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Sermon: Firstfruit Fundamentals
by Chris Cumming
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As of May 1st, we have a new project in the works at the
ICG Las Vegas site. It is called, “Firstfruit Fundamentals.” It is a
posted resource where you get answers to your questions. Each question
is answered in 1-3 pages of text and five to fifteen minutes of audio.
Take a look at a copy of the Firstfruit Fundamentals homepage.
Today, we are going to test the program by answering some questions I
have already received. The first subject we are going to cover today is
Prayer. When a firstfruit comes to this page, he/she can click on
Prayer and go to a page where each question will link to a text document
and a MP3 audio.
Let us begin.
Prayer
Question 1] How do I know God is listening?
If you are a firstfruit, you have God’s Holy Spirit. That Spirit binds
us to God and makes us His chief focus, especially at moments we make
direct contact with Him. For a firstfruit, the question is rarely about
whether God is listening. The question is, are you talking to Him? God
is always listening. Notice.
John 9:31
Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper
of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
Psalm 34:15
The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto
their cry.
Proverbs 15:29
The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the
righteous.
1 Peter 3:12
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open
unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do
evil.
Proverbs 15:8
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the
prayer of the upright is his delight.
This is overwhelming proof that God is listening to the righteous. Who
are the righteous? Firstfruits in the Salvation Process and with the
Holy Spirit in them.
Now someone is probably looking at John 9:31 and the statement, “Now we
know that God heareth not sinners” and thinking they qualify as a sinner
because they might have sinned in the last thirty days. The sinner of
John 9:31 is a unrepentant sinner and one well down the process of sin.
Firstfruits, by definition, repent and are repentant. Therefore, they
could never be labeled sinners.
Consult most any Bible commentary on John 9:31 on the meaning of sinners
and you get, “heathen” or individuals outside of the Salvation Process.
Bottom-line? God is hearing your prayers.
Question 2] Sometimes it feels awkward when I pray. Why?
There could be several reasons for a person feeling awkward when they
pray. Let us list a few in no particular order of occurrence or
importance.
a] you’re tired.
b] you are not prepared.
c] you suffer from low self-esteem and/or you are currently being down
on yourself. You do not feel worthy to come before His throne.
d] you lack spiritual knowledge and you know/feel it.
First of all, know this: All firstfruits feel awkward in prayer at one
time or another. How would you feel if you got a surprise invitation to
come to the White House or to the corporate offices of Microsoft’s Bill
Gates? Wouldn’t you feel just a bit awkward? Well, the President of
the United States and Mr. Gates have nothing on God when it comes to
power, prestige or position. God, the Father is the President of the
Universe and retains all power and knowledge.
Now I might understand feeling weird about having to go meet with the
President or some corporate CEO but I am a firstfruit and there is no
need to feel awkward coming before Almighty God. Notice what the CEO of
the Universe is saying to you:
Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Somehow I do not believe the President of the United States would send
you this kind of message [coming boldly
before him].
Does God use this idea of being bold somewhere other than Hebrews 4:16
which seems to be the primary verse used in this discussion? Yes he
does.
Hebrews 10:19-23
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the
blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through
the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having
our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with
pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for
he is faithful that promised;)
When it comes to the President of the United States or some powerful
corporate head, I have no real idea who their most important visitor
might be. I do know who the most important visitor to God is…you. Not
only that, but you can come before Him any time, 24 hours a day and
continue that visit for as long as you want,,, “in full assurance.”
Verse 23 urges us to hold fast our faith without wavering. Do not allow
any feeling of awkwardness to make you waver. Go to God full of hope
rather than despair.
Notice three more scriptures.
Ephesians 2:18
For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Ephesians 3:12
In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
Romans 8:15-17
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye
have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with
Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified
together.
You are a child and heir of God. You are a join-heir with Christ, so
replace the awkwardness with boldness and confidence.
Question 3] I’m praying about a certain problem or person and not
seeing/getting a clear answer. Why? This question might also read: I
seem to be having one problem after another. Does this mean that God is
not listening?
