POWER TO CHANGE

 Power to Change

Isaiah 43:19 “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”                                                 Slide One

 

Change means:  to make different in some particular : ALTER: to make radically different : TRANSFORM 

 

In the case of a Christian you have been transformed.  Your change is from the inside out.  Slide 2

 

Here are five reasons people don’t like to change.

 

1.      People fear being different--especially when there's no precedent.  We're creatures of habit. For the most part, we love routine and procedure.

       2.    People feel overwhelmed or stressed, people may resist change simply because they're tired.

       3.    People fear a departure from the status quo, 62% of people don’t want to change, don’t feel

              they need to change or fear change. 

       4.   People know change brings a new set of possibilities and problems.  Many people prefer for

              things to stay the way they are.  How many have you heard the old saying if it aim broke, don’t

              fix it.

        5.  People don’t trust the one encouraging the change.                                        Slide 3

 

Here are seven reasons why embracing change can be a very good   

 

Change helps you grow. ...

Change teaches you to be flexible. ...

Change can challenge your values and beliefs. ...

Change reveals your strengths. ...

Change makes you more compassionate. ...

Change breaks up routines. ...

Change offers opportunities.                                                                                                  Slide 4

 

Here are some Biblical characters where change was for the best.

 

Abram left Ur to Haran than to Canaan.  He later became Abraham the Father of the faithful.  He was the Father of the Israelites through Isaac.  Through him all nations have been blessed. 

 

Jacob when he left and found Leah, Rachel, he had 12 boys who became the 12 tribes of Israel.  Had his name change to Israel which means Prince with God.

 

Joseph, was a Prince of Israel, sold into slavery by his brothers, end up as a slave and then in prison for 13 years.  In one day went from prisoner to Prime Minister and saved the then known world from Calamity.

 

Daniel was taken in captivity by the Babylonians.  He became a high ranking official in the Babylonian and Medo-Persian empire.  Influenced a number of rulers.

 

Esther was taken from her home to the harem of the King, won his heart and eventually saved her people from the sinister minister Haman.  ``                                                                Slide 5

 

Change is an opportunity to renew, retool, and re-imagine what’s possible.  Change is the ultimate opportunity for transformation.  It’s a chance to do a reset.  It’s a chance for a fresh start.  It’s a chance to let things go.  It’s a chance to create a vision for the future.  It’s also a chance to reinvent yourself, which many times means bringing out more of who you are.                                              Slide 6

 

One man wrote:  Change is good.   But only if you embrace it.   Change is a chance to stop doing what’s not working, start doing things that would work better, and keep doing the things that work well

 

Change is good.   But only if you embrace it.   Change is a chance to stop doing what’s not working, start doing things that would work better, and keep doing the things that work well

 

     As a Christian we embrace change.  The Bible says the mercy of God are new every morning.  Great is his faithfulness.  Peter states in 1 Pet 3:18, that we are to growth in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul tells us in Romans 12:2 that we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

 

     God demands and makes changes.  He loves us to much to leave us as we are.  God change and  process us.  God is always at work in us.   His ultimate goal is to make us like Jesus.  Our job is to work with Him and let Him change us.    The agents of change are as follows, the word, prayer, circumstances, other people and life in general. 

 

QUOTES FOR APRIL 8, 2026

 

THE POWER OF UNITY

 

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

 

1.      Two Benefits of Unity is life is good and pleasant.  When you have urgency, chaos, confusion, and crisis life is not pleasant.  The author of confusion is the enemy.  His agenda is to rob, kill, and destroy.

2.      The definition of unity is the state of being united or joined as a whole.  You are working together.  You have one goal, purpose, aim, and direction.  For the church it has three components.  We are to preach the gospel, make disciples and love those God brings across our path. 

3.      It is easier when we are working together and not against each other.  When the church was in one accord the Holy Spirit fell in power and the communities in which they served became changed.  Paul was described in Acts 17:6 as the men who turn the world upside down.

4.      Here are the five qualities that keep unity.

 

a.      Humility. Humility has to do with not thinking of yourself as better than others. ...

b.      Gentleness. Gentleness has to do with considering others, forfeiting your rights. ...

c.      Patience

d.      Love.

e.      Zeal for the Lord and prayer.

 

It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard,

    down on the collar of his robe.

 

1.      David uses the illustration of Moses anointing Aaron.  Unity comes when you are anointed by God in His service.  When you know that you are an advocate, ambassador, representative and intercessor.  It is the anointing by the Holy Spirit that brings unity. 

2.      You are consecrated for the sacred and holy.  You are not like others.  You represent God and His kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy.  We are kings and priests unto God.  Unity comes when you know your role, responsibility, duty, obligations, and task.  You have a higher purpose.  You are not ordinary but extra-ordinary.  You are in this world but not of it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.      Five results of the anointing of God

 

a.      The anointing will consecrate you. It will literally set you apart for the blessings of God and for His ministry.

b.      The anointing of God honors you...God honors His people.

c.      The anointing will enable you. The power of His anointing will be behind all that you do.

d.      The anointing will give you authority. Authority over devils, and over things on this earth. We have authority...so great it is frightening; we just don't use it sometimes.

e.      The anointing destroys bondage.

