We want Christmas to be perfect, lighting, music, decor and meals.

Rowena has decorated our home incredibly

Illus: Ben/Eldon’s perfect picture

How many pictures/editing to get this picture? Is it accurate?

It’s the sanitized version of the day.

We’ve done the same to the Christmas Story

Luke 2:6–7 (ESV) And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

TITLE: The Problem With Sanitizing

PRAYER:

“Wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger?”

• An extremely pregnant woman traveling days via donkey exposed to the elements.

• Traveling for a census, imposed by the Romans occupying their land:

  • Roman citizens legally compel non-Roman to do almost anything

  • Legally confiscate, property, require sexual favors and kill with no punishment ○ Execution was common and extreme, often for sporting purposes, including burning people alive, sewing then in animal skins and attacked by dogs, impalement, crucifixion

• Traveling with her fiance who broke off the engagement - the baby is not his

• They are traveling to his family’s region, and her pregnancy is scandalous

• Upon arrival, no room with family/friends - that says it all

• No room at the inn, gives birth in a stable, outside, animals, etc

• Medicine was poor. Diseases were rampant. Life expectancy was 40

• Placed the baby in a manger, a long open box or horses or cattle to eat from

• Host of angels show up and absolutely terrify them

• Massive groups of shepherds keep showing up wanting to see the baby.

Sanitizing: the process of enhancing the perception of a thing in order to make it more appealing and valuable.

• Shrewd marketing

• Deception -counterproductive to our best lives

It turns it into Instagram story that is irrelevant to those of us living real lives in real situations, in a real world than glamor

Sanitizing Is Not The Language Of The Kingdom. But Truth Is.

The Bible might be the worst promotional book ever. If it were for a pamphlet for a cruise line, you would discover:

• Most captains unqualified to navigate boats

• Most boats have significant health outbreaks

• Instances of staff mistreating passengers

• Ships regularly under attack by pirates.

• Storms are frequent

• Some ships never make it to their destination.

Consider Ananias/Sapphira

• Acts 4:34–35 (ESV) There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

• Acts 5:1–5 (ESV) But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.

• Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart?

  • They were sanitizing their life.

  • They wanted to Impress others

  • They wanted their giving to look bigger than it was

  • They wanted to be connected to an elite groups

• Ananias/Sapphira were New Testament virtue signalers.

  • To do something to be perceived as virtuous you otherwise would not do.

  • To do something in public that you don’t do in private.

Many of our current political leaders are guilty of this. Gaven Newsome and his medical officials laid out some of the most extreme lockdown measures in the country regarding social distancing, limiting exposure, banning inside dining at restaurants, suggesting you cancel thanksgiving and mask even while eating - but celebrating his birthday at a high end restaurant with over 20 of those same medical officials creating policy present, every one or them breaking every rule.

• His public and private life are contradictory.

• He’s virtue signaling.

• He’s sanitized His public persona because his private one would not be accepted. ● He’s also a man like me somewhere in the process of God - I’m believing for his BEST!

COVID RELATED THOUGHTS FOR OUR CHURCH:

Some have good reason to distance and not be in church

• Underlying health issues

• Around people with underlying health issues

• Around the infected and you are trying to protect others.

• Decided risk is too high

• We support you, Live Stream etc.

Illus: Alison Welter

Some have tremendous CONVICTION not to distance and to be in church in person

• Conviction: gathering is the command of God

• Conviction: gathering is necessary for their well well-being and equipping

• Conviction: gathering allows me to serve the well-being of others.

• Decided the risk is worth it.

● We support you. We will take the risk with you (physical, social and legal)

Illus: 85 year old couple greeting families in Texas

Choose your course, but don’t navigate like Gaven Newsome.

• It is double minded and hypocritical

• It will diminish your leadership influence in the lives of some

• It infects others with your same brand of duality

Sanitizing Repels The Supernatural Work Of God. Truth Attracts It.

When the imperfect is exposed to God, He races in to perfect it.

• James 5:16 (ESV) Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

• Transparency with the right people in the right environment unlocks the supernatural power of God.

Declaring truth in love unlocks the perfecting work of God in lives.

• The truth about who you are

• The truth about who they are

• The truth about God

• The truth about God’s world

Sanitizing any of the above leaves people trapped in their imperfection because we fail to faithfully proclaim a better option.

Consider 3 Hebrews and Nebuchadnezzar,

• King was encouraged to demand people worship golden statue at sound of band

• Unredeemed leaders crave power and control, not the best for their people

• Three young men who follow God - violates commandment 1 & 2, so they don’t bow

• Left the country

  • Steer clear of the idol and avoid taking a stand

  • Bow down, but don’t mean it in your heart

  • Bow down, repent later

  • All examples of sanitizing.

• They refuse to bow, Nebuchadnezzar meets with them and demands they bow. Daniel 3:16–18 (ESV) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.

• Fiery furnace is heated up

• They are thrown in

• Nebuchadnezzar notices four in the fire and calls them out

• Fire had no power over them, hair, clothes, no smoky smell

• Daniel 3:28–30 (ESV) Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

When we risk declaring truth in love, up close, we unlock the perfecting work of God in peoples lives.

Luke 5:13 (ESV) And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him.

Jesus benign born in such an imperfect environment

Gives us confidence that He in your life and through your life can do the miraculous Don’t sanitize.

DAWSON WILLIAMS

“Showdown With Perspective

Verses:

1. But godliness (conforming to the laws and wishes of God) with contentment (contentment means to be satisfied or pleased.)is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. (1 Timothy 6:6-10)(esv)

2. do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6)(esv)

Big idea:

We need to adjust our posture to better understand his words Main verse: but godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Timothy 6:6) (esv)

Introduction:

We CANNOT sit back and wait for something to happen, we need to take our next steps with him through prayer and supplication (the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly).

Point(s):

1. Our perspective should look through the lens of gods grace

Action steps:

I’m inviting you to adjust your posture by doing the following: removing a negative and adding a positive

Closing:

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6)(esv)

Nathan Semlick

“Showdown Against Deception”

Big idea: To fight deception we must first realize we are being deceived then fight against it 

Introduction: During the War of 1812, British General Isaac Brock and the Shawnee chief Tecumseh bluffed their way into capturing Detroit without a fight. The ruse began in August 1812, when Brock besieged American General William Hull’s 2,000-strong army at Fort Detroit. Brock’s inferior force included just 300 regulars, 400 Canadian militiamen and 600 Indians, but he had cleverness on his side. Knowing that Hull believed the Indians to be ruthless barbarians, Brock allowed him to intercept a false letter indicating the British had 5,000 natives at their disposal. He then wrote another letter to Hull in which he cautioned that the Indian war party was so large that he feared he would be unable to control its bloodlust once the battle began. While Hull was mulling this over, Tecumseh marched the same group of whooping Indians past the fort multiple times to give the appearance of larger numbers. Brock also clothed his Canadian militiamen in discarded British uniforms to make the Americans think they were up against veterans. Faced with this well-acted bit of battlefield theater, Hull lost his nerve and surrendered. What if I told you that this scenario happens everyday. The devil and his army of legions try and do deceive you everyday. Today ill be talking about what deception happens and what you can do in response. 

Point 1: When deception comes it will appear good 

2 Corinthians 14-15

Satan does not come as a comic book style red guy with horns and a pitch fork, nor does he come as a monster from Nun. He will come as a a little tweety bird. His suggestions will appear to be wonderful and lovely but in the end they yield nothing. When you to restaurant and they give you to much change, and you think ah this wouldn't hurt anyone and you don't tell them. That is sin. If you promise to give your neighbors lawn mower back after using it and they never come for it, so you just keep it. That is sin. 

Point 2 : Deception is related to action 

We can be deceived in our action. Our actions are the evidence of what we believe . If we don’t do what we say we believe then we really 

believe something else. If I claim to hate greed, then demand a salary raise when I am being paid ample then my action show that I do not really hate greed. I may say I love my family, but what I really love is what they do for me. 

Point 3 : There are different levels of deception 

Unconscious Incompetence: When we don’t know we are being 

deceived and thus sin Conscious Incompetence: When we know we are being deceived and still give into sin 

Conscious Competence: When we know we are being deceived and don’t give into sin Most of us fall into Conscious Incompetence or Unconscious Incompetence we either don't know, we are being deceived and thus sin, or know we are being deceived and still sin. So how do fight conscious competence or learn about my unconscious incompetence? Point 4 : You Must Be Prepared To Fight Deception 

When the enemy comes it usually happens within a split second and if 

you are not prepared you will easily give in . You must train your mind to recognise deception that way you can fight it. You must set your heart on the things of God. Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just,

whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” 

In the past this was a big issue for Christians and so to help in the fight against sin and deception they created a list of virtues and vices. 

Pride is excessive belief in one's own abilities, that interferes with the individual's recognition of the grace of God. It has been called the sin from which all others arise. Pride is also known as Vanity. 

Envy is the desire for others' traits, status, abilities, or situation. 

Gluttony is an inordinate desire to consume more than that which one requires. Lust is an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body. 

Wrath is manifested in the individual who spurns love and opts instead for fury. It is also known as anger. 

Greed is the desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring the realm of the spiritual. It is also called Avarice or Covetousness. 

Sloth is the avoidance of physical or spiritual work. 

Kindness = cures envy by placing the desire to help others above the need to supersede them. Temperance = cures gluttony by implanting the desire to be healthy, therefore making one fit to serve others. 

Charity or love = cures greed by putting the desire to help others above storing up treasure for one’s self. 

Chastity or self-control = cures lust by controlling passion and leveraging that energy for the good of others. 

Humility = cures pride by removing one's ego and boastfulness, therefore allowing the attitude

of service. 

Diligence or Zeal = cures slothfulness by placing the best interest of others above the life of ease and relaxation. 

Patience = cures wrath by taking time to understand the needs and desires of others before acting or speaking. 

Tell my story of working on sloth. 

Now I want you to take 30 seconds and look at this chart and pick both a virtue and vice to work on. Some of you may be thinking boy I don’t struggle with anything on this list well i can assure you you do (explain how they can mean different then we typically think). Then turn to someone one near you and tell them what your gonna work on. The church is a great place to build one another up and work on our mistakes and praise our successes. Now set a reminder on your phone for tonight. What I want you to do is before you go to bed take a minute or two to think about how you did with your virtue or vice. Do not forget or turn over to go to sleep or start watching a tv show, this is the part where you must fight. Temptation is strongest when you know your being tempted. You may get in bed and think boy I should do that but i’m too tired. Do not give in. 

Action Steps 

1 : Ask for help from God 

When you get to these moments, which if you are constantly thinking 

about whether you are applying your virtue you will, you will not be able 

to do it on your own. You must ask help from God. When you get home today I want you to choose a bible verse to go along with your virtue. 

2 : Don’t expect perfection

As Christians we know that perfection is impossible, however we can work toward it. In your journey you should mark success by progress, wars aren’t won in a day. They say building a habit takes about 30 days of intentional thought, so for the month of December I would encourage you to work on your virtue. At the end of that you may be able to move on to another virtue. For December I will be working on the temperance of my words, speaking only want is kind, true, and necessary. My bible verse will be Proverbs 10:19 “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise”. I implore you to do this to and while it may be hard it is worthy task. Here is great quote from C.S Lewis “No man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good. A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is. After all, you find out the strength of the German army by fighting against it, not by giving in. You find out the strength of a wind by trying to walk against it, not by lying down. A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later. That is why bad people, in one sense, know very little about badness — they have lived a sheltered life by always giving in. We never find out the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight it”. So let us do as Ephesians 4:22-24 tells us “put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Abby Mowery

“Showdown With Outside Voices”

Big Idea: To stand up when people tear and question our faith in Jesus. 

Introduction: 

Story 

History discussion on the separation of church and state - more specifically prayer in school. My stance: there should be a mental health or quiet time that if kids choose, they may use that time to pray without having to fear the scrutiny of their classmates. Explain why I did CREW last year (to allow kids to feel safe together to pray and have a community where they could feel comfortable) 

People's responses directed at me: that this idea is inappropriate, unimportant, religion doesn't belong during the school day. 

How that left me feeling: upset, angry, confused 

How I dealt with it: I turned to my bible (which I had been kind of neglecting for a bit up to that point) and prayer. I thought how could these people say these things not only are they wrong, but they just don't get it and then God spoke to me through Acts 18:9-10 

Scripture: Acts 18:9-10 

ESV: And then Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” 

Points: 

● Keep speaking when the voices try and drown you out. - SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE OUTSIDE VOICES 

God said, “your right they don't understand, BUT that is EXACTLY what I have sent you to do. DO NOT STOP preaching my word until they DO understand!” If we are to love our neighbors, then do NOT give up in the face of scrutiny. Do not stand down. The ideas and criticism of the enemy is fighting you for a reason; he knows what you can do in the name of Jesus. he knows what you can do in prayer. 

● Access God’s children; You are not alone. - SPEAK WITH THE INSIDE VOICES 

We are never alone no matter how we may feel. God is alway there, but also just like he said, “for I have many in this city who are my people” and we have them too. Utilize your family, your pastors, your mentors, and especially your prayer and bible. We are a community and we band together. 

Action Steps: 1. Defend your faith always, don't give up. 

2. KEEP PREACHING GOD’S WORD AND HIS TRUTH!

3. Reach out to God's community. 

Closing: 

We need to keep preaching until those who don't get it, do get it.

Acts 17:1-6 ESV

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,

We are continuing in our series “Showdown.” And much like the classic western where the good guy rides into town to defend it from the bad guys, inevitably resulting in the quickdraw duel at high noon, we are discussing the moments in our lives when we find ourselves in a standoff and we must act.

The “opponents” that we face can take on many forms and be motivated by various factors. It is important that we recognize those opponents and act accordingly.

Title: WHAT ARE WE FIGHTING FOR?

Deep Dive into the history of Duels

• 17th and 18th Century Duels were fought with swords. Afterwards they began to be fought with pistols.

• Fights were to First Blood, Severely wounded, The Death, or one shot.

• July 11, 1804: U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr, while in office, dueled former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton; Hamilton was killed.

• February 24, 1838: U.S. Representative from Kentucky William Jordan Graves killed U.S. Representative from Maine Jonathan Cilley in a pistol duel. Afterwards, Congress passed a law making it illegal to issue or accept a duel challenge in Washington, D.C.

• September 13, 1859: U.S. Senator David C. Broderick and former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of California David S. Terry. Broderick was killed.

• Even Abraham Lincoln, as an Illinois state legislator accepted a dual and was about to fight when his people talked him out of it.

Duels and showdowns are common still. Luckily we have mostly moved beyond the need to shot each other in order to make our point. As I read through these historic duels the one question that I have is why? What happened that caused such anger that it drove two people to the point of killing or at best severely hurting the other?

In the scripture that we read a few minutes ago we see this angry mob. Evoking images of torches and pitchforks. Looking to take out Paul and his companion because he “turned the world upside” with his preaching and teaching about Jesus.

And, as I pondered this moment in scriptures and the one I will share with you in a moment, I think to myself; “Are the things that I am fighting for so compelling that it turns the world upside down?” Or, “Is it possible that what I am fighting for is misguided and unimportant?”

Let me be clear, the gospel is the most important possession of the church. It must be the only thing that motivates our fight. This beautiful gospel is that God has made a way that we might become children of God. Part of his inheritance. That no matter the depth or depravity of our sin, it will not be too great that his blood cannot cover. That no matter how far we wander, he will be relentless in his pursuit of us. That because SO LOVED the world that he gave his one and only son (To become sin on our behalf, to take our punishment upon him, to die on our behalf) that WHOEVER believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life.

No! my concern is that we have forgotten our first love. And the message we proclaim has become cloudy and at times secondary. That instead of fighting for people, we begin to fight against people.

Acts 19

Synopsis – Paul rides into Ephesus. He begins to teach and preach in the synagogues. God was doing “extraordinary miracles.” People were being healed, even from handkerchiefs that Paul touched. Those that practiced magic began destroying their books. All totaled some 50,000 silver pieces worth. The idol makers got angry because they were losing business because lives were being changed. THE GOSPEL DISRUPTED THE ECONOMY!

Could you imagine if our message, the glorious gospel was resulting in economic shift?

The idol makers were so upset that they started a riot.

Acts 19:32 ESV

Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.

Doesn’t this look like our world right now? Everybody is angry about something. I could make a handful of statements and probably offend everyone. If we offend people, let’s do it because of the gospel. Let’s be the type of people that turn our world upside down.

What was the message that caused this huge shift? That caused people to turn away from their practices that dishonored God? We can’t say for certain but we might have an clue given to us by Paul in his letter to the church in Ephesus.

Ephesians 2:1-10 ESV

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:12-13 ESV

“remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

THIS IS THE MESSAGE! THIS IS OUR MOTIVATION FOR THE FIGHT!

I believe that our message as believers have been lost, or at least minimized, by all of the other “important” issues of our day. Instead of standing firm and fighting for what is right many believers have joined the mob. “We are mad, not sure why, but we are mad!”

Revelation 2:2-5

“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

This love at first is, I believe, this gospel of grace. It is really easy for us as believers to feel like we can move past this. We can become hard in our well doing that we forget about the great grace that God has shown us and that he desires to show others.

The instruction to the church here is repent, do the works you did at the beginning. If not then the influence that the church had in the region would be gone.

I do not want to cash in my influence for things that don’t really matter. Let’s fight harder for the gospel of grace than anything else.

Maybe this “showdown” is really us squaring off the unimportant, the frivolous, or the lesser causes.

Closing

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 3:8–10 (ESV) And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”

PRAYER

We have a built in mechanism for our survival: FEAR

• We see something dangerous

• We experience FEAR

• It protects us when we experience heights, fire, large animals, etc.

That mechanism is often exploited...

1. We see a CHALLENGE

2. The challenge experiences DISTORTION

• The challenge is distorted, appearing larger, more threatening than in reality

• Illus: the low light that casts tall shadows

• Illus: Granville Mass. monument on small wooden bridge.

• The tactic of every army

  • Judges 7:20–22 (ESV) Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars. They held in their left hands the torches, and in their right hands the trumpets to blow. And they cried out, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!” Every man stood in his place around the camp, and all the army ran. They cried out and fled. When they blew the 300 trumpets, the LORD set every man’s sword against his comrade and against all the army. And the army fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath.

• The challenge is distorted, appearing larger, more threatening than in reality

• Distortions are deceptions - This is the enemies playground

3. The distortion activates the mechanism of FEAR

• An emotional response

• Initially based on distortion

• FEAR is experienced by everyone, even the most heroic

• FEAR is It is not a lack of faith

4. The DECISION must be made,.. what to do?

• This can happen over a few minutes of a few days, few years

• AFRAID - sees the distortion and decides to honor it as real

  • Will keep you from God’s best every time

• COURAGE - sees the distortion and disregards it as a lie

So often the challenge and distortion is of a spiritual nature

These can be one-off experiences, but the can be exploited into strongholds

3 PREVALENT FEARS FOR TODAY

The Fear Of Bad Outcomes

• Causing us to ignore God because His way might not work

• Specifically - if I stick to what God says, this may not work

• Exodus 16:19–20 (ESV) And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.” But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them.

• Examples:

  • Lying on a resume

  • Sabotaging a colleague to level the playing ground

• Honor God’s Word and His Word will honor you.

• God’s math equation will always work out.

• Joshua 6:20 (ESV) So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.

The Fear of Injury & Death

• pressuring us to avoid risks associated with winning God’s BEST.

• Numbers 13:1–2 (ESV) The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a chief among them.”

• Numbers 13:30–31 (ESV) But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” Then the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.”

• Numbers 14:1–3 (ESV) Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?”

• We are so pain adverse. We are so afraid of dying?

