In His Steps Ministries

In His Steps Ministries

The following sermons are past messages by Pastor Rich.
The sermon notes may be used by others.

In His Steps Ministries
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ChristianIntimacy with Jesus

Passion for God
Intimacy with Jesus

(This sermon was done with several songs)

Today we are going to be talking about the love of God, having a passion for God, and walking in intimacy with Jesus. I have a strong belief that the love of God will mold us, change us, and make us more like Jesus. I also believe the more we have the love of God, the more we want to share that love with others.

Each of us need to acknowledge that we need a deeper understanding of God’s love and that we need more intimacy with Jesus.

There is no such thing as someone loving Jesus too much. Not if it is true love-we are not talking about wackiness or emotionalism.

Before we go any further I want to read a prayer by Apostle Paul. As I read it I want you to imagine it is being directly spoken on your behalf-because it is.

Ephes. 3:14-21 (NASB) 

    For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, [15] from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, [16] that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, [18] may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, [19] and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

    [20] Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, [21] to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Vs 17 Paul prayed that the Ephesians would be rooted and grounded in love. I pray the same for each one of you (pray it).

Vs 19 As you comprehend the love of Christ you will be filled up with God. So I pray that by the end of this service you will have a greater understanding of God and His love.

Vs 20 God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly beyond all that we can ask or think. So I am trusting Him to consume you with His love which will transform you.

Maybe you have a hard time receiving God’s love. It may be because you don’t feel good enough. Maybe you have deep wounds from those who were suppose to love you. Maybe because you have been an aggressive sinner and you don’t think God’s love is for you. Regardless of why it may be hard to receive God’s love, I want you to know how precious you are to God. Please listen to the following encouraging words. Please listen intently and visualize what he is sharing about Jesus commitment to go to the cross for you.

“He Had to Have You” song by Jason Upton

Do you have a greater understanding of God’s love for you.

As we understand God’s love for us we will have more of a desire to serve him and to minister to others. 2 Cor 5:14-20 speaks on this. Vs 14 says the love of Christ controls us. Other translations say the love of God urges us on, compels us, constraineth us, or impels us.

2 Cor. 5:14-20 (NASB) 

    For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; [15] and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. [16] Therefore from now on we recognize no man according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. [17] Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. [18] Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, [19] namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

    [20] Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

When we truly comprehend God’s love for us, we will be controlled by Him and we will return our love back to Him.

There are some positive things that will take place in our life:

1. We will obey God
John 14:15 (NASB) 

    "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

If we claim to love God but violate the guidelines He has given us, we are lying about our love.

2. Jesus will bring a greater revelation of Himself

John 14:21 (NASB) 

    "He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him."

The more that Jesus is disclosed to us, the more we comprehend His will for our life. The more we are drawn into intimacy with Jesus, which will change us.

3. The Father and the Son will abide in us

John 14:23 (NASB) 

    Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him.

4. We will gain knowledge, discernment, and become sincere and blameless

Philip. 1:9-10 (NASB) 

    And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, [10] so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;

Real knowledge and discernment instead of the flakiness and foolishness of some. As we are consumed with the love of God we will be able to be sincere Christians that live a life of holiness. Do you know that we can live a life of holiness?

When we are intimate with Jesus, we will have more of the Holy Spirit in us. We will be vessels that can be used by God. So we should seek His presence. We should cry out for more of God and less of us.

I want you to listen to the following song. Let it build up faith in you.

“ Generation” Song by Jason Upton

Here are some key points I want to emphasize about being intimate with Jesus:

1. We need to not be ashamed to say we need more of Jesus and to cry out for Jesus to take hold of our lives. (Pray for Him to grab hold of each person).

2. We need to hear from God.

3. Intimacy with God brings miracles. I absolutely believe this. One of the reasons there are not more miracles here in the U.S. is there is not a crying out to God. There is not a desperation for intimacy with Jesus. When we as Christians start crying out to God for souls, when we start crying out for God to move by His Spirit, when we start pleading for God to fill us up with His Spirit we will start seeing miraculous healing and deliverance.

