In life we tend to be rewarded based on the amount of work we put in you'll find that writers who spend day and night refining their craft go on to be rewarded and become best-selling authors athletes train hard their entire lives to be rewarded with a professional contract and i believe in a way the same principle applies to us as followers of christ There is a reward for standing strong in the midst of temptation there is a reward for remaining faithful to god even in the midst of persecution yes there is a reward for enduring
suffering for the sake of christ there is a reward for running the good race our reward however is not measured by earthly fame or success Our reward is the crown of life given to us by jesus christ himself james 1 verse 12 says blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial for when he is to the test he will receive the crown of life which god has promised to those who love him then the amplified translation puts it this way blessed happy spiritually prosperous Favored by god is the man who is steadfast under trial
and perseveres when tempted for when he has passed the test and been approved he will receive the victor's crown of life which the lord has promised to those who love him the crown of life isn't just something that we hope to achieve it's not just a prize that we may or may not win The crown of life is a promise to all who love god and like all earthly rewards this heavenly reward will cost you something in fact it might cost us everything remaining steadfast under trial is a difficult thing to do the pain may
be great the suffering may be great but oh how the reward that awaits us is so much greater The bible says in first peter 5 verse 4 and when the chief shepherd appears you will receive the unfading crown of glory what a glorious day will be when we stand before jesus and reap the reward for all we have suffered and endured in this life [Music] on that day our joy will be complete our suffering will be no more The bible says that every tear will be wiped away from our eyes and when he places that
crown ever so gently on our heads we will know that everything we endured for his sake was worth it and should you feel weary at all during the many trials of this life remember that hebrews 6 10 says for god is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have Shown for his name and serving the saints as you still do god will not overlook what you're going through sometimes we might feel like our struggles are pointless but everything we do in the name of jesus has eternal value the true
meaning of our love for god is not proven in the good times but in the moments of deep suffering Where we must decide who we will put our faith and hope in to choose him even then is one of the highest honors we can give him so now christian do you long for this crown remember that earthly fame comes and goes all great works of art are eventually overshadowed professional contracts They come to an end and all these earthly crowns eventually count for nothing but the crown of life the crown of life that jesus supplies
is for all of eternity may that be the reward that you seek with all your heart now let's pray father god you're worth more to me than words could say The privilege of knowing you and being in your presence it's far more precious than silver or gold whether i'm rich or poor successful or struggling i know that all my wealth comes from the promises i have in you your word says in 2 timothy 4 verse 8 henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the lord the righteous judge will award to
me on That day and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing father it's my prayer it's my heart's desire that i may receive the crown of righteousness a crown that will never fade away lord jesus thank you for revealing your worth to me thank you for making me aware of the many blessings That you have given me lord i want to thank you for inviting me into a relationship with you i've gone out seeking other relationships before only to be rejected but i never have to worry about that with
you and so god for that i thank you there are many things in this life that i could pursue there are many things that tempt us in this world Things like fame and riches glory and recognition i could put all my time and effort into worldly pursuits and i would likely be rewarded but god i'm so grateful that i realized that none of those rewards have any eternal value in comparison to what you offer in the end everything that is not from you will fade away and so god help me to put all of my
Energy all of my effort into building and storing up treasures in heaven these earthly crowns are perishable but you jesus have promised me a reward that will never fade you've promised a treasure that will last into eternity the crown of life and even more beautiful than the crown Is the one who's going to bestow it lord i seek only to please you i seek only to be recognized by you i seek only to be validated and accepted by jesus and lord i will admit it took me a long time to get here for so long
god i sought to please people i sought to be recognized for the work that i did i sought to be validated and accepted by Men but god i'm grateful that one day i came to know that none of that matters so now god i don't seek the approval or the praise of man anymore i only seek the glory of you god lord help me to fix my eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen when i get frustrated with the struggles of this life Remind me that you are refining me in those
times you're teaching me to trust you more galatians 6 9 says and let us not grow weary of doing good for in due season we will reap if we do not give up lord give me the strength required to endure and fight the good fight i know that the road to heaven is costly i know that you call me to take up my Cross daily to suffer and if necessary to die for you i pray for the grace to endure whatever it is that's required of me lord give me the patience and endurance i need
to run the race that is set before me god help me to stay strong under trials give me a longing for heavenly treasure and the perseverance i need to reach it father eyes that you would even further rid my heart of lust of earthly wealth Or the applause and accolades of men instead may i only desire you the riches of your mercy and grace for it's your grace that will sustain me through all the storms of life whenever i endure suffering whenever i go through deep waters help me to fix my eyes on that unfading
crown in eternity knowing that the greatest reward is not in success in this life But the love and approval of my glorious savior i'm grateful now that everything i do lord is for an audience of one no longer addicted to the approval of man lord i thank you for hearing this prayer amen [Music] i want to talk to you about appetites and when i say appetites I'm not talking about food i'm talking about your desires your heart's cravings the things you long for and if we can be honest for a moment a lot of believers
have an appetite for sin there are people church-going believers who have an appetite for gossiping an appetite for conflict for violence there are church leaders Pastors even who have an appetite for money wealth they want material things there are married men who have an appetite for women who aren't their wives and likewise there are married women who have an appetite for men who are not their husbands and mind you there are people Who have an appetite to be seen they want to be held in high esteem for their talents they have a desire to be
praised now man of god woman of god i want to ask you what's your appetite what is it that you're drawn to [Music] and you see the thing about appetites Is that they cannot be seen you could be in a room full of people and no one would ever know what you're yearning for appetites are hidden things they are hidden to everyone except god now i want to read you a few passages of scripture that should serve as a warning to all of us about pursuing ungodly sinful appetites Romans 1 verse 24 says therefore god
gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves a different translation says god also gave them up to uncleanness and the lusts of their hearts now if you read romans 1 verse 26 the bible says for this reason god gave them up to dishonorable passions For their women exchange natural relations for those that are contrary to nature and then if you move on to romans 1 verses 28 through 35 the bible says incense they did not see fit to acknowledge god god gave them up to
a debased mind to do what ought not to be done they were filled with all manner of unrighteousness evil Covetousness malice they are full of envy murder strife deceit maliciousness they are gossips slanderers haters of god insolent haughty boastful inventors of evil Disobedient to parents foolish faithless heartless ruthless though they know god's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them so on three occasions the bible says These four words god gave them up god gave them up in the lusts
of their hearts god gave them up to dishonorable passions god gave them up to a debased mind be warned that if you are persistent in entertaining that appetite for sin if you choose to reject god and you don't repent There are consequences if you're consistent in feeding the appetite for ungodly things you're telling the lord that you do not want him you don't desire to be with him so i encourage you saints let us starve any and every desire that we have for sin us have an appetite for jesus christ and jesus christ alone now
let's pray together father i come before you today Giving you thanks and giving you glory and praise god you alone are worthy and as i come before you today father i come with an open heart and an open mind god i ask that you look deep within me may you look at what my appetites are may you analyze what i yearn for and should you find anything unclean Or immoral remove it lord remove that which does not please you lord jesus should you find that i have an appetite for any kind of uncleanliness remove it
lord and god i ask that you will replace it with a godly passion ephesians 4 verses 1-3 i therefore a prisoner for the lord Urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called with all humility and gentleness with patience bearing with one another in love eager to maintain the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace god almighty i pray that you would give us pure And godly appetites lord plant within us an insatiable desire to live a life that exhibits a godly character lord we want
to live a life that has integrity a life that expresses gratitude for the salvation that you've given us lord help us to forsake self-righteousness help us to be free from addictions And any cravings for sin lord you've not called us to impurity but you have called us to live in holiness read in your word where it says in john 7 verses 37 through 39 on the last day of the feast the great day jesus stood up and cried out if anyone thirsts let him come to me and drink Whoever believes in me as the scripture
has said out of his heart will flow rivers of living water now this he said about the spirit whom those who believed in him were to receive for as yet the spirit had not been given because jesus was not yet glorified [Music] lord we thirst for your living water We come to you lord jesus because only you can satisfy the needs that are in our hearts i pray that you give me an appetite to pray without i pray that you'd give me a strong and passionate desire to worship you in spirit and in truth lord
jesus give me a heart that seeks to praise you despite my circumstances May i have eyes that see your goodness in every situation lord and father i ask that you would help me to be a believer who is filled with the word may i only find nourishment and fulfillment in you king jesus first peter chapter two verses one through three so put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy And envy and all slander like newborn infants long for the pure spiritual milk that by it you may grow up into salvation if indeed you have
tasted that the lord is good father i have truly tasted your goodness and i pray for myself along with each and every person under The sound of my voice that we may find our ultimate fulfillment in your presence and in your presence alone [Music] may we become uncomfortable when we are in situations or surroundings that are not pleasing to you [Music] when we begin to Entertain things that do not glorify you god holy spirit i ask that you would make us uneasy and i said we would become sensitive to your leading holy spirit sensitive to
your nudges able to sense you in a way that we know when there's something that's happening that's not pleasing to you that's not Glorifying to you something that the enemy is trying to use to open a door in us father make us ever so sensitive to that may we find spiritual and emotional nourishment in your presence father and all that we do king jesus let our appetite be to know you more to walk with you more to abide in you more Let us be hungry for the one who's the bread of life let us thirst
for the one who has living waters lord i want to thank you for hearing this prayer may your name be blessed and honored forevermore it's in jesus name that we pray and we give you thanks amen [Music] john chapter 11 verse 17 to 23 says now when jesus came he found that lazarus had already been in the tomb four days bethany was near jerusalem about two miles off and many of the jews had come to martha and mary to console them concerning their brother so when martha heard that jesus was coming She went and met
him but mary remained seated in the house martha said to jesus lord if you had been here my brother would not have died but even now i know that whatever you ask from god god will give you jesus said to her your brother will rise again i want you to focus on two words in verse 22 where the bible says Even now even now you see lazarus was dead and gone he had been in the tomb for four days but martha in verse 22 had the faith to say to jesus even now i know that
whatever you ask from god god will give you she knew that even though there was death around her jesus christ brings Resurrection even now this woman knew that even though her family was in mourning her family was broken she had the faith to say even now god you can bring life even now when it looks to be over lord you can bring life i admire this type of faith because it's a faith that says regardless of how bad it is Jesus christ can still work miracles even now it's a faith that says my family is
broken we're arguing we're fighting we're full of bitterness but even now jesus you can walk in and bring healing you can bring restoration in this household this is the type of faith that says lord jesus i'm unemployed i'm in pain I've been abandoned but you can still work a miracle in my life even now i want to encourage you for the next few moments i want you to know that we have a god who shows his might when we think there is no more hope we have a god who will begin to do his best
work right at your breaking point we have a god who will begin to make the impossible possible Just when you think something will never happen we have a god who will lift you up when you think you can't get up anymore and so here's what i want you to believe i want you to believe the word of god that says in ephesians 3 verse 20 to 21 now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think according to the power at work within us to him be glory
in the church and in christ jesus throughout all generations Forever and ever amen i want you to believe that jesus christ can go above and beyond your expectations even now as you're feeling low i want you to believe that jesus christ can go beyond our greatest prayers hopes or dreams and work miracles and so saints i'd like to say even now May god bring healing into your life even now may the lord open new doors in your life even now may jesus christ make you whole again and restore joy into your life peace into your
life and comfort let us pray lord jesus we praise you because you are a god who can operate without limits or restrictions We ask you to bring peace where there is worry we ask you to bring freedom where there is captivity lord jesus we ask you to bring deliverance where there is oppression even now lord even today even in this present time you are able to work miracles lord jesus you are a rebuilder you are a restorer and regardless of what our present circumstances look like You can rebuild every broken home you can mend every
broken heart you can fix every broken relationship for this lord jesus we glorify and praise your holy name psalms chapter 30 verse 10 to 12 says hear o lord and be merciful to me o lord be my helper you have turned for me my morning into dancing you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent Oh lord my god i will give thanks to you forever indeed may all thanks be given to you forevermore because you are a faithful god lord jesus in our
present circumstances we may be in the middle of great difficulty we may be under pressure and in distress but your word says in matthew chapter 11 verse 28 to 30 Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden and i will give you rest take my yoke upon you and learn from me for i am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls for my yoke is easy and my burden is light father we can only find rest and restoration in you we can only find true peace and lasting
peace in you And so for all the burdens i carry for all the burdens that weigh me down i cast them to you lord jesus i acknowledge my weakness and i bow down to your strength second corinthians chapter 12 verse 9 to 10 says but he said to me my grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness therefore i will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of christ may rest upon me For the sake of christ then i am content with weaknesses insults hardships persecutions
and calamities for when i am weak then i am strong lord in my weakness i am strong because greater is he who is in me than he who is in the world thank you for giving me sufficient grace give me a heart that does boast in my weaknesses so that i can have your power Rest upon me even now lord jesus as i ask for your hand to be shown in my life i am content knowing that where i am limited you are limitless where i struggle you prevail where i fall short only you can
make me overcome father i bless your precious name thank you for hearing this prayer in jesus name i pray Amen if you look in the history books you'll find that there are some notable names names that are recorded because they served humanity and had a positive impact on many many lives but there are also names recorded in the history books because those people did horrific things unspeakable things either way you will find that history records both The good names and the bad and what about in your life there are certain names that i'm sure you
can think about that will invoke some type of emotion out of you some names will bring feelings of anger some names will evoke feelings of pain and betrayal other names are associated with feelings of love and warmth the point that i'm trying to say is that Names are powerful god renamed abram to abraham the lord renamed jacob to israel in john chapter 1 verse 42 in the amplified translation the bible says andrew brought simon to jesus jesus looked at him and said you are simon the son of john you shall be called cephus which is
translated peter hopefully you see the point that i'm making names Are important if they weren't god wouldn't have renamed certain individuals now i want to bring your attention to philippians chapter 2 verse 9 to for this reason also because he obeyed and so completely humbled himself god has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name so that at the name of jesus every knee shall bow in submission of those who are in heaven and on earth And under the earth and that every tongue will confess and openly acknowledge that
jesus christ is lord sovereign god to the glory of god the father the name of jesus christ is high and above all other names on this earth the name of jesus christ is full of power it's a name that's majestic it's a name that deserves honor and praise through jesus christ we have access to Heaven and eternity through the name of jesus christ we have been given authority the authority to trample over serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy according to luke 10 19. through the name of jesus christ we have
been given the power and authority to cast out demons and to heal the sick through the name of jesus christ we can come boldly before the throne of god and make our requests known And we can trust that he will answer us god is near to those who call upon the name of jesus christ and he hears the cries of the righteous wherever they are jeremiah 10 verse 6 says there is none like you o lord you are great and your name is great in might now let us pray lord jesus i honor your name
is holy i bow down to you You are unlike anyone who is or has been or ever will be you are the one and only son of god prince of peace wonderful counselor king of kings and lord of lords you are sovereign over all the universe and yet somehow you care for us you died for us out of love you've shown us mercy even while we were in sin Thank you lord jesus for the privilege of knowing your name your word in proverbs chapter 18 verse 10 say the name of the lord is a strong
tower the righteous man runs into it and is safe indeed lord your name offers us protection and safe refuge in your name there is power In your name we have victory over every trial we can overcome every struggle in this life in your name king jesus the sick are healed demons are cast out and the dead come back to life again in your name so whenever i cry out to you lord may i never be lacking in faith for i know that you are capable of more than i could ever ask or think Lord help
me to grow in the knowledge of who you are i don't want to just be familiar with your name but i desire to have an intimate relationship with you make me a disciple lord jesus give me a heart willing to serve father and lord i ask that whenever i go out into the world whenever i fight my battles i pray that in everything i do may i represent the name of jesus christ Faithfully and father i pray that you would meet us at our point of need lord we need you lord jesus our families and
