26 Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.

27 The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”

Luke 7: When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people, he returned to Capernaum. 2 At that time the highly valued slave of a Roman officer was sick and near death. 3 When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some respected Jewish elders to ask him to come and heal his slave. 4 So they earnestly begged Jesus to help the man. “If anyone deserves your help, he does,” they said, 5 “for he loves the Jewish people and even built a synagogue for us.”

6 So Jesus went with them. But just before they arrived at the house, the officer sent some friends to say, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of such an honor. 7 I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 8 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”

9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, “I tell you, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!” 10 And when the officer’s friends returned to his house, they found the slave completely healed.

26 Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!”

COULD YOU HANDLE CORRECTION IN THE MIDST OF YOUR STORM?

REAL FAITH IS NOT SIMPLY UNDERSTANDING AUTHORITY, BUT PLACING ONESELF UNDER AUTHORITY.

WE CAN HAVE APTITUDE AND UNDERSTANDING, BUT IF WE HAVE NO GIFTED TALENT OR ABILITY WE ARE IMPOTENT.

GIFTED FAITH IS THE ABILITY TO PLACE EVERYTHING UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHRIST.

WHEN IT’S UNDER JESUS AUTHORITY, HE HAS THE POWER TO EXERCISE HIS WILL.

LUKE 6: 46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? 47 I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. 48 It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. 49 But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”

HEBREWS 11: 6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

REAL FAITH IS NOT SIMPLY UNDERSTANDING AUTHORITY, BUT PLACING ONESELF UNDER AUTHORITY.

1. WHAT IN MY LIFE IS NOT UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS?

EPHESIANS 1: 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.

COLOSSIANS 2: 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

REAL FAITH IS NOT SIMPLY UNDERSTANDING AUTHORITY, BUT PLACING ONESELF UNDER AUTHORITY.

1 Corinthians 13:1 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

Chapter 14

1 Let love be your highest goal!

WE DEFINE LOVE TO MEAN WHATEVER WE WANT TO MAKE IT MEAN.

Mark 10: 17 As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. 19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’”

20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”

21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22 At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

1. IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO LOVE SOMEONE YOU DON’T KNOW.

WHY DO YOU CALL ME GOOD? ONLY GOD IS GOOD?

HOW WE ADDRESS JESUS IS ALWAYS THE  BEGINNING TEST OF HUMILITY!

JESUS HAS TO BE LORD IN ORDER TO CHANGE OUR HEART!

JESUS AS MASTER AND LORD, GIVES COMMANDS, NOT RECOMMENDATIONS!

1. Love is the missing ingredient.

1 Corinthians 8: Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.

GOD’S LESSONS ARE NEVER LIMITED TO GREATER KNOWLEDGE!

Deuteronomy 6: 4 “Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. 5 And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.

Matthew 22: 37 Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

WE WILL ALWAYS SACRIFICE FOR WHAT WE LOVE!

1. The Jesus Test!

At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Would Jesus ask me to give up my loves to follow Him?

OUR PRIDE OR HUMILITY, DETERMINES OUR ABILITY TO ANSWER THE CALL!

1. Is Jesus the Lord and Master of my life?
2. What other loves inhibit my love for Jesus?
3. Am I willing to sacrifice my loves for my love for Jesus?

2 Corinthians 1: 8 We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. 9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, WE STOPPED RELYING ON OURSELVES AND LEARNED TO RELY ONLY ON GOD, who raises the dead. 10 And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. WE HAVE PLACED OUR CONFIDENCE IN HIM, and he will continue to rescue us.

THE KEY: WE STOPPED RELYING ON OURSELVES AND LEARNED TO RELY ONLY ON GOD!

FAITH IS A TOTAL TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN GOD.

CONFIDENCE IN GOD, NOT CONFIDENT IN OUR OWN ABILITY!

WE HAVE TO DIE TO OUR DESIRE TO CONTROL!

PROVERBS 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.

REAL GOD CONFIDENCE IS NOT ESTABLISHED IN THE FULFILLMENT OF A REQUEST, BUT KNOWING WHO WE ARE TO GOD!

ROMANS 8: 35 CAN ANYTHING EVER SEPARATE US FROM CHRIST’S LOVE? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 NO, DESPITE ALL THESE THINGS, OVERWHELMING VICTORY IS OURS THROUGH CHRIST, WHO LOVED US.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, NOTHING IN ALL CREATION will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I AM LOVED!

THERE IS NEVER A CIRCUMSTANCE DIRE ENOUGH THAT CAN DEFINE WHO I AM TO GOD!

THE FAITH LIFE IS FOUND ONLY THROUGH DEATH.

LUKE 9: 23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

1. IS THE FAITH LIFE ALWAYS GETTING WHAT WE WANT ON OUR TERMS?

JESUS HAS TO BE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY!

1 Peter 2: 13 For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, 14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.

FAITH IS MORE THAN A BELIEF SYSTEM, FAITH IS A LIFE OF COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN GOD OVER EVERY AREA OF OUR LIFE.

1. ESTABLISHING FAITH THROUGH HUMILITY!

1. FAITH IS TOTAL CONFIDENCE IN GOD!

DO I USE GOD AS MY EMERGENCY PLAN, HOPING HE COMES THROUGH?

1. KNOWING MY IDENTITY DETERMINES MY CONFIDENCE IN GOD.

DO I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH NO OR NOT NOW?

I MAY HAVE AN AUTHORITY ISSUE!  MEANING I WANT TO BE THE AUTHORITY!

1. DEATH TO MY CONTROL ENABLES LIFE TO MY FAITH!

AM I WILLING TO RELINQUISH COMPLETE CONTROL TO GOD?

WE STOPPED RELYING ON OURSELVES AND LEARNED TO RELY ONLY ON GOD!

1. JESUS AS LORD IS MORE THAN JUST A TITLE.

CAN I GIVE JESUS AUTHORITY OVER EVERY AREA OF MY LIFE?

10 “Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests.

11 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

LEARNING THE LESSON OF HUMILITY IS IMPERATIVE FOR BLESSING AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH.

For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Jesus Truth!!!

WE CRAVE FOR THE ATTENTION OF OTHERS TO HELP AFFIRM WHO WE ASPIRE TO BE!

WHEN PEOPLE ARE THE SOURCE OF OUR VALIDATION, THEY THEN BECOME THE GREAT DETERMINER OF OUR IDENTITY!

IF I ALLOWED YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF ME TO DETERMINE MY IDENTITY, I WOULDN’T BE PREACHING THIS SERMON TODAY!

MATTHEW 6: 5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

IN ORDER TO CHANGE OUR PRIDE WE HAVE TO EXAMINE AND CHANGE OUR MOTIVATION.

THE TRUTH IS: HUMILITY IS ENACTED BY OUR CHOOSING WHO WE DESIRE TO PLEASE AND HONOR.

WE CANNOT APPLY OUR DIFFICULTIES WITH DYSFUNCTIONAL MAN TO A PERFECT GOD!

SUBMISSION IS HUMILITY IN ACTION!

Ephesians 5: 21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

James 3: 13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

1. PLEASING GOD AND WALKING IN HUMILITY BRINGS A GODLY REWARD.

Proverbs 29: 23 Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.

Matthew 5:5 God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.

James 4: 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

1 Peter 5: 5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for

    “God opposes the proud

      but gives grace to the humble.”

6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

1. GOD SUPERNATURALLY GIVES PROMOTION TO THE HUMBLE.

EPHESIANS 3: 8 Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE PRIDEFUL ARE NOT ALWAYS CHANGED TO BECOME  HUMBLE!

HUMILITY ENABLES US TO SERVE GOD WITH THE RIGHT MOTIVATION!

1. THE PATH TO SUPERNATURAL PROMOTION

1. RECOGNIZE EVIL (PRIDEFUL) MOTIVATIONS AND REPENT.
2. BY FAITH, ALLOW GOD TO BE THE REWARDER.
3. YIELD TO RIGHT OF WAY TO OTHERS AND SHOW HONOR.

AS CHRISTIANS, THERE ARE FOUNDATIONAL LESSONS THAT ARE A PREREQUISITE FOR GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION.

COLOSSIANS 1: 6 This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.

GOD’S END GOAL IN OUR LIFE IS SALVATION AND TRANSFORMATION!

1. EDUCATION IS ORDERED AND INTENTIONAL!

GOD’S EDUCATION SYSTEM IS ALSO ORDERED AND INTENTIONAL!

TRUTH: ROMANS 11: 36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

Proverbs 11: 2 Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

James 3: 13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.

1 Peter 5: 5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for

    “God opposes the proud

      but gives grace to the humble.”