Again, there could be many reasons why you are not seeing or getting a
clear answer. Let me borrow a portion of my three-part sermon on prayer
with the title, “Your
Best Communication.”
Recognizing God’s Answers to Prayer
God has a plan. Everything that happens in this world is part of that
plan.
God is in charge and He has reasons for things happening the way they
do. When we ask for something that falls in line with His plan and His
goals for us RIGHT NOW, He'll give us what we ask RIGHT NOW.
When we ask for something that we DON'T NEED RIGHT NOW, He may wait
until the time is right. God is seldom early, but never late.
How God Answers Prayer
Depending on what we ask, when we ask, and what God is doing, He will
answer our prayers in different ways.
His answers will generally be:
Yes
Yes, and I'll give you even more than you asked for
Yes, but not now
Yes, but not as you expect
No
No, but I'll give you something else instead
Nothing, silence, no answer
As we build our relationship with God, we'll learn to know His voice.
We'll learn to know what answer He gives us. A yes, no, or wait will be
clear.
1 ) Yes
When what we ask is in God's will for us Now, we get what we ask. It may
not be right under our noses, but it will be there.
1 John 5:14
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any
thing according to his will, he heareth us:
2) Yes, and I'll give you more than you
asked for
When we're right with God, and we ask according to His will, AND we can
be good stewards of what He has for us, He sometimes gives us even more
than we ask.
2 Chronicles 1:11-12
11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou
hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies,
neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge
for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made
thee king:
12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee
riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that
have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.
Matthew 25:20-21
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five
talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I
have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant:
thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over
many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Verse 29
For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have
abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that
which he hath.
3) Yes, but not now
Sometimes God makes us wait. Maybe the time isn't right. Maybe we're not
yet ready for what He wants us to have.
Maybe He's waiting for us to decide that His INVOLVEMENT in our lives is
more important to us than His actual ANSWER.
Maybe we just need a patience lesson. Whatever the case, we sometimes
wait.
Job 30:20
I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou
regardest me not.
Job 42:12
So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for
he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand
yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
Luke 18:7-8 (ff)
7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto
him, though he bear long with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily…
Psalm 40:1 SAYS
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my
cry.
4) Yes, but not as we expect
Often we pray, and don't see the answers He gives us, because we're
looking in the wrong places. We look for the fruit and not the tree, we
want to KNOW without having to LEARN:
We want Patience without learning how to Wait
We want Strength without learning how to Overcome Difficulties
We want Wisdom without learning how to Solve Problems
We want Prosperity without learning how to Work
We want Courage without learning how to Face Danger
We want Favors without learning to Recognize Opportunities
When we ask for these things, God answers by exposing us to situations
that TEACH us what we need to know.
The old adage "be careful what you ask for, you may get it" is useful
here.
If you ask God for PATIENCE, He'll make you WAIT, which develops
patience.
If you ask for more COURAGE, you'll face DANGER, which develops courage.
If you ask for Wisdom, you'll have PROBLEMS to solve, which develops
wisdom.
God is concerned with CHARACTER more than COMFORT. If God needs to put
us in uncomfortable situations to teach us what we need to know, He
will.
5) No
Sometimes God says no. It may be that we're asking for something we
can't handle. It may be that we are asking with wrong motives.
James 4:3
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it
upon your lusts.
It may be that He just has other plans for us and our friends.
Sometimes He doesn't heal.
Sometimes He lets someone die. Sometimes He allows us to go through
trouble to strengthen us. Sometimes
His purposes and plans are better served by not doing what we ask, even
when we plead with tears.
Matthew 26:39
And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying,
O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless
not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Verses 45-46
45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now,
and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is
betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
6) No, but I'll give you something else
instead
We might be "in love" and pray desperately to have a certain person who,
by divine intervention, isn't the one we end up with, and we praise Him
in hindsight.
