Participants: Jill Morikone
Series Code: HLFT
Program Code: HLFT000025A
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00:25 Hello, and welcome to Heart Lift.
00:27 I'm Jill Morikone, and I'm so glad that you 00:30 have joined us today. 00:31 We're on a journey of hope, of healing, 00:35 toward the transformation that the Lord Jesus Christ wants 00:39 to work in your life, and in mine, as women, 00:42 as daughters of God. 00:44 We're getting close to the end of our journey together, 00:49 and I pray that the Lord Jesus is doing a miraculous change 00:54 in your heart and life. 00:56 We talked about forgiveness, fear, sadness, purity, pride. 01:04 And now in the end we're discussing 01:06 Transformation, The Washed Heart; 01:08 how God washes us with the washing of the 01:11 water of His Word. 01:12 The Pruned Heart: how those trials and difficulties that we 01:17 go through can be very painful, yet in the midst of it God uses 01:22 it to produce fruit in our lives. 01:25 And the last couple of programs were on the Spirit Filled Heart. 01:29 How God wants to pour His Holy Spirit upon us. 01:33 He wants to water us. 01:35 He wants to transform us, and equip us for service. 01:39 Today's program is, A Heart That Witnesses. 01:44 We're going to have a two part. 01:45 They're the last two programs in this series: 01:47 today and the next program, A Heart That Witnesses. 01:51 Before we go to our Scripture, I want to go 01:54 to our self evaluation. 01:56 This is actually, if you followed the program from 01:59 the very beginning, this is the same self examination that 02:02 we did with the first program. 02:05 As always, I want to encourage you to be honest. 02:08 See if God is working in changing you. 02:12 See if there's transformation going on in your life. 02:15 See if you might say, Oh, wow, I've changed from one of these 02:19 steps to a different one. 02:20 My answer's different today than it was all those months ago 02:24 when we began our journey together. 02:27 Maybe you're catching this program for the first time, 02:30 and if that's the case, then just put down where you feel, 02:33 right now, you are in your walk with God. 02:36 Our self evaluation: 02:48 1. 02:53 You fill in the blank. 02:54 Maybe this is where you feel you are today. 02:58 2. 03:03 Like the rubber band when it's stretched. 03:05 Maybe that's where you are now. 03:07 3. 03:13 I don't really care about God. 03:15 I don't think I really want to be that close to Him. 03:18 He goes His way, He does His own thing, I do mine. 03:22 Next one. 03:31 Polite-I follow God if it suits me, or pleases me, 03:35 but I'm not interested if it goes against anything 03:38 that I want to do. 03:39 Next one. 03:49 If you're at this stage, you like to talk, 03:51 you like to visit with Him. 03:52 He is your friend. Finally, 04:04 No matter where you feel you are in that section, 04:08 know that the Lord Jesus says, It's okay. 04:10 I can take any of those stages, and I can transform you 04:15 into a woman with my glory and dignity. 04:19 Our Scripture today, as we get into A Heart That Witnesses 04:22 is 1 Peter 2:9, 1 Peter 2:9, The Bible says: 04:29 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, 04:33 a holy nation, His own special people; that you may proclaim 04:40 the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into 04:44 His marvelous light. 04:46 Let's pray. Father, we come before You right now 04:50 in the name of Jesus, and we thank You for the work that You 04:54 want to do in our hearts. 04:56 We thank You for the transformation that you have 04:59 been effecting in our lives. 05:01 We thank You for Your goodness. 05:02 We thank You for Your love. 05:04 We thank You for Your forgiveness. 05:06 We thank You for Your transforming grace. 05:09 And right now I just pray that You would hide me, 05:12 and that You could be seen. 05:15 We pray, Father, that You would open up our minds and hearts 05:18 to want what you want to share from Your Word. 05:21 And I thank You in the precious, and the Holy 05:24 name of Jesus, Amen. 05:26 My husband Greg and I were traveling 05:29 South on Interstate 57. 