6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

HUMILITY PRECEDES WISDOM!

HUMILITY IS VITAL FOR SALVATION!

TRUE OBEDIENCE AND SUBMISSION IS IMPOSSIBLE!

HUMILITY ENABLES FAITH!

HUMILITY EMPOWERS LOVE!

1. INTENTIONALLY PLACE YOURSELF IN SECOND PLACE!

JOHN 5: 19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.

PHILIPPIANS 2: 6 Though he was God,

      he did not think of equality with God

      as something to cling to.

    7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;

      he took the humble position of a slave

      and was born as a human being.

    When he appeared in human form,

      8 he humbled himself in obedience to God

      and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

HUMILITY PRECEDES SUBMISSION.

SUBMISSION LEADS TO FAITH.

WHICH IN TURN ENABLES OBEDIENCE.

OBEDIENCE TO GOD LEADS TO BLESSING FOR GOD.

1. CHANGE YOUR POSITION AND CHANGE YOUR CONFESSION!
2. SERVE WITHOUT EXPECTATION OF HUMAN RECOGNITION!

IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE GOD!

IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE GOD!

IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE GOD!

LUKE 17: 7 “When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does his master say, ‘Come in and eat with me’? 8 No, he says, ‘Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.’ 9 And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. 10 In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’ ”

1. IS THE COURSE SO HARD, YOU JUST QUIT?
2. THE ELEMENTARY IS IMPORTANT!
3. GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND FOCUS UPON LEARNING!
4. PRACTICE HUMILITY THEN LIVE IN OBEDIENCE!

WHY SO SPECIFIC? BECAUSE, WITHOUT ADEQUATE EXPECTATION THERE IS ALWAYS FRUSTRATION.

1. GOD IS A FIRST PLACE GOD WHO ALWAYS EXPECTS THE BEST!

ROMANS 12: And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

DOES GOOD EXPECT THE VERY BEST FROM US?

MATTHEW 22:11 “But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. 12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply. 13 Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

REVELATION 3: 17 You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. 18 So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.

THERE IS ALWAYS AN INVESTMENT OF TIME AND ENERGY NECESSARY TO ACQUIRE THE NECESSITIES OF GOD’S KINGDOM.

1. THE DETAILS ARE ALWAYS IN THE INSTRUCTIONS!

2 Chronicles 16: 7 At that time Hanani the seer came to King Asa and told him, “Because you have put your trust in the king of Aram instead of in the LORD your God, you missed your chance to destroy the army of the king of Aram. 8 Don’t you remember what happened to the Ethiopians and Libyans and their vast army, with all of their chariots and charioteers? At that time you relied on the LORD, and he handed them over to you. 9 The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war.”

HERE IS THE KEY: EVERY MIRACLE STARTS WITH A PROBLEM!

1. GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS ALWAYS REQUIRE FAITH!

John 9: As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”

3 “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. 4 We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. 5 But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”

6 Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. 7 He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!

HERE’S THE LESSON

1. NOT EVERY MIRACLE IS INSTANTANEOUS!
2. SOMETIMES THE DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS DON’T MAKE ANY SENSE!
3. FAITH IS FOLLOWING DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS EVEN WHEN THEY DON’T MAKE SENSE.
4. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE NEED HELP FROM OTHERS TO GET TO THE PLACE TO RECEIVE OUR MIRACLE!
5. THE PROCESS IS  ALWAYS AS IMPORTANT AS THE END RESULT.

1. THE WRAP-UP

1. GOD KNOWS ALL THE DETAILS OF YOUR LIFE!

HE IS INTERESTED AND DESIRES TO BE INVOLVED!

1. GOD HAS A DETAILED PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE!

IT BEGINS WITH BELIEVING IN ORDER TO RECEIVE!

1. GOD’S DETAILED PLAN INCLUDES DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS!

MATTHEW 6: 25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

DYNAMIC FAITH IS ESTABLISHED UPON THE BELIEF THAT GOD IS INTERESTED AND INVOLVED IN EVERY DETAIL OF OUR LIFE.

DYNAMIC FAITH HAS THE ABILITY TO GROW QUICKLY.  BUT, IT ALSO HAS THE POTENTIAL TO MAKE MANY CRASH AND BURN.

OUR PERCEPTION OF OUR PROBLEMS DETERMINE OUR FAITH!

Romans 5: 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

It’s never just the problem, but how we deal with the problem.

OUR SOLE PURPOSE IS JUST TO SURVIVE! 

When survival becomes our objective, our chosen distractions or COPING MECHANISMS often become the crutches we can’t live without.

WHERE YOU GIVE ATTENTION, YOU GIVE AUTHORITY.

Enduring or surviving is never God’s end objective, building strength and confidence is God’s end objective.

HOW ARE YOU? AND WHO ARE YOU COMING OUT OF YOUR PROBLEM?

1. A CONFIDENT HOPE IS SEEING GOD IN THE DETAILS.

If God loves me and is interested in every detail, then why is this happening to me?

We cannot allow our circumstances to continually determine our faith.

For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

THE PURPOSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TO FILL OUR HEARTS WITH HIS LOVE!

1. BUILDING DYNAMIC FAITH!

1. BELIEVE THAT GOD IS INTERESTED IN EVERY DETAIL OF OUR LIVES!

1. GOD INTENDS TO MAKE US OVERCOMERS, NOT OVERWHELMED!

ROMANS 8: 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

1. ENGAGE THE HOLY SPIRIT NOT THE COPING MECHANISM!

HOW ARE YOU COMING OUT OF YOUR PROBLEMS?

      He delights in every detail of their lives.

    24 Though they stumble, they will never fall,

      for the LORD holds them by the hand.

GOD IS INTERESTED, AND DESIRES TO BE INVOLVED IN EVERY DETAIL OF THE LIVES OF THE GODLY.

OUR BELIEF THAT GOD IS IMMENSELY INTERESTED IN EVERY DETAIL OF OUR LIFE, DETERMINES THE MAGNITUDE AND QUALITY OF OUR FAITH.

MATTHEW 10: 28 “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

GOD HAS OUR BEST INTEREST, ALL THE TIME!

IN ORDER TO OVERCOME FEAR, WE HAVE TO REPLACE IT WITH FAITH!

1. WORRY IS FEAR!

MATTHEW 6: 25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

WE HAVE BECOME A BONUS MINDED SOCIETY!

PSALM 37: 23 The LORD directs the steps of the godly.

He delights in every detail of their lives.

24 Though they stumble, they will never fall,

for the LORD holds them by the hand.

1. OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO RESPOND IN CONFIDENT OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S TRUTH.

1. WE WANT TO CHOOSE WHICH DETAILS WE WANT GOD TO BE INVOLVED IN!

1. SEEING GOD’S INVOLVEMENT IN DETAILS!

1. BE CONFIDENT AND THANKFUL, EMBRACING GOD’S CARE AND PROVISION.

1. INCLUDE GOD IN EVERY DETAIL.
2. ASK WITH ASSURANCE, KNOWING THAT GOD REALLY WANTS TO BE INVOLVED!

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And

whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Romans 8:28

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose”

1.) RELATIONSHIP

Revelation 3:20

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Matthew 5:6

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

Psalms 27:4

“One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.”

Psalm 119:10

“With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments”

Psalm 9:10

“And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you”

2.) FAITH

Hebrews 11:6

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

1 Samuel 2:9

“He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail.”

3.) OBEDIENCE

John 14:15

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments”

Romans 12:1

I appeal to you therefore, brothers,a by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

John 14:23

“But I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.”

4.) LOVE AND FORGIVENESS
 

Matthew 6:14-15

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

1 Peter 4:8

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”

1 John 4:8

“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

1 Corinthians 1:13 will sum it for us today
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[b] 6 it does not rejoice at

wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

12 So David took the spear and jug of water that were near Saul’s head. Then he and Abishai got away without anyone seeing them or even waking up, because the LORD had put Saul’s men into a deep sleep.

IF WE BASE OUR LIFE ON “LUCK”, LIFE WE TAKE US PLACES WE DON’T WANT TO GO!

LIFE FOR A CHRISTIAN IS DETERMINED BOTH BY THE LORD’S DIRECTION, AND THEN OUR FAITH AND GODLY CHARACTER.

CHARISMA WITHOUT GODLY CHARACTER IS A DISASTER.

WHAT MADE DAVID TICK? WE DON’T HAVE TO GUESS

PSALM 63: A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah. 1 O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. 3 Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! 4 I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. 5 You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. 6 I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. 7 Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. 8 I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely. 9 But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin. They will go down into the depths of the earth. 10 They will die by the sword and become the food of jackals. 11 But the king will rejoice in God. All who swear to tell the truth will praise him, while liars will be silenced.