We may plead to continue the work we've been doing for Him, when He
needs us somewhere else.
We may desperately seek Him to remove a situation in our lives that is
teaching us something we need to teach people about next year.
Whatever the case, sometimes God has something else better or more
important for us, and we need to recognize His will and submit to His
direction.
Deuteronomy 3:25-27
25 I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond
Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon.
26 But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me:
and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of
this matter.
27 Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward,
and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with thine
eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan.
2 Corinthians 12:8-9---Paul’s
affliction
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from
me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength
is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory
in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
7) Nothing, dead silence from God
This is different from a NO.
When God says No to something, we still feel His presence in our lives.
Silence from God is the hardest answer of all. We plead and beg, but
feel like God's not there.
When God is turning His face from us, there is something wrong on our
end.
Maybe it's a commitment problem, maybe it's a sin we haven't confessed
and repented of, maybe we're just trying so hard to solve the problem
we're not letting God solve it for us.
We need to let go and let God.
When someone is drowning, a lifeguard will sometimes have to wait until
the person is completely out of strength from flailing around trying to
save himself before coming to the rescue, else the drowning person takes
them both down.
Similarly, God waits patiently for us to stop fighting so He can take
care of us.
Psalm 68:19
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of
our salvation. Selah.
Isaiah 59:2
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your
sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
Proverbs 28:9
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall
be abomination.
Hebrews 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.
Getting to know God's answers takes time and commitment.
We learn to hear His voice by spending time with Him in prayer, and in
His word. The more we rely on Him, the more He answers.
The more He answers, the more we recognize His answers. The better we
know Him, the easier it will be to Know what He's doing.
Finally, some words of encouragement,
Turn to Jude 1:20
Jude 1:20
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying
in the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 6:18
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and
watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all
saints.
Pray in the name of Jesus Christ
It is your BEST COMMUNICATION
Question 4] Where do I pray?
For those with Google Earth or Google Maps go there at your next
opportunity. The rest of you can consult any World Atlas. Take a look
at the entire planet, including the cities, the mountains, the valleys,
the deserts and the entire surfaces of the seven seas. Any of these
locations work. You can pray to God anywhere, at any time and for any
reason.
You may pray at home and at work. You may pray to God in a bathroom, a
public restroom or the outhouse out behind the barn. You may pray in
the locker room at work, in your car at a stop light or from you seat on
the airplane at 33,000 feet. You may pray in the dark or the light at
noonday. Firstfruits can pray in the football huddle, a crowded
elevator or at the bottom of a coal mine.
Notice these locations of these prayers:
In Battle:
2 Chronicles 13:14
And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and
behind: and they cried unto the LORD, and the priests sounded with the
trumpets.
On a Stake:
Luke 23:42
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy
kingdom.
Jesus at a tomb of Lazarus
John 11:41-43
41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid.
And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou
hast heard me.
42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people
which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus,
come forth.
In the wilderness:
Matthew 4:1-2
1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted
of the devil.
2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward
an hungred.
Clearly Jesus was praying in the wilderness.
We see Jesus praying in many different locations within scripture.
Follow His example and pray anywhere and everywhere.
Question 5] Do I have to pray on my knees?
How one prays will be according to both scripture and belief, including
personal elements of belief. If you feel that all prayer by you must be
on your knees, then do so. As a general question, it is not so much
about the position of the body as it is about the attitude and reverence
of the heart.
In Question 4 in this section on Prayer that asks the question of where
we can pray, we saw clearly that firstfruits can pray virtually
anywhere. We see examples in scripture of praying in the heat of battle
or nailed to a stake. There are many places and situations where
getting on one’s knees is not possible or practical.
The way you pray is important. The most important aspect of the prayer
is the heart-to-heart communication between you and God. How you pray
will be a unique procedure that is all your own, based on your knowledge
of scripture, your experience, your beliefs and the Holy Spirit that is
in you.