05:31 Now 57 runs from way up north all the way through the state of 05:35 Illinois right past the exit to get off here for 3ABN. 05:40 We were in the right hand lane getting ready to take our exit, 05:45 to come in the road here toward home. 05:47 Idly, I looked out of the corner of my eye and I saw a pickup 05:52 truck begin to pass me from the left side. 05:55 Now this was a big boy pickup truck. 05:58 I call really all pickup trucks big boy pickup trucks, 06:02 because to me they just seem like a big boy toy. 06:04 But this was the Grand Daddy of big boy pickup trucks. 06:09 It was jacked up super high. 06:12 It had the double exhaust coming out the back. 06:16 It was super throaty, and it had, it was a duly, 06:19 it had those big wide, the double tires in the back. 06:23 It had an extended cab. 06:26 And as it passed, a man was driving. 06:29 I didn't pay much attention. 06:30 In the back, on the back window, was written two words, 06:37 just two words, and those words were this: Hell Bent. 06:44 Two words: Hell Bent. 06:47 Immediately Greg and I took our exit. 06:51 And I wish I could tell you that my very first thought was, 06:55 Lord Jesus, I pray for the soul of this man. 06:57 I don't know what's going on in his life. 06:59 I don't know what pains in the past. 07:02 I wish I could tell you that was my thought, but it wasn't. 07:07 My very first thought was, God I thank You I am heaven bound. 07:13 Thank You that I'm going to heaven. 07:17 Am I so complacent? 07:20 Am I proud of where I'm at Spiritually? 07:23 Do I have no hunger for souls? 07:27 Do I feel unworthy to witness? 07:31 Turn with me to 2 Corinthians 4. 07:36 We're going to look at verses 6 and 7. 07:41 The Bible says, It is God who commandeth the light to shine 07:47 out of darkness, He has shown it in our hearts, to give the light 07:52 of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 07:57 Before we go to verse 7, what's God saying here? 08:01 He says, The light of the gospel, the light of the truth 08:06 has shown into this dark world, into this world where there's 08:10 sin and sickness, and pain and misery, and rebellion, 08:14 into Satan's world. 08:16 The light of the gospel of Jesus Christ and who He is, 08:21 has shown into this world, and not only that, 08:25 He's shown it into our hearts. 08:27 Why does He do that? 08:28 Verse 7, 2 Corinthians 4:7. 08:33 We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency 08:37 of the power may be of God, and not of us. 08:40 Did you catch that? 08:42 God pours His treasure into you and to me: simple jars of clay. 08:48 The New Living Translation translates it, We ourselves 08:53 are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. 08:57 The NIV says, we have this treasure in jars of clay. 09:04 Why does God pour such a beautiful message; 09:07 the gospel of Jesus Christ? 09:09 Why does He pour that into you and I? because all we are 09:13 is cracked clay pots. 09:15 All we are is cracked clay pots. 09:18 Why does He pour it into us? 09:20 So that the excellency of the power, so that it may be of 09:26 God and not of us. 09:28 We can never take credit. 09:30 We could never say, I'm good enough. 09:33 I'm the one showing the gospel of Jesus Christ. 09:35 We can never do that, because you and I are only frail human 09:40 beings; we're cracked clay pots. 09:42 God says, I want to pour My gospel into you. 09:46 The excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 09:50 God shines His light through our cracks. 09:53 My friend RobbieD, she works here at 3ABN, and she decorated 09:57 and worked a lot on this set here. 09:59 She gave me this clay pot just for demonstration. 10:04 I need to give it back to her. 10:05 Do you see anything wrong with this clay pot? 10:07 Do you notice that it's cracked? 10:10 Do you see the lip in the back is really nice, 10:13 but when you turn it around, do you see that? 10:16 It's got a big crack in it. 10:18 Do you feel like you're too sinful? 