OUR PURPOSEFUL DETERMINATION ALWAYS ESTABLISHES OUR GODLY CHARACTER.

Determination- firmness of purpose; resoluteness.

1. B.LEARNING AND REINFORCING DETERMINATION COMES FROM CONVICTION, SELF-DISCIPLINE, AND REDUNDANT REPETITION.

DEUTERONOMY 1: 37 Because of you the LORD also became angry with me and said, ‘Not even you, Moses, will enter the land. 38But strengthen the determination of your helper, Joshua son of Nun. He will lead Israel to occupy the land.

The Holy Bible: The Good news Translation

DEUTERONOMY 3: 28 Give Joshua his instructions. Strengthen his determination, because he will lead the people across to occupy the land that you see.

The Holy Bible: The Good news Translation

GREAT LEADERS NEVER ALLOW LUCK TO DETERMINE THEIR DESTINY!

GREAT LEADERS ALLOW THEIR CONVICTIONS AND CHARACTER TO DETERMINE THEIR DESTINY!

IT’S NEVER EASY! BUT, BEING THE BEST IS DOESN’T JUST HAPPEN!

ACCEPTANCE BY OTHERS DOESN’T MAKE ANYONE A GREAT LEADER!

1. A.PREPARE YOURSELF FOR YOURSELF!

1.CHOOSE TO FIND THE HEART OF GOD.

2.ESTABLISH DAILY GODLY HABITS.

3.DON’T CHOOSE TO BE DIFFERENT, BE DETERMINED TO BE GODLY!

10 So the Philistines fought desperately, and Israel was defeated again. The slaughter was great; 30,000 Israelite soldiers died that day. The survivors turned and fled to their tents. 11 The Ark of God was captured, and Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were killed.

WE ARE NOT REALLY AS INTERESTED IN THE CAUSE OF DEFEAT, AS WE ARE JUST CHANGING THE RESULTS.

IDOLS ARE USED FOR SELF-ENHANCEMENT AND A CHANGE IN FORTUNE!

Matthew 22: 37 Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.

THE 4 C'S THAT DEFINE RELATIONSHIP!

1. 1.COMPATIBILITY
2. 2.CONSIDERATION (
3. 3.COMMUNICATION
4. 4.COLLABORATION

LOVE IS NOT A ONE-WAY STREET!

GOD LOOKS ON THE HEART!

1 SAMUEL 13: 14 But now your kingdom must end, for the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart. The LORD has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.”

DAVID SLEW THE GIANT BECAUSE HE WAS THE RIGHT MAN WITH THE RIGHT HEART!

1 SAMUEL 16: 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

THE REAL TEST - COMPATIBILITY AND CONSIDERATION.

DOING WHAT PLEASES GOD IN SPITE OF HOW PERSONALLY ADVANTAGEOUS IT MAY BE FOR OURELVES.

1 SAMUEL 24: 3 At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave! 4 “Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the LORD is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’ ” So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe. 5 But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. 6 He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the LORD’s anointed one, for the LORD himself has chosen him.” 7 So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul. After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way, 8 David came out and shouted after him, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him. 9 Then he shouted to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you? 10 This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true. For the LORD placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king—he is the LORD’s anointed one.’ 11 Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me. 12 “May the LORD judge between us. Perhaps the LORD will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you.

WHAT IF YOU COULD CHANGE YOUR DESTINY TODAY?

A RIGHT HEART IS NOT BENDING GOD’S COMMANDMENTS FOR OUR BENEFIT!

1. B.THE RELATIONSHIP TEST?

1. 1.AM I COMPATIBLE?  DO I WANT A GOD OR A GOOD LUCK CHARM?
2. 2.AM I CONSIDERATE?  DO I DESIRE TO PLEASE GOD ABOVE PLEASING MYSELF?
3. 3.COMMUNICATION? DO I ASK GOD?  DO I LISTEN FOR AN ANSWER?
4. 4.COLLABORATION? DO I WANT TO DO GOD PROJECTS WITH GOD RESULTS?

PSALM 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.

Renew a loyal spirit within me. 11 Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and make me willing to obey you.

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT’S MORE THAN JUST A BAD DAY OR THE NORMAL HAPPENSTANCE OF LIFE.

GOD IS MORE THAN JUST A GOOD LUCK CHARM!

SIN ALWAYS HAS CONSEQUENCES THAT SOMEONE HAS TO PAY!

THERE ARE SO MANY WHO LIVE AS PRISONERS TO THEIR PAST!

1. 1.FAITH IS ALWAYS THE DETERMINER!

GALATIANS 3: 13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.

THE CURSED ALWAYS CURSE AND THE BLESSED ALWAYS BLESS!

WHAT WE BELIEVE NOT ONLY DETERMINES OUR LIFE, BUT THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO FOLLOW BEHIND US!

1. 2.RECEIVE TRUTH AND BE HONEST!

MARK 2: 17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

1 JOHN 1: 8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

IF YOU HANG OUT WITH SICK PEOPLE, YOU ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE SICK!

1. 3.GIVE WHAT YOU HAVE! BE THE BLESSING!

LUKE 6: 37 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

THE MORE WE INVEST IN PEOPLE THE MORE WE ARE GIVEN TO INVEST!

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

1 Peter 5:8

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

• Nehemiah 1:2-3
• Nehemiah 1:4 
  “As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days....” 
   

Nehemiah 1:4-6

1.) PRAYER / TAKE IT TO GOD

2 Chronicles 7:14

if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Matthew 18:4
“Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

2.) TRUST THAT GOD WILL PROVIDE THE RESOURCES FOR CHANGE

Matthew 6:3

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Nehemiah 2:11-12

“So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem.”

3.) YOU CAN EXPECT WHAT YOU DON’T INSPECT

Nehemiah 2:13-15

I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. Then I went on to the fountain gate and to the kings pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass. Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned.

2 Corinthians 13:5

“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”

Psalm 147:3

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

2 CORINTHIANS 1: 21 It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, 22 and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.

THE HOLY SPIRIT CREATES OUR IDENTITY AND GUARANTEES OUR SUCCESS!

THE SECRETS OF GOD’S KINGDOM ARE NOT ALWAYS OBVIOUS BUT HIDDEN.

MARK 4: 11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, 12 so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they see what I do, they will learn nothing. When they hear what I say, they will not understand. Otherwise, they will turn to me and be forgiven.’”

ARE YOU A SEEKER INTENT ON FINDING THE SECRETS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD?

WE LIVE IN A VERY ABNORMAL WORLD!

THE TRUTH: DARKNESS IS ALWAYS CHANGING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF NORMAL.

Isaiah 5:20 What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.

THE MORE NORMAL THE DYSFUNCTIONAL WAYS OF THIS WORLD BECOME, THE MORE THE WAYS OF GOD SEEM ABNORMAL.

1. A.WE WANT THE REWARD WITHOUT THE PROCESS IT TAKES TO ACHIEVE THE REWARD.

A HOLY SPIRIT PROCESS IS THE SURRENDER OF CONTROL!

1. TO EMBRACE THE HOLY SPIRIT PROCESS WE HAVE TO EMBRACE THE UNCOMFORTABLE AS NORMAL, THEN TRUST THE PROCESS!

ROMANS 2: 29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

THE PURPOSE: GALATIANS 5: 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

THE PROCESS: GALATIANS 5: 16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

THE BIGGER THE INFLUENCE, THE GREATER THE DIRECTION!

1. WE NEED A BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT!

ACTS 1: 4 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

ACTS 2: 1 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

5 At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. 6 When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.

WE CAN GET CAUGHT UP, AND FREAKED OUT BY THE PROCESS, AND MISS THE PURPOSE.

ACTS 2: 14 Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. 15 These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. 16 No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel: 17 ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. 18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike— and they will prophesy.

PRESENTING THE CASE WHY YOU SHOULD BELIEVE AND RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT!

1. IT’S GOD’S WORD.
2. THE END PURPOSE IS WORTH THE PROCESS.
3. SATAN WANTS TO KEEP YOU IN THE DARK.

GOD IS IN THE BUSINESS OF TRANSFORMATION!

FEAR AND DISAPPOINTMENT CAN OVERWHELM FAITH!

LIFE CAN TRAUMATIZE OUR BEING AND OVERWHELM OUR FAITH!

LUKE 24: 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. 47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ 48 You are witnesses of all these things. 49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

MOST OF THE TIME, WE PRAY AND DESIRE AN OLD TESTAMENT GOD!