homes need you this world needs you so many people put their trust in their own might in fame and riches but just as david declared in psalm 20 verse 7 some trust in chariots and summon horses but we trust in the name of the lord our god you king jesus are eternally faithful All throughout the bible you have said exactly who you are thank you for being the good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep though we may at times go astray and fall your love is still encompassing you are the good shepherd
who sacrificed himself to bring us back to the fold and for that i am eternally grateful thank you for being the bread of life one who satisfies every hunger of our Souls thank you for being the great i am the god who always was and is and is to come lord your word says in acts chapter 4 verse 12 and there is salvation in no one else for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved salvation can only be found in the name of jesus I pray that
your name would be exalted forever and ever father we need your gospel this whole world needs your gospel i pray that you would send out laborers into your field and reap for yourself a great harvest so that people from every tribe tongue and nation will bow to you and confess that jesus christ is lord lord I praise you for who you are for all you've done and for what you'll continue to do there is none like you your name is one that restores your name brings joy and peace may you receive the glory for every
breakthrough for every victory for every miracle may your name be lifted high in our lives and in our homes and it's in the beautiful Wonderful powerful name of jesus i pray amen jesus gave the parable of the two sons in matthew chapter 21 verses 28 through 32. the bible reads what do you think a man had two sons and he went to the first and said son go and work in the vineyard today And he answered i will not but afterward he changed his mind and went and he went to the other son and said
the same and he answered i go sir but did not go which of the two did the will of his father they said the first jesus said to them truly i say to you the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of god before you For john came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him and even when you saw it you did not afterward change your minds and believe him here are some of the lessons that we can take
away from this parable firstly what you say Is not always what you do there are people who will say they love god but their actions will say otherwise there are people who will declare and proclaim their love for jesus christ but they will live a life that does not match up to their declaration or their proclamation jesus himself said in matthew chapter 7 verse 21 Not everyone who says to me lord lord will enter the kingdom of heaven but the one who does the will of my father who is in heaven this verse is telling
us that there will be people who can say all the right things they can sound like a christian or they can talk like a born-again believer but it's not the one who can talk the talk That will enter the kingdom of heaven the bible says the one who does the will of my father that's who will enter the kingdom of heaven now from the parable of the two sons when the father requested that the sons work in the vineyard the first son said i will not but afterward he changed his mind and went the second
son Said i go sir but he did not go the first son in a sense was convicted and came to repentance with the second there was no intention to go there was no change of heart there was no realization of what he was doing and so saints i want to encourage you if you're in sin allow the lord To change your mind listen to the voice of the holy spirit and change your ways don't let your heart be hardened if you truly love jesus christ that love has to be evidenced through the manner in which
you live your life if you really are a believer and a disciple then it's not what you say that matters it's what you do do not simply be a hearer of the word But be a doer also now pray with me father we praise your name because you're a patient and loving god your word says in matthew 13 verse 19 when anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart this is what was sown along the path Lord i'm
praying that you would not let this be me i rebuked the enemy in jesus name may the holy spirit protect the word that has been sown in my heart may he guard it so that the devil cannot come and snatch it away matthew 13 verses 20 through 21 as for what was sown on rocky ground this is the one who hears the word and Immediately receives it with joy yet he has no root in himself but endures for a while and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word immediately he falls away father
as i read and receive your word may it be deeply rooted within me so that when difficulty comes it will be your word that encourages and strengthens me God help me not to fall away when tribulation comes but instead may i be steady and anchored in you king jesus your word says in matthew 13 verse 22 as for what was sown among thorns this is the one who hears the word but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and it proves unfruitful king jesus help me Protect me give me
the grace to be strong so that the word that's in my heart would not be choked out by the cares of this world help me lord so that i would not be drawn to the superficial pleasures and delights of this world lord i pray that i may be the type of believer who hears the word and understands it help me to be a believer who bears fruit Because your word has been sown on good soil god i pray that you would make us people of integrity may we be men and women who not only say
the name of jesus christ but may we be found to be following jesus christ practicing your commandments and your teachings your word in james 1 verses 22 through 25 says But be doers of the word and not hearers only deceiving yourselves for if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror for he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like but the one who looks into the perfect law the law of liberty
and perseveres Being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts he will be blessed in his doing lord i pray that i would be a believer who does more than just declare my faith holy spirit help me to be one who puts it into practice help me lord jesus to live according to your word i want to live a life that is governed by your word A life that's ruled by your word romans 2 verse 13 says for it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before god but the doers of
the law who will be justified lord i understand that you do not want those who merely hear the word but freely choose to disobey the word i pray that i may be one who is moved by your word May i be moved to repent as i read your word may i be moved to seek first the kingdom of god above all else father help me to stay in tune with your word lord help me to have rich soil for your word to be planted that i may produce good fruit Father i thank you right now
i bless you i honor you i give you all glory and praise i appreciate you listening to this prayer in jesus name i pray and i thank you amen in life we tend to be rewarded based on the amount of work we put in you'll find that riders who spend day And night refining their craft go on to be rewarded and become best-selling authors athletes train hard their entire lives to be rewarded with a professional contract and i believe in a way the same principle applies to us as followers of christ there is a reward