The scriptures where you see coming to your knees are these: 2
Chronicles 6:13; Daniel 6:10; Acts 7:60; Acts 9:40; and Acts 21:5. Let
me read one.
Acts 7:60
…the stoning of Stephen
And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin
to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Clearly one reverent way of praying. There are others. The key here is
to love God, reverence Him and do all things to the glory of God.
Question 6] What if I fall asleep during my prayer in bed?
First, this has happened to virtually every firstfruit in the history of
firstfruits.
Second, This does not mean that God is necessarily angry or that you
just lost your salvation. You may be guilty of falling asleep but you
are not to feel guilty. Let us go back to the example in Question 2 in
this section regarding being invited to the White House to meet with the
President of the United States. Be honest with yourself and answer the
question, “How would you prepare?” If it were me, I can tell you that
among a myriad of preparations, that I would make sure I was fully
alert. We must do the same when preparing to meet with God in the
throne room, which is virtually where you go in prayer.
Some tips and recommendations for your official times and places for
prayer:
1] Prepare a special place for prayer. Make it a place and time where
you will be fully alert.
2] When choosing a place, consider somewhere other than the bedroom, if
falling asleep is a problem for you. Bedrooms and beds are inherently
designed to suggest and/or bring on sleep.
3] Consider doing your formal times of prayer just after you have slept
and even after you have had a morning shower. Choose your most alert
time of the day for prayer. Some of you are night people and others
morning people. Choose appropriately.
4] Use natural stimulants in preparation for these formal times of
prayer, including coffee, cold water on the face and hands or even after
some stimulating exercise, such as a walk around the block or a brisk
swim in the pool.
5] Write your prayers out or have a subject outline on paper or card
stock. Hold them and focus on them throughout the prayer.
Question 7] How long or short should my prayers be? Does God get mad
if I pray for the same things over and over [not
speaking of repetitions here]?
Prayers may last a total of one second and consist of just one word or
utterance [Help! or Please]. They may also last for hours or days.
There is no limit, one way or the other. Having said this, one needs to
be circumspect in his/her preparation for the prayer. You are the
steward of your prayer life to include how you will conduct the prayer
period and what topics you bring. Be ready for prayer. Reference my
sermon, “Silence”
Parts 1 and 2 where we speak to coming before Almighty God in silence.
There are examples of short prayers in the Bible such as those of
Hezekiah and Stephen. Remember that God has full knowledge of what your
desires and needs are before you even ask.
Matthew 6:7-8
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for
they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what
things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
This verse is speaking to a practice of the heathen [non-firstfruit] who
brings chanting and conjured up repetitions. This is different than us
coming before God for the same reasons on a regular basis. If one is
sick and continues to be sick for weeks and months, it is perfectly fine
to pray about this over and over to God. In addition, no problem or
desire remains static in this life, so your prayers, though for the same
subject will modify themselves as you move through time.
Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what
we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh
intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
The Spirit of God in us helps us with our prayers.
Question 8] I know that I am sinning and
it seems that I am making little progress. In a situation like this,
does God even want to hear from me?
Absolutely He does!! We have already discussed how important
firstfruits are to God and the fact that if you are in the Salvation
Process, you have the Holy Spirit that connects you to God. You are in
the Salvation Process and this makes you God’s property. You are
therefore sanctified and justified. There is no higher level of
importance that these.
Overcoming sin is a process and you are overcoming sins and making
progress in these areas continually from baptism to death.
Romans 8:30
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he
called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also
glorified.
Titus 3:7-8
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according
to the hope of eternal life.
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm
constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to
maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
2 Timothy 2:21
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel
unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared
unto every good work.
22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity,
peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
You are justified and sanctified as long as you are a firstfruit in the
Salvation Process. Clearly you have work to do all your adult life in
this process but God is never going to forsake you.
Let me end with these words. They are the words of Paul to the
Philippians but let them today be my words to you…
Philippians 1:2-6
2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord
Jesus Christ.
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good
work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
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