me- When we have evidence that means that we can prove something. I can prove that God is in me because of the understanding that he gives to me. I can speak with his knowledge and understanding. It is important that we know that for when we speak with the right understanding then we can speak with the right thoughts. ALL we can do is demonstrate this understanding to others. We can pray for others but we need to have a relationship with God first. Then once we have an assurance of this understanding in our spirit!

Assurance of Understanding Col 2:2-3 2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Do you have the assurance in your life? Comfort your hearts and let the Love of God be a source of comfort and mercy to you. Let God give you the understanding you need because of the Father and Jesus. The Spirit of God always is in agreement with the Father and Christ. The Holy Spirit will reveal to you His wisdom and knowledge in all things? This is part of the spirit of understanding!

Life of God Eph 4:17-20 17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.20 But ye have not so learned Christ;

A dark understanding is one that is that alienated from God (one that does not have God in their life) You either have God in your life or Satan! God wants to know you and trust Him! God says know that you are no longer ignorant or blind in your heart. People who are not born again live selfish ( vanity of their mind) and give themselves over to their selfish desires. Focus on Christ and make Christ the source for that is the source of your understanding! The spirit of understanding is about what Christ has done for you for we are to focus on Him and for it is all about Christ!

Let me pray for your understanding - Col 1:9 9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

I want to pray that you that do not know the Lord will come to know the Lord! I want to pray that you will come to know the power of the Holy Spirit in your life! I want you to know the knowledge of God’s will for your life! I want you to walk in the wisdom of God and have his understanding in this life! Understand his grace and walk in that grace and mercy today! Live daily in what Christ did! The understanding of God’s Spirit helps you to walk in the newness of life!

Conclusion – We have talked about some things we can know because of the spirit of understanding in our life. What do you understand about God and what do you desire to know about the Lord? What do you need to know in your life? The life of God is in you and wants to help you understand how to walk in his understanding in our life! God wants to help you understand what He wants from you in this life so walk in that knowledge and love the Lord in every area of your life daily!

Application – I will understand with my heart and with my mind. I will listen to the Spirit and walk with the Spirit in my life. Holy Spirit empower those who listen to my voice today! Read the Word and let the Holy Spirit give you understanding about that verse or what God wants to do in your life! Ask God so you can help others when they are suffering for we need to give them comfort and can only do that when we have the word of God to help lead us!

Prayer for healing- (pray in faith believing) Expect a miracle and see yourself as being healed. Find a Scripture for your healing and speak that forth. Heavenly Father I pray for healing. I thank you for manifesting healing in my body today! You took all my sickness, disease, pain, sorrow for you paid for it on the cross of Calvary. I speak healing into my body and command ______________ to leave my body! No weapon can defeat me! I call myself healed because of the blood of Jesus Christ. Devil take your hands off of me for I am the child of the living God! Now thank the Lord for healing you!

Prayer for Salvation- I pray that all of you will come to know Jesus. Pray with me: Heavenly Father I recognize my need for you for without Jesus, I cannot make it in this life. I need you! I know I am a sinner and I need your SON. I recognize that Jesus died for my sin when Jesus died for me on Calvary. I believe that he rose again so that I can go to heaven and live with you there. Thank you for paying for my sin and bringing me into your forever family. So, Jesus come into my heart and live in me today! I am now a Christian!

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Next week: Spirit of Counsel

This sermon is copyrighted @2023 and is the property of our Pastor and Apostle- Rev. Dr. Don Carson. Used by permission and for more information or questions contact Apostle Don through his messenger site on FB at Pastor Don Carson!

Pastor
Rev. Dr. Don W. Carson
Word of Grace Fellowship

Church website - www.wordofgracefellowship.com

Youth Ministry, Youth Outreach, Youth Programs - Springfield, NJ
word of grace fellowsip is a christian youth ministry, dedicated to serving underprivileged and vulnerable youth...

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January 7, 2. Jan 15, 2024