GOD COULD NEVER PROVIDE ENOUGH EXTERNAL EVIDENCE OF HIMSELF TO CHANGE A HEART!

THE OPEN SECRET OF THE NEW TESTAMENT!

ROMANS 8: 11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

1 JOHN 4: 4 But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.

ROMANS 5: 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

GALATIANS 5: 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

THE POWER IS FROM WITHIN!

WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT HABITATION THERE IS NO TRANSFORMATION.

LUKE 11: 24 “When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ 25 So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order. 26 Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before.”

ACTS 3:12 Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness?

ARE YOU WILLING FOR JESUS TO CLEAN YOUR WHOLE HOUSE?

ARE YOU THEN WILLING FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT TO INHABIT THE WHOLE HOUSE?

TAKE IT HOME!

1. INVITE JESUS TO CLEAN YOUR WHOLE HOUSE!
2. THEN ASK FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT TO COME AND INHABIT YOUR WHOLE HOUSE!
3. EXPERIENCE TRANSFORMATION FROM THE POWER WITHIN.

HOW CAN A VICTORY 2,000 YEARS AGO IMPACT MY LIFE TODAY?

EASTER IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE CELEBRATION OF VICTORY 2,000 YEARS AGO, BUT EXPERIENCING A VICTORY TODAY!

ROMANS 8: 9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) 10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. 11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. 12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.

ONCE, THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELT IN THE HOLY OF HOLIES. NOW, WE HAVE BECOME THE TEMPLE OF GOD WHERE THE HOLY SPIRIT ABIDES.

1 CORINTHIANS 6: 19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

THE VICTORY IS NOT JUST IN THE FUTURE!  THE VICTORY CAN BE FOUND TODAY!

11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.

THE ENEMY USES OUR WARPED IDEAS AND OPINIONS ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT TO KEEP US FROM VICTORY!

“I DON’T WANT TO BE A PART OF ANYTHING I CAN’T UNDERSTAND!”

ROMANS 1: 17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

FAITH IS ALWAYS BELIEVING IN SOMETHING OR SOMEONE WITHOUT COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING.

LIKE, BELIEVING IN A GOD WE CAN’T SEE!

SALVATION IS THE GIFT THAT ENABLES THE POTENTIAL FOR VICTORY!

STEP ONE: RECEIVE AND ACCEPT THE GIFT AND TERMS OF THE NEW COVENANT!

11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.

LUKE 11: 9 “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 “You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? 12 Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! 13 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

HOW OFTEN DO WE NEED VICTORY?

WE HAVE THE AVAILABILITY AND THE CAPACITY TO BECOME THE HABITATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

POTENTIAL DOESN’T EQUATE TO REALITY!

1. WE HAVE TO KEEP ASKING, KEEP SEEKING, KEEP KNOCKING!

11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.

THE ANSWER IS NOT IN OUR ABILITY TO ASK, BUT WHAT TO ASK FOR!

• THE PATH TO VICTORY

1. ELIMINATE IRRATIONAL FEARS ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT.
2. BELIEVE IN SALVATION AND SANCTIFICATION.
3. ASK FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT.
4. EXPERIENCE AND CELEBRATE A HOLY SPIRIT VICTORY!

• OUR HEART REPRESENTS WHO WE REALLY ARE.

• LUKE 6: 45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

• OUR HEARTS ARE THE REAL DETERMINER OF OUR FAITH!

• MARK 11: 22 Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. 23 I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.

• IT’S MUCH EASIER TO HAVE FAITH IN OUR EXPERIENCE, THAN TO HAVE FAITH IN GOD’S WORD!

• DISCIPLESHIP IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF TRAINING, BUT REVELATION THAT LEADS TO A CHANGE OF HEART.

• DEUTERONOMY 11: 13 “If you carefully obey the commands I am giving you today, and if you love the LORD your God and serve him with all your heart and soul, 14 then he will send the rains in their proper seasons—the early and late rains—so you can bring in your harvests of grain, new wine, and olive oil. 15 He will give you lush pastureland for your livestock, and you yourselves will have all you want to eat. 16 “But be careful. Don’t let your heart be deceived so that you turn away from the LORD and serve and worship other gods. 17 If you do, the LORD’s anger will burn against you. He will shut up the sky and hold back the rain, and the ground will fail to produce its harvests. Then you will quickly die in that good land the LORD is giving you. 18 “So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 19 Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 20 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, 21 so that as long as the sky remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors.

• PROVERBS 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.

• HERE IS THE TRUTH: GOD’S COMMANDMENTS BRING BLESSING!

• 1 JOHN 2: 3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.

• OBEYING COMMANDMENTS MEANS WE ARE NOT IN CHARGE!

• WE DON’T WANT A PRESCRIBED ROLE OR OBEDIENCE! WE WANT THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE TO PLEASE OURSELVES.

• OUR HEART HAS AN ISSUE WITH AUTHORITY, BECAUSE WE DON’T WANT TO HAVE TO RELY AND TRUST IN ANYONE OTHER THAN OURSELVES.

• HAVE YOU EVER PRAYED DANGEROUS PRAYERS?

• PSALM 51:    10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. 11 Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.

• REVEAL MY HEART AND MAKE IT PURE.
• MAKE CLEAR YOUR COMMANDMENTS AND OUT OF MY LOVE, I CHOOSE OBEDIENCE.
• LET ME WALK IN COMPLETE TRUST AND FAITH.
• REPEAT: REVEAL MY HEART AND MAKE IT PURE.

THE END PURPOSE WAS FOR GOD TO HAVE HIS VERY OWN PEOPLE!

THE END PURPOSE IS NOT THE DESTINATION, BUT THE RELATIONSHIP!

1.ONLY GOD CAN DETERMINE THE TERMS OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM!

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FULFILL THE TERMS OF THE COVENANT WITHOUT LOVE!

DEUTERONOMY 6: 4 “Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. 5 And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.

1 CORINTHIANS 10:1 I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground. 2 In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses. 3 All of them ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

MATTHEW 6: 9 Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.

LOVING GOD IS ONLY POSSIBLE BY A CHANGE OF HEART!

WITHOUT LOVE, I WILL ALWAYS SEE MYSELF AS A SLAVE AND NOT A CHILD OF GOD!

A SLAVE WILL ALWAYS BE A SLAVE, UNTIL THE HEART IS CHANGED.

A GOOD FATHER BLESSES HIS CHILDREN WITH THEIR CREATED IDENTITY AND PURPOSE.

A CHANGE IN HEART PROVIDES A CHANGE IN IDENTITY!

A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD CHANGES BOTH OUR HEART AND IDENTITY.

Hebrews 10:1 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.

ONLY GOD BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT CAN CHANGE OUR HEARTS.

WE CAN NEVER BECOME A CHILD OF GOD AS LONG AS WE HAVE THE HEART OF A SLAVE.

1. INITIATING A HEART CHANGE!

1. THE REVELATION OF THE NECESSARY LOVE CHANGE!
2. THE IMPLEMENTATION AND ADAPTION NECESSARY FOR A LOVE CHANGE!
3. THE APPLICATION OF DAILY SPIRITUAL MEDICINES  IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE LOVE CHANGE!
4. LOVE GOD AND EMBRACE YOUR NEW IDENTITY AS HIS CHILD.
5. BLESS OTHERS WITH THIS SPECIAL LOVE GIVEN BY YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER.

THE ISSUES OF OUR HEART ALWAYS DETERMINE WHO WE REALLY ARE.

SALVATION IS INTENDED TO BE HUMBLING.

EPHESIANS 2: 8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

IF WE DON’T EMBRACE HUMILITY, EVERYTHING IN OUR HEART WILL BE CORRUPT.

JAMES 4: 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

WE WANT TO BE SOMEONE, AND WE WANT TO BE AUTONOMOUS

AUTONOMOUS- having the freedom to act independently.

1 CORINTHIANS 6: 19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

I DON’T NOT BELONG TO MYSELF!

PRIDE WILL ALWAYS HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT UPON OUR FAITH!

THE ENTITLEMENT TO EQUALITY

NUMBERS 12: While they were at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because he had married a Cushite woman. 2 They said, “Has the LORD spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he spoken through us, too?” But the LORD heard them. 3 (Now Moses was very humble—more humble than any other person on earth.)

IN ORDER TO LIFT OURSELVES UP WE HAVE TO PUT OTHER PEOPLE DOWN.

THE DECEPTION OF PRIDE!