10:21 God says, I can muse the cracks made by sin to create a 10:27 beautiful testimony of My forgiveness, of My love, 10:31 of My transforming grace. 10:34 Are you a brand new Christian? 10:36 God can use the crack of your inexperience. 10:41 Are you too old? God can use the crack of your 10:45 wisdom and experience. 10:47 Are you too young? 10:50 God can use the crack of your youth, of your energy. 10:55 Nothing is wasted. 10:57 No experience that you have been through is wasted. 11:01 No pit is too dark that He can't lift us out of. 11:06 No pit is too deep that He can't pull us out of. 11:10 Everything that you and I have gone through 11:14 can be used for His glory, so that we could 11:17 become His witnesses. 11:19 God uses us as His witnesses, and we are simple, cracked, 11:25 clay pots, so that we could never take glory to our self. 11:29 I could never say, Look at me! 11:31 I'm a great vessel. Look at me! 11:33 No, I'm cracked. We can never take glory to ourselves, 11:38 but that it can show the power of Jesus, and what He wants 11:42 to do in our hearts, and in our lives. 11:45 You know, I believe God never saves us to sit in silence. 11:50 He doesn't transform us so that we focus on ourselves, 11:55 and ignore the needs of other people. 11:57 On the contrary, He empowers you and me to be His witnesses. 12:04 Turn with me to Isaiah, Isaiah 43. 12:11 I love the book of Isaiah. 12:12 I've told you I like the book of John, and that is true. 12:15 But I think the book of Isaiah would be one of my top 12:17 second favorite books. I love this book. 12:24 Jesus is speaking. 12:26 You are My witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom 12:29 I have chosen: that you may know and believe Me, 12:34 that you may understand that I am He: before Me there was no 12:40 God formed, neither shall there be after Me. 12:43 Then He says, Behold you are My witnesses that I am God. 12:50 There's a huge need out there. 12:52 There's a dark world hurting, broken, longing for Jesus, 13:00 longing for hope, longing for deliverance. 13:04 Where are the women willing to step into the gap 13:08 for their sisters? happy to show the way to freedom, 13:12 and fulfillment in Christ? 13:14 Where are they? Where am I? 13:17 There's one more verse I want to look at before we get into 13:20 our body of being a witness for Jesus. 13:23 And that is found in 2 Timothy 2, 2 Timothy 2, and we're going 13:33 to look at a couple of verses here. 13:41 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and 13:45 silver, but also of wood and clay; some for honor, 13:49 and some for dishonor. 13:52 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from the latter,... 13:55 Meaning that dishonor. 13:57 ...he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful 14:02 for the Master, and prepared for every good work. 14:07 God says, I want to use you. 14:10 I want you to be a vessel of honor for Me. 14:16 There's a poem that I love. 14:17 It's one of my favorites. 14:19 It's called, The Potter's Vessel. 14:21 The Master was searching for a vessel to use. 14:26 On the shelf there were many. 14:28 Which one would He choose? 14:31 Pick me! cried the gold one. 14:33 I'm shiny and bright. 14:35 I'm of great value, and I do things just right. 14:38 My beauty and luster will outshine the rest. 14:43 And for someone like You Master, I will be best. 14:47 But the Master passed on with no word at all. 14:51 He came to a silver urn. 14:54 It was narrow and tall. 14:56 I'll serve You, dear Master, and I'll pour Your wine, 15:00 and be at Your table when ever You dine. 15:04 My lines are so graceful, and my carvings so true. 15:08 And my silver, it would always compliment You. 15:12 Unheeding, the Master passed on to the brass. 15:17 It was wide mouthed and shallow, and polished like glass. 15:22 Here, here cried that vessel, I know I will do. 15:26 Place me on Your table for all all men to view. 15:30 Look at me cried the goblet of crystal so clear. 15:34 My transparency shows that my contents are dear. 15:38 Though fragile am I, I'll serve You with pride. 15:42 And I know I'll be happy in Your house to abide. 15:47 The Master came next to a vessel of wood. 15:51 Polished and carved it solidly stood. 15:55 Use me dear Master, the wooden bowl said. 15:59 But please, I'd rather You use me for fruit not bread. 16:04 Then the Master looked down and saw a vessel of clay. 16:09 Empty, broken, it helplessly lay. 16:14 No hope had that vessel that the Master might choose to cleanse 16:20 and make whole, to fill or to use. 16:25 Ah, this is the vessel I've been hoping to find. 16:30 I'll mend it, and use it, and make it all Mine. 16:34 I need not a vessel with pride in itself, 16:38 nor the one so narrow that sits on the shelf, 16:42 nor the one who's big mouthed, and shallow, and loud, 16:45 nor the one who displays his contents so proud, 16:49 nor the one who thinks he can do all things just right, 16:53 but this plain earthen vessel filled with My power and might. 16:59 Then gently He lifted the vessel of clay, mended and filled it, 17:06 and used it that day. 17:08 He spoke to it kindly, There's work you must do. 17:12 You pour out to others, and I'll pour into you. 17:18 I love that poem because it shows what Jesus 17:22 thinks of you and I. 17:24 He never looks at us and says, You're not good enough. 17:28 He never looks at us and says, You're broken, you're worthless. 17:33 He says, I want to cleanse you. 17:35 I want to mend you. 17:37 I want to fill you. and then I will empower you to go forth 17:38 And then I will empower you to go forth as My witness. 17:45 That's what God wants to do. 17:53 says, If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: 17:58 old things have passed away; behold, 18:01 all things have become new. 18:03 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself, 18:07 through Jesus Christ, and has given to us the 18:10 ministry of reconciliation. 18:12 Now then we are ambassadors for God, as though Christ were 18:17 pleading through us. 18:18 We implore you on His behalf, be reconciled to God. 18:24 We're going to discuss three ways that we can share 18:28 as God's ambassadors. 18:29 We're discussing the first one in this program, 18:32 and the next ones in the next program. 18:35 The first way is to pray. 18:37 Have you ever heard someone say, There's nothing left 18:40 for me to do but pray? 18:42 Prayer is our primary place of power. 18:45 It's the way God unleashes His converting power into the 18:50 lives of other people. 18:52 Prayer is our lifeline. 18:55 Lets take a look at some specific things 18:58 that Jesus prayed for. 18:59 We're going to John, John 17. 19:03 Jesus prayed for unity; unity with the Father 19:07 and with each other. 19:08 1. Prayer changes us, or prayer allows God to change us. 19:20 Jesus' prayer. He says, I don't pray for these alone, 19:24 but also for those who will believe in Me 19:27 through their word. 19:28 He's praying for you and I, not just the disciples 19:31 when He said the prayer. 19:32 He's looking down the stream of time. 19:34 He saw you and I. He's praying for us. 19:37 21. That they all may be one; as You, Father, are in Me, 19:42 and I in You, that they also may be one in us: 19:45 that the world may believe that You sent Me. 19:48 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them: 19:51 that they may be one, just as We are One: I in them, 19:55 and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; 19:59 and that the world may know that You have sent Me, 20:02 and have loved them, as You have loved Me. 20:06 What's He saying? He wants us to be one with each other, 20:11 as He is One with the Father. 20:14 As we pray, as we come into unity with the Father, 20:19 it can bring us into oneness with each other 20:22 as brothers and sisters. 20:24 Have you ever tried to pray with someone that you disagree with? 20:28 It could be a difficult experience. 20:30 You could say a quick prayer and still go away with your heart 20:33 just as hard as it was before. 20:36 However, if you truly get on your knees and pray, 20:40 and open up your heart to the Lord Jesus, 20:43 you know what's going to happen? 20:44 God is going to change you. 20:47 God is going to work transformation, and break down 20:50 those barriers you feel against somebody else. 20:54 Prayer changes us. 20:56 Prayer allows God to change us. 20:59 Prayer breaks down my pride, my jealousy, 21:05 my spirit of unforgiveness, my bitterness. 21:09 I don't believe we can effectively witness if we don't 21:13 come in unity with each other as brothers and sisters. 21:18 So 1. The purpose of prayer, as we seek to be God's ambassador, 21:23 God's vessel of clay, 1. We need to pray. 21:28 Because the prayer will bring us into unity with the Father, 21:32 and with each other. 21:33 2. Prayer changes other people. 21:36 Prayer allows God to work through us to minister to, 21:41 and to change other people. 21:43 Watchman Nee, he was born in 1903. 21:47 He was a Christian church leader, author, 21:50 leader of the Christian work in China. 21:53 After the Communist revolution he spent the last twenty years 21:57 of his life imprisoned; imprisoned for his faith. 22:03 However the story that I'm going to share with you about his life 22:05 occurred when he first accepted Jesus. 22:07 When he first became a Christian himself he was in college, 22:13 and he made a list of those of his friends 22:17 who didn't know Jesus; those of his friends who hadn't accepted 22:22 Christ as Lord of their life. 22:24 He didn't list 1 person, or 2, or 3, or 10, or 20, or 40, 22:31 or 60. 70! He had 70 friends that he made a list of. 22:38 And he made a covenant with God to pray for each one of these 22:43 friends; to pray for their conversion. 22:46 He says he didn't pray just a quick prayer at night. 22:50 These are agonizing prayers. 22:51 These are wake me up at night prayers. 22:54 These are, as I go through out the day prayers. 22:57 And as he prayed, do you know how many of his 23:01 friends accepted Jesus? 23:02 Do you know how many of his friends became converted? 23:05 69 of the 70. That's right; all but one. 23:11 Prayer changes other people. 23:14 Prayer allows God to work in their lives, and to change them. 23:20 I love Psalm 2:8, and I like it in the King James Version, 23:23 because that's the way I learned it. 23:25 God says, Ask of Me, and I'll give you the heathen for your 23:30 inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth 23:33 for your possession. 23:34 And every time I read that verse, 23:36 and I really think about it, I cry. 23:38 Because what if I get to heaven and someone's not there 23:44 because I never asked? because I never pleaded for their soul, 23:49 because I never agonized in prayer over them? 23:53 Ask of Me, and I'll give you the heathen for your inheritance, 23:57 and the uttermost parts of the world for your possession. 24:01 John 16:24, Jesus says, Before you asked nothing in My name: 24:08 ask, that you shall receive, and that your joy may be full. 24:16 Ask for souls. Ask for a boldness to speak 24:20 for the Lord Jesus. 24:22 God transforms our hearts and lives, not so that we sit in 24:28 silence, not so that we rest on our laurel and say, 24:33 Thank You, God, that I'm heaven bound, and I'll ignore the 24:36 needs, and the problems, and the hurt of my brothers and sisters. 24:41 God changes us because He wants us to be His witness. 24:47 He wants to pour the light of the gospel of Jesus into you 24:51 and I, as cracked clay vessels. 24:54 He says, I can use you. 24:57 I want to use you. 24:59 If I don't have you, who else am I going to have? 25:03 He wants us to pray. 25:05 That's the number one way we can be God's ambassador, 25:09 we can witness, is to pray. 25:12 When we pray we're brought into unity with God the Father. 25:15 We're brought into unity with each other, as brothers 25:19 and sisters, when we pray for others' conversion. 25:24 God works in miraculous ways. 25:26 We need to take a short break. 25:29 And when we come back we're going to discuss our practical 25:33 application; something you can do this week to incorporate 25:37 more prayer into your life. 25:39 We'll be right back. |
Revised 2016-05-24