However, for this to take place we need to be willing to appear foolish for God. CRY OUT!!!!! We need to acknowledge that we need him more than the good times, friends, or anything else. My prayer for each of you is that before you get on the elevator to your pod that you will know that you have had an encounter with Jesus. That you have been changed by His presence. Maybe at one time you were a warrior for Jesus. You can become a greater warrior than you have ever been before. Let the Holy Spirit fire consume your very being. 

“The Cost of Intimacy” song by Jason Upton

“ Key of David” song by Jason Upton

Nothing is going to hold me back, nothing going to hold me back, nothing is going to hold me back, from you. Nothing is going to hold me back, nothing going to hold me back, nothing is going to hold me back, from you.

You are my God.
Nothing is going to hold be back
Nothing
Warrior
Touch us Lord
Touch me Lord
Touch me Lord

The Lord is calling his children and warriors to focus on Him.
New level
Not afraid to lose their life for the lost.
Not worry about losing their voice to cry out for the lost.

Generation of warriors
Open up doors  that no man close and close doors that no man can open.
Open up the windows of heaven, open up the windows to the city, school, home
Swing wide those gates. King of Glory

Lost, jail, warriors
Key of David opens doors,

Children walking up to giants.
Sling shot in your hand or whatever God has been putting into you.

Little children know down giants, There is freedom Don’t try, God does it.
All been done by the blood of the Lamb.

Father gladly gives what the children ask.

God loves to give good gifts to His children 5:56
Through their weakness he is going to lead them perfectly strong

“Come Into the Light” by Jason Upton

Focus on friends, on city
Call them into the light

God’s love will take away the darkness. The light will remove the darkness. The light is God’s love so come into the light

God is going to heal this generation come into the light

Pray for the lost have men pray stop the music and intercede for lost. Give up the fight, come into the light.

Begin to pray, no condemnation

Break off the lies in Jesus name
 

“Nothing gonna hold me” song by Jason Upton

There is a warrior inside of me, and I won’t give up, until I see, until I see, my God.
Nothing is going to hold…me back
Nothing is going to hold…me back
Nothing is going to hold…..me back
Nothing is going to hold me back…from you

Oh….Nothing is going to hold… me back
Nothing is going to hold…me back
Nothing is going to hold…..me back….from…you

And I will fight if I have to
And I will war…. in the spirit
I got to be near to you, my God

Nothing is going to hold me back
Nothing is going to hold me back
Nothing is going to hold me back….from you

Nothing is going to hold me back
Nothing is going to hold me back
Nothing is going to hold me back…from you

Nothing is going to hold me back
Nothing is going to hold me back
Nothing is going to hold me back…from you…from you…, my God

I got to have yo

Nothing is going to hold me back
Nothing is going to hold me back…from you, from you… my God

I will dance, I will dance in the spirit, I will war, I will war, I will war in the spirit

I am gonna put the hindrances aside, push my hindrances aside, I am going to come after you

Nothing is going to hold me back
Nothing is going to hold me back
Nothing is going to hold me back…from you…from you…my Go
 

Tornado Vision
Tornado took out all the garbage

The tornado sucking the songs and fire from heaven and it is burning off the sin and saying no more , no more. The fire from heaven swirling surrender ourselves to the tornado, take Lord whatever it is  and flow through us the fire, nothing in its path gets away. You cant run from God , cant run from your calling, the fire of God the songs of heaven breath of God fresh on you.

Fire coming down
Can’t run from God or His calling
Consumed by God, consumed by the fire of God

‘Psalm 2:12’ song by Jason Upton

I believe right now that the spirit of God is just rising up in you.

Just let him rise up in you. Rise up in you.

There is nothing done that is not done without the hand of God.

Take the time, take the time, let the Spirit of the lord rise up in you.

Stay with us Jesus, stay with us Jesus, stay with us Jesus, stay with us, Jesus.

Ladies and gentleman, people of the darkness

You’ve been running for a very, long time

Tonight, hear the call, from the city on the hilltop

The wave is coming can you, feel the riptide

Oh we can’t run, from the mighty hand of God

Either kiss his son, or receive his rod

We can’t run, from the mighty hand of God

Either kiss his son, or receive his rod

There is one truth that always remains

And it’s this,

God longs, for intimacy, God longs, for intimacy

So kiss his son, kiss his son,

Kiss his son, kiss his son

For God longs, for intimacy, God longs for intimacy

God never wanted to give you his wrath, he never wanted to give you his wrath

Let me tell you something, he wants to love you, he wants to hold you

But God, God, God, will never compromise his kingdom for our kingdom

So it doesn’t matter, if you are a full out sinner in the world

Or, if you call yourself a Christian

If you are building your own kingdom, if you are building your own kingdom

Instead of being intimate with Jesus

If you are building your own kingdom, it will fail

So, kiss his son, kiss his son,

Kiss his son, kiss his son

Now tonight, some say, I am a man of the evening

Others say, I am a lady of the night

But you know what God says

God says hey, I am your creator

And nobodys faster than the speed of light

We can’t run, from the mighty hand of god

Either kiss his son, or receive his rod

We can’t run from the mighty hand of god

Either kiss his son, or receive his rod

Now listen closely, listen closely to this guys

It is very powerful what we are going to do right now

We want to stand in agreement, and repent, on behalf of the church

Let’s stand in agreement and repent on the behalf of the church for letting pride,

Letting arrogance, letting the religious spirit rule, instead of God’s kingdom

So we say, forgive us lord, for holding hands with darkness

Forgive us Lord, for our idolatry

Forgive us Lord, for playing games in your presence

(Let’s do it again)

We long for, your intimacy

Forgive us lord, for holding hands, with darkness

Forgive us Lord, for our idolatry,

Forgive us Lord, for playing games in your presence

We long for, your intimacy

We can’t run, from the mighty hand of God (4 X)

Either kiss his son, or receive his rod

Cry it out, cry it out to the city

You cannot run from the mighty hand of God

Either kiss his son, or receive his rod

Cry it out

You cannot run from the mighty hand of God

Either kiss his son, or receive his ro 

God longs for intimacy (6x)

Kiss his son, kiss his son, (3x)

You know how much I love you my child

You know how much, I love you my child

Run into my arms

Run into my arms my child

Run into my arms my child

Run into my arms my child

I will kiss you Lord

I want to kiss you Lord

I want intimacy with You Lord

I want intimacy with You Lord

I want intimacy with You Lord

I am sorry I have hurt you Lord

I am sorry I have thought about others before you Lord

I am sorry I have thought about myself before you

I am sorry that I have feared others Lord above fearing you

I am sorry Lord

Because for years of my life you have held your arms wide open

You have held your arms wide, open

And you said

Won’t you come and be with me

Won’t you come and be with me

Won’t you come and touch my heart

Won’t you come let me hold you

Oh for years you have cried out for intimacy with me.

I say I want to kiss you Lord

I want to kiss you, Lord

I want to kiss you, Lord

I want to kiss you, Lord

I long for intimacy with you

I long for intimacy with you

I want my heart to break for the hearts that you break for

I want my life to be intimate with you

When your heart breaks Oh Lord, I want my heart to break oh Lord

When you laugh lord, I want to laugh with you

Oh, and when you dance Lord, lead me into your dance oh lord

I am right with you

I am right with you

Intimacy with you

Intimacy with you

Intimacy with you

I will kiss you, Lord

I want to kiss you Lord

I want to be with you oh Lord

 I want to hear your heartbeat, oh Lord

I want to hear your heart cry, oh Lord

I want to hear when your heart breaks

I want my heart to break with you

Oh Lord, Oh Lord, Oh Lord, Oh Lord

God-intimacy, no wrath but love, no compromise

Idolatry, playing games

Altar Call

 

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