prayer brings shelter from strife

8/14/2019 Prayer Brings Shelter from Strife

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archived sermons at ggwo.org/gml

Prayer Brings Shelter from Strifeby Pastor Juha Haatanen & Pastor Thomas SchallerJun 17, 2009

Unedited

Pastor Juha from Finland

Its a gt. priv. to be here. Greetings from Helsinki church. Its gt. toshare in the Lord in Finland...also in diff. places. We feel so privilegedthat we can share the FW. I'd like to share one thought with you. Inthe book of James, just shortly. Would you pray with me. Lord we askyou to bless these words, and the church you have redeemed by yourown blood. Thank you Lord. We can stand and sit before you withoutguilt, and trust the blood is enough. The FW is in our heart. We areaccepted by your love. Thank you Jesus...in your name we pray amen.

James 1:13 - if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer...heforgets what kind of man he was. He who looks into the perf. law ofliberty and cont's in it, and is not a forgetful hearer...he will be blessedin what he does.

Recently, I was considering these vs's and how they spoke to me. Ihaven't und. these before. I'm not saying I fully und. them now either,but something more. I was thinking, the natural man who listens tothe word, he sees the mirror of the word, and what kind of person he

is. He sees he is a sinner and needs a savior. He sees this. But, hedoesn't see Christ in this mirror, but only himself. He sees what kind ofperson he is and he's not too happy about it.

Immediately, when he goes, he may go to church listening to the wordand is convicted in his heart, but when he steps out the door, heimmed. forgets what kind of man he is. When reading the Word, anddon't see Christ in the word, but only myself by the word, the law onlyconvicts and condemns, but can't change me. I stay in the state I amin.

But, then in Heb. 10:1 - the law is a shadow, but has no power tobring perfectness. When we put Christ in the word, and the FW, thenall the sudden, the word that condemned and convicted me, now thesame word has power to change me. That's why its a perfect law. Inthe sense, the law had no power to change me. It wasn't perfect bec.it couldn't change me. But, now, with Christ in the word, it has powerto change me. When reading the Word, and listening to the Word, all


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the sudden, the Word has power to change me. Thats the mostbeautiful thing in the Word. It has power to change me, not justconvict and condemn, but power to change me.

James says, its a perf. law of liberty, when Christ is in the Word. Rom.10:4, Christ is the end of the law...but also, He is the fulfillment of thelaw. Then, the law is perf. It has power to change me. When we arepreachers and pastors, this is so valuable to know. This is what we aredoing. This is the work of God. We preach the FW of JC and God isable to change the lives of the people. This is so needed everywhere inthe world.

The perfect law of liberty. That's why its called the law of liberty. Itgives us freedom from ourselves. It changes me. When we hear theWord preached, and read the Word.

Then, vs 25, he who looks into the perf. law of liberty and continues init, means we bend down and concentrate. We are humbling ourselvesbefore the WOG. WE see Christ in the word. He has done it all. Hedoes not condemn me, or require my works. He is the fulfillment of thelaw.

I stop and bent down and humbled myself. That is what I'm studying,the FW of JC. He is changing me, daily my life, and giving me liberty tolive in this life. That's why its so wonderful to be a FW Christian andunderstand these beautiful things given in the Word.

So, we continue. As Pastor Schaller said, we met in 1975. By grace wehave continued in the work. Its a blessing to stand in this place today,knowing God's faithfulness, and He is bringing us forward in His love. Iremember, when Pastor Schaller was teaching, and the church wasvery small, about 30 people. We were in this small room. PastorSchaller was teaching. Every Tuesday, he taught through the book ofLeviticus. I went to go and learn. I was expecting to see and olderman. But, I'm glad I'm here today and to be with you.

Jesus we ask you to bless these thoughts to our hearts today...and

thank you, you have revealed yourself to us through the word...andyou are changing us. Thank you Lord Jesus. In your name we pray,Amen!