• Jesus’ pain/death were the prerequisites to life

• A previous attribute we honor: COURAGE IN BATTLE

  • Noble wars, fought to protect the underdog

  • Young men sent men into battle to fight for someone else

  • When faced with death, these men marched forward

• Protections in the US have afforded current generations have never faced a real enemy.

• We’ve had to create them; we’ve define them with long lists; we’ve created therapeutics

• In previous generations they would have overcome them.

• The media distorts them

• We are so consumed with safety and safe spaces - THEY ARE OUR GOD

• Helicopter Parents Turn Into Snow Plow parents

• Illus: family what had not left their home

• Worse than dying is the failure to live an abundant life.

• DON’T BE RECKLESS, BUT LIVE & THRIVE

The Fear of Man’s Opinion

• pressuring us to dishonor God to win the honor of men.

• Matthew 26:69–75 (ESV) Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

This was one of Peter’s worst life experiences.

Why did Peter Deny Knowing Jesus?

• Fear of physical pain

• Fear of incarceration

• Fear of rejection

  • Plagues the church

  • We water down who we are and what we are about so as not to offend (we say it is in order to win them over first) that it renders our lives without power

  • What will my coworkers think if they see my bible, see me pray, invited them to church?

  • We will even go to the point to go against God’s word

• Fear of the optics: How will this be viewed by others?

  • Following Jesus experienced the flip flop of the mob

  • Fear of being disliked?

  • Fear of being punished?

  • Fear of being marked - affect popularity,

  • How does heaven view this is the first question we need to ask ourselves

Our BEST LIFE begins as we focus on God’s opinion

Acts 4:18–20 (ESV) So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

Closing

This is a season for courage

Joshua to spies: Numbers 13:20 (ESV) Be of good courage and bring some of the fruit of the land.”

Moses to Joshua: Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV) Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

John 16:32–33 (ESV) Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

In This Series We Will Focus On: common showdowns that show up in the lives of believers that are worth fighting. 

Series Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:12 (ESV) Fight the good fight of the faith. 

Illus: I grew up at drive-ins watching John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. 

• Bad Guys harassing people in a little town out in the middle of nowhere 

• The Good Guy shows up in town and sees what’s going on. 

• The town’s people are too afraid to do anything and can’t afford to hire someone who isnt

• The Good Guy fight the Bad Guys and saves the people and their town. 

It’s also a story line that appears thousands of times in scripture. Biblical showdowns! 

Today’s Message Will Focus On: a critical showdown you must face, and this first showdown you need to lose. 

TITLE: His Voice 
The reason why you need to lose this showdown is because when God speaks you need to surrender. If you don’t you go on being the bad guy. We all start off being the Bad Guy and we will remain the bad guy as long as we are in opposition to what God says. PRAYER 

Have you ever been around someone who is bossy?x 
Illus: Leslie/Ben 

Does It Seem Like God Is Incredibly Bossy 

• Adam/Eve: don’t eat from that tree

• Abraham: leave your city and go to a place I will show you 

• Lot: get out of Sodom, run and don’t look back 

• Moses/Ten Commandments: do this stuff or die 

• Tabernacle: No one touches the Ark of the Covenant. 

• Joshua/Jericho: “Don’t take any of their stuff for yourself” 

1 Timothy 6:12 (ESV) Fight the good fight of the faith. 

The Good Fight of Faith is a Fight involving FAITH: His Voice 

• Will you listen to God’s Voice 

The WHY of God’s Voice 

1. He Desires His Best For You 

• Genesis 1:28 (ESV) And God blessed them. And God said 

to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and 

subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and 

over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing 

that moves on the earth.”

• He’s so committed to your best, He sent His son to 

purchase access to best 

2. He’s Revealing The Way To His Best 

○ Psalm 143:8 (ESV)...Make me know the way I should go, 

for to you I lift up my soul. 

○ Psalm 119:105–106 (ESV) Your word is a lamp to my feet 

and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and 

confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules. 

3. He Sees The Adversary Contesting His Best 

○ John 10:10 - steal kill and destroy 

○ Circumstances in your life contrary to what God says 

■ Anything that doesn’t line up with Genesis 

○ Contrary Voices - Voices in you life contrary to what God says - voices in your head, people in your world, voices of pop culture, in government, 

■ Voice of pleasure 

● Stay home, collect unemployment 

● Everyone should get basic needs covered without doing a thing 

● No discomfort 

■ Voice of substitute 

● God promises BEST, but here’s decent 

■ Voice of acceptance - optics 

● A struggle for everyone 

● Especially a struggle for people of faith 

● Nicodemus came to Jesus at night - what will people think

● What will people think if we gather 

■ Voice of fear 

● Do what I say or… 

● Nebuchadnezzar 

● What if your bosses say you 

4. He Knows His Best In Your Life Awakens Others To Theirs 

Closing 

1 Samuel 3:9 (ESV) Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 

Will you submit to the Voice of God?

Proverbs 21:5 (ESV) The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to

poverty.

Two opposing outcomes:

• Hasty: one is pushed and is forced to react limiting damage

• Poverty: constant decreasing until nothing is left

• Diligent: someone who knows where they are, knows where they want to go, and has planned the journey. They too experience a push, but tack against wind toward planned destination

Abundance: more than enough

YOUR BEST LIFE IS WITHIN REACH

Two lives contrasted:

Survival Life - surviving the stealing, killing and destroying

BEST LIFE - the best version of your life on this earth as God intends

BEST LIFE - THRIVE

○ (ESV) I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

○ (NLT) My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

○ (The Message) I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.

○ (NIV) I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Jesus came so you can have BEST LIFE: in your body, in your heart, in your mind in your emotions, in your relationships, in your career, in your finances, in your

purpose, in your success, in spite of circumstances

MAY HAVE - the possibility

● Some cross their fingers, “I hope my life will turn out decent.”

● Other’s declare, “I will thrive in Jesus Name!”

● Jesus makes this possible. Following Him unlocks this door.

○ Revelation 3:20 (ESV) 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.

This is not a one time encounter: Relationship, Presence, Strength

Say yes to Jesus.

YOUR BEST LIFE WILL BE CONTESTED BY ________________.

Everything in this life will fight against God’s Best.

John 16:33 (NIV) “...In this world you will have trouble...

His Best will be Contested. contested by:

● It will be contested by your ignorance that His Best even exists

● It will be contested by your failure to take time to discover what His Best is.

● It will be contested by your refusal to believe His Best can be yours,

● It will be contested by your assumption that it will just show up

● It will be contested by your belief that someone with it will give it to you.

● It will be contested by your by the things that try to break you

● It will be contested by your own distractions.

● It will be contested by tempting you with a substitute

● It will be contested by your imperfections, mistakes and sin

● It will be contested by others who don’t want you to have it

● It will be contested by the wicked one.

The enemies are many and constant

John 16:33 (NIV)...But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

YOUR BEST LIFE MUST BE SEIZED

It is a complete lie that the will of God automatically happens

● It wasn’t the will of God for Adam or Eve to eat the fruit

● It wasn’t the will of God for Adam or Eve or anyone else to

die.

● It wasn’t the will of God for the Israelites to become slaves

● It wasn’t the will of God for Aaron to make a golden calf and people to worship it

● It wasn’t the will of God for Israel to be stuck in the desert for 40 years

● It wasn’t the will of God for Israel to be destroyed and deported

● It wasn’t the will of God for the in Jesus hometown to remain sick

● It wasn’t the will of God for Ananias & Saphira to lie about their offering and die

● Matthew 18:14 (ESV) So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Deuteronomy 1:21 (ESV) See, the LORD your God has set the land before you. Go up, take possession, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has told you. Do not fear or be dismayed.’

YOUR BEST LIFE IS SEIZED WHEN YOU:

● See Where You Are

● See Where He Has For You

● Plan the Journey

● Take Next Steps

Register For NovemberFast - Preparing For 2021

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 ESV

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

In our lives we can easily feel as though we are stuck. Stuck in the middle of… We can find ourselves in what feels like the in-between. Because the in-between is always hard and feels like a great big “NOT YET”, we often get stuck

Title: Restarting Your Story

In our REBOOT series we’ve talked about: 

The ongoing need for spiritual REBOOTS, how they are activated. 

The importance of regular updates that bring us back into alignment with The LORD. 

TODAY: Restarting your story when you feel like you have stalled somewhere in the middle.

In the computing world there is something that is colloquially known as “the spinning wheel of death.” That moment when you are right in the middle of a project and you click on something and that little spinning wheel starts spinning and never stops.  Or the loading screen that never stops loading.

In 2020, you are no doubt feeling as if things are on pause. Perhaps you have felt “things will be better after the election” or “If Covid-19 will just go away our lives can return to normal.” “If Only…”

We often become stuck in our stories as if God has forgotten about us.

God is not a part-time novelist that will get back to writing when he gets some free time. 

How easily we get sidetracked from the work that God is doing.

Jesus said “ In this life you will have trouble…” (John 16:33 NIV)

For the majority of us we occupy the space of trouble land! 

“Jesus said I would have trouble!” OF ALL THE THINGS JESUS SAID,

THIS IS THE ONE PROMISE YOU REMEMBER AND LIVE BY?

John 16:33 (NIV) In this world you will have trouble. But 

Take heart! I have overcome the world.

There are countless stories in the Bible where people must have felt stuck somewhere in the middle of their stories.

• Joseph: Dreamed of greatness, sold into slavery eventually imprisoned.

• Moses: Raised in the palace, condemned, wandering in the desert.

• Daniel: carried away by an invading enemy.

• Job: Wealthy and content, loses EVERYTHING.

• David: Giant killer and hero, running from a tyrant king.

In every case they became stuck and felt like their stories were over

or , at least they were forgotten. 

Psalm 13:1 (ESV) 

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? 

DOUBT AND FEAR ARE THE ENEMIES OF YOUR STORY

Doubt and fear are never the key ingredients to success.

Doubt and fear make you do really dumb and unproductive things.

• David ran from King Saul and hid out with the Philistines

• Moses tried to convince God that He made a mistake choosing him.

It is time that we restart our stories!

WE MUST FAN INTO FLAMES THE GIFT OF GOD INSIDE OF US

(Reference to 2 Timothy 1:4)

Our stories can become stuck because we let the fire die down. FAN THAT FLAME!

RESTORATION/RENEWAL ALWAYS BEGINS WITH REPENTANCE

Jesus coined the phrase “born-again.” There is no better reboot. A clean slate, a new creation.

You are not stuck in your story. You can restart your story now!

2 Corinthians 4:7-11 (MSG)

If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at. We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us.

Our ordinary lives are the vessels for God’s Extraordinary work through us!

Scriptural Context of Ezra: 

● Israelites sanctioned by Cyrus, King of Persia to return to Jerusalem

● Fully funded to rebuild the wall, Temple, resume worship/festivals 

● Resume Jewish life in the region 

● Area residents disliked Cyrus, but disliked Israel even more 

● Attempted to hinder the rebuilding process with the following strategy 

Ezra 4:4–5 (ESV) Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. 

Title: BREACH POINTS 

In our REBOOT series we’ve talked about: 

The ongoing need for spiritual REBOOTS, how they are activated. 

The importance of regular updates that bring us back into alignment with The LORD. TODAY: Defending your life from the ongoing attack of the enemy and the impact of his lies.

Scripting attacks seek to insert malicious code in order to lead users to interact with false information that leads to false data, hijacked links and fake websites in order to steal resources or cause system failure. Cyber security specialists have dedicated significant resources in order to identify and secure common breach points where the attacks take place. 

Real life has some very common parallels. God has given us His Word, the code for abundant living but the enemy our our souls attacks all of us at common breach points, seeking to inject his malicious code to pollute our lives with his word, which is nothing but lies designed to reroute our lives into a less-than experience, steal our resources and cause personal failure on any level possible. 

We know: 

● John 10:10 (ESV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy 

● John 8:44 (ESV) ...he is a liar and the father of lies. 

● Luke 4:13 (ESV) ....until an opportune time. 

● Genesis 4:7 (ESV) ...sin is crouching at the door. 

● 1 Peter 5:8–9 (ESV) ...the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 

● 2 Corinthians 2:11 (ESV) ...so that we would not be outwitted by 

Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. 

Every one of us have been the victim of his lies and deception. 

Illus: 7th grade, Lynn Michaud, Ricky’s lies to her to win her over 

Israel had been given the green light by heaven and earth, by God and man, to return to their home land, to rebuild and to reoccupy. But the enemy fought their script, looking to inject malicious code by engaging several common breach points: 

BREACH POINT: INSERT MALICIOUS CODE WHERE NO OTHER CODE EXISTS 

Ezra 4:5 (ESV) and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. 

● There are many things we have never experienced before and counsellors play a key role in navigating them 

● People Of The Land hied counsellors (foreigner and Israel) 

● There will be people in your world with a giant pro-them agendas that requires anti-you. ● They may not have made a blood oath with Satan, but He is behind the narrative. ● They look to inject their code where you have yet to establish code.

Illus: our greatest concern for our kids - someone else building their value system - homeschool 

● Hosea 4:6 (ESV) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge… 

● Amos 8:11 (ESV) “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD, “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. 

There has never been more access to God’s Word than there is today! 

DEFENSE: 

● Study God’s Word daily; understand it’s context; consider life application ● Study Basic Doctrine 

BREACH POINT: OVERWRITE TRUTH WITH MALICIOUS CODE 

Ezra 4:2 (ESV) “Let us build with you, for we worship your God as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him ever since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria who brought us here.” 

● POTL were playing the long game 

● Lied about who they were in order to shift thinking and later the actions

● Get you to participate in something that leads to your downfall. 

ILLUS: engaged young woman whose boyfriend kept disappearing to fast and pray TRUST, BUT VERIFY. 

When this is slow to work, scripting attacks introduce temptation: the risky “click-here” link

● Trojan Horse - looks like a reward, but invites the enemy into your otherwise protected city. 

Numbers 22-23 Balaak King of Moab, wanted to destroy Israel 

● Brought in the prophet Balaam to curse them, but three times he was unable

● Balaam suggested tempting them with the women of Moab 

Often the best strategies to get you to participate in WRONG is to show you the REWARD only available to you by doing the WRONG thing 

● “I know God’s word says A, B and C, BUT…” 

● It’s in that moment you are exchanging God’s truth for your new truth! 

● Romans 1:24–25 (ESV) ...they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Malicious code works overtime to get Christians to embrace things that are wrong: ABORTION ● What about if someone was raped - less than 1% of the time 

What about if the mother’s life is in danger - less than 1% of the time. 

Illus: Elaine Stimpson 

99% of abortions are after the fact contraceptives 

○ 2017 - 862,000 abortions - 20% of all pregnancies end in abortion 

○ 2,363 abortions per day - 

○ 7,700 people die per day 

○ 25% of deaths every day are the result of murder in the womb. 

○ 431,000 abortions during COVID - died because of abortion 

○ 210,000 died during COVID - but only 12,000 die of COVID 

○ More babies die of abortion in a week than people died soley of COVID in 6 months 

Illus: Christian mom who wanted teenage daughter to abort baby - how will people look at me? 

Christians buy into the, “I know it’s not right, but it’s still better than…. 

This child is going to be deformed 

○ What level of deformity is acceptable? 

○ Down syndrome? 

○ Heart condition 

○ Blonde hair, black skin? 

○ Illus: Matthesius’ daughter 

● Not wanted” 

● Will be unhappy” 

● Someone can’t afford” 

● Contributes to overpopulation” 

● Places additional stress on the world’s food supply 

Let’s use these same arguments on old people, or sick people… your grandmother. What does God’s word say about the child in its mother’s womb? 

● Psalm 139:13–19 (ESV) For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my 

soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me!

If you have had an abortion, there is forgiveness for you. 

It’s possible that it was malicious code injected when you didn’t know it was wrong It’s possible that it was malicious code injected to overwrite what you knew to be wrong. 

But abortion cannot continue under the cover of a woman’s right to choose. The choice can be and should be made prior to conception, not after.

Introduction: 
Today I’d like you to take a journey with me through the book of Nehemiah. If you don’t know who he is, you will by the end of my message. He was given an assignment from God, one man, to reboot the dream of a nation. Today, as the church, we are called to be a Nehemiah.

Title: Dream Reboot

Chapter 1

• The book opens after a remnant of Jews had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon with Ezra. They went back to rebuild the temple of God.

• Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the King Artaxerxes. It was a highly trusted position, during a time of war and treason. He poured the king drinks. 

• One day his brother and his friends came to visit Nehemiah. He asked how things were going with the Jews that had returned.

• His brother reported that things were not going well. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem had been torn down and the gates had been destroyed by fire.

• Nehemiah begins to pray. “God remember what you told Moses? If you disobey me, I’ll scatter you, but if you come back to me no matter where my people are I’ll put them back in place, those I choose to mark with my name.” Let the king be kind to me today.”

Chapter 2

• He went in to serve wine to the king. He asked Nehemiah, “Why are you sad?” This was his opportunity, though he was terrified. He proceeds The city of my family is in ruins and the city gates are down. 

• “What do you want?”

• Send me to Judah where my family is buried so I can rebuild its wall and gates. He went as far as to ask the king for letters to validate this quest. The letters represented the king’s orders for safe journey and provision of materials for the rebuild. On top of that, the king sent an army escort for safe travel.

• The enemies Sanballat and Tobiah heard what was going on, they became angry that anyone would come to help the people. They began to mock their efforts.

• Nehemiah arrived and had been there for three days before doing anything. He finally went out at night, assessed the damage and came up with a plan. 

Nehemiah’s Dream Reboot 

• 2:17-18 He went back to the people and said “Jerusalem is a wreck. Let’s rebuild the wall and set the city gates. Let’s not live in this disgrace any longer.” The people were eager to get started. They agreed and said, “Let’s get started!”

• v. 19 The enemy showed up. “Ha, what do you think you are doing?”

• v.20 Nehemiah responded “God will help us. He will make sure we succeed! You have no say in this!”

Chapter 3

• The rebuilding of the wall and gates begin. People jumped in and worked together.

• Why was the rebuilding of the wall so important?

• With no wall, the city was vulnerable to attack. They appeared weak and open for an enemy to get in. The thought was to build the wall only to half it’s height, to begin, and enclose it. This way if an enemy was going to try to get in, they would have to first scale the wall. They would have to work to get in. As they completed a portion of the wall, they then restructured the gates. The plan was to work till they were completely closed in.

• God had a dream for the Jews. To set them up in land flowing with milk and honey. He would bless them and provide all they needed. This is what they were fighting for. It was worth protecting. Nehemiah and the people were working to keep the dream alive!

Chapter 4 

1-2 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall he exploded in anger, vilifying the Jews. In the company of his Samaritan cronies and military he let loose: “What are these miserable Jews doing? Do they think they can get everything back to normal overnight? Make building stones out of make-believe?” 3 At his side, Tobiah the Ammonite jumped in and said, “That’s right! What do they think they’re building? Why, if a fox climbed that wall, it would fall to pieces under his weight.” (MSG)

• V 4-5 How did Nehemiah handle it? He did not engage with the enemy but prayed instead.

• v. 6 The people kept on working, they were almost done, things were coming together, they had a heart to work.

Nehemiah 4:7-9 “When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repairs of the walls of Jerusalem were going so well—that the breaks in the wall were being fixed—they were absolutely furious. They put their heads together and decided to fight against Jerusalem and create as much trouble as they could.” (MSG)

• v. 9 The people countered with prayer and set a round-the-clock guard against them.

• They were working hard, it was a big job. The people were getting tired. Their spirit was weakening. Fear and Discouragement saw their opportunity to set in. 

Nehemiah 4:10 “But soon word was going around in Judah, The builders are pooped, the rubbish piles up; We’re in over our heads, we can’t build this wall. 11-12 And all this time our enemies were saying, “They won’t know what hit them. Before they know it we’ll be at their throats, killing them right and left. That will put a stop to the work!” The Jews who were their neighbors kept reporting, “They have us surrounded; they’re going to attack!” If we heard it once, we heard it ten times.” (MSG)

• v. 13 So I stationed guards at the most vulnerable places with swords, lances and bows.