for standing strong in the midst of temptation there is a reward for remaining faithful To god even in the midst of persecution yes there is a reward for enduring suffering for the sake of christ there is a reward for running the good race our reward however is not measured by earthly fame or success our reward is the crown of life given to us by jesus christ himself James 1 verse 12 says blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial for when he is to the test he will receive the crown of life which god
has promised to those who love him then the amplified translation puts it this way blessed happy spiritually prosperous favored by god is the man who is steadfast under trial And perseveres when tempted for when he has passed the test and been approved he will receive the victor's crown of life which the lord has promised to those who love him the crown of life isn't just something that we hope to achieve it's not just a prize that we may or may not win the crown of life is a promise To all who love god and like
all earthly rewards this heavenly reward will cost you something in fact it might cost us everything remaining steadfast under trial is a difficult thing to do the pain may be great the suffering may be great but oh how the reward that awaits us is so much greater the bible says in first peter 5 verse 4 and when the chief shepherd appears You will receive the unfading crown of glory what a glorious day will be when we stand before jesus and reap the reward for all we have suffered and endured in this life on that day
our joy will be complete our suffering will be no more the bible says that every tear will be wiped away from our eyes and when he places that crown ever so Gently on our heads we will know that everything we endured for his sake was worth it and should you feel weary at all during the many trials of this life remember that hebrews 6 verse 10 says for god is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name and serving the saints as you still do god
will not overlook what you're going Through sometimes we might feel like our struggles are pointless but everything we do in the name of jesus has eternal value the true meaning of our love for god is not proven in the good times but in the moments of deep suffering where we must decide who we will put our faith and hope in to choose him even then is one of the highest honors we can give Him so now christian do you long for this crown remember that earthly fame comes and goes all great works of art are
eventually overshadowed professional contracts they come to an end and all these earthly crowns eventually count for nothing [Music] But the crown of life the crown of life that jesus supplies is for all of eternity may that be the reward that you seek with all your heart [Music] now let's pray father god you're worth more to me than words could say the privilege of knowing you and being in your presence It's far more precious than silver or gold whether i'm rich or poor successful or struggling i know that all my wealth comes from the promises i
have in you your word says in 2 timothy 4 verse 8 henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the lord the righteous judge will award to me on that day and not only to me but also to all who Have loved his appearing father it's my prayer it's my heart's desire that i may receive the crown of righteousness a crown that will never fade away lord jesus thank you for revealing your worth to me thank you for making me aware of the many blessings that you have given me lord i
want to thank you for inviting me Into a relationship with you i've gone out seeking other relationships before only to be rejected but i never have to worry about that with you and so god for that i thank you there are many things in this life that i could pursue there are many things that tempt us in this world things like fame and riches glory and recognition I could put all my time and effort into worldly pursuits and i would likely be rewarded but god i'm so grateful that i realize that none of those rewards
have any eternal value in comparison to what you offer in the end everything that is not from you will fade away and so god help me to put all of my energy all of my effort Into building and storing up treasures in heaven these earthly crowns are perishable but you jesus have promised me a reward that will never fade you've promised a treasure that will last into eternity the crown of life [Music] and even more beautiful than the crown is the one who's going to bestow it [Music] lord i seek only to please you i
seek only to be recognized by you i seek only to be validated and accepted by jesus and lord i will admit it took me a long time to get here for so long god i sought to please people i sought to be recognized for the work that i did i sought to be validated and accepted by Men but god i'm grateful that one day i came to know that none of that matters so now god i don't seek the approval or the praise of man anymore i only seek the glory of you god lord help
me to fix my eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen when i get frustrated with the struggles of this life Remind me that you are refining me in those times you're teaching me to trust you more galatians 6 verse 9 says and let us not grow weary of doing good for in due season we will reap if we do not give up lord give me the strength required to endure and fight the good fight i know that the road to heaven is costly i know that you call me to take up
my Cross daily to suffer and if necessary to die for you i pray for the grace to endure whatever it is that's required of me lord give me the patience and endurance i need to run the race that is set before me god help me to stay strong under trials give me a longing for heavenly treasure and the perseverance i need to reach it father eyes that you would even further rid my heart of lust of earthly wealth Or the applause and accolades of men instead may i only desire you the riches of your mercy
and grace for it's your grace that will sustain me through all the storms of life whenever i endure suffering whenever i go through deep waters help me to fix my eyes on that unfading crown in eternity knowing that the greatest reward is not in success in this life But the love and approval of my glorious savior [Music] i'm grateful now that everything i do lord is for an audience of one no longer addicted to the approval of man lord i thank you for hearing this prayer amen [Music] i want to talk to you about appetites
And when i say appetites i'm not talking about food [Music] i'm talking about your desires your heart's cravings the things you long for and if we can be honest for a moment a lot of believers have an appetite for sin there are people church-going believers who have an appetite for gossiping an appetite for conflict for violence There are church leaders pastors even who have an appetite for money wealth they want material things there are married men who have an appetite for women who aren't their wives and likewise there are married women who have an appetite
for men who are not their husbands and mind you There are people who have an appetite to be seen they want to be held in high esteem for their talents they have a desire to be praised now man of god woman of god i want to ask you what's your appetite what is it that you're drawn to and you see the thing about appetites is that they cannot be seen You could be in a room full of people and no one would ever know what you're yearning for appetites are hidden things they are hidden to
everyone except god now i want to read you a few passages of scripture that should serve as a warning to all of us about pursuing ungodly sinful appetites romans 1 verse 24 says Therefore god gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves a different translation says god also gave them up to uncleanness and the lusts of their hearts now if you read romans 1 verse 26 the bible says for this reason god gave them up to dishonorable passions for their women exchange natural Relations for
those that are contrary to nature and then if you move on to romans 1 verses 28-35 the bible says and since they did not see fit to acknowledge god god gave them up to a debased mind to do what out not to be done they were filled with all manner of unrighteousness evil covetousness malice They are full of envy murder strife deceit maliciousness they are gossips slanderers haters of god insolent haughty boastful inventors of evil disobedient to parents Foolish faithless heartless ruthless though they know god's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to
die they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them so on three occasions the bible says these four words God gave them up god gave them up in the lusts of their hearts god gave them up to dishonorable passions god gave them up to a debased mind be warned that if you are persistent in entertaining that appetite for sin if you choose to reject god and you don't repent there are consequences If you're consistent in feeding the appetite for ungodly things you're telling the lord that you do not want him you
don't desire to be with him so i encourage you saints let us starve any and every desire that we have for sin let us have an appetite for jesus christ and jesus christ alone now let's pray together father i come before you today Giving you thanks and giving you glory and praise god you alone are worthy and as i come before you today father i come with an open heart and an open mind god asks that you'd look deep within me may you look at what my appetites are may you analyze what i yearn for
and should you find anything unclean Or immoral remove it lord remove that which does not please you lord jesus should you find that i have an appetite for any kind of uncleanliness remove it lord and god i ask that you will replace it with a godly passion ephesians 4 verses 1 through 3 i therefore a prisoner for the lord Urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called with all humility and gentleness with patience bearing with one another in love eager to maintain the unity of the spirit
and the bond of peace god almighty i pray that you would give us pure And godly appetites lord plant within us an insatiable desire to live a life that exhibits a godly character lord we want to live a life that has integrity a life that expresses gratitude for the salvation that you've given us lord help us to forsake self-righteousness help us to be free from addictions and Any cravings for sin lord you've not called us to impurity but you have called us to live in holiness i read in your word where it says in john
7 verses 37 through 39. on the last day of the feast the great day jesus stood up and cried out if anyone thirsts let him come to me and drink Whoever believes in me as the scripture has said out of his heart will flow rivers of living water now this he said about the spirit whom those who believed in him were to receive for as yet the spirit had not been given because jesus was not yet glorified lord we thirst for your living water we come to you lord jesus because only You can satisfy the
needs that are in our hearts i pray that you give me an appetite to pray without ceasing i pray that you'd give me a strong and passionate desire to worship you in spirit and in truth lord jesus give me a heart that seeks to praise you despite my circumstances may i have eyes that see your goodness In every situation lord and father i ask that you would help me to be a believer who is filled with the word may i only find nourishment and fulfillment in you king jesus first peter chapter 2 verses 1-3 so
put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander Like newborn infants long for the pure spiritual milk that by it you may grow up into salvation if indeed you have tasted that the lord is good father i have truly tasted your goodness and i pray for myself along with each and every person under the sound of my voice That we may find our ultimate fulfillment in your presence and in your presence alone may we become uncomfortable when we are in situations or surroundings that are not pleasing to you when we
begin to entertain things that do not glorify you god Holy spirit i ask that you would make us uneasy and i said we would become sensitive to your leading holy spirit sensitive to your nudges able to sense you in a way that we know when there's something that's happening that's not pleasing to you that's not glorifying to you something that the enemy is trying to use to open a door in us Father make us ever so sensitive to that may we find spiritual and emotional nourishment in your presence father and all that we do king
jesus let our appetite be to know you more to walk with you more to abide in you more let us be hungry for the one who's the bread of life let us thirst For the one who has living waters lord i want to thank you for hearing this prayer may your name be blessed and honored forevermore it's in jesus name that we pray and we give you thanks amen [Music] john chapter 11 verse 17 to 23 says now when jesus came he found that lazarus had already been In the tomb four days bethany was near
jerusalem about two miles off and many of the jews had come to martha and mary to console them concerning their brother so when martha heard that jesus was coming she went and met him but mary remained seated in the house martha said to jesus lord if you had been here my brother would not have died But even now i know that whatever you ask from god god will give you jesus said to her your brother will rise again i want you to focus on two words in verse 22 where the bible says even now even
now you see lazarus was dead and gone he had been in the tomb for four days But martha in verse 22 had the faith to say to jesus even now i know that whatever you ask from god god will give you she knew that even though there was death around her jesus christ brings resurrection even now this woman knew that even though her family was in mourning her family was broken She had the faith to say even now god you can bring life even now when it looks to be over lord you can bring life
i admire this type of faith because it's a faith that says regardless of how bad it is jesus christ can still work miracles even now it's a faith that says my family is Broken we're arguing we're fighting we're full of bitterness but even now jesus you can walk in and bring healing you can bring restoration in this household this is the type of faith that says lord jesus i'm unemployed i'm in pain i've been abandoned but you can still work a miracle in my life even now I want to encourage you for the next few
moments i want you to know that we have a god who shows his might when we think there is no more hope we have a god who will begin to do his best work right at your breaking point we have a god who will begin to make the impossible possible just when you think something will never happen we have a god who will lift you up when you think you can't get up anymore And so here's what i want you to believe i want you to believe the word of god that says in ephesians 3
verse 20 to 21 now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think according to the power at work within us to him be glory in the church and in christ jesus throughout all generations forever and ever amen i want you to believe that jesus christ can go above and beyond Your expectations even now as you're feeling low i want you to believe that jesus christ can go beyond our greatest prayers hopes or dreams and work miracles and so saints i'd like to say even now may god
bring healing into your life even now may the lord open new doors in your life even now may jesus christ make you whole again and restore joy into your life peace into your life and comfort Let us pray lord jesus we praise you because you are a god who can operate without limits or restrictions we ask you to bring peace where there is worry we ask you to bring freedom where there is captivity lord jesus we ask you to bring deliverance where there is oppression even now lord even today Even in this present time you
are able to work miracles lord jesus you are a rebuilder you are a restorer and regardless of what our present circumstances look like you can rebuild every broken home you can mend every broken heart you can fix every broken relationship for this lord jesus we glorify and praise your holy name psalms chapter 30 verse 10 to 12 says hear o lord and be merciful to me O lord be my helper you have turned for me my morning into dancing you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness that my glory may sing your praise
and not be silent oh lord my god i will give thanks to you forever indeed may all thanks be given to you forevermore because you are a faithful god lord jesus in our present circumstances We may be in the middle of great difficulty we may be under pressure and in distress but your word says in matthew chapter 11 verse 28 to 30 come to me all who labor and are heavy laden and i will give you rest take my yoke upon you and learn from me for i am gentle and lowly in heart and you
will find rest for your souls for my yoke is easy and my burden is Light father we can only find rest and restoration in you we can only find true peace and lasting peace in you and so for all the burdens i carry for all the burdens that weigh me down i cast them to you lord jesus i acknowledge my weakness and i bow down to your strength second corinthians chapter 12 verse 9 to 10 says but he Said to me my grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness therefore
i will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of christ may rest upon me for the sake of christ then i am content with weaknesses insults hardships persecutions and calamities for when i am weak then i am strong Lord in my weakness i am strong because greater is he who is in me than he who is in the world thank you for giving me sufficient grace give me a heart that does boast in my weaknesses so that i can have your power rest upon me even now lord jesus as i
ask for your hand to be shown in my life i am content knowing that where i am limited you are limitless where i struggle You prevail [Music] where i fall short only you can make me overcome father i bless your precious name thank you for hearing this prayer in jesus name i pray amen if you look in the history books you'll find that there are some notable names names that are recorded because they served humanity and had a positive Impact on many many lives but there are also names recorded in the history books because those
people did horrific things unspeakable things either way you will find that history records both the good names and the bad and what about in your life there are certain names that i'm sure you can think about that will invoke Some type of emotion out of you some names will bring feelings of anger some names will evoke feelings of pain and betrayal other names are associated with feelings of love and warmth the point that i'm trying to say is that names are powerful god renamed abram to abraham the lord renamed jacob to israel in john chapter
1 verse 42 in the Amplified translation the bible says andrew brought simon to jesus jesus looked at him and said you are simon the son of john you shall be called cephas which is translated peter hopefully you see the point that i'm making names are important if they weren't god wouldn't have renamed certain individuals now i want to bring your attention to Philippians chapter 2 verse 9 to 11. for this reason also because he obeyed and so completely humbled himself god has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name
so that at the name of jesus every knee shall bow in submission of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth and that every tongue will confess and openly acknowledge that jesus christ is lord sovereign god to the glory of god The father the name of jesus christ is high and above all other names on this earth the name of jesus christ is full of power it's a name that's majestic it's a name that deserves honor and praise through jesus christ we have access to heaven and eternity through the name of
jesus christ we have been given authority the authority to trample over serpents And scorpions and over all the power of the enemy according to luke 10 19. through the name of jesus christ we have been given the power and authority to cast out demons and to heal the sick through the name of jesus christ we can come boldly before the throne of god and make our requests know and we can trust that he will answer us god is near to those who call upon the name of jesus christ and he hears the cries of the
righteous wherever they are Jeremiah 10 verse 6 says there is none like you oh lord you are great and your name is great in might now let us pray lord jesus i honor your name is holy i bow down to you you are unlike anyone who is or has been or ever will be you are the one and only son of god prince of peace wonderful counselor King of kings and lord of lords you are sovereign over all the universe and yet somehow you care for us you died for us out of love you've shown
us mercy even while we were in sin thank you lord jesus for the privilege of knowing your name your word in proverbs chapter 18 verse 10 say the name of the lord is a strong tower The righteous man runs into it and is safe indeed lord your name offers us protection and safe refuge in your name there is power in your name we have victory over every trial we can overcome every struggle in this life in your name king jesus the sick are healed demons are cast out and the dead Come back to life again
in your name so whenever i cry out to you lord may i never be lacking in faith for i know that you are capable of more than i could ever ask or think lord help me to grow in the knowledge of who you are i don't want to just be familiar with your name but i desire to have an intimate relationship with you make me a disciple lord jesus give me a heart willing to serve father And lord i ask that whenever i go out into the world whenever i fight my battles i pray that
in everything i do may i represent the name of jesus christ faithfully and father i pray that you would meet us at our point of need lord we need you lord jesus our families and homes need you this world needs you so many people put their trust in their Own might in fame and riches but just as david declared in psalm 20 verse 7 some trust in chariots and summon horses but we trust in the name of the lord our god you king jesus are eternally faithful all throughout the bible you have said exactly who
you are thank you for being the good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep though we may at times go astray and fall your love is still encompassing you are the good shepherd who sacrificed Himself to bring us back to the fold and for that i am eternally grateful thank you for being the bread of life one who satisfies every hunger of our souls thank you for being the great i am the god who always was and is and is to come lord your word says in acts chapter 4 verse 12 and there
is salvation in no one else for there is no other name under heaven Given among men by which we must be saved salvation can only be found in the name of jesus i pray that your name would be exalted forever and ever father we need your gospel this whole world need your gospel i pray that you would send out laborers into your field and reap for yourself a great harvest So that people from every tribe tongue and nation will bow to you and confess that jesus christ is lord lord i praise you for who you
are for all you've done and for what you'll continue to do there is none like you your name is one that restores your name brings joy and peace may you receive the glory for every breakthrough for every victory for every Miracle may your name be lifted high in our lives and in our homes and it's in the beautiful wonderful powerful name of jesus i pray amen jesus gave the parable of the two sons in matthew chapter 21 verses 28 through 32 the bible reads what do you think A man had two sons and he went
to the first and said son go and work in the vineyard today and he answered i will not but afterward he changed his mind and went and he went to the other son and said the same and he answered i go sir but did not go which of the two did the will of his father they said the first Jesus said to them truly i say to you the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of god before you for john came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe
him but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him and even when you saw it you did not afterward change your minds and believe him here are some of the lessons That we can take away from this parable firstly what you say is not always what you do there are people who will say they love god but their actions will say otherwise there are people who will declare and proclaim their love for jesus christ but they will live a life that does not match up to their declaration Or their proclamation jesus himself said in matthew
chapter 7 verse 21 not everyone who says to me lord lord will enter the kingdom of heaven but the one who does the will of my father who is in heaven this verse is telling us that there will be people who can say all the right things they can sound like a christian oh they can talk like a born-again Believer but it's not the one who can talk the talk that will enter the kingdom of heaven the bible says the one who does the will of my father that's who will enter the kingdom of heaven
now from the parable of the two sons when the father requested that the sons work in the vineyard the first son said i will not but Afterward he changed his mind and went the second son said i go sir but he did not go the first son in a sense was convicted and came to repentance with the second there was no intention to go there was no change of heart there was no realization of what he was doing and so saints i want to encourage you If you're in sin allow the lord to change your
mind listen to the voice of the holy spirit and change your ways don't let your heart be hardened if you truly love jesus christ that love has to be evidenced through the manner in which you live your life if you really are a believer and a disciple then it's not what you say that matters It's what you do do not simply be a hearer of the word but be a doer also now pray with me father we praise your name because you're a patient and loving god your word says in matthew 13 verse 19 when
anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it The evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart this is what was sown along the path lord i'm praying that you would not let this be me i rebuke the enemy in jesus name may the holy spirit protect the word that has been sown in my heart may he guard it so that the devil cannot come and snatch it away matthew 13 Verses 20 through 21 as for what was sown on rocky ground this is the one who hears
the word and immediately receives it with joy yet he has no root in himself but endures for a while and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word immediately he falls away father as i read and receive your word May it be deeply rooted within me so that when difficulty comes it will be your word that encourages and strengthens me god help me not to fall away when tribulation comes but instead may i be steady and anchored in you king jesus your word says in matthew 13 verse 22 as for what was sown
among thorns this is the one who hears the word but the cares of the world and the Deceitfulness of riches choke the word and it proves unfruitful king jesus help me protect me give me the grace to be strong so that the word that's in my heart would not be choked out by the cares of this world help me lord so that i would not be drawn to the superficial pleasures and delights of this world Lord i pray that i may be the type of believer who hears the word and understands it help me to
be a believer who bears fruit because your word has been sown on good soil god i pray that you would make us people of integrity may we be men and women who not only say the name of jesus christ but may we be found to be following Jesus christ [Music] practicing your commandments and your teachings your word in james 1 verses 22 through 25 says but be doers of the word and not hearers only deceiving yourselves for if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer he is like a man who looks
intently at his natural face in a mirror For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like but the one who looks into the perfect law the law of liberty and perseveres being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts he will be blessed in his doing lord i pray that i would be a believer who Does more than just declare my faith holy spirit help me to be one who puts it into practice help me lord jesus to live according to your word i want to live a
life that is governed by your word a life that's ruled by your word romans 2 verse 13 says for it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before god but the doers of the law who will be Justified lord i understand that you do not want those who merely hear the word but freely choose to disobey the word i pray that i may be one who is moved by your word may i be moved to repent as i read your word may i be moved to seek first the kingdom of god above
all else Father help me to stay in tune with your word lord help me to have rich soil for your word to be planted that i may produce good fruit father i thank you right now i bless you i honor you i give you all glory and praise i appreciate you listening to this prayer In jesus name i pray and i thank you amen [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] you