Pastor Schaller

Boy that was great. Thank you Lord. Ok! Tonight I want to speak fromI Sam. 16. This relates to our subj. of prayer...that we've been sharing


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about. The pict. I want to draw is a man standing in a circle. Is thatcoming up? His name is Saul. By the way, I must get this in bec. wemissed the announcement. Stewart, he has offered missionaries andBC students to the golf course for a free lunch. If you don't fit into anyof those categories, its $10. If you are my nephew, its $35. Bec. of hisattitude, its going up to $45. (laughing).

The end of I Sam. 18, we have a special pict. here about David. Ch.18:30 - ...David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants ofSaul. His name was very precious. His name became an imp. name.David became a person that people took notice of. This was early on inhis life.

I believe in my heart, as P. Juha shared, when we look into the FW,and we have the WOG and prayer, and that's what we shared theother day. As a staff we prayed for an hour and a half. We spoke about

prayer. I apprec. all the prayer...being prayed...and we are learningabout prayer. David had something going on in his life. There wassomething about him. The hand of God was upon him. On the inside,there was something beautiful about David. He had love. He also hadspiritual fellowship in his heart.

But, after Ch. 19:1, we don't expect this to be said. Saul wanted to killDavid. Does that seem normal? Here's a man that is precious...andanother man that wanted to kill him. This man needs to learn prayer.But, he doesn't learn it.

This is like us. We have a need to learn the mystery of communion andFS in prayer, Acts 6:4, and the WOG. So, Saul spoke to Jonathan, itwas something like this: Jonathan, we should kill David. Wow! Dad,did you eat too much pizza last night. What's going on? That is a goodquestion. What's going on in Saul's heart. Could this also go on in ourheart? Was it jealousy? Yes. We und. this...in our soul. Often, we itmakes us unstable. He moves in the circle. But, he can't get out of thecircle.

Just like Cain, another example of a man that didn't have God. He

believed in God, but didn't work inside of him. His countenance hadfallen. He was guilty and jealous of Abel. We would say to him, do youknow about prayer? He's say, I know about prayer. I pray every day.WE could say, where do you put your hatred when you pray, Cain?Saul, where do you put your jealousy when you pray? Where do youput all your stuff when you pray? They would say, all over this planet,there are prayers being said all over...The question is:...you havesinned.


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Remember, David when in this situation with Bathsheba...Adultery.Where do you put your adultery when you pray? He lived in denial. Hesaid, I have a right to that woman. But, God in I Sam. 12, was notpleased with David. For many months he grieved the Spirit. He had nopower with God. He was Jewish and religious, in terms of scripture andund'g, but only he knew, God knows that he wanted to talk to Saul likewe will tonight.

Ch 19:1 - Saul wanted to kill David, but Jonathan delighted in David.We delight in the clear FS of Christ. We delight in the assembly, askingthe Sp. to minister to us. Its a mystery of the FS. WE never und. itfully. It is God. That's why Jonathan delighted in David. He talked hisfather out of it.

This...for the sake of time...he says, my father seeks to kill you, but I

will talk to him. Ch 19:4,5 - sin not against David. He has not sinnedagainst you...He put his life out for you...why would you slay Davidwithout a cause. vs 6 - Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan. He said,you are right. I can't kill him.

How much mind changing goes on bec. there is not prayer? How manymove in a small circle bec. they are double minded.Read vs 8 - David went out and slew the Philistines...and an evil spiritfrom the L. was on Saul. Saul wanted to kill David with a Spear. Hechanged again! This man didn't have a prayer life. If the man had aprayer life and walked with God, the devil is under our feet.

Wasn't King Saul a believer? Yes! Carnal. He had no real prayer wherethe HS is leading and guiding him where he is not unstable. He wasnot being firmly est'd with what God is saying in his heart. He washaving lunch, and the thought comes again.

Ps. Juha said this, we look into the FW. It has a deep affect on us.When the Sp. is speaking to us. Thats our prayer. A person can'tshake this life that he's plagued with in temptations, instability,changes, disappointments in his life. He asks, will this ever work for

me. Is there any answer? WE say, in great sense of und'g, in healthycondescending spirit of service and love, Jesus Christ has put my feetin a large room, David said, and my heart is fixed. There are thingsnot for sale. Things that are not going to happen.