Nehemiah 4:14 “After looking things over I stood up and spoke to the nobles, officials, and everyone else: “Don’t be afraid of them. Put your minds on the Master, great and awesome, and then fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.” (MSG)

• v. 15-18 The enemies plans were frustrated. The people went back to the wall and went to work. 

• ½ young men worked while ½ stood guard.

• Military officers served as back up for everyone working

• Common laborers were to hold a tool in one hand and a spear in the other

• Each builder had a sword strapped to his side as he worked

• Nehemiah kept a trumpeter with him to sound an alarm; if heard, the people were to all gather together in that place

• “Our God will fight for us!”

• The people worked by day and guarded by night. 

• They slept in their clothes and kept a spear in their hand, even when getting water.

Nehemiah had to reboot the dream God had given to His people!

• You have one enemy, the devil. He has one goal in mind and will stop at no means to accomplish that task. He wants to kill your dream!

John 10: 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. (NLT)

1 Peter 5: 8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. (NLT)

3 Take Aways from Nehemiah 4:14:

1. Fear/discouragement – will intimidate, lie, stop your momentum and try to kill   your dream.

Isaiah 41:10 “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” (NLT)

2. Mind – Your mind will need to stay focused on your dream.

Isaiah 26:3“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” (NLT)

3. Fight – be prepared to fight for your dream.

Ephesians 6:13 “Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.” (NLT)

Closing:

Nehemiah 4:27-29 When it came time for the dedication of the wall, they tracked down and brought in the Levites from all their homes in Jerusalem to carry out the dedication exuberantly: thanksgiving hymns, songs, cymbals, harps, and lutes. 31-36 I had the leaders of Judah come up on the wall, and I appointed two large choirs. One proceeded on the wall to the right…38-39 The other choir proceeded to the left. I and half of the people followed them on the wall.” (MSG) 

• What did the enemy say early on? “Why, if a fox climbed that wall, it would fall to pieces under his weight.”

• The enemy does not have the final say in anything concerning you and the things of God!

Do you need a dream reboot? If you are child of God, your dream is God given. Like Nehemiah, you need to fight for it. If you feel like your life is not worth a dream, God has one for you!

205 Billion Apps will be downloaded this year...

The most used app - Facebook with 2.3 billion active users

The average person has between 60-90 apps on their phone.

• They use on average 25 apps during the month

• They use on average 10 apps 96% of time

Most apps are deleted within a week...

• 77% of all apps are deleted after 3 days

• 90% of all apps are deleted after 30 days

Why do people download and then delete apps?

• Use lots more resources than expected ($, memory and battery)

• Don’t function properly - cause problems while using or to other experiences

• Don’t live up to their promises

• Interrupt - notifications, updates

• Vulnerable to dangers (bad material, spyware,

• Deceptive

Their presence creates a negative user experience, so they are deleted.

REALITY: We are far better at recognizing and deleting bad apps from our phones than we are at recognizing/removing bad apps that we develop during our life journey. But to become the person God wants us to be to experience all that He has for us, we have to participating in this process of deleting bad apps, because they are there.

Acts 8:21–23 (ESV) (Peter to Simon The Magician) ...your heart is not right before God.  Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.  For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”

The Setting Of Acts 8

Acts 8:3 (ESV) But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Acts 8:4 (ESV) Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.

• When bad things happen, God redeems them in the lives of believers for His and their good.

• I fully expect for God to use COVID for good!

Acts 8:5 (ESV) Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.

• On of the original 12 disciples

Acts 8:6–8 (ESV) And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did.  For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city.

• Words win over the mind,  but a demonstration of power wins over hearts.

• Words alone has to rely on a well crafted argument - information

• The church today has a lot of information, but little demonstration.

• It has crafted an argument as to why there is no demonstration

• Samaria already had a ton of information

  • John 4:16–18 (ESV) Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.”  The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’;  for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.”

  • John 4:19–20 (ESV) The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.  Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”

    • John 4:24 (ESV) God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship John 4:24 (ESV) God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

  • John 4:25 (ESV) The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.”  

    • John 4:26 (ESV) Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

  • John 4:29 (ESV) “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?”

• Leonard Ravenhill - “A man with an experience of God is never at the mercy of a man with an argument.”

• L. H. Hardwick - A man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an opinion.” 

It’s important for us to declare truth, but it’s critical for us to look for moments to see the power of God released.

• “THERE WAS MUCH JOY IN THE CITY - REVIVAL!

  • Revival is more the result of the positioning of people for God to move rather than the moving of God.

OUR LIFE APPS ARE WRITTEN ONE EXPERIENCE AT A TIME.

During the early stages of our life, every different experience becomes the lab in which we write the code for the app for navigating similar related experiences in the future. These include our interactions with:

• Friendships

• Money

• Family

• Loneliness

• Rejection

• People in authority: men/women

• Sexuality

• Discouragement

• Success

• Failure

• Self image

• Criticism

• God

• Church

APART FROM GOD, OUR APPS ARE FLAWED.

We have experiences.

We lack information.

We misunderstand.

We are deceived.

We get bad input.

We formulate responses.

We are prepared for a similar situation, incorrectly.

Acts 8:9–11 (ESV) But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great.  They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.”  And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.

• His whole life  was based on deception for gain - magic

• A means to wealth and fame.

• He wanted this fame so badly that he lied and told them he was someone great

• He clearly began this as a young man - And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.

• Everyone (least to great) paid attention to him  - self made rockstar

• We love to be deceived (magician, haunted houses, 

• We are so hungry to see greatness that we listen to people with the confidence to say, “I am GREAT!”

• “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” (supernatural, spiritual)

• Every culture without the power of God is hungry/thirsty for a replacement

• Ripe for a con: someone to convince them through deception of a replacement and their representation.

• Simon has developed his app for now and for the future!

Acts 8:12–13 (ESV) But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.  Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.

JESUS SAVES, 

BUT OUR BAD APPS CAN LIVE ON,

Acts 8:17–19 (ESV) Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.  Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,  saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

If only our salvation meant that all of the bad code were removed!

Similar experiences trigger bad apps.

Functioning in a bad app leads to bad outcomes.

We get trapped as we revert to what we know instead of what God wants to do.

That’s exactly what Simon did!

Can you recognize the activation of a bad app in your life?

TRUST GODS CATALYST FOR  DELETING OLD APPS AND DOWNLOADING NEW ONES.

God loves you

He wants better for you.

He is unwilling to leave you as you are.

Discipleship is the process of having our flawed apps deleted and replaced with His new ones.

Life will bring along a catalyst to expose the bad app.

• Reading the Bible

• Listening to a sermon.

• Reading a book.

• The voice of the Holy Spirit.

• Spiritual leaders.

Trust the catalyst and allow the surgery to happen there.

The catalyst for Simon required spiritual leadership.

Acts 8:20–23 (ESV) But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!  You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.  Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.  For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”

Can you trust your spiritual leaders to be the catalyst for transformation?

Acts 8:24 (ESV) And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

Closing: 2 Corinthians 7:1 (ESV) Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Ezra 4:1–2 (ESV) Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the LORD, the God of Israel, they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers’ houses and said to them, “Let us build with you...”

Isaiah 54:17 (ESV) no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed.

Today’s Goal:

• To challenge you to live your life, on alert, and guarded, watching for the weapons of the enemy, forged against you, and to have the wisdom to resist them.

• To challenge you to discover undetected weapons that have made it past your security but are causing damage, and to immediately eradicate them with a simple REBOOT, so that you can step back into perfect alignment with God and the BEST LIFE He has for you.

MALWARE, (MALICIOUS SOFTWARE)

• ENGINEERED - real people, behind the scenes, intentionally creating code

• DECEPTION - trick you into onboarding

• VARIANTS: a. VIRUS, SPYWARE, RANSOMWARE - onboard code, take something hostage and extract payment from you and those you are connected with.

• GOAL: your loss, their gain

The digital attack is real, but the everyday attack against the people, and especially the people of God and the purposes of God is very real. Consider this plot in the book of Ezra:

• (589BC - 2 Kings 25) Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon burned the house of the LORD and the king’s house and all the houses of Jerusalem, broke down the walls around Jerusalem, and carried everyone to Babylon except the poorest of the land.

• (538BC - Ezra 1) God stirs Ezra to send people back to Jerusalem to rebuild the House of God.

• Ezra 2:1 - they return to their towns

• Ezra 3:1 - in the seventh month they build the altar, offer sacrifices and celebrate Feasts

• Ezra 3:8 - in the second year they begin rebuilding the temple

Ezra 4:1–2 (ESV) Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the LORD, the God of Israel, they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers’ houses and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we worship your God as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him ever since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria who brought us here.”

• “Adversaries”

• “Approached Zerubbabel and heads of father’s houses” - fearless

• “Let us build with you”

• “We worship God as you... ever since we arrived here back in the days of Esarhaddon”

• Trojan horse approach

• This is an amazing all out nuclear assault

• THEY RECOGNIZED THE THREAT AND KEPT FROM ONBOARDING MALWARE - Ezra 4:3 (ESV) But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ houses in Israel said to them, “You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we alone will build to the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.”

• BUT THEY MISSED THE OTHER VERSIONS OF MALWARE AND FELL PREY! Ezra 4:4–5 (ESV) Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. (unti. Artaxerxes)

There is a very real focused attack, engineered for your life:

• 1 Peter 5:8–9 (ESV) ...be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him...

• John 10:10 (ESV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

• 2 Corinthians 2:11 (ESV) so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

THREE TYPES OF MALWARE

VIRUS - SIN THAT STICKS

• you onboard code that infect your operating system, doesn’t shut down your function, but makes it problematic.

• Hebrews 12:1 (ESV) ...let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely (easily encircles)

SPYWARE - STRATEGICALLY TIMED ATTACKS

• you onboard code that waits for the perfect moment, steals key information to steal your resources.

• Luke 4:13 (ESV) And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

RANSOMWARE - ALL OUT ASSAULTS

• You onboard code that seeks to lock it all down and take you hostage, demanding payment

• Isaiah 59:19 (KJV 1900) ...When the enemy shall come in like a flood... Isaiah 54:17 (ESV) no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed.

1. live your life, on alert, and guarded, watching for the weapons of the enemy, forged against you, and to have the wisdom to resist them.

2. To challenge you to discover undetected weapons that have made it past your security but are causing damage, and to immediately eradicate them with a simple REBOOT, so that you can step back into perfect alignment with God and the BEST LIFE He has for you.

Titus 2:11–12 (ESV) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

Invisible Luchadores: Evil Spirits

Luchadores are the many wrestling personalities that make up Mexico’s wrestling pop culture known as Lucha Libre. The luchador wears an iconic mask and matching outfit to reinforce is characters personality and storyline. He generally has a trademarked grappling move that he uses on his opponent to subdue them, pin them to the ground and disqualify them from the competition.

Luchadores are fictitious characters that exist for our entertainment, but life has a way of revealing very real luchadores that rise up to oppose the purposes and plans God has for all of our lives. They show up the moment we are conceived and are especially active when are young and vulnerable. They look to find success and establish a foothold in our lives, jumping into the ring whenever their grappling skills are needed. The luchador will nudge, shove, contain, carry off, submit and even destroy. He will function at any level we allow.

Luchadores have names, familiar to us all, like insecurity, discouragement, unbelief, fear, bitterness, deception, sickness, spirit, Satan. And the luchador is a master of disguise, the best of which is his ability to function without even being noticed. We see the negative circumstances he creates, but we fail to detect his presence. As a result, we think to ourselves, this is just the way life is sometimes, it’s how things often go, it’s something that we have to put up with, or at best, something we have to work around. We end up living lives that are less than what Jesus died for, simply because we fail to bring about the luchador’s eviction.

This series is designed to expose the invisible luchadores that we need to identify, call out, rebuke and banish forever so that we can thrive in life enjoying the good things that God has for each and every one of us!

Matthew 8:16 That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.

Hollywood and pop-cultures depiction of spirits/demons has led many to disregard and even disbelieve their reality/function in the real world.  But scripture paints a far more normative picture:

Jesus had regular interactions with the Devil, demons and spirits.

• Satan in the desert – Matthew 4

• Syrophoenician woman with an unclean spirit - Mark 7:25–26 

• Mary Magdalene, who had seven demons - Luke 8:1–2; John 11:2 

• Man in synagogue - Mark 1:23–26

• Man called Legion – Mark 5:2-5

• Crowds - Matthew 8:16 

Jesus gave His disciples the mission/authority to cast out spirits.

Matthew 10:1 (ESV) And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.

The Early Church regularly dealt with spirits.

• Peter - Acts 5:16

• Phillip – Acts 8:6-7

• Paul – Acts 16:16-17

Casting out spirits is part of a believer’s mission.

Mark 16:17–18 (ESV) And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;  they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Notables About Spirits: spirits are not to blame for everything or even the majority of things but they exist and are very real. They are not to be feared.

•  they impact us all on some level

  • Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

  • 1 Peter 5:8 (ESV) Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

• they attach to people through key gateways of sin (by, and against)

  • rebellion (Saul’s) - 1 Samuel 16:14–15 (ESV) Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him.  And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you.

  • prostitution (Mary)  - John 11:2 (ESV) It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill.

  • occult (Slave girl & Paul) - Acts 16:16–18 (ESV) As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling.  She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.”  And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.

  • unsaved (Syrophoenician) - Mark 7:25–26 (ESV) But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet.  Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter.

  • Judas betrayal - Luke 22:3–4 (ESV) Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve.  He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them.

  • In my experience spirits nudge, budge, shove and onboard in  moments of fear, deception, loss, trauma, unforgiveness, bitterness, sin

• they drive those they attack into acts of self-sabotage\

  • Young boy - Mark 9:22 (ESV) And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

  • Demoniac - Mark 5:5 (ESV) Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.

  • Saul trying to kill David - 1 Samuel 18:10–11 (ESV) The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand.  And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice.

• respond to medication (as opposed to eviction) - 1 Samuel 16:23 (ESV) And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.

• a common fingerprint of spirits is the presence of bizarre medical conditions

  • tongue but mute - Mark 9:17 (ESV) And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute.

  • ears but deaf - Mark 9:25 (ESV) And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

  • spirit of infirmity - Luke 13:11 (ESV) And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself.

• a common fingerprint of spirits is heightened emotional outbursts - Mark 5:5 (ESV) Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.

• not intimidated by spiritual atmospheres (church) - Mark 1:23 (ESV) And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out,

• when cast out, they will try to come back - Matthew 12:43–45 (ESV) “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none.  Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order.  Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

• while spirits will escalate from harassment to attachment to possession, there are no examples of believers being possessed

Walking In Freedom From Nudge, Budge, Shove….

Follow Jesus And Fear Not - Acts 19:13–16 (ESV) Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.”  Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this.  But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?”  And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Recognize A Spirits Influence

• testing - Romans 12:2 (ESV) Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

• test - 1 John 4:1 (ESV) Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

• recognition - 2 Corinthians 2:11 (ESV) so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

• discerning of spirits - 1 Corinthians 12:10 (KJV 1900) To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

• ask for wisdom - James 1:5 (ESV) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Identify And Call The Spirit By Name

• what is your name?  Luke 8:30 (ESV) Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him.

• name reveals attachment point 

Command The Spirit To Leave With Your God-Given Authority

• cast out with the word - Matthew 8:16 (ESV) That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.

• cast out with authority - Mark 6:7 (ESV) And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.

Walk In The Spirit, Strong & Without “Velcro”

• be filled with the spirit - Ephesians 5:18 (ESV) And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

• the Spirit is the strongest man - Matthew 12:43–45 (ESV) “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none.  Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order.  Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

• Renounce all sin (no velcro) - Titus 2:11–12 (ESV) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,  training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

Invisible Luchadores - a series to expose enemies that show up to push back against YOUR BEST LIFE, often in disguise, especially as we stretch for MORE.

Ephesians 6:10–12 (ESV) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

LIFE Is Filled With Luchadores

• “wrestle, armor, schemes and forces” indicate an opponent

• these luchadores show up at conception

• they continue every day after 

• function at whatever level they are permitted (nudge, shove, tackle, harass, intimidate, corral, lay siege, kill and destroy)

Everyone Has An Arch-Luchador

• every wrestler has a nemesis, and so do you

• luchadores look to find success and lock in and travel for as long as they are allowed

• they introduce themselves via deception, trauma, someone sin against you, your personal sin

• they appear in forms of sicknesses, brokenness, strongholds and spirits

• who is yours?

Luchadores Are Masters Of Disguise

• “for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against” indicates a confusion to what is actually happening.

• “you thought one thing, but it’s actually something else”

• luchadores are good at hiding, disguising themselves and blaming others

• some experience the impact of the luchador, never see the luchador – they settle with the circumstance

• luchadores are happiest when you are ignorant of their existence and live within the confines of their harassment

• some experience the impact of the luchador and blame the wrong source

• luchadores love to have you burn calories fighting the wrong opponent

Luchadores Lose When God’s People Fight Back

• when you finally recognize your luchador…

• when you finally recognize who you are in Him…

• when you finally function in the strength of the Lord (inward) and the strength of His might (outward)

• when you finally begin to use your armor/weapons

• you can stand against His schemes (stay your course)

• you may have to fight… again… and again… but you win every time!

Joshua 10:7–8 (ESV) So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor.  And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.”

Jeremiah 1:4-10 (NLT)

4 The Lord gave me this message: 5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations. 6 “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” 7 The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. 8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” 9 Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth! 10 Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.”

Those in the Bible who stretched for more: Abraham, Gideon, David, Moses, Ruth, Jeremiah, Joshua,  Esther

“The STRETCH is the catalyst that unlocks the MORE that He has. As I do my part, God will miraculously do His part!”

catalyst: something that causes activity, an event, or change. And usually, these events and changes are big.

 God will release abilities that have remained dormant as you begin to stretch.

“Your best unfolds when God is permitted to build a better you,” Ps. Steve

 Excuses that get in the way of stretching for more:

1. Offenses from others in church family.

2. Believe to be unqualified for the job.

3. Refusing to give up control of how much to give out.

Stretching through those excuses:

1. Go to God’s word

2. Pray scripture audibly

3. Spiritual counsel

 1 Peter 5:10 (NIV) And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Philippians 1:6 (CEV) God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won’t stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns.

Oswald Chambers: “Patience is more than endurance. A saint's life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, and He stretches and strains, and every now and again the saint says, ‘I cannot stand anymore.' God does not heed, He goes on stretching till His purpose is in sight, then He lets fly. Trust yourself in God's hands. Maintain your relationship to Jesus Christ by the patience of faith. 'Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.”

Isaiah 54:2 (NIV) “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.”

Genesis 2:18, 21-22 (ESV) Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.  And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.

In 6 days God created the heaven and the earth and it was GOOD!

• good: tob (gk) – pleasurable, agreeable, enjoyable… for everyone involved

 Genesis 2:18 (ESV) Then the Lord God said, “It is NOT GOOD that the man should be alone;

• not good, not pleasurable, not agreeable, not enjoyable… for everyone involved

NOT GOOD: ALONE, the condition of Adam

NOT GOOD was not the result of bad circumstances

NOT GOOD was because Adam had yet to become who God designed Him to be

God Made A Promise: Genesis 2:18 (ESV) I will make him a helper fit for him

a better translation - I will COMPLETE him and he will FACE & SEE his helper.)

 Adam’s Transformational Moment: Genesis 2:21-22 (ESV) So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.  And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.

God didn’t change Adam’s circumstances; He removed his rib! And then his circumstances changed.

Your best life unfolds when God can build the better you.