NUMBERS 13: 17 Moses gave the men these instructions as he sent them out to explore the land: “Go north through the Negev into the hill country. 18 See what the land is like, and find out whether the people living there are strong or weak, few or many. 19 See what kind of land they live in. Is it good or bad? Do their towns have walls, or are they unprotected like open camps? 20 Is the soil fertile or poor? Are there many trees? Do your best to bring back samples of the crops you see.” (It happened to be the season for harvesting the first ripe grapes.)

31 But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!” 32 So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge. 33 We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!”

DOES GOD NEED US AS CONSULTANTS?

WHAT REALLY HAPPENS WHEN WE BELIEVE OUR OPINION TO BE GREATER THAN GOD’S PROMISE?

HEBREWS 13: 5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” 6 So we can say with confidence, “The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

WE CAN’T AFFORD TO BECOME HOPE KILLERS AND SPREAD THE PANDEMIC OF FEAR!

WE DEMAND DEMOCRACY!

NUMBERS 16: One day Korah son of Izhar, a descendant of Kohath son of Levi, conspired with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, from the tribe of Reuben. 2 They incited a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 other leaders of the community, all prominent members of the assembly. 3 They united against Moses and Aaron and said, “You have gone too far! The whole community of Israel has been set apart by the LORD, and he is with all of us. What right do you have to act as though you are greater than the rest of the LORD’s people?”

GOD’S KINGDOM IS NOT A DEMOCRACY!

THOSE THAT GOD CHOOSES, HE CALLS TO BE HUMBLE!

PRIDE KEEPS US FROM SEEING THE FULFILLMENT OF GOD’S PROMISES!

HUMILITY DOESN’T JUST HAPPEN!

1. HUMILITY IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT AN UNWAVERING TRUST IN GOD.

1. HUMILITY ALWAYS RECOGNIZES THE DANGER OF OFFENSE.

1. HUMILITY UNDERSTANDS THAT PRIDE IS THE ROOT OF SIN.

HUMILITY IS DISCOVERED IN SALVATION AND MAINTAINED IN COMPLETE DEPENDENCE UPON GOD.

GOD SAVED ME, HE SUSTAINED ME IN LIFE, AND HE WILL SUSTAIN ME FOR ETERNITY!

OUR HEART ALWAYS INFLUENCES HOW WE THINK!

OUR HEART INFLUENCES HOW WE THINK ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE AND GOD!

MARK 7: 5 So the Pharisees and teachers of religious law asked him, “Why don’t your disciples follow our age-old tradition? They eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony.” 6 Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote,  ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’ 8 For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.” 9 Then he said, “You skillfully sidestep God’s law in order to hold on to your own tradition. 10 For instance, Moses gave you this law from God: ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.’ 11 But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.’ 12 In this way, you let them disregard their needy parents. 13 And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. And this is only one example among many others.”

14 Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “All of you listen,” he said, “and try to understand. 15 It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.”

17 Then Jesus went into a house to get away from the crowd, and his disciples asked him what he meant by the parable he had just used. 18 “Don’t you understand either?” he asked. “Can’t you see that the food you put into your body cannot defile you? 19 Food doesn’t go into your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer.” (By saying this, he declared that every kind of food is acceptable in God’s eyes.)

20 And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. 21 For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”

1. HOW AND WHY DID JESUS CHOOSE HIS DISCIPLES?

JESUS CHOSE MEN WITH HEART POTENTIAL!

HEART POTENTIAL IS SIMPLY HAVING THE PROSPECTIVE NATURE THAT ENABLES A HEART TO BE CHANGED AND TRANSFORMED.

OUR HEART ALWAYS DETERMINES OUR CAPACITY TO LOVE AND HAVE FAITH.

LOVE AND FAITH IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD!

20 And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. 21 For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”

DEFILE- TO DESECRATE OR MAKE PROFANE SOMETHING INTENDED TO BE SACRED.

A DEFILED HEART LIMITS THE ABILITY TO TRULY LOVE AND HAVE FAITH.

MARK 11: 20 The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. 21 Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!”

22 Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. 23 I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. 24 I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. 25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”

PSALM 51: 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.

1. GOD CREATING A CLEAN HEART WITHIN US IS AN ONGOING DAILY PROCESS, NOT A ONE TIME EVENT.

A RIGHT HEART PRODUCES THE RIGHT FAITH!

DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT HEART AND RIGHT FAITH?

EMBRACE THE HOLY SPIRIT PROCESS.

1. MAKE YOURSELF HUMBLE AND TEACHABLE.
2. LISTEN TO THE HOLY SPIRIT AS HE REVEALS THE ISSUES OF OUR HEART.

(GOD MAKES OUR MIND AWARE OF THE ISSUES WITH OUR HEART.)

1. EMBRACE TRUTH!
2. MOVE IN A NEW FAITH AWARENESS.

THOSE WHO ARE LOST AND DESTROYED LEAVE NO REAL DIRECTION FOR THE NEXT GENERATION, JUST THE MONUMENTS OF THEIR SELFISHNESS.

WE CAN DRINK OUR FILL IN THIS LIFE AND LEAVE NOTHING IN THE CUP FOR OUR CHILDREN.

GENESIS 50: 24 “Soon I will die,” Joseph told his brothers, “but God will surely come to help you and lead you out of this land of Egypt. He will bring you back to the land he solemnly promised to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”

25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath, and he said, “When God comes to help you and lead you back, you must take my bones with you.” 26 So Joseph died at the age of 110. The Egyptians embalmed him, and his body was placed in a coffin in Egypt.

HEBREWS 11: 22 It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left.

EXODUS 1: 8 Eventually, a new king came to power in Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph or what he had done.

COVENANT ALWAYS ESTABLISHES FAITH AND FAMILY.

COVENANT IS GOD’S LANGUAGE!

ROMANS 9: 8 This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children.

GENESIS 50: 19 But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. 21 No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.

KEEPING COVENANT LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR GODLY CHARACTER.

OUR CHARACTER WILL ALWAYS DETERMINE OUR LEGACY!

EXODUS 13: 18 So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.

19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear to do this. He said, “God will certainly come to help you. When he does, you must take my bones with you from this place.”

JOSHUA 24: 31 The people of Israel served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him—those who had personally experienced all that the LORD had done for Israel.

32 The bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought along with them when they left Egypt, were buried at Shechem, in the plot of land Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor for 100 pieces of silver. This land was located in the territory allotted to the descendants of Joseph.

FAITH IS FOUNDED ON GOD’S WORD!

1. ESTABLISHING A LASTING LEGACY

1. MAKE GODLY COVENANTS.
2. KEEP GODLY COVENANTS, NO MATTER HOW YOU MAY FEEL!
3. TEACH GODLY COVENANTS.
4. LEAVE A BLESSING THAT IS VALIDATED BY YOUR WORD.

1. WE CAN CHASE OUR DREAMS AND WIND UP LOST AND EMPTY!

GENESIS 46: 28 As they neared their destination, Jacob sent Judah ahead to meet Joseph and get directions to the region of Goshen. And when they finally arrived there, 29 Joseph prepared his chariot and traveled to Goshen to meet his father, Jacob. When Joseph arrived, he embraced his father and wept, holding him for a long time. 30 Finally, Jacob said to Joseph, “Now I am ready to die, since I have seen your face again and know you are still alive.”

IN THE END, BEING BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVORED HAS MORE TO DO WITH BLESSING OTHERS THAN JUST HAVING A BLESSING FOR OURSELVES.

EPHESIANS 2: 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

KJV 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

HERE IS THE QUESTION OF ALL QUESTIONS: WHAT WOULD YOU BE WILLING  TO SACRIFICE IN ORDER TO BECOME A GOD’S GIFT TO YOUR WORLD?

IT IS ALWAYS THE SACRIFICE THAT CREATES THE GIFT!

JOHN 17: 19 And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

HEBREWS 13: 15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. 16 And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.

SACRIFICE- an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy.

OUR IDEA OF A MIRACLE MEANS LITTLE OR NO EFFORT ON OUR PART.

SACRIFICE IS ALWAYS GOD’S WAY TO BECOMING A BLESSING!

GENESIS 45: Joseph could stand it no longer. There were many people in the room, and he said to his attendants, “Out, all of you!” So he was alone with his brothers when he told them who he was. 2 Then he broke down and wept. He wept so loudly the Egyptians could hear him, and word of it quickly carried to Pharaoh’s palace. 3 “I am Joseph!” he said to his brothers. “Is my father still alive?” But his brothers were speechless! They were stunned to realize that Joseph was standing there in front of them. 4 “Please, come closer,” he said to them. So they came closer. And he said again, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. 5 But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. 6 This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. 8 So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt.

1. INVITE THE TRUTH!

DAILY, EMBRACE THE HOLY SPIRIT IN SCRIPTURE READING AND PRAYER.

ALSO, EMBRACE THE VALUE OF THE CHALLENGE!

HOW AM I BEING CHANGED? AM I BECOMING A GIFT OR A BURDEN?

1. ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRUTH!

UNDERSTAND GOD’S PLAN IS ALWAYS A PROCESS.

CHANGE DOESN’T HAPPEN IN A DAY!

CHANGE ALWAYS HAPPENS IN THE PRESENT.

1. MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS AND DO HARD THINGS!

SACRIFICE IS NOT A FUTURE EVENT, IT IS A DAILY PRACTICE!

BECOME THE GIFT GOD CREATED YOU TO BE!

BEING BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVORED IS A WAY OF LIFE LED BY WISDOM!

DESTINATION DISEASE – WHEN PEOPLE ARE SO FED UP WITH THEIR PAST THAT THEY IGNORE THEIR PRESENT! THESE PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR “SOMETHING” AHEAD OF THEM.

LIVE IN THE NOW WITH WISDOM AND BE BLESSED IN THE NOW!

LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES DON’T DETERMINE BEING BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVORED!

GOD’S WISDOM DETERMINES BEING BLESSED AND HIGH FAVORED.

Genesis 39:1 When Joseph was taken to Egypt by the Ishmaelite traders, he was purchased by Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. Potiphar was captain of the guard for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.

2 The LORD was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master.

Genesis 39: 19 Potiphar was furious when he heard his wife’s story about how Joseph had treated her. 20 So he took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king’s prisoners were held, and there he remained. 21 But the LORD was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the LORD made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden. 22 Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. 23 The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. The LORD was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.

Genesis 41: 37 Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials. 38 So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. 40 You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.” 41 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck. 43 Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command. And wherever Joseph went, the command was shouted, “Kneel down!” So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt. 44 And Pharaoh said to him, “I am Pharaoh, but no one will lift a hand or foot in the entire land of Egypt without your approval.”

1. BE AWARE AND NOT OVERWHELMED BY THE PAST.

1. LIVING FOCUSED AND BLESSED IN THE PRESENT.

1. HAVING HOPE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE.

HEBREWS 11: Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

ROMANS 8: 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

GOD IS ALWAYS USING OUR PRESENT TO DETERMINE OUR FUTURE!

1. A.WISDOM – WISDOM IS MORE ABOUT CLARITY AND PERSPECTIVE THAN KNOWLEDGE.

WISDOM ENLIGHTENS NEW OPPORTUNITIES!

JAMES 1: 5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

1. WISDOM UNDERSTANDS GOD’S  NOW PURPOSE.

HEBREWS 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

GOD INTENDS TO BLESS US SO WE CAN BLESS OTHERS!

GENESIS 50: 19 But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. 21 No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.

WISDOM SEES GOD BIG PICTURE!

1. WISDOM IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT FOCUSED PRAYER.

COLOSSIANS 4: 2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. 3 Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. 4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.

5 Live wisely (LIVE WITH WISDOM) among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

WE WILL NEVER SEE GOD OPPORTUNITIES WITHOUT PRAYER!

1. WISDOM IS KNOWLEDGE APPLIED.

JAMES 3: 13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.

WISDOM IS NOT JUST KEEPING YOUR MOUTH SHUT, BUT SAYING THE RIGHT THING IN THE RIGHT MOMENT!

26 But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt.

LUKE 17:32-33

LIKE LOT’S WIFE, MANY BELIEVE THERE IS MORE HOPE BEHIND THAN IN FRONT!

JOHN 10:10 

THE ABUNDANT LIFE IS NOT MAINTAINING!

MAINTAINING LIFE IS ALWAYS KEEPING EVERYTHING WITHIN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF “NORMAL”.

TRUTH BE KNOWN, WE WANT TO BE IN CONTROL OF OUR LIFE, EVEN IF IT IS A DYSFUNCTIONAL MESS.

DEATH! GIVING UP LIFE AND RELINQUISHING CONTROL!

MATTHEW 10:38-39 

MATTHEW 16:24-25 

MARK 8:35-36 

LUKE 9:24-25 

LUKE 17:32-33 

JOHN 12: 25 

IGNORANCE IS NEVER A GOOD EXCUSE FOR DISOBEDIENCE!

DISOBEDIENCE IS SIN, AND SIN ALWAYS LEADS TO A BAD DEATH!

ROMANS 6:23 

ROMANS 6:1-4

ROMANS 8:12-14 

AS LONG AS WE PUT OUR HOPE IN THE OLD NATURE WE WILL CONTINUALLY TURN BACK AND FAIL.

WE CAN NEVER EMBRACE DEATH UNTIL WE TRULY BELIEVE THERE IS RESURRECTION LIFE!

LET GO OF THE CONTROL AND FIND LIFE!

TODAYS PASSAGE: IS IT THE GREAT COMMISSION OR THE GREAT SUGGESTION?

THE RIGHT INTERPRETATION COMES FROM THE RIGHT RELATIONSHIP!

THE NATURE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST ALWAYS DETERMINES THE LEVEL OF OUR FAITH AND OBEDIENCE.

SO, INSTEAD OF JESUS BEING LORD, HE IS MORE OF A LIFE COACH OR CONSULTANT.

JESUS IS NOT A CONSULTANT, HE IS LORD!

GOD’S WILL IS ALWAYS ABSOLUTE WHEN IT COMES TO DIRECTION AND PURPOSE.

IF WE ARE NOT HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, WE ARE LOST.

PSALM 119:105 

1. A.HOW CAN I FIND GOD’S DIRECTION?

1. SUBMIT TO CHRIST AUTHORITY AS MASTER AND LORD.
2. OBEYING THE COMMANDS OF JESUS CHRIST AS ABSOLUTES.
3. MOVING IN GOD’S DIRECTION BY FAITH.

MATTHEW 28: 18-20

GENESIS 12:1-3

GO IS NOT JUST ABOUT DIRECTION, BUT PURPOSE!

GOD’S COMMAND IS A LIFE INTERRUPTION THAT PLACES US IN THE PERFECT PLACE.

ANYTHING IN OUR LIFE WE ARE NOT WILLING TO SURRENDER OR GIVE AWAY KEEPS US FROM GOD’S DIRECTION AND PURPOSE.

IF GOD IS NOT MOVING OUR DIRECTION, THEN WE HAVE NEED TO ADDRESS OUR PURPOSE.

IN ORDER TO BREAK THE HOLD OF THE SAME OLD SAME OLD, WE NEED TO MOVE IN GOD’S DIRECTION WITH GOD’S PURPOSE.

MATTHEW 6:33 

LET’S ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS!

1. HAVE I RELINQUISHED JESUS TO THE ROLE OF CONSULTANT?
2. AM I HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION?
3. DO I KNOW MY PURPOSE?

WHEN WE MAKE THE VICTORY ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL, IT’S EASY TO LOSE HOPE!

PROVERBS 13:12 

OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PICK UP OUR INJURED AND CARRY THEIR BURDEN.

1 CORINTHIANS 12:25-27

GALATIANS 6:2-3 

WHEN ONE PERSON GOES DOWN, IT DOESN’T MEAN THE TEAM GOES DOWN!

Ephesians 4:4-6

THAT PLAN IS TO FULFILL THEIR DESTINY FOR GOD’S TEAM.

IF WE GET SO CAUGHT UP IN OUR OWN PERSONAL SALVATION AND PLAN, WE CAN BECOME DISCOURAGED, LOSE HOPE, AND CONSEQUENTLY LOSE FAITH!

1 CORINTHIANS 15:19 

1. WHEN WE BECOME SELF-FOCUSED WE LOSE SIGHT OF GOD’S PLAN AND HIS VICTORY.

GOD WORKS WITH THE TEAM!

LUKE 2:1-12 

WE DON’T HAVE TO DO IT ALONE!  IN FACT, WE ARE COMMANDED NOT TO DO IT ALONE!

ASSIGNED POSITION, NOT CHOSEN POSITION.

1 CORINTHIANS 12:18-21 

THE WILL OF GOD IS NOT ABOUT PREFERENCE, BUT OBEDIENCE.

GOD CREATED US TO BE TEAM PLAYERS!

1. CHANGE YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND PERSPECTIVE.  IT’S ALL ABOUT TEAM!
2. PICK UP A TEAM-MATE AND ALLOW A TEAM-MATE TO PICK YOU UP!
3. ACCEPT YOUR ASSIGNED POSITION AND GIVE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE.

Ephesians 2:12

JESUS IS THE GAME-CHANGER!

WE HAD NO REAL CHANCE OF WINNING!

THERE IS NO HOPE WITHOUT JESUS!

Philippians 2:19-21

WE LIVE IN THE AGE OF THE EMPOWERED INDIVIDUAL!

JESUS PLAN WAS THE CHURCH! THE CHURCH IS GOD’S TEAM.

REVELATION 1:4.

GOD ADDRESSES TEAMS BEFORE HE ADDRESSES INDIVIDUALS!

GOD’S PLAN IS TEAM!

EPHESIANS 3:10-11 

GOD’S TEAM IS A WINNING TEAM!

THIS IS THE CHURCH-  WE ARE GETTING PEOPLE HEALTHY AND WHOLE TO PUT THEM IN THE GAME IN ORDER TO WIN!

BECOMING A TEAM PLAYER?

1. BE ON THE TEAM!

MATTHEW 9:9 

BEING ON A TEAM STARTS WITH COMMITMENT!

1. EMBRACE THE TEAM’S PURPOSE AND VISION!

JOHN 12:47

BRING SALVATION AND THE THRILL OF HOPE.

1. BE A TEAM PLAYER

1 JOHN 3:16-19

THERE IS NO WINNING IF THE TEAM DOESN’T WIN!

A COMMITTED TEAM PLAYER RAISES THE LEVEL OF EVERYONE ELSE ON THE TEAM!

A CHRISTIAN IS A PERSON WHO HAS ENTRUSTED THEIR LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR LEADER.

PHILIPPIANS 1: 11

WHILE WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO FOLLOW JESUS AND ALLOW HIM TO CHANGE OUR HEART, LIFE IS HAPPENING TO US, IN US, AND ALL AROUND US!

1 PETER 2:18-21 

TRUE CHRISTIANITY IS NOT ALLOWING ANY CIRCUMSTANCE OR PERSON TO DETERMINE WHO WE ARE, ONLY OUR LEADER, JESUS CHRIST!

1. WE MIGHT ACT AND PRETEND, BUT OUR HEART WILL ALWAYS BE REVEALED IN OUR CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY.

CRUCIBLE- a ceramic or metal container in which metals or other substances may be melted or subjected to very high temperatures.

THE HOTTER THE FIRE, THE GREATER THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE!

JOB 1:20-22 

JOB 2:7-10 

1. THERE IS AN ENEMY WHO IS AN ACCUSER.       REVELATION 12:8-11 

1. OUR FAITH IS ALWAYS TESTED BEFORE OUR CHARACTER!

WHAT YOU BELIEVE WILL ALWAYS DETERMINE HOW YOU LIVE!

WHEN WE BEGIN TO DOUBT THE GOODNESS OF GOD, OUR GODLY CHARACTER IS IN JEOPARDY.

JUST BECAUSE LIFE HAS CHANGED, DOESN’T MEAN I HAVE TO LOSE MY INTEGRITY AND CHARACTER!

1. GODLY INTEGRITY AND CHARACTER ARE CREATED AND STRENGTHENED IN THE FIRES OF LIFE!

1 PETER 1: 7 

1 PETER 4:19 

GOD IS NOT PICKING ON YOU!  HE IS MAKING YOU MORE VALUABLE!

1. LIFE HAPPENS!

CHANGE YOUR FIXATION! DON’T FOCUS ON THE INJUSTICE, FOCUS ON A FAITHFUL GOD.

1. RECOGNIZE THE WEAKNESS!

GIVE IT UP AND EMBRACE THE CHANGE!

1. BUILD YOUR FAITH AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

IF WE WANT TO LIVE IN ETERNITY WITH GOD, WE SHOULD EMBRACE HIS ETERNAL PLAN!

Your response can expose the condition of your heart

Colossians 3:15

Colossians 3: 1-2

“This is the Day the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it”

Philippians 2:14-16

If I wake up tomorrow with only the gift of God’s salvation, that’s enough for me to have a grateful heart

How we respond shows the true conditions of our heart- their hearts were grateful even in a tragedy

1 THESSALONIANS 5:18 

GRATEFULNESS IS MORE A STATE OF THE HEART, THAN SOMETHING WE DO.

“WILL THE REAL ME STAND UP?”

2 SAMUEL 15:1-6

LOOKS AREN’T ALWAYS EVERYTHING!

1. SNAPSHOTS ARE DECEPTIVE!

1. SNAP SHOTS NEVER TELL THE WHOLE STORY!

UNRESOLVED ISSUES ALWAYS WARP GOOD INTENTIONS!

LUKE 6:45 

HEBREWS 12:14-15 

IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE AT PEACE, WHEN YOU HAVE NO PEACE!

CHANGING GOOD INTENTIONS TO A CHANGED HEART!

1. RELEASE CONTROL AND EMBRACE FAITH!

1. CHOOSE A LIFE OF GRACE AND MERCY.

IF I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER OTHERS, WHY DO I GIVE THEM CONTROL OVER ME?

1. A GRATEFUL HEART STARTS WITH A REVELATION OF TRUTH.

ROMANS 5:8 

1. SPEND INTIMATE TIME WITH GOD.
2. DEAL WITH UNRESOLVED ISSUES.
3. DON’T BE A SNAPSHOT ACTOR, BE THE PERSON GOD REDEEMED YOU TO BE!

IN FACT, WE BELIEVE THAT WORK SHOULD ALWAYS BE SOMETHING THAT WE LOVE.

IT’S NOT ABOUT AN OCCUPATION BUT CHARACTER.

MATTHEW 28:18-20

DISCIPLESHIP WAS A LIFE OF COMPLETE UNDENIABLE SUBMISSION.

BEING A DISCIPLE IS NOT ABOUT OUR EXPRESSED INDEPENDENCE, BUT OUR FAITH EXPRESSED THROUGH SUBMISSIVE OBEDIENCE.

MATTHEW 5: 27-30 

MATTHEW 14:12-21 

A MULTIPLIED MIRACLE SOUNDS A LOT LIKE WORK!

1. A.WRONG EXPECTATIONS LEAD TO BIG DISAPPOINTMENTS!

1. WE CAN’T WIN THE TROPHY IF WE AREN’T ON THE TEAM!

1. C.THE KEYS TO YOUR MULTIPLIED MIRACLE!

1. BE A DISCIPLE!

BEING A DISCIPLE IS NOT ABOUT OUR EXPRESSED INDEPENDENCE, BUT OUR FAITH EXPRESSED THROUGH SUBMISSIVE OBEDIENCE.

FAITH IS OFTEN BEING OBEDIENT WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING.

1. DON’T BE LED BY YOUR FEELINGS!

1. BE FAITHFUL AND REMEMBER OBEDIENCE FEELS LIKE WORK, BECAUSE IT IS WORK!-

GALATIANS 6:9-10 

TO MAKE DISCIPLES, WE MUST FIRST BE A DISCIPLE!

LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. WORLDVIEW

Is it evident that I have accepted a worldview of personal preference that leads my life?

What daily decisions do I make based upon my likes and personal preferences?

Does my worldview inhibit my relationship with Jesus Christ?

1. A DISCIPLE

Do I need to have complete understanding of truth before I can be obedient to God?

Do I believe the teachings of Jesus are absolute truth?  Or, do I believe my personal interpretation is more important?

What areas of my life do I struggle bringing under the authority of Jesus?

1. DISAPPOINTMENT

Have I allowed disappointment to jade my attitude about other people and life in general?

Have my expectations been based upon my personal likes and wants?

How can I avoid disappointment in the future?

1. FAITHFULNESS

What areas of my life do I need to work on faithfulness?

Do I allow my emotions and feelings in the moment to rule my decision making?

Am I willing to work through my feelings in order to see a multiplied miracle?

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

What happens when all you have is all you have left?

God will ask more of you even in the hard times.

MULTIPLICATION WILL ALWAYS REQUIRE SACRIFICE

God uses what we think is insignificant

It is not about what you have, It is about how you use what you have been given

GOD WILL PUT THE RESOURCES IN YOUR HANDS

Proverbs 3:5-6

2 CORINTHIANS 9:10-15
God loves to bless you, but if you are blessed, then you should be a blessing to others.

Matthew 14:12-21

FIRST KEY TO A MULTIPLIED MIRACLE:  LAY ASIDE OUR BLUEPRINTS!

WHY IS THE CROWD’S LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY OUR PROBLEM?

THE SECOND KEY TO A MULTIPLIED MIRACLE:  IT ALWAYS STARTS WITH A HEART LESSON.

GOD DESIRES FOR US TO HAVE A BIGGER HEART THAN A BIGGER MIND!

IT’S NOT MY BUSINESS!

GOD’S PLAN IS ALWAYS ETERNAL SALVATION!

