Sermon Notes 11/2 – The Restraining Force

Verse 6 – Restraining – means to hold something down and back

-this restraining force is for today and now

Verse 7 – the time limit for the restraining force – it will be removed at the rapture

-the restraining force is the church empowered by the Holy Spirit

-The Holy Spirit is not removed with the church.  The Holy Spirit is God and everywhere at once – Acts 5:1-5 & Psalm 139:7-14

-The Holy Spirit is present during the Tribulation period of time

   ***Conviction – John 16:5-11

convicts – means to convince and is a legal term

-The Holy Spirit strengthens us

Psalm 119:28/28:7-8 & 29:11/Ps 68:35 & 73:26…Isaiah 12:2 & 41:10

          *the Holy Spirit strengthens our resolve to follow Jesus

***The restraining force (the church through the Holy Spirit) restrains a complete and total take over of evil and wickedness through prayer – crying out prayer…

1. Crying out prayer is lifting up our voices to the Lord

2. Crying out prayer is scriptural – Ps 88:1-2,13 & 102:1-2 & 18:6

3. The definition of crying out prayer – to roar like a lion/to make a shrill or ringing sound/to call outloud/to shout

4. Why do we need to cry out to the Lord?

                  a. Because of the times we are living in – 1 Chr 12:32 & 2 Tim 3:1-10

                  b. Because the Lord limits Himself to our prayers – Matt 7:7-8

5. We must continually cry out to the Lord – Luke 11:5-8

***Mark 10:46-52

6. The Blessings Of Crying Out To The Lord

1., Psalm 30:2 – the Lord heals

2. Demonic influences are defeated – Matthew 15:21-28

3. Miracles – 1 Kings 17:17-24

4. Deliverance – Exodus 2:23 & 3:7-10

5. The Lord answers crying out prayer – Jonah 2:2