Key Transformational Moments

1.    When You’re Forced To Choose Between Him And Something Else…

2.   When God Repeats Himself, Again - when God is trying to get our attention, he repeats himself audibly while using circumstances to reinforce His message 

• Numbers 22:

  • Balak, King of Moab was afraid of Israel and their recent wins

  • v5 call for Balaam son of Beor at Pethor in the land of the people of Amaw (prophet, diviner)

  •  v6 “curse a swarm of people coming out of Egypt”

  • v8 “I will bring back word to you, as the Lord speaks to me”

  • v9-11 “these men want me to go with them to curse a swarm of people so they can win

  • v12 “you will not go, you will not curse, these people are blessed”

  •  v15 repeat (God doesn’t change his mind!)

  • v22-35 Balaam was going in a wrong direction, donkey saw the Angel of the Lord about to punish her master and she turned off the road into the field (struck); on a narrow walled path, he put his foot into a wall (struck); lay down in road (struck with staff)

•  sometimes we push against what God has speaks to us, He repeats himself

• we ignore God and do what we want, and when less than ideal circumstances develop we scream,  “why is this happening?”

• less than best circumstances often develop to reinforce His message 

lay down on the table, repent and ask God to transform you

• After David’s huge failure - Psalm 51:10 (ESV) Create (bara – to shape) in me a clean heart, O God, and renew (chadash – repair) a right spirit within me.

pray - declarative prayer

press in – study, conversations, research

3.   When Your Leader Says, “Can We Talk?”

• this happens as God sees my “rib” keeping me from experiencing/maintaining His best and I am not hearing HIM.

• we have to develop the mindset – “they aren’t doing this for them, they are doing this for me!”

• have a teachable spirit/submissive spirit - Isaiah 66:1–2 (ESV) …Thus says the Lord: All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

• remember that God uses imperfect leaders to perfect us!

• good loving leaders don’t wield submissive clubs!

• Hebrews 13:17 (ESV) Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

• we typically choose our leaders in the good moments; don’t eject from the tough ones

Conclusion

Matthew 12:13 (ESV) Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other.

Genesis 2:18, 21-22 (ESV) Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.  And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.

 In 6 days God created the heaven and the earth and it was GOOD!

•  good: tob (gk) – pleasurable, agreeable, enjoyable… for everyone involved

Genesis 2:18 (ESV) Then the Lord God said, “It is NOT GOOD that the man should be alone; 

NOT GOOD: ALONE, the condition of Adam

• (gk) hi – he, she, it

• (gk) bad – separated (implies a design feature yet to be realized)

NOT GOOD was not the result of bad circumstances. NOT GOOD was because Adam had yet to become who God designed Him to be. NOT GOOD applies to You. You are not who God designed you to be either… YET 

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV) And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

God Made A Promise: Genesis 2:18 (ESV)

I will make him a helper fit for him

• make (asah – make, accomplish, the idea of completing)

• fit (neged – in front of, facing)

I will complete Him and he will FACE and SEE his helper.

Adam’s Transformational Moment: Genesis 2:21-22 (ESV) So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.  And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.

God didn’t change Adam’s circumstances; He removed his rib! Too many people think a change of circumstances leads to a better life. 

October 2018 Benzinga article by Hannah Genig  – according to a study by Wolf Street, nearly one-third of U.S. lottery winners declare bankruptcy within a few years of their big win. 

•  In the late 1980’s, William Post III, won $16.2 million in the Pennsylvania Lottery. By the early 1990’s, Post was $500,000 in debt and filed for bankruptcy.

• Alex and Rhoda Toth won $13 million. They took their winning in payments of $666,666 over a 20-year span in 1990, but filed for bankruptcy in 2006. The couple was later charged with tax evasion. Rhoda was sentenced to two years in prison and was fined $1.1 million.

• Denise Rossi won $1.3 million. Her first endeavor after her big win was to divorce her husband, who had no knowledge of the win. Later, her ex-husband sued and the judge declared that Rossi had violated state asset-disclosure laws. As a result, the ex-husband received all of the winnings.

Adam’s external circumstances improved as his internal transformation was underway.

Your best life unfolds when God can build the better you.

Key Transformational Moments

When You’re Forced To Choose Between Him And Something Else…

• you face a decision that requires you to say no, even walk away from something you value because you know that God has something better. The challenge is that you can see the thing you are walking away from but can’t see the thing you are walking toward… YET! 

• Genesis 12:1–4 (ESV) Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.  And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”  So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

• sometimes it’s a choice between good and bad.

• sometimes it’s a choice between good and God’s better

• recognize and embrace – this is a defining moment, a hardening of the cement of who you are and will be. It points the trajectory of your life and the destination you encounter are at stake. 

• take the first step!

When God Repeats Himself, Again…

• the value of reading, listening, and praying is that it tunes you into heaven’s frequency

• when God is trying to get our attention, he repeats himself audibly, and other times through circumstances

• Numbers 22 - Balaam was going in a wrong direction, donkey saw the Angel of the Lord about to punish her master and she turned off the road into the field (struck); on a narrow walled path, he put his foot into a wall (struck); lay down in road (struck with staff)

• sometimes we find ourselves listening to the same themes over a few years, even a few decades.\

• recognize & embrace the moment 

• press in – study, conversations, research

• pray - declarative prayer

• failure to respond creates a rut that is hard to escape, forming the you that is less than what God intended.

We are continuing in our series “MORE.” It is so important that we continue to dive into this idea that God is the GOD of more. It is so easy to find ourselves in positions that we lack something and instead of taking it to God we try to figure out how to become comfortable with our lack. We let it move in a become a bothersome roommate that makes messes and doesn’t pay the rent on time.

Lack is a concept that was created by and perpetuated by Satan himself. God created the Earth and gave Adam and Eve dominion over everything. And Satan comes along and say to Adam and Eve that God is withholding from you. If you eat from the tree he told you not to eat from, He knows that you will be like Him, knowing right and wrong. God is withholding. And mankind has struggled ever since believing that for whatever reason that God is holding back His goodness from us.

But, throughout the scriptures through God, His son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit there is a constant drumbeat of He has more for us and that lack is not a part of His original design or heaven.

But what about being content?

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.  Philippians 4:10-13

This does not mean that following Jesus means that we will not experience pain, trouble, heartache, or sadness. But it does mean that God strengthens us to fight to see the fulfillment of his promises.

UNDERSTANDING THE FIGHT

In the battle to experience the fullness of God, we must understand the enemy(s) that we are facing.

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Our own thoughts keep us from experiencing MORE!

We talk ourselves into thinking that God doesn’t care about our situation or that He has better things to do. Or worse yet that He is unable. We argue with our own doubts and we seek other’s opinions on what we should do. These are the real enemies that we face.

 Take a moment and stretch. 

Doesn’t that feel good. Stretching is likely on of the first things that you do in the morning, or after a long car ride. 

Stretching is often a preparation for some activity. It helps prevent injuries and decreases stiffness. It can helps to relieve stress and promotes circulation. 

Physical stretching is a good but, the stretching that we do in the spirit is the catalyst to unlock the more.

2 examples of a stretch to experience God’s best.

1.     Man with the withered hand.  - He went on from there and entered their synagogue. 10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. Matthew 12:9-13

Jesus could have healed the hand without the stretch but, the stretch was the indication of the man’s faith in Jesus.

FAITH REQUIRES ACTION!

2.   Woman with the issue of blood 43 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. 44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. 45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”  Luke 8:43-48

It was her faith the made her well. Her stretch was the catalyst for God to    show up big!

There were hundreds in the crowd that could have “touched” Jesus. What was different about her?

GOD WILL USE OUR LACK TO COMPEL US TOWARDS HIS MORE!

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.  Matthew 5:6

Hunger and thirst are things that we “lack” that compels us to be filled.

What else do we lack? It is time that we stretch toward what God has already promised we can have or experience.  

Keys to Stretching for MORE!

STRETCHING WILL BE UNCOMFORTABLE AT FIRST – Any new area that we venture into will require some adjustment. The stretch will always be a move toward the unknown. It requires faith. 

STRETCH OFTEN – This allows for the faith muscles to move more effectively. Consistent stretching in faith increases the level of faith that you operate in. 

STRETCH BIG – You can’t outstretch God’s goodness! Understanding that we are stretching for what God already has prepared for us. 

IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO STRETCH – A issue of blood for years, a withered hand, a diagnosis, a persistent fear, brokenness. Maybe you have never stretch out for God’s goodness before. He responds when we stretch!       

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord. – Luke 4:18-19 (NASB)

RECOGNIZE THE SOURCE

• Where are you looking for your favor?

• James 1:17 – Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. (NASB)

• Mt. 13:22 – And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. (NASB)

• Deceitfulness of money is the lie that it will solve your problems

RECOGNIZE HIS AUTHORITY IN ITS DISTRIBUTION

• It is his yoke…

• Mt. 11:29 – Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. (NASB)

• We don’t get to choose our favor

• Mine vs. Yours

• 1 Cor. 12:4-11 – Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. (NASB)

RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS FAVOR

• There are always going to be problems

• Mt. 13:24-29 – Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and slipped away. When the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared. The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ An enemy did this,’ he replied. So the servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ ‘No,’ he said, ‘if you pull the weeds now, you might uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat into my barn.’” (NASB)

• Problems don’t mean “no favor”

• Are you trying to grow wheat or kill tares?

RECOGNIZE YOUR INFLUENCE ON FAVOR

• Put yourself in the right environments

• Our experiences are an even mix of our personality and context (situation/setting)

• Heb. 10:24-25 – And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

• Guard your mind

• Coffee example – Conventional wisdom is not wise

• The Spirit reveals ALL truth – Ask Him to reveal His favor in your life

• John 14:26 – But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you. (NASB)

• Declare your favor

• Our words have the power to impact our favor

• Mt. 12:33-37 – Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure. But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (NASB)

• The words of my mouth – Pr. 12:14

• Pr. 12:14 – A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words… (NASB)

My Declaration: In 2020, God has MORE. MORE for me. MORE for you. MORE for us. MORE through us for them! I will not wait for MORE to simply show up. I am STRETCHING for the MORE God has for me. The STRETCH is the catalyst that unlocks the MORE that He has. As I do my part, God will miraculously do His part! I am stretching for MORE, because that is who God is.  God is the God of MORE. 

2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV) But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

context: this scripture was dealing with a vision builders offering in Corinth communicated for over a year, focused to meet the need of sister church in a different city. 

• excel – considerably more than what anyone expects

• grace – something given freely and generously by God

• giving – specifically in church

The following several chapters Paul talks about this offering. The following verses are directed at those who would participate in the Vision Offering:

• 2 Corinthians 9:6–8 (ESV) The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

• 2 Corinthians 9:10–12 (ESV) He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.  For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

Vision requires MORE than the day to day.

Vision will always require faith. Faith to see it. Faith to resource it. Faith to build it. Vision will always require Vision Builders.

When vision is embraced with faith, miraculous things happen to build the vision, AND miraculous things happen for the Vision Builder. When we help build God’s house, he helps build ours!

Excel In The Grace of Giving…

1.   share something – our first efforts to take something of ours and give to the church.

2.  return the tithe

• first 10th income, return to house of the Lord, live on 90%

• allows for bread in house, God’s blessing

• the tithe recognizes God as source

• it keeps money in its rightful place, controlling greed

• unlocks a supernatural flow

3.  give additional offerings

• above and beyond tithe, for missionary, special project, etc.

• see a need, give what you can

• at first it will feel like, “but I already give so much”

4.  become a Vision Builder, activating FAITH for His House and yours

• at this stage, you’ve seen God do some amazing things

• this stage vision driven, faith activated, requires a sacrifice

• this stage, faith stories are created - vision is accomplished and givers unlock a back flow into their own life that is remarkable.

Become A Vision Builder

Psalm 37:4 (ESV) Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Luke 12:29–31 (ESV) And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.  For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.  Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

In 2020, God has MORE. MORE for me. MORE for you. MORE for us. MORE through us for them! I will not wait for MORE to simply show up. I am STRETCHING for the MORE God has for me. The STRETCH is the catalyst that unlocks the MORE that He has. As I do my part, God will miraculously do His part! I am stretching for MORE, because that is who God is. God is the God of MORE. 

The first MORE we will always stretch for is MORE of Him.

DESIRE: something wanted that leads to a quest

There are two types of DESIRE: EMOTIONAL and INFORMED. Bother will take you to its destination.

Emotionally Fueled Desires Have Drawbacks:

• have to be continually refueled by emotions and emotions often change, to sometimes contradictory desire, requiring a change of direction

• easily influenced (turn off soundtrack in a scary movie)

• can be easily manipulated (child support commercials – flies, watery eyes, dump, sad music)

• can be misinformed, even deceived (think you’re being pulled over by police)

• the epicenter where temptation occurs

• difficult to arrive at specific solid destination

• most destinations are filled with unmet expectations

Informed Desires Have Great Strengths:

•  ignores emotion, distraction, misinformation, manipulations, temptation, by continually re-informing itself of the “why” 

• regularly arrives at specific, highly valued destinations and regularly enjoys the benefits.

“The heart wants what the heart wants” is only half true. You can tell the heart what to want and it will!

When you set your heart on a desire and experience it, it is amazing. But in God’s economy, there is one superfluous desire that radically unlocks all other desires…Deisring More of God, FIRST!

When More of God is Your First Desire:

1.    your first desire will be satisfied - Jeremiah 29:12–14 (ESV) Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.  You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you, declares the Lord.

2.   He will influence your other desires for the better  - He will give you the desires of your heart.

3.   your other desires will also be satisfied - Proverbs 10:22 (ESV) The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.

4.   He will meet all of your needs – Luke 12:29-31 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.  Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

MORE of God, FIRST is more than an idea, it is a way of living!

it is a series of simple, informed decisions that turn into a lifestyle filled with MORE!

Set Time With God, First

• doesn’t have to be first thing in the morning

• doesn’t have to be the longest time slot

• focused, distraction free, intimate

•  time in the Word, time in prayer.

Listen To God, First

• decide in advance to say YES to anything and everything that God says

• when your discover God requires an adjustment in thinking or action, do it immediately.

• when you disobey scripture, you put yourself first, or someone else first.

• ·allow the input of others to come after you have consulted Him

• His words to you are at the level of scripture

• don’t ignore, reject and ultimately grieve the Holy Spirit

Become Like Him, First

• we look to others and emulate them, becoming more like them 

• we are made in His image, but the image is skewed

  • Romans 8:29 (ESV) For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

  • 2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV) And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

• we should always have one or two areas in nonconformity that are being conformed

• the big external obvious tend to be first: murder, theft, lying, sexual sin, drunkenness

• the deeper works of the soul come next: fear, identity, 

Give To Him, First

• give is against our nature, the first struggle every child experiences – we are first

• tithe – when God gives to you, your return a tenth to Him before you do anything else

• offering, sacrifice offering – dreaming about a trip, large ticket item… dream about a big amount to give to him

• service

• you can give to him by giving to others - Matthew 25:40 (ESV) And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.

“And then GOD answered: “Write this. Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run. This vision-message is a witness pointing to what’s coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn’t lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time.” ‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭2:2-3‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Action Steps:

1. Get A Vision

2. Write It Down- list out the vision the God has for me so that when the vision becomes faint, unlikely, or I become discouraged, I can look back to it and allow it to propel me to keep going

3. Do It - all the vision planning doesn’t mean anything unless I actually put my hand to the plow and begin the work. It’s not going to be easy but the end result with be well worth it.

In our day and age, everyone seeks instant gratification and rewards. We constantly strive to reap the harvest before the seed has even been planted. The only way to truly reap: work and patience. Very rarely is pursuing God’s vision for our lives about the destination. It’s never about a milestone or title. The true harvest, is not reaching the finish line, it’s how we finished; who we have become to get there. It’s always about the journey God leads us on and how He helps us become who He has destined us to be, because if we are not prepared to receive the harvest when it comes, much of will be lost and ultimately we will be left unfulfilled. So I will run the race and fight the good fight not solely because of where I will end up, but who I will become.

Stepping past the overwhelm in our lives is a process that God says he will help us conquer. 

God Calls Us To Joy!

• Luke 6:23 ‘..Leap for Joy.’

• Romans 12:12 ‘Let this Hope burst forth within you, releasing a continual joy.’

• 1 Thessalonians 5;16 ‘Let joy be your continual feast...’ 

God Offers Help- Lets Take It!

Isaiah 42:16 "But I'll take the hand of those who don't know the way, who can't see where they're going. I'll be a personal guide to them, directing them through unknown country. I'll be right there to show them what roads to take, make sure they don't fall into the ditch. These are the things I'l be doing for them-sticking with them, not leaving them for a minute."

Action Steps:

1. Brain Dump - write out what is overwhelming you. Brings a to-do list for the things you can take care of to relieve the overwhelm. 

2. Spiritual Health

   1. Take care of your temple. Eat well and get exercise and good rest 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 

   2. Read your bible and pray every day. Realigns our focus with the promises of God. Reminds us of the promises and fills our spirit in a way we sometimes don’t notice until we absolutely need it. 

3. Proclaim the promise, rather then the problem. Stop perpetuating the problems and challenges...it doesn't fix or alleviate the issues. Proclaim the promises God has already given us over these areas. Gal 6:7-8 “What a person plants, he will harvest.” What I say and do out loud will start my results on their way to me. 

4. Turn down opportunities in life that add to overwhelm and provide no quenching to your spirt. Giving myself more to do doesn't help overwhelm. Jump at chances to deepen faith and quench spirit. The spiritual renewing that takes place when we realign our focus on Jesus makes the future challenges easier to walk through with grace and correct perspective. That same effort you jump towards God filling your spirit is the same energy in your spirit you will experience as you go out and experience life!

Romans 5 3-4 We can rejoice too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us-they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengths our confident expectation of salvation.

God Believed In You On Your First Day

• ““Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you.”” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭NASB

God Believed In You On Your Worst Day

• “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭NASB‬‬

YOU are SACRED and HOLY to God And nothing you have done has changed that

Action Steps:

• Reading the word on a regular basis... -realigns my heart with Gods truth -Declares Gods love over me

• Build godly relationships -Godly people treat me the way God sees me -reinforces the notion of how God uses the body to show His love

• Do that next thing -what ever it is, that tug, step into it -it gives God opportunity to bless you and show you in tangible ways, who you are to Him

Matthew 2:11 ESV And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”

Ever had difficulty finding the perfect gift? But when you find it, you know it…

The Magi brought specific gifts for their recipient…

Gold, The Gift For A King 

Magi recognized Jesus as a king - Matthew 2:2 (ESV) saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Magi brought Jesus gold, the customary a gift from one Kingdom’s King to another.

• Queen of Sheba visited king Solomon and brought him gifts, including 120 talents of gold, or 7936lbs or $186,273,792

How much gold would the wise men have brought Jesus? Gold is currently $1467 oz. An iPhone 5 size would be $47,000.

John 18:33, 36–37 (ESV) So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”  Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Revelation 19:11–16 (ESV) Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.  His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.  He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.  And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.  From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.  On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. 

The gift of gold was the perfect gift for our King, Jesus!

Frankincense, The Gift For A Priest

Frankincense is an aromatic gum resin. Produced by scraping the bark of certain. When burned as incense, it creates a strong and beautiful aroma.  The cost of frankincense precluded it from being common. It was burned to worship God.

Exodus 30:34–37 (ESV) The Lord said to Moses, “Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (of each shall there be an equal part),  and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy.  You shall beat some of it very small, and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting where I shall meet with you. It shall be most holy for you.  And the incense that you shall make according to its composition, you shall not make for yourselves. It shall be for you holy to the Lord.

Hebrews 4:14–16 (ESV) Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

The gift of frankincense was the perfect gift for our Priest, Jesus!

Myrrh, The Gift For A Sacrifice

Myrrh is a fragrant spice derived from the sap of a tree native to the Near East.

