Sermon Notes: 8/27/23

"Daily Disciplines of an Open Heaven"

Pastor Logan Almore

“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’” -Matthew 6:9-10

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.” -Matthew 7:7

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” -James 1:17

“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” -Malachi 3:10

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” -Matthew 7:9-11

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” -Romans 7:15

Daily Disciplines of an Open Heaven

If you want to change your results, you have to change your habits.

1. Remember the Who. “I AM the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” -John 15:5 2. Remember the how.

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.” -John 14:15-17

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” -2 Timothy 1:7

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” -Galatians 5:22-23 3. Remember the what. What am I currently doing that is keeping me in this place? What are my daily habits that are hindering me from growing? What choices am I making each day that are blocking up my path to greater?

-Identify Absorbers -Identify Gravity -Identify Replacements

Absorbers are anything that you run to in order to soften the blows of life.

Daily Disciplines: -Start with the heart. -Focus on the big picture. -Make a plan. -Use your weapons. -Demolish Excuses. -Stay consistent. -Give yourself grace.

“As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.” -Proverbs 27:19 “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” -Psalm 139:23-24

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” -Psalm 51:10

Choose who you want to be over what you want to do.

We can’t make more time but we can make more of the time we have.

Weapons: Reading the Word Praying the Word Speaking the Word Meditating on the Word “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” -2 Corinthians 10:5

There is a lot of resistance in being consistent.

4. Remember the why.

Wordly reasons yield worldly results. Supernatural reasons yield supernatural results.

WHY—to bring God glory.

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” -John 15:8