Let's rehearse it Cain. How are you doing? I'm fine! Have you talked toyour brother lately? Yes! Do you love him? Yes. Really? Every day? No!Do you think, when there is oppor...you could kill him? Well,


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actually...yes. I hate him. Cain, do you pray? Of course! What do youdo with your sin, and hatred when you pray?

WE say, don't let you life get away with it. If we play the part of asuperficial person, and we have the language and behavior, but don'thave I Cor. 4:20, the power. We want to know who has the power thatcomes from God, from prayer, that changes your heart, sets you onfire, motivates you in your life.

Whitfield, after much pleading, went to the devils carnival andpreached. Wesley, won more than 10,000 souls to the Lord. Finney,prayed and preached sermons that shook a country. Dr. Guffrey...Mancan't live without praying. Dr. Pasin...asked a student to beg God'sblessings on his studies...

Luther, when I have so much to do, I spend 3 hours in prayer before

work. Samson prayed, Job prayed...WE could talk to Job and say, Howare you doing? He'd say, I'm so hurting and unstable. You could moveme. Then, Elihu spoke to him, and he put his hand over his mouth.God said to Job, pray for your friends. Job prayed...Daniel prayed, andGabriel came to tell him, you are greatly beloved of God. 3 x's thatanswer came to Daniel.

Paul & Silas, in Acts 16, they were beaten, and in jail...theyworshipped and sang, and prayed and an earthquake came. Peter wasin jail, and the church prayed all night for him, Acts 12. When I gohome, I shut the door and by faith, I pray, hands raised, and by faithpray. Does this make sense? No! Does it feel great? no! Maybe we aretired and disappointed. But, behind it, its not just action, but anattitude. Its like God, my way, NOOOOO! Your way, I believe you andworship you.

Prayer begins with adoration, an attitude of faith. A man who learnsprayer, will not be moved like Saul was...For 7 years Saul ran afterDavid. We'd say, O Saul, if you knew God, the Word, put it in yourheart, love the brethren, forgive, give mercy, pray for David, he'dbecome a mighty man, no question. Cain, if you'd pray and love your

brother, you'd have corporate body life...and God in the midst.

Close: you have 2 people. Start praying...listening to God continually.I know one thing: you won't hate the brethren. You won't be gossipingor listening to evil...you'll have corporate body life and things willhappen.

We have our challenges. David, what's going on? Things are great.


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Didn't you lose everything in Ziklag? God gave it all back. Don't youhave a marriage problem? God will make it all right.

Do you think we can see God do things? IN Gen. 32, when Jacobwrestled with God, God said to Jacob, Your name is Israel. You havepower with God and man. Jacob didn't even ask him. But, your brotherEsau? He's not the issue...I'm occupied with JC and his blessing.Prayer gives us a mind and heart that puts our problems in rightperspective. Amen!

"Benediction" - If you are here tonight and are not born-again...I cantdescribe for you the importance of this decision. If you don't haveChrist...without him we perish. With him there is eternal life. Why runthe risk of unbelief and live an unstable life, tossed to and fro by everywind of doctrine...and face the judgment of God, and be cast into thelake of fire forever and ever.

...We must come to God by faith...He prepared it all for us. Say, yes,Christ. I believe in you! Say this prayer: Lord Jesus Christ I believe inyou...Raise your hand...anyone? at all?

Lastly, for us, and those on the internet, believe in Christ tonight. Timeis passing. Take the oppor. Today is the day of salvation. Father, forthis congregation and all of us, lead us in undg. the prayer of abroken, empty and needy life. What do we do with our hatred when wepray? WE bring it to the cross? There its gone forever...and we walk inthe light and have power with God...and FS in our soul. Ps 60:2, weare not easily moved. Teach us prayer, communion, fellowship,godliness, openness, love adoration and deep worship in ourhearts...honoring God. There are some, they won't give up that area.WE say to ea. one, look into the perf. law of liberty, look into truth bygrace and worship God, and learn prayer that moves mtn's. In Christ'sname, Amen!

prayer brings shelter from strife

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