Like frankincense, it can be used as incense,

It also had wider usage as a perfume, anointing oil, balm

John 19:38–39 (ESV) After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body.  Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight.

Myrrh, the perfect gift for our sacrifice, Jesus,

Jesus, the Perfect Gift For Us

No other gift is so uniquely fashioned for each and every one of us!

John 3:16–17 (ESV) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Matthew 26:26–28 (ESV) Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”  And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you,  for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.  

We have a tendency to romanticize Bible stories. As each unfolds in our mind, they do so on a big screen with an epic soundtrack and dynamic visual effects. We often miss that each one took place on an average day, in a regular neighborhood, and in the lives of common people, just like you and me.  

But they were common people with remarkable qualities. And it was those remarkable qualities that positioned those common people to experience God giving birth to the miraculous in their lives! This series is to draw your attention to those common people, to see the us in them, and do lean into their remarkable qualities so that His eternal purposes can come to life in our lives.

Matthew 2:1–12 (ESV) Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,  saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”  When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;  and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.  They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:  “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”  Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.  And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”  After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.  And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.  And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

A Few “Myths” In Our Manger Scenes:

• The word for wise men is MAGI. The word describes people with an unusual capacity of understanding based on astronomy, science, alchemy and spirituality functioning in the service of the King. These men were from the region of Babylon, part of ancient Mesopotamia, modern-day city of Baghdad in Iraq. This was historically a breeding ground for such individuals as seen in the Biblical narratives of individuals including the prophet Balaam and the likes of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were in service to the king and served as liaisons to the surrounding nations. 

• There were likely not three men. There were at least two because “MAGI” is plural. The idea of three MAGI is likely based on the three gifts given, but there was most likely a small caravan of MAGI and their team.

• The wise men did not arrive at the stable. They did not greet Jesus while He was lying in the manger. Realistically, Jesus was two years old and was visited by the MAGI while living in a house (Matthew 2:11). That means that the depiction of MAGI standing in the stable, with angels, with shepherds or with barn animals is inaccurate.

• The depiction of their journey being across grassy hills and sloping meadows under a bright star is incorrect. The MAGI crossed some of the most extreme desert areas and conditions on the planet, mountains, cliffs and extreme freezing temperatures.

• While they saw the star initially, it disappeared. As a result, they headed to Jerusalem where Herod, the current king resided. While they knew what the star represented, they did not know the prophecies stating that the Messiahs’ birthplace would be in Bethlehem. After dialoguing with Herod in Jerusalem, the made their way toward Bethlehem, and in the process, the star reappeared

  • Matthew 2:9 (ESV) After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.

• The star that appeared in Matthew 2:9 was clearly not an astronomical star. Stars don’t rise in the west, nor do they hover in the earth’s atmosphere and come to rest over residences. It was likely a supernatural sign they experienced, much like the Israelites experienced with the pillar and cloud while travelling through the wilderness.

Common People With Remarkable Qualities:

The Wise Men Continually Positioned Themselves To Hear From Heaven.

• They were not necessarily godly men, but they WERE listening to Heaven.

• They knew about a significant star that was to appear when the Messiah was born.

• They were knew scripture because they knew the significance of the star: Matthew 2:2 (ESV) saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

• How did they know about the star?

  • Balaam contracted by Balak, king of Moab from the region of Babylon to curse the Israelites as they travelled through to the Promised Land.

  • Balaam was a wise man based in Pethor near the Euphrates and close to Babylon. 

  • Balaam was warned by God not to curse Israel, and instead blessed them three times: Numbers 24:17 (ESV) I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: A STAR SHALL COME OUT OF JACOB, AND A SCEPTER SHALL RISE OUT OF ISRAEL; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.

  • Balaam was likely of the ranks of wise men from that region.

• Their understanding of the coming Messiah would have been further informed by Daniel’s oversight and teaching. Daniel, after being deported to the same region, and after being thrown into the lions den, rose to become chief of the wise men, shaping their teaching and instruction.

  • Daniel 9:25–26 (ESV) Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem TO THE COMING OF AN ANOINTED ONE, A PRINCE, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time.  And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed.

•  The star stirred something, but they leaned in further, and further, and further. They researched, the gathered a team, they journeyed to Jerusalem. They talked to Herod. One step led to the next and the next.

Hearing God’s voice becomes easier and easier as you intentionally lean in to Him. 

• Matthew 2:10 (ESV) When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

• Jeremiah 29:12–14 (ESV) Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.  You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you, declares the Lord…

•  Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) … and that he rewards those who seek him.

• 2020 will be a year of pressing in, and finding the better than you can imagine, the unexpected, the miraculous!

The Wise Men Were Guided By Strong Conviction, The Result Of A God-Breathed Vision.

• The Wise Men heard something from heaven and believed it.

• They were not satisfied to have the head knowledge, they wanted to experience it first-hand.

• There were committed to experiencing it, regardless of cost.

  • it cost considerable energy: approximately 732 miles; 239 walking hours; 30 travel days of 8 hours a day.

  • it cost considerable time: preparations beforehand, the time gone.

  • it cost considerable resources: the cost of a caravan over that period

• too often we believe things about God that don’t actually affect how we act.

KNOWLEDGE only needs information but VISION is impartation! Impartation happens as you get close enough for something to become a part of who you are.

• The Wise Men didn’t just hear about heaven, they leaned in far enough that heaven began to rub off on them

• The wise men got a dose of VISION.

• VISION develops conviction that cannot be deterred by things like distraction, cost or even opposition!

The Wise Men Were “Worshippers”

• worship is so much more than what we during the music on a Sunday, but it is a part of it. Are you guilty of being a worshipper???

• Matthew 2:11 (ESV) And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

  • fall down – prostrate

  • worshipped – to express by attitude and action ones allegiance to and regard for deity.

• gave fits of gold, frankincense and myrrh – great expense!

• In their case, Jesus did them no miracle, had answered no prayer, had healed no disease, had saved them from no dire situation, had not forgiven a single sin.

• In their case there was no Holy Spirit for them to have a sense of His presence like we do

• And yet, they worshipped Him for who he was ALONE! and it was extravagant!

• Unlike them, we not only know who He is, but we’ve experienced what He’s done!

“RESERVED” worship runs the risk of INNOCULATION instead of the INFECTION of heaven.

Passive worship goes just far enough to satisfy the internal itch and external expectations. It never goes far enough to be the appropriate response that unlocks all that heaven has!

I want to worship in a way that is an appropriate response: physical, audible, visible, emotional, energetic, faith filled, cost me something, expenseive

• they gave gold, frankincense, myrrh. 

  • gold: customary for royal visits.

  • Sheba visited king Solomon = 120 talents, 7936 lbs or $186,273,792

• How much gold would the wise men have brought Jesus?

Jeremiah 33:2–3 (The Message) “This is God’s Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God:  ‘Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.’

We have a tendency to romanticize Bible stories. As each unfolds in our mind, they do so on a big screen with an epic soundtrack and dynamic visual effects. We often miss that each one took place on an average day, in a regular neighborhood, and in the lives of common people, just like you and me.

But they were common people with remarkable qualities. And it was those remarkable qualities that positioned those common people to experience God giving birth to the miraculous in their lives! This series is to draw your attention to those common people, to see the us in them, and do lean into their remarkable qualities so that His eternal purposes can come to life in our lives.

Luke 1:5–7 (ESV) In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

Zechariah and Elizabeth are key players in the Christmas narrative. She was an older relative to Mary, and they would become the parents of John the Baptist, who would be the forerunner to announce the ministry of Jesus.

Positioned To Hear From God

Heaven Is Always Speaking. Positioning Yourself To Hear Is One Of Your Greatest Pursuits.

• Zechariah - Luke 1:11-13 (ESV) And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

• Martha - Luke 1:39–44 (ESV) In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

Angels spoke to this couple out of the blue.

It is more common and frequent for hearers to hear from God as they tune in.

How I Tune In.

• I pray before reading the word, or hearing the word

• I partner with the Holy Spirit – He’s my teacher!!!

• As I read, something resonates – I note it.

• Often, it continues to resonate.

• I take note and lean in, researching additional scriptures, etc.

• It takes on a life of its own.

• Find books, read, further research, prayer, etc

• Develop the thought and apply

Learn how it works for you!

Their Righteous Living Was Noteworthy

Right Living Best Positions Us For All That God Wants To Do For Us, In Us And Through Us.

Luke 1:6 (ESV) And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.

Right living leans into the same grace that others lean into after doing the wrong thing. But it right living positions us with:

• confidence, faith

• no season of correction

• better circumstances, less debris

• better reflection of Christ

• the devil doesn’t have a foothold, nor his demons.

They Were Anchored In His House

Everything God Does Starts In His House And Flows Outward. Get In That River And Be A Part What He Is Doing!

• Luke 1:8–9 (ESV) Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

• Luke 1:59 (ESV) And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father,

Zechariah and Martha’s lives were centered around the gathering of God’s people. That’s where God spoke to them. That’s where God unlocked the most amazing things in their lives that impacted the world!

Jesus life was centered in God’s House as well.

• Luke 2:22 (ESV) And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord

• Luke 2:49 (ESV) And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

• Luke 19:47 (ESV) And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him,

While God dwells in heaven, His Spirit dwells on earth and is experienced most often as a byproduct of the gathering of His people in His House.

The vast majority of the salvations, healings etc I have seen have been in His house!

As a parent: you live with us, you go to church – increase the odds of heaven coming to your earth

Thriving With Some Of Life’s Biggest Prayers Unanswered

Living With Your Eyes On Who God Is Best Positions You To Experience What He Has Yet To Do.

Luke 1:6-7 (ESV) And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

They had no child, but they were not bitter! Their eyes were on God, not their circumstances.

3 Hebrews: Daniel 3:16–18 (NIV) Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

LOOK WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.

1 Thessalonians 5:18–19 (ESV) give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.

The Spirit of God is trying to lead us, but Thanksgiving and Faith is the environment in which He thrives in us.

There is a freshness in all of their dealings that shows no bitterness

Ephesians 4:31 (ESV) Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

• bitter – pikria – figurative to something that taste bitter; a state of sharp, intense resentment causing spite or hatred

Hebrews 12:15 (ESV) See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

Bitterness is something you’ve placed in your mouth

bitter not sweet – disappointment, unmet expectations

causes physical reaction, you feel and others see

it impacts everyone - the yuck flavor on you gets passed to them

not unforgiveness – demand repayment

more subtle – it’s a flavor that is uncomfortable that impacts you and everyone.

We have a tendency to romanticize Bible stories. As each unfolds in our mind, they do so on a big screen with an epic soundtrack and dynamic visual effects. We often miss that each one took place on an average day, in a regular neighborhood, and in the lives of common people, just like you and me.

But they were common people with remarkable qualities. And it was those remarkable qualities that positioned those common people to experience God giving birth to the miraculous in their lives! This series is to draw your attention to those common people, to see the us in them, and do lean into their remarkable qualities so that His eternal purposes can come to life in our lives.

Matthew 1:18–21 (ESV) Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”Mary &

Joseph were positioned to hear as Heaven spoke.

Heaven Is Always Speaking. The Miraculous Is Unlocked As We Are Positioned To Hear.

Every miracle in your life will begin with God speaking followed by you hearing. The key is to continue to position yourself to hear. Right NOW.

Mary:

• Luke 1:28, 30-31 (ESV) And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.

Joseph:

• Matthew 1:19 (ESV) And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

  • resolved – to think with the purpose of planning a course of action

• Matthew 1:20–22 (ESV) But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

  • considered: to process information by giving consideration to various aspects

Matthew 11:15 (ESV) He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Revelation: Revelation 2:7 (ESV) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

• ears - not only the ability, but the responsibility

• hear – pay attention and respond

Today there are more distractions than any ever, because this time matters on earth more than any other

God wants to do more today than any other collective time in history! It starts with being tuned into him.

God can speak out of the blue, but hearing is enhanced:

• create moments of listening

  • read and listen to the word

  • podcasts & books

• create environments to encounter the one speaking

  • dynamic environment with the Spirit engaged

  • John 14:26 (ESV) But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

  • prayer, corporate worship

This is something we do; something others do on our behalf.

• put your children in a place to have an encounter with heaven

• we can’t guarantee the response, but we can guarantee the opportunity

• our highest call is not our children’s graduation, getting a good job, marriage, good relationship with us

• create moments to hear from and respond to God

Mary & Joseph were recognized as righteous.

Right Living Best Positions Us For All That God Wants To Do For Us, In Us And Through Us.

God can do anything, anywhere for anyone at any time. But he consistently does his best things frequently in the lives of those who live according to His Word.

• Mary - Luke 1:27–29 (ESV) to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.

  • her righteous life had earned her favor with God

• Joseph - Matthew 1:19 (ESV) And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

  • he had every right to rub her face in her “assumed sin”

  • his response – protect her

• right-living matters to God

• right-living aligns us with God

• right-living best positions us for His purposes

• wanting one thing when heaven wants another, and yielding…

  • Mary - Luke 1:38 (ESV) And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

  • Joseph - Matthew 1:20–25 (ESV) But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

• submission isn’t real until there is a burn, and redirection of the will

• obedience is a reality when you want to do something else.

Some people willfully sin because they know God will forgive.

• Romans 6:1–2 (ESV) What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means!

• Hebrews 10:26–27 (ESV) For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

• 1 John 3:6–10 (ESV) No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

The Unintended Consequences Of Sin :

• brings injury to your relationship with God

• limits the function of the Holy Spirit

• give the devil a foothold and his resources

• pledges obedience to sin

• invites deception

• negatively impacts the faith of others

• makes it difficult for God’s best to unfold

Right-living:

• cannot be allowed to turn into self-righteousness

• that turns into self-righteousness is offensive to God

• cannot lifts lf up and looks down on others

• self-righteousness omits the cross

• possible because of His grace

• Luke 18:9–14 (ESV) He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Mary & Joseph: aligned with Biblical sexuality

Honoring Biblical Sexuality Unites Us With Heaven And Protects Us From Being United With _______________________.

Our relationship with God is incredibly intimate - His Spirit lives within us

Sex unites us, body soul and spirit with someone else in a way that can only be compared to the closeness God wants to have with us.

Have you ever invited someone too close and then couldn’t get rid of them?

• Matthew 1:18 (ESV) …Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together …

• Luke 1:, 34 (ESV) And Mary said to the angel, “…I am a virgin?”

Culture has always had something to say about what is sexually in bounds.

Man has always had desires and experiences outside of those bounds

Sex is a gift from God.

Sex unites us, body soul and spirit with someone else in a way that is only comparable to the closeness God wants to have with us.

To bring something that close that is out of bounds will affect you, and will affect your relationship with God, not to mention your relationship with others

• 1 Corinthians 6:18–19 (ESV) Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

• 1 Corinthians 6:15–17 (ESV) Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.

Some of the greatest acts of worship and offerings you can give to God is burn you experience when obedient in moments of sexual temptation.

Amen, a customary statement at the end of a prayer or during preaching to express our agreement with what is said and the hope that it will take place. But, AMEN is so much more than just a statement.

• AMEN is an attitude, a posture, a way of life.

• AMEN is a response that unlocks the abundance of Heaven.

• AMEN is our resounding YES to all that God says. It is also a resounding YES from God to his children.

AMEN is our emphatic agreement with all that God has said that He will do.

AMEN is never a negotiation and we have to be on constant guard against letting it become so because the Enemy is not only a liar, but he is also a manipulative negotiator. He The exodus of the Israelites from Egypt gives us a great example of how this process will and should play out. When you enter into spiritual warfare for your life, your health, your job, your family, your church, fill in the blank, you can expect resistance. To begin, you need to understand who your are in Christ and hold your ground.

AMEN requires us to be bold.

God spoke to Moses. Moses knew that God had chosen him to liberate the Israelites from Egypt and lead them out into freedom. Pharaoh is the embodiment of the Enemy in our lives. He held all dominion over the Israelites and they were his slaves. He was the most powerful man in the world at this point in time. So, what would you expect him to do when an old shepherd shows up one day and tells him to let God’s people go. Not too surprisingly, he says no. Not just no, but an emphatic no!

• Exodus 5:2 But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and besides, I will not let Israel go.”

The enemy’s first response is always no. If his mission to steal, kill, and destroy your life, then you can bet that he’s not just going to roll-over and walk away the first time you engage him. So, Moses tells him again to let God’s people go and this time, he doesn’t just say no. He also doubles their work! We have all experienced how, when we begin to push forward for the things that God has for us, the enemy pushes back and things get harder.

• Your sickness develops a new symptom.

• You get into another fight with your spouse.

• You have a new mechanical failure.

Recognize that this is the first stage of the fight you have entered into. The enemy will attempt a “shock and awe” approach to quickly overwhelm your enthusiasm and faith. The enemy isn’t taking you seriously.

AMEN requires us to encourage ourselves.

When you are believing for God’s deliverance in your life and aligning yourself with all Heaven has promised, you can’t tuck tail and run when you hear “no” from your circumstances. We push forward in the battle, continually declaring what the Word of God says over our lives. Be prepared because, in this phase, the enemy will change tactics and it is critical that you continue to encourage yourself with God’s Word in His Spirit.

We can see in the scripture that as God began to rain down plagues upon Egypt for not releasing his people that Pharoah continues to harden his heart against God. But he also starts to do something interesting. He starts to waffle on releasing the Israelites. Three different times Pharoah agrees to let them go only to reverse course and deny their release as soon as the current plague is past.

• Exodus 8:8 & 15 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Entreat the Lord that He remove the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the Lord.”... But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the Lord had said.

• Exodus 8:28 & 32 Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. Make supplication for me.”... But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go.

• Exodus 9:27-28 & 34-35 Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time; the Lord is the righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones. Make supplication to the Lord, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail; and I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.”... But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his servants. Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not let the sons of Israel go, just as the Lord had spoken through Moses.

You will notice that in each of these circumstances, Pharaoh agreed to let them go because he was suffering. He wanted relief. As soon as he got it, he rescinded the release. I know that we have all experienced this. You find yourself in the middle of a spiritual battle for God’s goodness in you life or someone elses and you get signs that you have won the battle, only to find out that it wasn’t the case. I don’t know about you, but when I experience this, it has the tendency to ramp up my anxiety and sense of hopelessness but instead I need to get excited because the enemy is suffering from the blows that I am raining down upon him! He has begun to shift tactics because he has to do something! He knows he can’t refuse the Word of the Living God! So, don’t get discouraged in this stage of the fight!

Sometimes, this will happen multiple times and it can drive us to despair if we look at it incorrectly. This is not the enemy toying with a powerless fighter. This is the enemy shifting to try and find a toehold because his defeat is imminent.

AMEN requires us to be non-negotiable.

This may be the hardest phase of the battle. The negotiation stage. When the enemy begins to lose ground, he will begin to offer you an imitation blessing, less than the full Amen.

Once again, we look to Egypt. When the plague of locusts and the plague of darkness descend on Egypt, Pharoah attempts to negotiate a compromise. After the locusts, he agrees to let the men only leave to worship God. Thankfully, Moses refuses. After darkness, he allows all the people but not the livestock and animals. Again, Moses refuses.

We see this in our own lives when, for example, we are battling a sickness and praying for healing, but the battle has been long and we are tired. Suddenly, we have a breakthrough and see some actual progress. Unfortunately, many times, we accept this partial relief as what Heaven has for us and we simply stop fighting. I want to encourage you today to keep fighting. These negotiations come right before the final curse when Pharaoh breaks and the Israelites are freed! Don’t settle for the partial win because you are about to win it all! Cherish the ground that you have taken and praise God for it but don’t stop fighting for the full and complete deliverance of the Lord. Because we don’t serve a God of partial blessings.

Ours is a God that leaves the 99 to rescue the one. He isn’t satisfied with some. He wants all and so should we. We should settle for nothing less than the whole, complete deliverance of the Lord!