2 PETER 3: 9 

THE THIRD KEY OF THE MULTIPLIED MIRACLE: SYNCING OUR HEART WITH GOD’S PLAN!

MATTHEW 20:1-16

WE ARE NOT AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS!

GOD DESIRES TO BLESS INDISCRIMINATELY!  GOD DESIRES TO BLESS INDISCRIMINATELY THROUGH US!

GOD’S MOTIVATION IS HIS BUSINESS.

CONSUMERS ALWAYS SEE THE LACK!

DISTRIBUTORS SEE THE OPPORTUNITY!

PRINCIPLES OF THE MULTIPLIED BLESSING!

Genesis 1:27-28 

THE FIRST PRINCIPLE OF THE MULTIPLIED BLESSING IS  FAITH EXPRESSED THROUGH OBEDIENCE

Matthew 14:12-17

#1-THE FIRST PRINCIPLE OF TH MULTIPLIED BLESSING; FAITH EXPRESSED THROUGH OBEDIENCE.

#2- THE SECOND TENANT OR PRINCIPLE IS TIED TO THE FIRST.  FAITH EXPRESSED THROUGH OBEDIENCE IS ONLY ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH LOVE.

PAIN IS ALWAYS A PART OF THE PROCESS OF LOVE!

#3- THE PRINCIPAL OF THE MULTIPLIED BLESSING IS NEVER ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT A SACRIFICE.

SACRIFICE IS A NECESSARY PRINCIPLE FOR ALL GODLY BREAKTHROUGHS!

IS YOUR GOD MANDATE AND CALLING GREATER THAN YOUR PERSONAL NEED?

THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR MULTIPLIED BLESSING HAS TO BE ESTABLISHED IN A PERSONAL SACRIFICE!

1. IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE TO BE PREPARED FOR THE MIRACLE SACRIFICE IF WE HAVEN’T TRAINED OURSELVES WITH THE DAILY SACRIFICE.

READING THE WORD DAILY IS A SACRIFICE.

PRAYING DAILY IS A SACRIFICE.

TITHING AND GIVING OFFERINGS IS A SACRIFICE.

1. DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP, NOT A RELIGION!

1 Corinthians 13:3 

THERE IS NO MEANINGFUL SACRIFICE WITHOUT LOVE!

1. DON’T DEMEAN THE SACRIFICE WITH COMPLAINING!

1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-5 

IS IT COMPLETELY UNREALISTIC FOR GOD TO EXPECT SINFUL MAN TO BE HOLY LIKE HIMSELF?

MATTHEW 5:43-48

GOD HAS AN EXPECTATION

IT IS ONLY THROUGH WHOLENESS IN NATURE THAT HOLINESS IS ACCOMPLISHED

THERE IS NO MAGICAL FORMULA TO WHOLENESS

REVEAL OUR SINFULNESS.

FORGIVE OUR SINFULNESS.

FREE US FROM OUR SINFULNESS.

IF GOD IS BIG ENOUGH TO FORGIVE US OUR SIN, HE IS ALSO BIG ENOUGH TO FREE US OF THAT SAME SIN

WE HAVE TO DESIRE MORE THAN JUST FORGIVENESS, WE HAVE TO DESIRE LIFE CHANGE

1. PUT ALL YOUR HOPE IN JESUS.
2. LIVE AS OBEDIENT CHILDREN.
3. DON’T SLIP BACK INTO YOUR OLD WAYS LIVING TO SATISFY YOUR OWN DESIRES

UNTIL WE CAN BELIEVE THAT GOD CAN SATISFY US AS MUCH AS OUR SIN, WE WILL NEVER CHANGE

GALATIANS 5:22-23 

OBTAINING THE REAL GOD NATURE IS ONLY ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH FAITH!

FAITH IS TRUST

PHILIPPIANS 2:1-8

WE HAVE TO TRUST GOD LIKE JESUS TRUSTED GOD!  GOD IS ABLE TO SATISFY ME GREATER THAN MY SIN

GOD EXTENDS HIS GRACE, MERCY, AND LOVE THROUGH US LISTENING AND OBEYING TO HIS WORD

1. GOD EXPECTS WHOLENESS AND HOLINESS
2. GOD’S PLAN DOESN’T JUST REDEEM US FROM SIN, BUT LEADS US TO A NEW NATURE
3. GOD’S PLAN IS ONLY ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH TRUST

Luke 10:25-28

Matthew 16:24-25

1.) COMMITMENT MEANS GOING ALL IN

Matthew 22:37

1 Kings 8:61

A TIME WILL COME WHERE YOUR COMMITMENT IS TESTED

Psalms 1:1-3

Galations 5:22-25

2.) COMMITMENT WILL ALWAYS COST SOMETHING

Mark 10:21-23

YOUR COMMITMENT WILL COST SOMETHING!
 

3.) COMMITMENT REQUIRES YOU TO KILL THE OX & BURN THE YOKE

1 Kings 19:19-21

Luke 9:62

JOHN 10:10 NLT and KJV

THE ABUNDANT LIFE IS NOT FOUND IN ANY EXTERNAL STIMULANT

SO….. WHAT IS THE ABUNDANT LIFE?

THE ABUNDANT LIFE IS THE RESTORATION OF MAN’S CREATED NATURE AND BEING

CREATED IN THE NATURE OF GOD TO BE IN CONTINUOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

MATTHEW 5:43-48

BE COMPLETE AND WHOLE AS YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN IS COMPLETE AND WHOLE

WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO MAKE US WHOLE, OR BRING US COMPLETENESS

EPHESIANS 4:30

GOD’S FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS NEVER CHANGE WHO HE IS!  HIS NATURE ALWAYS REMAINS THE SAME

WE WERE CREATED TO BE GIVERS, NOT TAKERS

WE ARE CREATED TO BE LIKE GOD IN NATURE, SO WE CAN BE IN A CONTINUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

GALATIANS 5:22-23

GOD DOESN’T TRY TO HAVE LOVE

1 JOHN 4: 8

1 THESSALONIANS 5:23-24

HOW WOULD OUR LIVES BE DIFFERENT IF OUR NATURE WAS LOVE, JOY, AND PEACE?

KEEPING THE ABUNDANT LIFE

1. PROTECT THE HEART AND KEEP IT CLEAN
2. BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.
3. QUIT LOOKING AND BELIEVE AND RECEIVE THE GOD NATURE
4. BE A BLESSER, NOT A TAKER.

OUR HEART IS THE ROOT SYSTEM OF ALL OF OUR WORDS, ACTIONS, AND BEHAVIORS.

MATTHEW 12:34-35

REAL CHRISTIANITY IS ALL ABOUT A CONTINUOUS HEART CHANGE

JESUS CAME TO EARTH TO BRING A COMPLETE RESTORATION TO MAN

GENESIS 1:26-27

GOD CREATED MAN WITH A GOD NATURE

BUT, MAN IN HIS DISCOVERY OF EVIL LOST THE NATURE OF GOD

MAN WAS CREATED WITH A GOD NATURE

GOD IS ALL ABOUT CHANGING OUR NATURE, NOT OUR BEHAVIOR

SIN ALWAYS DISTRACTS US FROM GOD’S PLAN

JESUS NEVER TAUGHT ABOUT CHANGING OUR BEHAVIOR, JESUS TAUGHT ABOUT THE CHANGE IN OUR NATURE

MATTHEW 5:43-48

WE SHOULD BECOME SO SECURE IN OUR GOD NATURE THAT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO ONE  WHO CAN CHANGE WHO WE ARE BY THEIR CONTRARY ACTIONS OR BEHAVIORS

HEBREWS 2:17-18

JESUS TAUGHT THAT WHEN WE ALLOW A CHANGE IN OUR HEART FOR OTHERS, WE ALLOW OTHERS TO CHANGE OUR NATURE.

BEING COMPLETE AND WHOLE MEANS CONTINUOUSLY MOVING THROUGH LIFE IN OUR GOD NATURE

GALATIANS 5:22-23

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS HERE TO CHANGE OUR NATURE

1. EMBRACE THE BIGGER PICTURE PLAN
2. WHAT ACTIONS AND BEHAVIORS ARE THE RESULT OF MY SELFISH NATURE AND NOT MY GOD NATURE?
3. IS GOD MY SOLE INFLUENCER OF MY NATURE?  OR, HAVE I ALLOWED OTHERS TO CHANGE MY GOD NATURE?
4. A BIGGER PICTURE PERSPECTIVE ALWAYS COMES WITH A BIGGER PICTURE PLAN!  LISTEN TO THE HOLY SPIRIT AND FOLLOW HIS SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS