Did You Learn to Love

Resound Church Leah Ramirez JUST 5 SMOOTH STONES JANUARY 31, 2010 We are onto something. Over the last weeks, it is as if we are becoming who we are created to be. As a church, as a school, as a house of prayer…the Lord is breathing on our identity corporately, and I hope individually. It’s as if we are coming into our own after a long journey. We have tried on Saul’s armor, but finally decided that we may do better without the official uniform if we go out with a handful of stones. We are learning it’s not the outfit, but the name of the Lord that makes the way. And I believe, that over the next months the landscape of Florida will be changed as the Goliath of our day gets one of those stones embedded in His head.

I. JUST 5 SMOOTH STONES

1 Samuel 17 33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. 36 Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

38 Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail, 39 and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” So David put them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd's pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine.

41 And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. 42 And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. 43 And the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.” 45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand.”

48 When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. 52 And the men of Israel and Judah rose with a shout and pursued the Philistines…

RESOUND MISSIONS BASE www.Resound247.com 1 Resound Church Leah Ramirez JUST 5 SMOOTH STONES JANUARY 31, 2010 A. David shows up to the battle as a cheese carrier. Literally, a cheese carrier. Talk about humiliating. He’s sent to make sure His brothers have enough to eat while they coward on the line of battle for 40 days. He has no official title. He’s not even in the army. He brings cheese.

B. But he’s provoked. He hears the taunt and jealousy for the name of the Lord arises in His heart. This wasn’t about making a name for himself…this is zeal for the reputation of the living God. David has a revelation of salvation of God from the hidden place. And no one can talk Him out of it.

C. He’s not even in the army, but Saul wants him suited up. After all, finally someone is willing to step out…let’s put on the company name. Saul has no confidence in his armor for his own life…he’s not willing to wear it on the battlefield, but David will at least look the part.

D. David goes out with nothing. He is not dressed for battle. He looks foolish. Young, stupid and severely underdressed. But out He goes…

E. The key to his confidence wasn’t his outfit, but his experience with God when no one was watching! And with just a handful of stones He kills the enemy that has paralyzed an entire army. With one blow everything changes. Take out the giant, and the whole army turns!!!!

Matthew 12 29 Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

F. It’s time to bind the strong man. Take out the strong man and we plunder the state! Take out the strong man and indeed we may plunder his house.

G. The house of prayer should content with every other house. The Doll House, Parliament House…the Slaughtering House (Abortion Centers) all have a strong man…but once bound, there is a plundering from Heaven. This revival! Strippers singing, prostitutes now prophesy, near aborted children alive to be abolitionists!!!! This is revival…and it is coming. It’s time we take up our 5 smooth stones.

II. PERSONAL ENCOUNTER

Revelation 1 9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”

12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

RESOUND MISSIONS BASE www.Resound247.com 2 Resound Church Leah Ramirez JUST 5 SMOOTH STONES JANUARY 31, 2010 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

A. We need a heavenly encounter with Jesus.

B. For real, we need an encounter with this man. Theology and apologetics is not going to cut it. We can’t argue with Goliath. Our enemy can’t be reasoned with. Our enemy is not going to let up until he is bound.

C. Here’s the good news: You can know someone who has the keys of Death and Hades.

D. John records 7 letters to the churches, and every church had a specific mission. Every church had a specific purpose related to the region she dwelled in. Depending on her enemy, she was given a different mandate and reward for overcoming.

E. Again, this is the hour to prepare our hearts. We have picked a fight…we need to know the One we are siding with. Are you making time with the Lord? David didn’t develop confidence solely by sitting in a religious service…he was doing his job out tending the sheep. This is about sensitizing your heart to encounter the Lord wherever you are stationed.

F. Ask the Lord for encounter. Ask the Lord to reveal who He really is. Ask the Lord to awaken you. He will.

III. CORPORATE PRAYER AND WORSHIP –THE ARMY OF THE LORD

A. Although one boy took out Goliath, it took an army to route the enemy. We need each other plain and simple. One stone killed the giant, but to plunder the enemy we need all hands on deck.

B. Beyond conference day…beyond the Stand4LIFE event, we have an entire region we are talking about. Thank God for what is happening in Ivey Lane, but how many other neighborhoods need the same witness? Thank God for the bound4life stand at EPOC and Planed Parenthood, but Florida has over 62 abortion centers.

C. It is time to awaken the church…it’s time to awaken the army.

D. There is a season for personal encounter…you need that before you get to the battle. And then there a time for the corporate manifestation of the church in that region!!!

Song of Songs 1 SHE 7 Tell me, you whom my soul loves,where you pasture your flock,where you make it lie down at noon;for why should I be like one who veils herselfbeside the flocks of your companions? He 8 If you do not know,O most beautiful among women,follow in the tracks of the flock,and pasture your young goatsbeside the shepherds' tents. A. Jesus is with the flock. He describes Himself as the One who walks among the lampstands, the churches. We will never mature without being really joined in a body. The flock cannot replace a

RESOUND MISSIONS BASE www.Resound247.com 3 Resound Church Leah Ramirez JUST 5 SMOOTH STONES JANUARY 31, 2010 relationship with Jesus, but a relationship with Jesus cannot replace the flock. He designed it this way. We need each other.

B. Our rough places will be softened and our dull places will be sharpened. We need the body to become the bride. We cannot confuse holiness with just being undisturbed. We need to be disturbed. Living with the flock is messy. Lot’s of dirt, and let’s face it…lot’s of poop.

C. But when you think about it…poop makes things grow!

IV. REGIONAL INTERCESSION

Genesis 18 17 The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” 20 Then the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, 21 I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know…”

22…but Abraham still stood before the Lord. 23 Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” 26 And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

27 Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 29 Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” 30 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” 31 He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” 32 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” 33 And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

A. Abraham’s zeal for the Lord’s name provokes Him into partnership. This is the first instance of regional intercession recorded in the scripture, by our father in the faith. This is our inheritance.

B. If at first you don’t succeed…try, try again. Get up. Dust yourself off and keep going. Get up!!!! Get up!!!! Next time very well could be different.

James 2 14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them,

RESOUND MISSIONS BASE www.Resound247.com 4 Resound Church Leah Ramirez JUST 5 SMOOTH STONES JANUARY 31, 2010 “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

C. Our region needs a witness. The name of our God is on the line, and jealousy for His name will arouse this Davidic generation to take their place.

D. We have grown so accustomed to the taunts of Goliath in our lives that it just blends into the background of our lives. It would be better for us to run to the battle line without looking the part, than to sit on the sidelines stuffed with cheese!

E. Faith with works! This faith of ours makes a requirement of us. Take your place. Put your hand in the dirt dust of your stones. It’s time.

RESOUND OUTREACH SCHEDULE

CAMPUS OUTREACH - Nikko Sangalang (407)-492-1033

RESOUND MISSIONS BASE www.Resound247.com 5 Resound Church Leah Ramirez JUST 5 SMOOTH STONES JANUARY 31, 2010 UCF Outreach- Nikko Sangalang Where: Meet at the Student Union (center of the campus) When: Monday @ 3:00pm-4:30pm

End times class @UCF- Nikko Sangalang Where: Barbra Ying Center (first building on the right coming from University Blvd.) When: Monday @ 5:00pm-7:00pm

Prayer for repentance - Daniel (407)-432-1323 Where: Lyman High School @ the courtyard When: Wednesday @ 6:55am-7:15am

Bible Study – Jori (407)-486-2252/ Kendall Thorsell Where: Pine Castle Christian Academy on Orange Ave. When: Thursday @ 3:00pm-4:00pm

WORSHIP OUTREACH - Danny Santiago (321)-945-5731 Where: Lake Eola across Panera When: Tuesday @ 2:30pm-3:45pm

INNER CITY OUTREACH - Xavier Gonzalez (407)-919-9810 Where: Ivey Lane play ground- 4601 Edgemoor St. Orlando, FL 32811 When: Tuesday/Wednesday @ 2:30pm-4:00pm Every other Saturday @ Noon-2:00pm

MERCY OUTREACH - Brittnee Mayhew (407)-404-3733 Where: Orlando Rescue Mission- 1521 W. Washington Street, Orlando, FL 32805 When: Wednesday @ 2:20pm-3:50pm

Where: Guardian Care Nursing and Rehab Center - 2500 W. Church St. Orlando, Fl 32805 When: Thursday @ 2:00pm-3:45pm

JUSTICE OUTREACH - Mike Kochenburger (407)-461-2581 Where: Bound4Life @ UCF (Planned Parenthood) When: Monday @ 2:30pm-4:00pm

Where: Bound4Life @ Planned Parenthood- 726 Tampa Ave. When: Wednesday @ 10:00am-12:00pm

Where: Bound4Life/Pure Life Revolution @ EPOC/Rachel's When: Thursday @ 2:00pm-4:00pm

Where: Bound4Life @ EPOC When: Friday Night @ 10:00pm-Midnight Saturday @ 10:00am-Noon

RESOUND MISSIONS BASE www.Resound247.com 6 Resound Church Leah Ramirez JUST 5 SMOOTH STONES JANUARY 31, 2010

Where: Pure Life Revolution @ Crystal Cabaret or Club Harem When: Saturday Night @ 10:00pm-Midnight

RESOUND MISSIONS BASE www.Resound247.com 7