Moses said to let the people go. - Pharaoh said “no”

Moses asked again. - “No”

Changed a staff to a serpent. - “No”

Turned the Nile to blood. - “No”

Plague of frogs. - “Maybe. Mmmm, No!”

Plague of gnats. - “No”

Plague of flies. - “Maybe. Mmmm, No!”

Pestilience. - “No.”

Boils - “No”

Hail - “No”

Locusts - Okay, maybe some of you!

Darkness - Okay, but not the animals!

Death - GET OUT!

Go through the scripture. We get fixated on the 10 plagues but you will notice the Moses actual demands the release of Israel 12 times! 12 demands and 12 tribes! This is no coincidence! God demanded the release one time for each tribe! He wasn’t going to be satisfied with some of his people, He wanted all!

• Mark 8:22-25 And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Jesus and implored Him to touch him. Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.” Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly.

• Genesis 15:13-14 God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions.

When you get to the end and your almost there, just keep your eyes on Jesus because your deliverance is coming! If you’ve been discouraged or settled then stand to your feet and lets press into him.

AMEN, a customary statement at the end of a prayer or during preaching to express agreement with what is said. But, AMEN is much so much more than that…

AMEN Is:

• My Declaration: I Agree With What God Says.

• My Expectation: I Anticipate His Word Will Come To Pass.

• My Participation: I Will Do My Part So He Can Do His.

Ezekiel 37:1,4-7 (ESV) The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 37:7 (ESV) So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied…

Mountains are the highest places on earth. In the Bible, they are symbolic of strength, accomplishment and victory. They are iconic places where God met with man, as was the case for Moses on Mt. Sanai or Elijah on Mount Carmel. Mount Zion is symbolic of God’s dwelling place with His chosen people, Israel, and specifically the location of the temple in Jerusalem.

• Psalm 48:1–3 (ESV) Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress.

One of the iconic New Testament mountains was the Mount of Transfiguration

• Matthew 17:1–3 (ESV) And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.

Valleys are the low places on earth. In the Bible, they are symbolic of waiting, difficulty, battle and even death. These are times and places where God is often seen as absent.

• Psalm 23:4 (ESV) Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me

One of the most iconic Bible Valleys was The Valley of Hinnom:

• During the reign of King Ahaz - (2 Chronicles 28, 33) the valley was used by Baal worshipers to offer their children in their furnaces to their god Molech.

• During the time of Jeremiah - (Jeremiah 7, 19) referred to the valley as "The Valley of Slaughter."

• During reign of King Josiah - (2 Kings 23:10) proclaimed "defiled" and no one was allowed to use it for any purpose.

• During ministry of Jesus - valley evolved into a garbage dump. Trash was burned around the clock, as well as the bodies of dead animals, criminal corpses. It was a well-known hangout for lepers and the sick. There was continual smoke, stench, maggots and flies. At night, dogs could be heard fighting over the trash. Eleven out of twelve times that Jesus talked about HELL, He used the Greek word "GAHENNA." "GAHENNA" comes from the Old Testament word, "HINNOM" which was a valley south of Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 37:1–2 (ESV) The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry.

• hand of the Lord was on Him

• brought into the middle of a valley

• by the Spirit of the Lord

• not just a valley, it was full of bones, many bones! Dry bones!

Ezekiel 37:3 (ESV) And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

• you can end up in a Valley filled with many dry bones as a result of:

  • life happens

  • the enemies attack

  • your own actions – ignorance, stupidity, foolish, sin, rebellion

  • the leading of the Holy Spirit

• However you got there, the question now is “Can these bones live?”

• The answer: YES

Ezekiel 37:4 (ESV) Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.

• At this moment we often make several mistakes with our lips

  • murmur, grumble

    • Exodus 15:23–24 (ESV) When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah. And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?”

    • Exodus 16:8 (ESV) And Moses said… Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord.”

  • become victims: place blame, unforgiving, bitter, excuses, fear-filled verbiage, negative

  • wear it as your identity: everything in life becomes about this

  • become coroners – time and cause of death –faithless

• None of those mistakes brings about God’s desire – LIFE!!!

• You have to understand, words create our lives, our atmospheres

  • we live in them

  • those around us live in

  • the Holy Spirit has to live in - Ephesians 4:29–32 (ESV) Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

• Your atmosphere is the incubator for the future

• What should you do? Prophesy over the bones…

  • The bones are real, don’t act like they are not

  • Prophesy: declare out loud for you/others/heaven/hell to HEAR!

  • Prophesy is not a suggestion; it is a declaration.

  • It is authoritative: Heaven has called you to prophesy! God could come down and do it, but he’s sent you!

  • Prophesy: what God says – general things from the Word, things that you sense, things God has revealed

Ezekiel 37:5–6 (ESV) Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”

• There is and order and timing - You don’t get skin before you get flesh. You don’t stand to walk around before tendons are attached.

• The Word gets the ball rolling

• It’s important to understand that you might have work to do

  • “were just believing God for our finances

  • “were just believing God for our marriage

  • “were just believing God for our health

  • great, but what are you doing?

• Prophesy again, and again, and again!

• Valleys created by Hell will fight back!!! Prophetic warfare – bind and loose. Pray in the Spirit!!!!

Of course, the prophesy is fulfilled, and the outcome is an amazing army!

Holy Spirit, Transform Our Words!

• AMEN is a lifestyle of prophesying. It’s not going to come easily or quickly.

• taming the tongue is nearly impossible - James 3:6–8 (ESV) And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

• but it is a reality of the Holy Spirit - Joel 2:28–29 (ESV) “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy…

AMEN, a customary statement at the end of a prayer or during preaching to express agreement with what is said and the hope that it will take place. But, AMEN is much so much more than that…

AMEN Is The Verbal Alignment To What God Says, The Expectation For A Future Yet To Exist.

CORE TRUTHS:

1. Jesus Positions Us In The Father’s Favor

• In the Old Testament, God was raining down his wrath in judgement on people, cities and nations for their sin.

• In the New Testament, Christ has positionally taken their judgement so the Father can engage with them as if they had never sinned.

• God’s interactions come from a place of favor, even prior to salvation.

  • Romans 5:10 (ESV) For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

  • Luke 4:19 (ESV) to proclaim the year (a cycle of time) of the Lord’s favor (accept, receive or welcome).”

2. Embracing His Favor Places His Best Within Our Reach

• saying yes to His favor allows us to begin to experience all that His favor offers.

  • Philippians 3:12 (NIV) Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

3. His Best ALWAYS Begins With A Word

• creation - Genesis 1:3 (ESV) And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

• redemption - Isaiah 6:8 (ESV) And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

• propitiation - Hebrews 10:5–7 (ESV) Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’ ”

• healing

  • Psalm 107:20 (ESV) He sent out his word and healed them…

  • John 5:8–9 (ESV) Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.

• deliverance – Mark 1:25–26 (ESV) But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.

• forgiveness - Luke 5:20 (ESV) And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

• salvation - Romans 10:8–10 (ESV) …if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THE INCREDIBLE POWER CONTAINED WITHIN THE WORDS THAT YOU USE?

• I’ve decided to attend that school…

• I’m going to accept that job offer

• I say yes to marrying you…

• Let’s move there. Let’s buy that house.

• Let’s have children. Let’s adopt.

• Let’s be a part of this church

WHAT YOU SAY AND HOW YOU SAY IT CREATES AN EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE WHO HEARS!

Proverbs 18:20–21 (ESV) From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

1. 1words are like seed – spoken, taken out of the bag and put into play

2. planted and grow – some immediate impact, but a bigger focus on time

3. it will produce fruit – it’s the seed principle

4. fruit is the byproduct of the seed. life or death – reap what is sown – past words have created your current moment.

DO YOUR WORDS POINT AT YOUR DESIRED FUTURE?

James 3:9–10 (ESV) With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

This is a reality because of the culture we live in. This is a possibility because we are oblivious? It is possible to perceive we are one way, when actually we are another.

Do A Litmus Tests: Listen to what you say and how you say it.

HOLY SPIRIT, TRANSFORM MY MOUTH!

• taming the tongue is nearly impossible - James 3:6–8 (ESV) And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

• but it is a reality of the Holy Spirit - Joel 2:28–29 (ESV) “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy…

AMEN, a customary statement at the end of a prayer or during preaching to express our agreement with what is said and the hope that it will take place. But, AMEN is much so more than just a statement.

• AMEN is a Person, and His Name is JESUS - Revelation 3:14 (ESV) “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

• AMEN is who God is molding you to be - Romans 8:29 (ESV) …he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…

• AMEN is an attitude, a posture, a way of life.

• AMEN is the resounding YES to all that God says.

• AMEN is the response that unlocks the abundance of Heaven.

We have all found ourselves in a position where we have agreed and then regretted. That car you bought that you really couldn’t afford, or that car that turned out to be a lemon. Or, that “party” you agreed to go to that involved a “great opportunity”. Or agreeing to a date that you really didn’t want to go on.

Sometimes we have agreed for all the wrong reasons; to avoid an argument, because it was easier, to make someone happy.

And, there are times that our yes (AMEN) is resounding but, falls to the ground the moment it comes out of our mouths. Like when we whole-heartedly agree but, really have no intention of making any changes. (Watching a weight loss show while eating a bag of Doritos).

AMEN IS NOT ABOUT BEING AGREEABLE. IT IS AGREEING, EVEN WHEN IT IS THE LAST THING YOU FEEL LIKE DOING.

• The Bible is quick to point this out to us - James 2:18-19 (ESV) But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

• Your “AMEN” is the language of faith…accompanied by works. What works? Acting on what you know that God has spoken.

LIFE IS GOING TO HIT YOU HARD. EVEN KNOCK YOU DOWN.

• “Everyone has a plan ‘till they get punched in the mouth.” - Mike Tyson

• Isaiah 41:10 (ESV) Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

• 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (ESV) We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

AMEN Is Most important When You Have Been Knocked Down!

• The countdown begins when we hit the mat. We will either lay there and be counted out or we will get up and keep fighting.

• Your AMEN Stirs Your Heart. A Reminded Spirit is a Fighting Spirit.

• Our Amen makes a statement about what we believe. It is not just based upon what we see. Not like an illusion or delusion; we might really be knocked down. We might really be confused. But what do you believe? That God is for you? That He is fighting on your behalf? That no matter what he will never leave you no forsake you? That you can be healed/restores/forgiven/rescued?

• God’s people have always been encouraged to remind themselves of what God has done. “Teach them to your children, talk of them when you sit in your house,” “fan into flames.”

AMEN Is Not Agreement with Victory But, His “Right Now” Word.

• It is agreeing without having any idea how it will turn out. Victory isn’t raising our hand in triumph, but just standing. ROCKY LOST THE FIGHT! His victory was just standing back up.

• There is always another fight. There is always another trial. We will win some battles and we might lose some. But we overcome by getting back up!

• So often we want to get so excited about the victory that we try to jump over the obedience. No victory is won without obedience. Consider Jesus!

• Jesus’ “AMEN” meant he would be knocked down on the mat and the countdown would begin.

• Jesus even asked the Father if there was another way. “Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.”

Your AMEN Breaks the Heart of the Enemy.

• Ephesians 6:13 (ESV) Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

• Jesus walks in on Satan’s victory party and takes his keys!

• Rocky eventually becomes the champ. In nearly every huge bout he gets knocked down, his opponent celebrates, and Rocky gets back up. And their spirits are shaken because he just took the worst and he is still standing.

• Adversity doesn’t define you. How you respond to it does.

• JESUS OFTEN TOLD PEOPLE TO “GET UP!” - “Get up, take up your bed and go home.” “Get up and walk.”

• You no doubt know what it means to be knocked down. And you may be struggling with the strength to get back up. Jesus is saying “Get up.” Right now, your “AMEN” is hearing his voice and standing to your feet.

• There are people in your corner rooting for you. You are not alone.

Amen, a customary statement at the end of a prayer or during preaching to express our agreement with what is said and the hope that it will take place. But, AMEN is so much more than just a statement.

● AMEN is an attitude, a posture, a way of life.

● AMEN is a response that unlocks the abundance of Heaven.

● AMEN is our resounding YES to all that God says. It is also a resounding YES from God to his children.

AMEN is our emphatic agreement with all that God has said that He will do. So, what do you do when you don’t agree?

What do you do when you struggle to see any evidence of the presence of God in your life?

What do you do when your spending time in God’s word and praying but aren’t getting anything out of it? The void of silence from Heaven.

What do you do when you’ve been waiting for God to fulfill a promise to you for so long that you no longer believe that it will ever happen?

AMEN requires us to be honest with God.

Discouragement isn’t just the opposite of hope. It is the killer of it. One of the most poisonous elements about discouragement is that it makes you feel like you are all alone, that no one else is going through or has gone through the experience of feeling far from or separated from God. This belief keeps us from speaking out about our brokenness to others, especially God, because we harbor an incorrect belief that He has somehow betrayed us.

What you need to recognize is that what you are experiencing is not normal for the Kingdom, but it is not uncommon in our world. You are in good company and you need to be honest with your King about what you are going through. It doesn’t make you a complainer or ungrateful. It makes you someone that needs a savior!

● King David complained more than anyone else in all of scripture! And yet, God considered him a man after his own heart. (1 Sam 13:14)

○ Psalm 10:1, 13:1-4, 22:1-2, 60:1-3, 79:1-5

In every case of David complaining, it was quickly followed up by his bold declaration of God’s goodness and impending deliverance. Acknowledging our mis-alignment opens the path to become aligned. The obstacle that you believe is keeping you from God is in fact the way to God! This is part of the Enemy’s great deception!

Being honest with God will bring you to the point of verbalizing what you need from Him! If you don’t talk about it, you will be prevented from ever making a petition to God about it!

● Matthew 7:11b “...how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”

● Mark 9:21-24 And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” And Jesus said to him, “If you can? All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe, help my unbelief.”

AMEN requires us to shift our point of view.

Part of our disadvantage is that we have a limited view of eternity. We were designed for eternity but only possess vision for the present. We know what we have experienced in the past, and we can see what is happening in the now, but we have zero visibility about what the next 10 minutes will bring, much less the next 10 years.

This is often referred to as the difference between short-term and long-term vision. But, the truth is that we don’t even have short-term vision. At best, we have now-term vision. The way to get beyond now-term vision is to recognize that, just like nature, there are different seasons in life.

● Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Just consider the life of a farmer. There is a season to till the ground and prepare the soil. Then there is a season of planting and sowing into the soil. Then the fields need watered, regularly. The fields need to be weeded to remove things that compete for the crops resources. Eventually, the fields need harvested, long days of working in the sun, picking and collecting the crop. All of which is hard toilsome work! Where is the feeling of being blessed in that process? And yet, what a wonderful sense of blessing when the crop has been brought in and the celebration takes place for having barns that are full!

Just because you are in the middle of weeding your fields doesn’t mean that the harvest isn’t coming.

Don’t confuse the moment for the mission! Your now-vision will only take in the circumstances of today and they can be extremely misleading when held in the light of the long-term mission. Jesus gave us the perfect example of how to accept the immediate in order to achieve the eternal.

● John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

“Right now” is not all that there is.

AMEN requires us to take action.

AMEN is a person, and his name is Jesus (Rev. 3:14). Jesus is also the person through whom all of creation was made! Our alignment with HIM allows us to access that creative authority and call forth life and hope when there is none visible. He is our means of fighting through the challenges of this life to all that He has for us.

● Matthew 26:42 He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.”

What was Jesus referring to when he said “if this cannot pass away”? The power of the enemy and the kingdom of this world. Jesus broke the power of the enemy and replaced it with the power and authority of the Kingdom of Heaven. We have access to that power!

That means that we need to sometimes do the opposite of what we feel and instead act out in defiance of our circumstances and experiences in favor of all the good that God has spoken over us and the blessings that He has for us.

AMEN, a customary statement at the end of a prayer or during preaching to express our agreement with what is said and the hope that it will take place. But, AMEN is much so more than just a statement.

• AMEN is the resounding YES to all that God says.

• AMEN is an attitude, a posture, a way of life.

• AMEN unlocks the abundance of Heaven.

Genesis 2:16–17 (ESV) And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Genesis 3:1 (ESV) Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

• AMEN requires us to hear God, louder than all the other voices.

• AMEN requires a volume that drowns out all the other voices

Growing up in the mid-70’s with Smokey and the Bandit, my parents bought a Granada Ghia with CB Radio. They installed a base station at home with giant antenna and call sign KNJ6246. Lots of chatter, difficult to lock in to person you wanted to talk to, because the power limit was 4 watts. The closer you were, the clearer. People began using illegal linear amplifiers to boost their signals to 750 watts, and they became the loudest voice for miles. They proceeded to “walk all over” or “step on” all other transmitters in order to hear and be heard!

We live in a time where hearing from God can seem difficult, especially because of all the other voices. But God has given us an amplifier that, when utilized, allows us to hear and be heard!

John 16:13–15 (ESV) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will GUIDE you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will DECLARE to you the things that are to come.

• Guiding requires listening!

 He can speak out of the blue, but give Him something to work with!

 read the written Word – bible, books, etc

 listen to the spoken Word – preaching, teaching, prophetic

 listen for the declarations!

• Guiding requires adjustments!

 guiding acknowledges wrong belief/action on your end.

 He desires to guide you – teachable

 you can either be adjusted or you can crash

 you ultimately have to yield to His direction

• Guiding requires His declaration to become your declaration!

 His direction becomes your new direction

 His word becomes your word

 His declaration becomes your declaration – more than an opinion, or statement!

 His amplified voice becomes your amplified voice!

But there will continue to be voices, and they will need to be drowned out

Drowning Out The Voices:

Your Own Voice

• Proverbs 11:14 (ESV) Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

• Psalm 119:105 (ESV) Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:12 (ESV) We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,

Feelings…

Morris Albert song - Feelings, nothing more than feelings, Trying to forget my feelings of love. Teardrops rolling down on my face, Trying to forget my feelings of love. Feelings, for all my life I'll feel it. I wish I've never met you, girl; you'll never come again. Feelings, wo-o-o feelings, Wo-o-o, feel you again in my arms. Feelings, feelings like I've never lost you And feelings like I've never have you again in my heart. Feelings, for all my life I'll feel it. I wish I've never met you, girl; you'll never come again. Feelings,…

• feelings are one of the loudest and most dangerous voices of all

• feelings can be influenced by just about anything!

• Illus: remove the soundtrack in a scary movie

• respond to feelings to bring them relief will very often lead you into the wrong direction!

• David was returning from victorious battle, he and his men, on a high

• David at Ziklag: 1 Samuel 30:3–6 (ESV) And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. David’s two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters.

• your feelings as informed by circumstance are the worst Holy Spirit!

• His men could have just killed him, David went on to rally His men and get everything back!

• 1 Samuel 30:6 (KJV 1900) …but David encouraged (strengthen) himself in the Lord his God.

• Tell your feelings the truth of God, who He is, what He has said, what He has promised to do.

• It will also help to eat well, sleep well, exercise, guard what you watch, read and listen to!

I’m Better Off, Right Here.

• God’s Word invites us into new places that seem risky

• we’ve never been there before

• even though where we were wasn’t working out, we have a tendency to stay there instead of taking a risk.

• Numbers 11:4–6 (ESV) Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.”

• Our best is ahead, requiring us to let go of the safety of this spot.

• Philippians 3:13–15 (ESV) …But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.

• Don’t get stuck where you are

• The best is still yet to come

“This Is How It Is, Forever”

• Sometimes we are injured and it can leave us blind, lame, paralyzed

• Sometimes it’s at the hand of another.

• Sometimes its our own doing.

• Too often, we get stuck there. For years.

• Like a tick, these situations burrow into our lives sucking the life out of us

• Addictions, broken relationships, repeat patterns of self destruction…

• John 5:2–6 (ESV) Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.

