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REACHING OUT TO THE CITY

REACHING OUT TO THE CITY. GOD & THE CITY. In the Scriptures we find God dealing with cities and nations: Israel, Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Sodom, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Antioch, Samaria, . GOD & THE CITY.

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REACHING OUT TO THE CITY

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  1. REACHING OUT TO THE CITY

  2. GOD & THE CITY In the Scriptures we find God dealing with cities and nations: Israel, Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Sodom, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Antioch, Samaria,

  3. GOD & THE CITY • We see prophets being sent by God to preach to cities and to announce judgment or restoration: Nineveh, Rome, Babylon, Petra, Ephesus.

  4. GOD & THE CITY The Lord Jesus Christ made clear to His disciples that they should go to the cities, to the nations, and to the ends of the earth to preach the Gospel and make disciples (Mat. 28:18-20)

  5. GOD & THE CITY His disciples and the Church are commanded to go to the cities and nations of the earth.

  6. GOD & THE CITY OF EPHESUS • Timothy was pasturing the Church in Ephesus and Paul sent him instructions from God on how to reach out to the city. • A lot was going on inside the church that could prevent it from reaching out to the city.

  7. Timothy’s Battle Pastor Timothy was fighting against false doctrines (1:3; 6:3); myths, endless genealogies and mere speculation (1:4); fruitless discussion, worldly and empty chatter, and opposing arguments of false knowledge (1:6; 6:20); worldly profane fables (4.7).

  8. Timothy’s Battle • The teachings forbade some practices and actions created and blessed by God (4:3) and contradicted and opposed the Wisdom of God (6:20). • Beyond all that, Timothy was also facing envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved minds and deprived of the truth (6:4, 5).

  9. 1 Timothy • That is a quick background about the situation that originated that First Letter to Pastor Timothy. • A dramatic intervention was required and the Apostle Paul knew it well.

  10. 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-2 1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

  11. 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-2 God urges Timothy and the church to engage in a very important practice in order to change the situation and reach out the city for Christ.

  12. INVADE THE HEAVENLY REALMS First of all, the church is instructed to invade the heavenly places with requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving for everyone— for kings and all those in authority. In another words, the battle for the city starts above the city, in the heavenly places, with serious, determined, and powerful intercession.

  13. HOW TO PRAY • Pray for everyone— for kings and all those in authority. • All authorities are under God’s authority. • The church should walk in submission to all authorities, because it will confront Satan’s authority in the city. The church cannot walk in rebellion.

  14. HOW TO PRAY All authorities are under God’s authority. The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. (Prov. 21:1)

  15. SUBMIT TO THE AUTHORITIES 1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. (Rom.13)

  16. PRAYING FOR AUTHORITIES • It is a clear commandment of God to those who can pray and can be heard by God • Authorities’ hearts and decisions can be changed by God as His church prays • There is no Government’s decisions or directions that cannot be changed. God can change them. • IF THE CHURCH PRAYS!

  17. IF THE PEOPLE OF GOD PRAY… 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

  18. WHAT TO PRAY ABOUT • Pray that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. • Pray that there will be peace in the city. Not only the right of speech but righteousness speech. • Pray for godliness (goodness, righteousness) and holiness (sanctity) will dominate the city.

  19. PRAYER CAN BRING CHANGE • These things are only possible in CHRIST as the church reaches out to the city and lives are transformed. • ONLY the church can make a real difference in the life of a city or of a nation to bring peace and holiness, because it has the authority of CHRIST.

  20. PRAY WITH THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will beloosed in heaven.“ (Mat. 16:19)

  21. 1 TIMOTHY 2:3-6 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.

  22. God’s Pleasant Will • God, the Savior, wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. • Strongholds in operation in the city opposing God: • Unbelief • Deception • Anger and Violence • Injustice • Spiritual ignorance and blindness • Idolatry

  23. People need to know the TRUTH • There is only one God • There is only one mediator between God and men, who is Christ Jesus, • Jesus Christ gave himself as a ransom for the salvation of all people. • THEY WILL KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH WILL SET THEM FREE.

  24. 1 TIMOTHY 2:7 7And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles. Paul explains he was a messenger of that truth to the Gentile nations.

  25. God’s Messengers As Paul, we are also messengers of God’s truth and teachers of the true faith to the nations. What an awesome mission we have in the city and in the nations!

  26. 1 TIMOTHY 2:8 • 8I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. • Menshould go out to the streets to be messengers of the truth of God. • After having invaded the heavenlies with intercession and prayers, they should now invade the city streets and meet people to deliver the message of God.

  27. Instructions for Men: • Lift up holy hands in prayer for the city and everywhere in the city; • Men’s hands should be holy. Since they will be praying for righteousness and godliness to dominate the city, they should have spiritual authority coming from their own holy lives. • Holiness and prayer should hold hands as the men lifted their hands towards the city to bless it.

  28. Instructions for Men: • Lift up holy hands in prayer for the city without anger or disputing. • All anger and dispute with one another should be resolved before going out to pray for the city. • A church with anger and disputes cannot effectively pray outside of its walls for the city to be peaceful and quiet and godliness.

  29. Instructions for Men: IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THEY RESOLVE ALL ANGER AND DISPUTE TO BE FREE TO PRAY WITH SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY.

  30. 1 TIMOTHY 2:9-10 9I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

  31. Instructions for Women • I also want women: • The same instructions about lifting up holy hands towards the city without anger and dispute apply to women. • They are authorized to pray and to bless the people in the streets (1 Cor. 11).

  32. Instructions for Women: But the apostle adds some other special instructions to women. These instructions are kind of delicate, because they touch areas of a woman’s life that are kind of … sensitive.

  33. Special Instructions for Women: • Instruction # 1 • Modesty, decency, propriety, and good deeds should be the “dress” the women should be concerned with. • The focus of their lives should be holiness and good deeds.

  34. Instructions for Women: • Show holiness, love, and godliness for the people in the streets. • These things are more appropriate for women who profess to worship God. • Focus on inner beauty instead of external looking. • THIS IS A POWERFUL SECRET OF BEAUTY FOR WOMEN!

  35. 1 TIMOTHY 2:11-15 11A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. 13For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

  36. Instructions for Women: Instruction # 2 Women should walk in submission in her own personal life in order to be able to exercise spiritual authority in the city.

  37. Instructions for Women: Instruction # 2 They sow submission to their spiritual authorities and they reap spiritual authority in their ministry in the streets of the city and also with their children. THIS IS A POWERFUL SECRET OF SUCCESS FOR WOMEN.

  38. God’s Throne GOD’S THRONE Powers of Darkness OPPOSE THE CHURCH CONTROL THE CITY ANGER VIOLENCE IDOLATRY IMPURITY REBELLION The Church in the City isn’t under Satan’s control Instead of impurity- holiness Instead of anger- forgiveness Instead of violence- peace

  39. God’s Throne Intercession crosses the spiritual realms GOD’S THRONE OPPOSE THE CHURCH CONTROL THE CITY ANGER VIOLENCE IDOLATRY IMPURITY REBELLION • EVANGELISM • SOCIAL CHANGE • COMPASSION • FREEDOM • MIRACLES The Church in the City Prays In holiness, forgiveness, peace, unity, love

  40. God’s Throne Intercession crosses the spiritual realms GOD’S THRONE Opposition is diminished Control is limited ANGER VIOLENCE IDOLATRY IMPURITY REBELLION • Church delivers the message • Church intermediates and makes the connection between God and the city • We have authority to take all thoughts captive to Christ (2 Cor. 10:3-5) The Church reaches out to people and reconciles them to God in Christ

  41. WHAT ABOUT GOD & HOUSTON? • Does God want ALL people in Houston to be saved and to come to the complete knowledge of the truth?

  42. WHAT ABOUT GOD & HOUSTON? • Does God have a message to the city of Houston? • Are we God’s messengers sent to the city of Houston for such a time like this?

  43. WHAT ABOUT GOD & HOUSTON? • Is there any thing inside of our lives or inside of our church that can prevent us from being effective in praying and reaching out to the city?

  44. WHAT ABOUT GOD & HOUSTON? • Are our hands holy and clean before the Lord? • Are we walking in forgiveness and love? • Is there any anger or dispute in our midst?

  45. WHAT ABOUT GOD & HOUSTON? • Are the men living in holiness? • Are the men living in peace without anger or disputes?

  46. WHAT ABOUT GOD & HOUSTON? • Are the women focusing more on holiness than in their clothes and hair? • Are the women and living in submission in their homes?

  47. WHAT ABOUT GOD & HOUSTON? • Are all of us living in submission to the authorities of our lives? • Government? • Home? • Church? • School? • Work?

  48. WHAT ABOUT GOD & HOUSTON? • Are we ready to invade the heavenly places with serious intercession for all people and for the authorities of Houston?

  49. WHAT ABOUT GOD & HOUSTON? • Are we prepared to go out to the streets and lift holy and peaceful hands before the city and bless the people with our prayers?

  50. LET’S INVADE THE HEAVENS FOR HCC • ONE CELL HAS BEEN STARTED WITH THE GOAL TO REACH OUT TO HCC SOUTHEAST. • THE CELL CORE HAD ITS 1ST MEETING THIS WEEK. • THE ADMINISTRATOR HAS DENIED ACCESS TO THE CELL TO MEET THERE. • BUT IF THE CHURCH PRAYS…WITH PEACEFUL HOLY HANDS AND IN SUBMISSION…

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