 

It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.  For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

 

1.      Unity is beautiful and powerful. 

2.      The Lord bestows His blessings here.  Abundant life, provision, security healing, love, grace, truth, faith, prosperity, success, and health. 

3.      It is central to breakthrough, revival, renewal, restoration, and transformation.  It is accomplished through personal examination, prayer, honoring the word and fasting. 

 

 

POWER OF PRAYER

 

     Today we are going to look at a very powerful concept of prayer.  Let me give you the background  behind this verse in Genesis 17, God made a promise that Abram and told him that he was going to be the father of many nations, the sign would be circumcision and his name was changed to Abraham.  Next in Chapter 18-19, God visited Abraham by the great trees of Mamre, told him that him and Sarah would have a boy next year.  Sarah laughed then lied when confronted.  Abraham was told of the impending doom of Sodom and Gomorrah where he pleaded for their souls.  Sodom and Gomorrah could not be saved but Lot was rescued but later committed incest with his daughters and set up future confrontation for Israel.  Next, Abraham and Sarah move down to Gerar or Philistia where he deceived Abimelech by saying that Sarah was his sister and she was taken into his household.  Now get this Sarah is 90 years old when this happens.  She was an outstanding beauty.   God warns Abimelech in a dream about the situation and he gives Sarah back and gives a king’s ransom to get Abraham to avoid God’s judgment.  Then they move back to Hebron where Sarah becomes pregnant and they bear Isaac when Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90.  What an Amazing story and background. 

 

Romans 4:17

New International Version

17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”[a] He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

 

1.      Today we are going to learn about the power of prayer.  Abraham was a great example for us to learn from.  First, he stood on God’s promises.  There are more than 10000 promises in the Bible.  Each one is back up by God’s word.  Psalm 132:8 states this.    1 Cor 1:20 says the promises of God are yes and amen.  So when you pray you can believe and trust God’s promises.  Often I will quote the promise to God in my prayer time. 

 

a.      Abraham also believed.  The definition of belief is, “accept (something) as true; feel sure of the truth of.”  Hebre 11:1, that faith is substance of things hope for and the evidence of things not seen.  It goes further in Heb 11:6, that you believe that God exists and is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.  That is what Abraham did. 

b.      He believed that God could bring life to that which is dead.  In this case himself and Sarah.  Remember God told Abraham it was going to happen.  Sarah laughed and you would too.  Abraham believed enough to actually try again for another baby.  He may have said to Sarah.  “what have we got to lose. “  What Abraham did was believe and called into being things that were not.  He released the divine resources of heaven. 

c.      I love Phil 4:19 where Paul says that God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory.  What does all mean, “All.”  Your physical such as food, shelter, clothing and transportation.  You spiritual, mental, emotional, financial and family.

 

2.      Now this week I heard a powerful teaching about the two track system of prayer from Charles Stanley.  He said that you cannot receive God’s promises without also obeying the principles of God.  One side of the track is promise the others die is prayer.  God will not give you his promises if you violate His principles.  God is a God of balance.  Today so many people have demoted God to a sugar daddy or bubble gum machine.   They have no concept of the love of God.  They believe that love means you can do anything you want and there are no consequences and preachers who teach this are liars and false teachers.  There are six things t will share with you that will stop the promises of God in their tracks.

 

a.      Ps 66:18, says if I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me.  The principle is regarding iniquity.  Iniquity means habitual unconfessed sin.  You ignore, justify, excuse, blame it on others.  The Lord will not hear your prayers.

b.      Mark 11:26, tells us that if we cannot forgive others, the Lord will not forgive us and will not hear our prayers.  This often stops the promises of God.

c.      In 1 Pet 3:7, it states that if we mistreat our spouse our prayers will be hindered and not answered. 

d.      James 4:2, says that we have not because we are asking or selfish reason or wrong motives and God is too good to allow this to happen. 

e.      Not abiding in Christ.  John 15:7, Jesus said, “If we abide in Him and us in Him we can ask what we will and it will be given unto us.

f.       Unbelief.  Simple if you do not believe you will not receive.  Abraham believe God and it was credited him as righteousness.

 

3.      We are the children of Abraham through Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ has secured us all the benefits and resources of heaven.  I want to give your some thoughts on how in prayer to secure what Paul was talking in here in this verse and also in Phil 4:19, to call those things into being which are not.

 

a.      Prayer is the avenue in which we create a natural reality from the supernatural.  In prayer God lays something on our heart and it becomes a burden of prayer.  Let me give you two examples from my life.  One was actually a desire that became a reality.  My 1984 Buick Limited.  My current position at Am 930 the light.  I love this phrase. pray on it, pray over it, pray through it.  God uses the authority we have in prayer.  Jesus said in Matt 18:18, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

b.      In prayer we are claiming the promises of God.  We have not violated the principles of prayer, we are abiding in Christ and we are walking in faith and we are speaking God’s promises to Him. 

c.      In prayer you are taking what God has promised and releasing it into your world by prayer.  Your faith and trust in his character of truth, His unfathomable love and his immutable essence secures the benefits and resources into your world.  Abraham had been told a child was coming.  He believed God.  He pray on it, over it and through it until it happened.  We must do the same. 

d.      By faith you see the promise of God in the bible, you release it by faith from the supernatural realm into the physical realm because God told you it was yours.  You secure it through prayer and faith.   

e.      I believe it is time as the people of God we call those things which are not into prayer.  We have the power, authority enablement and ability in the name of Jesus Christ.  We can agree with others in prayer because Jesus said where two or three gather in my name I am in the midst and where two or three agree on anything in shall be done for them.  Matt 18:19

f.       What is it you need today go get it today in prayer and we will agree with you. 

. April 8 – Three Nations - Isaiah 19:23-25

 

April 8 – Three Nations - Isaiah 19:23-25

 

     In the future there will be a highway from Assyria to Egypt.  Both nations will travel and interact with each other in friendship.  They will worship together.  These nations along with Israel will be a blessing to the nations.  The Lord will bless them.  He will call these nations three things.  Egypt will be His people.  Assyria will be his handiwork.  Israel will be his inheritance.  This will happen during the thousand-year reign and rule of Jesus Christ.  IN that day God will bless nations that would normally be enemies. 

THE POWER OF PRAYER

 

Jn 16:23,-24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father for in my name, he will give it to you.  “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name; keep asking and you will receive, in order that your joy may be made full.”

 

Jesus is in the upper room giving last minute instructions and truth to His disciples.  He is giving them the means and knowledge how to succeed and win over this world.  This is a great verse for us to ponder and consider

 

Intro:  There are five things truths in prayer.  These are the words of Jesus.  He is God, His integrity, nature and character makes it absolutely impossible for Him to lie.  What He says is absolute truth.  It is the law and word of God.  It cannot and will be broken and all heaven is going to back it up

 

1.      Whatever you ask the Father for in my name.  When you ask in Jesus name you are praying His authority.   His name is above every name.  At His name every knee will bow and every tongue will confess.  Praying in Jesus’ name reminds us we rely on His power and His will.  Praying in Jesus’ name reminds us to glorify Him, not ourselves.   Jesus is our avenue, conduit and channel to the Father.  We can only come to Him through Jesus.  He is our Father because of Jesus.  I love this quote.  The child asks of the Father whom he knows. Thus, the essence of Christian prayer is not general adoration, but definite, concrete petition. The right way to approach God is to stretch out our hands and ask of One who we know has the heart of a Father.”  Dietrich Bonhoeffer. 

 

2.      When you ask in Jesus name He will give it to you.  This is the promise of prayer.  This phrase is the guarantee.  This is written contract or word that cannot be broken and must be honored by God.  John clarifies one thing in 1 John 5:14, by stating that we have confidence that when we ask according to His will God do it.  When you align your will, desires, dreams and destiny with God you will know what He wants and you will want to do it.  Jesus only wanted to do the will of His Father.  That must be your aim.  Paul puts it concisely to the point in Rom 12:1-2, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 

 

3.      Keep asking.  Do not give up.  Remember the story about the widow woman who wanted justice from the unjust judge.  She never gave up and finally her request was answer.   Many times our feelings don’t reflect facts.  Daniel learned that before the request was out of his mouth the answer was on the way.  Just because God is silent that does mean he is absent.  God is always working in ways you do not see.  Remember prayer is bigger than petitions and request.  Faith and trust is involved.  Remember timing is as well.  God always arrives on time. 

 

Prayer is not a means of coercing God to do what we want. It is a process of recognizing His power and plan for our lives. In prayer we yield our lives and circumstances to the Lord and trust Him to act in His time and in His way.   As we rely on God’s grace not only for the outcome of our requests but for the process as well, we can keep coming to the Lord in prayer, trusting His wisdom and care for us.  Our Lord’s encouragement to us is clear: Always pray and don’t give up!

 

4.      You will receive.  What a great promise.  Our God wants to bless you.  He wants to give you eternal and abundant life.  Just receive.  This is what grace is all about.  It is God’s riches at Christ’s expense.  Prayer is the avenue of asking and receiving.  You stand upon God’s word and promises and then by grace your receive.  God gives because he loves us.  Our part is to receive, walk and be healed by that love.   Only God’s love can truly restore, heal and make us whole.  Just receive.  All the benefits of salvation and heaven are yours because of Jesus.  Just receive. 

 

5.      So your joy may be full.  God wants to fill your life with His joy.  Joy is that deep seated contentment.  The dictionary says joy is a state of well being,  a place of delight, a foundation for success, abundance and freedom.  God is the source of this.  He wants to impart it to you so you in turn can give it to others.  Prayer in Jesus name brings total joy and abundance beyond imagination.  Remember God can do exceedingly abundantly beyond you could ask or even imagine.  This is the power of prayer.  Out of your inner being will flow rivers of living water.  I dare you to dream in prayer and then go ask for it because of what Jesus said here.

 

 

QUOTES FOR APRIL 5, 2026