• There’s a strange comfort in our situation, bad as it is

• There’s a strange comfort in the dysfunction of others around us with the same issues or who enable our issue

• Medicate one another in our dysfunction

• Spiritual Myth gets mixed in: there was no angel to stir the water!

o If God wants to heal me, he will.

o God gets more glory from my faithful suffering

o God did this to me.

• We sit back and endure.

• John 5:6–9 (ESV) When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.

• Declare & Act

AMEN, a customary statement at the end of a prayer or during preaching to express our agreement with what is said and the hope that it will take place. But, AMEN is much so more than just a statement.

• AMEN is a Person, and His Name is JESUS - Revelation 3:14 (ESV) “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

• AMEN is who God is molding you to be - Romans 8:29 (ESV) …he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…

• AMEN is an attitude, a posture, a way of life.

• AMEN is the resounding YES to all that God says.

• AMEN is the response that unlocks the abundance of Heaven.

The Carte Blanche Amen

• Carte Blanche is a cheque that is already signed but has no numerical value entered, yet.

• The Carte Blanche AMEN says Yes to God before He says it, no matter what He says.

Failure to make key life-decisions in advance is to wait until seated at the final sales desk with 1000 high-pressure voices appealing to every wrong motive.

The Carte Blanche AMEN agrees with God before He whispers a Word.

• Luke 21:14 (ESV) Settle it therefore in your minds... beforehand…

GOD Is Always Good, Is Always For Me, And His Word Leads Me To His BEST.

• He is always good. - Mark 10:18 (ESV) …No one is good except God alone.

• He is always for me - John 3:16 (ESV) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Luke 4:19 (ESV) to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Romans 5:8 (ESV) but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

• His Word is always for my best - Psalm 119:105 (ESV) Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. John 6:63 (ESV) …The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. Romans 8:28 (ESV) And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

• best does not mean easy, problem free, comfortable…

The Carte Blanche Amen Know That Positioning Him First In All Things Allows All Things To Work For His Best.

• Exodus 20:2–3 (ESV) “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me.

• Matthew 6:33 (ESV) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

• Luke 14:26 (ESV) “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

first in devotional life, relationship, church participation

THE CARTE BLANCHE AMEN Knows That EVERY Blessing We Enjoy Comes From His Hand And Belongs To Him.

• James 1:17 (ESV) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights…

• Deuteronomy 8:17–18 (ESV) Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

• 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV) Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

• Luke 19:32–35 (ESV) And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it.

• Mark 14:13–16 (ESV) And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

• everything I have is His – I am a steward

• for my enjoyment, but he can call for it whenever he wants

THE CARTE BLANCHE AMEN Knows That Sex Is A Gift From God, A Sacred Act Meant For The Marriage Bed Alone.

• the Bible begins with sex, as God created it

• it contains the blueprint of The Kingdom - seed

• no sin like sexual sins that will impact your life (spirit, soul and body)

• Hebrews 13:4 (ESV) Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

• 1 Corinthians 7:4–5 (ESV) For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

• 1 Corinthians 6:16–20 (ESV) Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

• sex is for procreation and pleasure, between a man and woman, committed to one another in the covenant of marriage.

AMEN is a customary statement at the end of a prayer or during preaching when we are in agreement with what is said and hoping that what is said will take place.

• Jeremiah 28:6 (ESV) and the prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! May the Lord do so; may the Lord make the words that you have prophesied come true, and bring back to this place from Babylon the vessels of the house of the Lord, and all the exiles.

AMEN is much more than a statement.

AMEN is also a Person, and His Name is JESUS

• Revelation 3:14 (ESV) “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

AMEN is an attitude, a posture, a way of life. AMEN is a resounding YES to all that God says. AMEN is the response that unlocks the abundance of Heaven. Are You AMEN?

This series is focused on living the AMEN life and experiencing AMEN results. AMEN includes:

• agreement: embracing the things God says

• declaration: verbalizing your buy-in to His truth

• alignment: adjusting your life to His Word

• celebration: joyfully navigating through His truth for others to see

AMEN: Agreement

embracing the things God says

In your world, there are the people you completely disagree with, others you agree with, and a few you agree most of the time with. There’s no one you agree with all of the time, for many different, including the fact there is no one who is every always right. But the reality is… THERE IS! GOD IS always right.

• Hebrews 6:18 (ESV) …it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

• Matthew 9:9 (ESV) As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

AMEN hungers for, seeks out and creates atmospheres to hear God speak.

God’s created man with the ability to hear Him. It’s in our DNA.

• Genesis 3:8 (KJV 1900) And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.

God’s voice gives birth to life in our lives!

• John 6:63 (ESV) The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

Once you hear it, you will want more and more and more!

• Psalm 119:17–20 (ESV) Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me! My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.

But EVERYTHING in this world tries to drown out the Voice of God.

• Acts 28:27 (ESV) For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed…

While He can speak unexpectedly, God speaks more often in atmospheres that are conducive to you listening. It’s less about setting the atmosphere for God than for you.

• His Presence is key

• Gather with my church family in His Presence

• Bible, prayer in His Presence

• listening to preaching, podcasts, reading books

• worship music in the background

• controlling distractions

• spiritual leaders, spiritual conversations

Hearing His Voice is so important because His Voice will:

• reveal things you don’t know but need to in order to experience your best life

• reveal things you believe that are completely and are causing you to act in ways that are taking you in the wrong direction.

AMEN recognizes God’s Voice and presses in to hear what He is saying.

Learning when God is speaking is a key part of following Jesus.

• Matthew 14:25–29 (ESV) And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.

When He Speaks, you will sense it spark your spirit-man, much like temptation will spark your sinful-man.

This is something you can cultivate and grow into. He will highlight words on a page, emphasize words being spoken, impresses things in your mind as you think about them or cause them to burn in your mouth as you speak them.

While there are many environments and mediums in and through which God will speak, the key is the Holy Spirit. He is the one who is talking!

• John 16:13–14 (ESV) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

The Holy Spirit is key to hearing. Press into Him!

• Luke 11:13 (ESV) If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

AMEN already agrees with God before He whispers a Word.

We struggle to agree wither others when we have a differing opinion because we TRUST ourselves more than them, our understanding of our situation more than theirs, our understanding of the people in our world more than theirs, our experience more than theirs. We struggle to TRUST!

AMEN can agree in advance because it trusts:

• that He is good.

• trust He is for you.

  • Sent His son - John 3:16 (ESV) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

  • proclaimed the Day of His favor - Luke 4:19 (ESV) to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

• that He does not lie

  • Hebrews 6:18 (ESV) so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

• demonstrated His best in spite of our worst

  • Romans 5:8 (ESV) but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

• that His way is the better

• Isaiah 55:9–11 (ESV) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

HOW TO WAR OVER YOUR PROPHETIC WORDS

1 Timothy 1:18-19 NIV 0- “Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.”

This scripture says we wage war with 3 things:

1. Recalling the prophetic word

2. Faith

3. Good conscience

What Is Faith?

• Hebrews 11:1 (CEV) Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see.

• Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) 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.

Faith is something that begins small.

• Matthew 17 (CEV) 14 Jesus and his disciples returned to the crowd. A man knelt in front of him 15 and said, “Lord, have pity on my son! He has a bad case of epilepsy and often falls into a fire or into water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but none of them could heal him.” 17 Jesus said, “You people are too stubborn to have any faith! How much longer must I be with you? Why do I have to put up with you? Bring the boy here.” 18 Then Jesus spoke sternly to the demon. It went out of the boy, and right then he was healed. 19 Later the disciples went to Jesus in private and asked him, “Why couldn’t we force out the demon?” 20-21 Jesus replied: It is because you don’t have enough faith! But I can promise you this. If you had faith no larger than a mustard seed, you could tell this mountain to move from here to there. And it would. Everything would be possible for you.

• Matthew 17:20-21 Jesus replied: It is because you don’t have enough faith! But I can promise you this. If you had faith no larger than a mustard seed, you could tell this mountain to move from here to there. And it would. Everything would be possible for you.\

Mustard seeds are planted in a container filled with damp sand, and pressed into the sand's surface. The sand is kept at a specific temperature for optimal results. The seeds can begin to sprout within 24 hours indoors. Because mustard trees grow slowly, waiting until your trees are up to 3 years old may be necessary before transplanting them outdoors. The mustard tree of Scripture is found along the banks of the Jordan, near the Sea of Galilee, and near Damascus. Mustard plants may reach about 15 feet high in those areas.

Faith is encouraged by the faith of others.

• Romans 1:12 (NLT) When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.

• Matthew 18:20 (CEV) Whenever two or three of you come together in my name, I am there with you.

• Exodus 17:11-12 (NIV) 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset

Faith is awakened by the spoken word of God.

• John 15:7 (CEV) Stay joined to me and let my teachings become part of you. Then you can pray for whatever you want, and your prayer will be answered.

• 1 John 5:14-15 (ESV) And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

• Romans 10:17 (ESV) So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

• Luke 4:1-14 (NLT) Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.” 4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’ 6 “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. 7 I will give it all to you if you will worship me.” 8 Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him. 9 Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! 10 For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you. 11 And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. 12 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’ 13 When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.

Faith is activated when set into motion.

• James 2:14 (CEV) 14 My friends, what good is it to say you have faith, when you don’t do anything to show that you really do have faith? Can that kind of faith save you?

• James 2:21-22 (NLT) 21 Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete.

• Joshua 3:14-17 (CEV) 14 The Israelites packed up and left camp. The priests carrying the chest walked in front, 15 until they came to the Jordan River. The water in the river had risen over its banks, as it often does in springtime. But as soon as the feet of the priests touched the water, 16-17 the river stopped flowing, and the water started piling up at the town of Adam near Zarethan. No water flowed toward the Dead Sea, and the priests stood in the middle of the dry riverbed near Jericho while everyone else crossed over.

Just Push – Author Unknown - http://www.inspire21.com/stories/faithstories/JustPush - A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and the Savior appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. This the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might.

Each night the man returned to his cabin sore, and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain. Seeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, the Adversary decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the man's weary mind: "You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it." Thus giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure, these thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man.

"Why kill myself over this?" he thought. "I'll just put in my time, giving just the minimum effort and that will be good enough." And that is what he planned to do until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord. "Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"

The Lord responded compassionately, "My child, when I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to me, with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinew and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. This you have done. I, my friend, will now move the rock."

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just simple obedience and faith in Him. By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves the mountains.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes. -- Romans 1:16

John 16:13 (ESV) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

How many times has the devil lied to you, deceived you, and got you to think and/or do something that was wrong?

• The Devil’s Influence: 2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV) In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

• The Devil’s Focus: 1 Peter 5:8 (ESV) Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

• The Devil’s Main Weapon – John 8:44 (ESV) (he) does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

• The Devil’s Agenda: John 10:10 (ESV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

conviction: the process of God guiding us into TRUTH that leads to His BEST for us.

Conviction Reveals His BEST

• God has amazing things for our lives - Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

• I am unable to see His good plans because of the enemy’s blinders - 1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV) The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

• Conviction is the revelation of those plans

  • Matthew 19:21 (ESV) Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, …. follow me.”

    • perfect - teleios; having reached its end, complete, perfect:

  • Isaiah 48:17 (ESV) Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.

    •  profit – yesud; foundation, beginning

• These revelations are large scale and next step

• He Reveals General BEST – applies to everyone – the growing process of discovering who God is and the commandments He has for all of us that leads us to His best things for us

• He Reveals Personal BEST – applies to only you – the growing process of discovering who you are and the commandments He has for

• Revelation that leads to conviction can be emotional, but never confuse emotion with conviction!

Conviction Includes An Impartation

• information is valuable but conviction is more than just information.

• conviction doesn’t just provide information. It rewires us

• conviction changes who you are so you can change what you do!

• Hebrews 10:16 (ESV) “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,”

• The lies we believe are handcuffs. We don’t just need the handcuffs removed, we need our beliefs changed or the handcuffs continue to return.

• John 8:31–32 (ESV) So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Conviction Leads To Supernatural Favor

• When you acts upon what God says, it is an act of faith

• you are trusting God

• faith unlocks the favor of God – it is the supernatural secret sauce!

• Deuteronomy 28:1–14 (ESV) “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle,s the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. “The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. The Lord will command the blessing on you in your barns and in all that you undertake. And he will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. The Lord will establish you as a people holy to himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in his ways. And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. And the Lord will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your livestock and in the fruit of your ground, within the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. The Lord will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them, and if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I command you today, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

Acts 17:26–28 (ESV) And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “ ‘In him we live and move and have our being’…

Stonehenge: Wiltshire, England, iImported rock, circular pattern, sophisticated locking joints speaks of intelligent design! But what was its purpose, its destiny:? Crematorium? Installation site for Danish Kings? Druid Worship? Astrological calendar for determining eclipses and solar events? Communication platform for interacting with aliens? 800,000 tourists visit annually, but destiny has been lost because the time/place became disconnected from the creator’s purpose.

You/Us: We are here now. We are complex! The systems of the human body include circulatory, digestive & excretory, endocrine (hormone), integumentary/exocrine (skin, hair, nails, sweat), immune and lymphatic, muscular, nervous, renal and urinary (kidneys filter blood), reproductive, respiratory, skeletal, hematopoietic (creates cells that travel in blood),

What about our Purpose/Destiny:

• don’t reduce purpose to what you do - teacher, doctor, athlete…

  • Psalm 139:13–16 (ESV) For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

  • Isaiah 49:1 (ESV) …The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name.

  • Psalm 57:2 (ESV) I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.

  • Psalm 138:8 (ESV) The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

• Disconnected from the Creator and His Purpose, you may become an amazing tourist attraction, but you’ll never experience DESTINY.

God wants to use your HERE & NOW :

• to reveal Himself and His purposes in your life.

• to invite your participation.

• to begin unlocking DESTINY.

HERE & NOW for Jacob:

• at odds with parents, fleeing His brother, alone, travelling to a new place

• not prepared (Gen 28:11) uses stone for pillow

• he dreamed:

  • Numbers 12:6 (ESV) And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.

  • Job 33:15–18 (ESV) In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds, then he opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings, that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man; he keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword.

  • Daniel 2:47 (ESV) The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.”

  • Daniel 2:47 (ESV) The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.”

  • revelation

• (Gen 28:12) a ladder or staircase to heaven with angels coming and going

• DESTINY REVEALED: Genesis 28:13–19 (ESV) And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first.

Live In The Here & Now

• DESTINY doesn’t start off glorious,

• DESTINY STARTS as a HERE/NOW moment.

• DESTINY understands this is always the time, this is always the place

• amplified in the US: gather with His people!

• location and proximity matters!

• invite others - this is not just about you!

• distance always disconnects from the flow of Destiny

Lean In

• posture determines outcome!

• enjoy the party, but remember, He is the prize!

• Jeremiah 29:11–14 (ESV) For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord…

• Luke 11:9–13 (ESV) And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Walk In What You Already Know

• don’t be chasing the next revelation, walk in the current one

• destiny is experienced one step at a time, not by chasing new paths

• Philippians 3:14–16 (ESV) I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

• Acts 17:26–28 (ESV) And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “ ‘In him we live and move and have our being’

Luke 22:19–20 (ESV) And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. DO THIS in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

My first communions were like going to a viewing. Even after I became a Christian and better understood the symbolism, they were similar but now with mournful criers and the fear of dying due to unworthiness.

DO THIS: push reset to refresh!

Do this! Like an iPhone that starts working wacky after a lot of use and it refreshes after we reset, communion can accomplish the same things.

Jesus shared communion with the disciples in the middle of the craziest week of the disciples ministry lives. Miracles, amazing teaching, healings, a parade with crowds chanting Hosanna, death threats, Jesus flipping over tables in the temple, talk destroying and rebuilding it back in three days. Wins and losses. Fans and enemies. It was a crazy week! He pulled everyone in close to himself and hit RESET to come back to the main thing!

• Lamentations 3:22–23 (ESV) The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

  • new - chadash – to renew

We can get into a spiritual funk as a result of wins or losses, busyness or boredom but its so valuable to hit reset, like shaking an Etch-a-Sketch,

• Psalm 103:5 (ESV) who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

DO THIS: bring Jesus back into focus!

Communion is to create a moment of remembrance. Everything in this LIFE will fight for your attention – Jesus was saying “BRING ME BACK INTO FOCUS!”

• Matthew 17:7–8 (ESV) But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

This is something you will have to do again and again and again, not because there’s something wrong with you, but because you’re still here.

• Hebrews 12:1–2 (NIV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Ignoring the distractions and getting Him back into focus will actually help those other things that are fighting for your attention to work out better!

• Matthew 6:31–33 (ESV) Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Peter went back to fishing. Jesus reappeared. Peter got back to being a disciple.

Its important to FOCUS on more than just crucifixion!!! It’s about focusing on everything about Him.

DO THIS: cash in on His covenant!

Sometimes things on earth don’t align with Heaven. Communion is an opportunity to point review “the new covenant in my blood” to remind yourself of the promises with the expectation that they will align.

Covenant: a binding agreement between two parties

• Genesis 15:8 (ESV) But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?”

• covenants were often sealed by severing of a costly prized animal in perfect condition.

  • Genesis 15:9–10 (ESV) He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other.

  • The Hebrew verb meaning to seal a covenant translates literally as “to cut.”

  • a sobering moment between parties as one party would have to kill something with His hands in the presence of the other to seal the agreement.

  • the implication was that the party who breaks the covenant will suffer a similar fate.

  • Genesis 15:17–18 (ESV) When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram…

God has made more than just promises, He’s made a covenant. Communion is the sales receipt, proof that not only the promises were made, but paid for.

Sometimes agreements lose traction, one party fails to keep up their end. Guaranteed, He’s not given up on His. It’s always a failure on our end to cash in!

DO THIS:

• push reset to refresh.

• bring Jesus back into focus.

• cash in on His covenant.

Ezekiel 37-11:14 (NLT) Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord. I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’”

There is a common them that runs throughout scriptures and is highlighted in this passage. And it points to one of the most exciting and compelling ideas in all creation. That is hope.

GOD IS THE SOURCE OF OUR HOPE

• Hope requires an object, or an anchor for the hope. Hope does not exist without something to fulfill that hope

• Misplaced Hope: Relationships, Career, Success, Acceptance/Belonging, Wealth, Health, Drugs & Alcohol, etc.

• The entire book of Ecclesiastes is about how nothing but God, satisfies our hope.

• He sent His son, Jesus as a guarantee of that hope. Colossians 1:27 (ESV) “…Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

• Romans 15:13 (ESV) May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

HOPE IS THE ANTIDOTE FOR DISAPPOINTMENT

• Philippians 1:6 (ESV) And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

• Romans 8:24-25 (NLT) We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)

• “Remember, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.” – Stephen King, The Shawshank Redemption

• Romans 5:3-5 (NLT) We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 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.

3. HOPE ENCOURAGES

• Isaiah 40:28-31 (NIV) Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

• Psalms 3:2-6 (MSG) God! Look! Enemies past counting! Enemies sprouting like mushrooms, Mobs of them all around me, roaring their mockery: “Hah! No help for him from God! “But you, God, shield me on all sides; You ground my feet, you lift my head high; With all my might I shout up to God, His answers thunder from the holy mountain. I stretch myself out. I sleep. Then I’m up again—rested, tall and steady, Fearless before the enemy mobs Coming at me from all sides. ROCKY THEME SONG!

• Isaiah 43:1-2 (ESV) But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

• In all of the passages there is an acknowledgement that the situations that you face will not always be ideal but, take courage! We will overcome!

HOPE POINTS US INTO OUR FUTURE

• 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV) For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

• 1 Peter 1:3-9 (ESV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

• Lamentations 3:21-24 (ESV) But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

You may feel like you are without hope or that hope has been lost. But, despite how it may look or feel, hope is never really gone. When it looked like Jesus was defeated, he rose from the dead proving that nothing is impossible for him. Attach your hope to someone that will not fail.

Scripture: Acts 8:34–38 (ESV) And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

Baptism is a significant and sacred act that has power for a believer that has too often been reduced to an optional ceremony that some believers participate in! Not in this house!

Phillip:

• one of the first disciples, immediately inviting others to follow - John 1:43–46

• preached, signs, wonders, impacted a city (Samaria) – Acts 8:6–8 (ESV) And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city.

• tuned into heaven’s voice - Acts 8:26–29 (ESV) Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”

• Acts 8:30–33 (ESV) So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”

• Acts 8:34–38 (ESV) And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

BAPTISM defines our formal starting point with Jesus.

• possession without contract… lots of grey areas!

• salvation is a covenantal act – an agreement with God

• baptism is the public signing of our agreement with Him

• everyone has a different process of being drawn into a relationship with Jesus, but everyone should have the same process of formalizing the relationship with Jesus - Mark 16:15–16 (ESV) And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

• Examples of People Formalizing Their Relationship:

  • Day of Pentecost - Acts 2:41 (ESV) So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

  • Saul, Paul - Acts 9:17–18 (ESV) So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;

  • Peter & Gentiles - Acts 10:47–48 (ESV) “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

  • Paul and Lydia - Acts 16:14–15 (ESV) One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

  • Paul & Silas, singing in prison - Acts 16:33 (ESV) And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.

  • Crispus - Acts 18:8 (ESV) Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.

  • Ephesus - Acts 19:5 (ESV) On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

BAPTISM is a powerful prophetic declaration that impacts your future.

• declaration – what we say sets the tone

• prophetic – agreement with what heaven says, pulling heaven to earth

• the symbolism: His death, His resurrection

• the symbolism: Your past, Your future! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

BAPTISM is an act of obedience that unlocks next things.

• formalizing your commitment to God, unlocks next things, like buying a house, purchasing a car, getting married

• Jesus Baptism - Luke 3:21–22 (ESV) Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

• Obedience Leads To Blessing: Deuteronomy 28:1–3 (ESV) “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field.

• Disobedience Leaves You Less Than What God Intends (cursed: slight, unimportant, insignificant, trivial, minor) - Deuteronomy 28:15–16 (ESV) “But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the field.

Follow Jesus & Get Baptized!

John 1:35–39 (ESV) The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.

Jesus went a lot of places, met a lot of people, did a lot of miracles, and taught a lot of lessons, but if you were to condense everything into one primary message, He invited people to FOLLOW HIM!

• follow: akoloutheō

  • a – alpha, first letter of the alphabet and first number

  • keleuthos – a road to follow

  • conjunctive: not just a road, but the first road

The Best Things About Following Jesus:

1. PEACE – no longer enemies with God

• Philippians 3:18–20 (ESV) For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

• John 3:36 (ESV) Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

• constant tension because our sinful actions are directed at God - Acts 9:1–5 (ESV) But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

• he reconciles us at our worst, what will He do after we are friends - Romans 5:8–10 (ESV) but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

2. COMPANIONSHIP – He will never leave you!

• our lives are a constant revolving door of people who leave for circumstance, rejection or death.

• Hebrews 13:5 (ESV) Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

• Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

• Proverbs 18:24 (ESV) A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

• Ezekiel 37:14 (ESV) And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.”

• 1 Corinthians 3:16 (ESV) Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

3. SALVATION – rescued, again and again and again!!!

• from sin - Matthew 1:21 (ESV) She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

• from sins - 1 John 1:7–9 (ESV) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

• from situations - Isaiah 43:1–5 (ESV) But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you.

• Psalm 91:1–16 (ESV) He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge— no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

• saved in diverse and amazing ways!

4. ACCESS - to everything within the Kingdom of Heaven while here on earth

• the earth is currently under the rule of the god of this world who has come to steal, kill and destroy, but Jesus came to lead us into the Kingdom of Heaven, on earth…. giving us access to everything heaven has!

• Luke 10:9 (ESV) Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

• Matthew 6:10 (ESV) Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

• Matthew 13:11 (ESV) And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

• Matthew 16:19 (ESV) I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

• 2 Peter 1:3–4 (ESV) His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

• learning to access is a process… but it’s a reality

2 Peter 3:18 (ESV) But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

• grow by saying Yes to Following Jesus

• grow by working your current step

• grow be seeing (Word, Spirit) and taking your next step

Judges 6:1 The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord gave them into the hand of Midian seven years… 6 And Israel was brought very low because of Midian. And the people of Israel cried out for help to the Lord. (ESV)

The Israelites were facing adverse circumstances

• adverse-opposing one's interests or desire.

Judges 6:7 When the people of Israel cried out to the Lord on account of the Midianites, 8 the Lord sent a prophet to the people of Israel...10 And I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.’ But you have not obeyed my voice.” (ESV)

The people were blaming God for their problems but it was their own disobedience that put them in this predicament. But God heard them and called out from among them a warrior.

Judges 6:11 Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. (ESV)

Gideon was a farmer. He was being resourceful and found a way to provide for his family. The beating of wheat normally took place at the threshing floor. Threshing was done in a big open area where the wind could blow away the chaff (outer shell) of the grain. The wind helped to make the work easier. He was in a winepress beating wheat. It was a hole in the ground with no wind making it harder work. He was all about surviving. He was living in the moment and failed to look ahead for what God had for him or the people. Gideon had limited vision of his next steps.

I do not believe it was a coincidence that Gideon was found in the winepress. I see it as a symbolism. Grapes go into the winepress as fruit and come out juice. They go in one way and come out something different. Gideon saw himself one way but God was about to extract something more from him.

Just like God saw Gideon, God sees you: School Teacher, C3Kids Teacher, Stay-At-Home Mom, Ministry Leader, Medical Professional, Worship Team…

God wants to extract something more from you! In the midst of his adverse circumstances God had plans for Gideon. His adversity was not a limitation but an opportunity. It was the opportunity to take the next steps for life, but he could not see past the obstacles.

What obstacles keep you from the next step?

1. Hesitation to commit to the next step.

Judges 6:12 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” 13 And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.” (ESV)

During this time of adverse circumstances as a church family, I have heard many say, “I know God is wanting me to take that next step, but I have trouble committing.”

Why? It will cost me something. In hesitating you fail to obey.

2. Feeling unqualified to take the next step.

Judges 6:14 And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” 15 And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.” (ESV)

God expands and uses the abilities He already built into us. Some may already know the next steps; get going in that direction. Some may not have any idea; start taking steps toward something. Parents, if your child shows an interest in something resource that desire.

3. Strongholds keeping you from taking the next step.

Judges 6:16 And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.” (ESV)

A stronghold is a fortress. It was designed not only keeps things in but also keep things out. God is a force that wants to come into your life, but the walls are high. What strongholds are keeping you from taking your next step?

Holding on to an offense, a friendship gone bad, failed business venture, making a judgement due to a past experience.

God says to you, “But I will be with you.”

In spite of his obstacles, Gideon chose to take the next steps in faith! I would like to quote Ps. Phil Pringle from his book, You The Leader. He says,“God also tests faith before it is trusted with great exploits.”

In Judges 6-8 we can read about Gideon’s great exploits. God did not waste any time. As soon as Gideon took that next step in faith, he sent him to chop down their false gods. Gideon is also commended in Hebrews 11 as a man of faith.

Avoid the obstacle and see your next steps:

• Be obedient in taking the next steps regardless of the cost; no time to hesitate

• Be confident that God has qualified you for the next step; you have the abilities

• Be assured that God will be with you in taking the next step; surrender your stronghold

As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” John 20:21, ESV

We tend to invest in relationships based on “HOW DOES THIS PERSON BENEFIT ME?” When we see what HEAVEN sees, we invest based on “HOW CAN I BENEFIT THIS PERSON IN HIM?”

Your Perception Leads To An Outcome. Can You See What Heaven Sees?

start seeing: WHO & WHERE THEY ARE:

• Stop being narcissistic, Christianity is not all about you! - Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:4, ESV

• All mankind craves Him - O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1, ESV

• The people seemingly the least interested are often the most interested.

• Consider the outcome if you don’t act - Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:11–15, ESV

start seeing: WHO & WHAT YOU ARE

• Your presence means everything - Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us… 2 Corinthians 5:20, ESV

• He has placed you exactly where you need to be - …and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. Acts 17:26–27, NIV

• They are looking for Him, that’s why God has placed you there - Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. John 4:35, ESV

• Your message: what He’s done in your life - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8, ESV

• Get continually powered up - Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:21–22, ESV

start seeing: WHO HE IS, WHAT HE DOES

• We know what can do, but we doubt His willingness - While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. Luke 5:12–13, ESV

• We block God by not positioning Him!

START SEEING: someone new; someone there (work/school/team); someone here (in our gathering)

INVITE THEM: into your space; into your friendships; into a ministry moment

1. Have a Kingdom view of your finances.

1. Jer. 29:11

2. Num 13:25-30

3. Cor 2:14

2. Develop a Kingdom vision of your finances.

• Num 35:1-8

• Mal 3:8-12

• 2 Cor. 9:6-12

• James 4:1-4

• Hag 1:4-11

3. Trust for Heaven’s best.

• Phil 4:19

• Mat 25:34-36

• Eph 2:8-10

• 2 Kings 4:8-17

Seeing or visualizing is a part of believing.

Mark 10:15 – “I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” NLT

Examples in the Bible

• The women with the debilitating bleeding problem. Mark 5:24-34

• The paralytic that had four friends. Mark 2:1-4

We need all of the great and precious promises of God, to navigate through this life. The Word say that, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him out of all them”. Psalms 34:19

• we need to hear the provision that the word has for us.

• we need to see that God is faithfully working on our behalf

• we need to believe that what the Word says is true

• and we need to expect the faithfulness of His word to come to pass

God’s vision for your life is bigger, better, healthier, more prosperous, more beautiful, more perfect, etc., than what the world has to offer.

“Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.”‭‭ (Romans‬ ‭4:18-21)

1) Recognize the world’s vision in your life and replace it for God’s vision

2) Fight for God’s vision when the world tries to replace His vision with its own

Action Steps:

1) pray continuously

2) surround yourself with a supportive and prayerful community

God’s vision for your life is perfect, full of prosperity. Don’t settle for what’s before you and don’t let the world keep you from seeing and living God’s vision.

Ephesians 2:10 ||| For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

• workmanship- a degree of skill in which a product is made, or a job is done

• God has already prepared these jobs and individual skill sets in us

• We can take ground and work toward our vision knowing it is covered by God

HOW TO GET VISION

LEADERS

HIS WORD & PRAYER

SERMONS

HOW TO BUILD TOWARD VISION

1. constantly take opportunities

• spend time with people and create influence

• volunteer

2. discover what your good at

CALL TO ACTION

ask a leader

volunteer and find your place

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:9–10,14 ESV

• The Unbeliever unable to see the good things God has prepared for them so they pursue the things they personally desire, taking whatever they can poses or comes their way.

• The Believer experiences revelation from the Holy Spirit of the good things God has prepared for them, so that they can pursue them with confidence.

  • Spirit reveals in the LOGOS Word

  • Spirit reveals in the RHEMA Word

  • Spirit reveals in prophecy, dream, visions, etc.

  • Spirit reveals in through experiences that trigger desires of your heart

  • Spirit reveals through spiritual leaders

The believers ongoing connection with the Holy Spirit is critical! - If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25, ESV

OUR 19/20 VISION

1. Presence Filled Gatherings (gatherings, students, FPU, etc.)

• Our presence paves the way for His Presence

• Presence brings distinction - And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?” Exodus 33:15–16, ESV

• Intention brings His Presence: worship, prayer, words, unity

• Presence opens the door: salvation, healing, faith, breakthrough, strength, signs, wonders, and more of the same!

2. Connected Relationships

• And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:42–47, ESV

3. Strategic Leadership Development

• Moses and the Israelites – The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.” So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country. Exodus 18:13–27, ESV

• Jesus first steps, building leaders - While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:18–20, ESV

• Paul’s first steps, appoint qualified leaders - This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— Titus 1:5, ESV

• our personality is distinct – we will lean into our C3 flavor

4. Permanent Facilities

• New Testament disciples used borrowed facilities - And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. Acts 19:8–10, ESV

• property is an asset, a tool to be leveraged

• our 12 acres - $700K owed on $2.5 million property; new facility costs - 3.5 million dollars

• likely in-between place or places

• facilities are in our future

• facilities fund - $50,000 + $150,000 = $200K

• sense of permanent facilities – searching, dialogue

5. BEYOND Projects

• “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:14–16, ESV

• we give 10% of all non-designated income (historically 15%)

• $25,000 given outside our four walls to date

• NE PDX Project; Fall project; April 2010 – building project in Oaxaca Mexico

6. Presence Conference and NW C3 Presence

• When God does something magnificent, there’s a wisdom to travel to see it - Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her. And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her. And she said to the king, “The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom, but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report that I heard. Happy are your men! Happy are your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord loved Israel forever, he has made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness.” 1 Kings 10:1–9, ESV

• Presence Conference - attend! There is a clear view of the thing we are doing here, its seen there, there is information, and then there is impartation, there is an alignment that takes place.

• God is calling us to do here what has happened in other places

And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. Habakkuk 2:2, ESV

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:9–10,14 ESV

• The Unbeliever unable to see the good things God has prepared for them so they pursue the things they personally desire, taking whatever they can poses or comes their way.

• The Believer experiences revelation from the Holy Spirit of the good things God has prepared for them, so that they can pursue them with confidence.

  • Spirit reveals in the LOGOS Word

  • Spirit reveals in the RHEMA Word

  • Spirit reveals in prophecy, dream, visions, etc.

  • Spirit reveals in through experiences that trigger desires of your heart

  • Spirit reveals through spiritual leaders

The believers ongoing connection with the Holy Spirit is critical! - If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25, ESV

OUR 19/20 VISION

1. Presence Filled Gatherings (gatherings, students, FPU, etc.)

• Our presence paves the way for His Presence

• Presence brings distinction - And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?” Exodus 33:15–16, ESV

• Intention brings His Presence: worship, prayer, words, unity

• Presence opens the door: salvation, healing, faith, breakthrough, strength, signs, wonders, and more of the same!

2. Connected Relationships

• And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:42–47, ESV

3. Strategic Leadership Development

• Moses and the Israelites – The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.” So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country. Exodus 18:13–27, ESV

• Jesus first steps, building leaders - While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:18–20, ESV

• Paul’s first steps, appoint qualified leaders - This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— Titus 1:5, ESV

• our personality is distinct – we will lean into our C3 flavor

4. Permanent Facilities

• New Testament disciples used borrowed facilities - And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. Acts 19:8–10, ESV

• property is an asset, a tool to be leveraged

• our 12 acres - $700K owed on $2.5 million property; new facility costs - 3.5 million dollars

• likely in-between place or places

• facilities are in our future

• facilities fund - $50,000 + $150,000 = $200K

• sense of permanent facilities – searching, dialogue

5. BEYOND Projects

• “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:14–16, ESV

• we give 10% of all non-designated income (historically 15%)

• $25,000 given outside our four walls to date

• NE PDX Project; Fall project; April 2010 – building project in Oaxaca Mexico

6. Presence Conference and NW C3 Presence

• When God does something magnificent, there’s a wisdom to travel to see it - Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her. And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her. And she said to the king, “The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom, but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report that I heard. Happy are your men! Happy are your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord loved Israel forever, he has made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness.” 1 Kings 10:1–9, ESV

• Presence Conference - attend! There is a clear view of the thing we are doing here, its seen there, there is information, and then there is impartation, there is an alignment that takes place.

• God is calling us to do here what has happened in other places

And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. Habakkuk 2:2, ESV

Since December 2, 2018 when we became C3 Church SWWA

• 50+ volunteers every Sunday

• 200+ first time visitors

• 50+ children in our C3Kids program every week

• 30+ students at MyCity Youth every week

• $25,000 given to outreach

• 40+ said YES to Following Jesus and received a Following Jesus book

• 24 water baptisms

• Healings, healings, healings!!!

• 10 salvations in the last two weeks

• last week, 1 acre property sale - $165,000 under contract

• Current VISION OFFERING approximately $70,000

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. Genesis 12:1, ESV

• vision is the process of discovering the promise God already sees.

For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. Romans 4:13

• faith is the act of moving forward with HIM toward the promise that you have seen but doesn’t yet exist.

He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Romans 4:13, 19–21, ESV

Heaven See’s Our Future And Destiny In Advance

• No longer shall your name be called Abram (exalted father), but your name shall be Abraham (the father of nations), for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. Genesis 17:5–6, ESV

• The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac. Genesis 21:1–3, ESV

You struggle to see but Heaven does not!

The Unbeliever’s Future: whatever is won or whatever happens

The Believer’s Future: prepared by the Lord, discovered while following Him both naturally and supernaturally

6 Things The In Our C3 Future

1. Presence Filled Services

2. Strategic Leadership Development

3. Connected Relationships

4. Permanent Facilities

5. BEYOND Projects

6. Presence Conference and NW C3 Presence

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 2 Corinthians 2:14–16, ESV

The different seasons of Jesus’ life:

• conception & birth

• visit of Magi and the vision to flee

• brief childhood snapshot

• launch of his ministry at a wedding

• temptation

• mass ministry while gathering & training team

• mass ministry while sending out team

• mass ministry while preparing team for the future

• crucifixion

• resurrection & ascension

• return

Each season required a transition to move into the next. Each season of your life will require the same.

The fragrance of your next season is determined in your transition. Aligning with Heaven aromatizes your future!

• Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. John 12:3–7, ESV

• In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” Matthew 26:12–13, ESV

• While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” Luke 22:47–53, ESV

Your fragrance matters. It arrives before you do and remains after your gone. It invites more of the same.

• But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 2 Corinthians 2:14–16, ESV

KEEP SMELLING GOOD (smells never improve on their own!)

1. remain connected to Heaven

2. focused on the Author & His narrative

• Jesus knew this transition was coming - the Lamb who was slain. Revelation 13:8, ESV some are seen afar off (graduation), others are unexpected (fired)

3. ignore the noise

• ignore the jolt:

• there will be all sorts of distractions

• distractions are hell’s attempt to stink up your world

• Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1–2, NIV

4. hate foul smells, not foul smelling people

5. bless: do not curse!

• the most important aspect of the transition are your words

• Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. Proverbs 18:21, ESV

• So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. James 3:5–12, ESV

6. keep spraying Heaven’s scent

• Jesus let Judas kiss him

• Jesus told the disciples to stop fighting

• Jesus healed a man injured

• later Jesus remained silent

VISION: Advancing In Adversity - Pastor Samuel Deuth

VISION: As We Gather - Pastor Steve Parrish

Mankind is born on this earth, blind. It’s not physical blindness. It is spiritual blindness: But God is the great revealer of hidden things. He gives VISION to see what actually is:

• Matthew 13:44, ESV  “The kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

2 Corinthians 1:19–20, NLT For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.

One of the most effective tactics of every demon in hell is to suggest and insist that God is the one to blame every time the Devil steals, kills, or destroys. This tactic further characterizes him to be against us and ultimately, the God of NO. 

• 2 Corinthians 4:4, ESV  In their case the God of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

GOD wants to show you what Heaven already sees – HE is the GOD of YES!

1.    God’s Says YES to Everyone & Jesus Is the Proof 

• John 3:16–18, ESV  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

• Luke 4:19, ESV  “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

• Matthew 11:28, ESV  Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

• John 12:32, ESV  “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

• 2 Peter 3:9, ESV  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

2.    Seeing His YES Invites Our YES

• Mark 2:14, ESV  And as he passed by, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

3.    Our YES Puts the Rest of Heaven’s YESES Within Reach

• 2 Corinthians 1:20–22, The Message  Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete.