“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” Matthew 1:23 NLT
Jesus had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion. Philippians 2:6-8 MSG
THE GIFT OF JESUS IS…
1. THE GIFT OF PEACE
You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Luke 2:12-14 NLT
And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. Hebrews 11:6 NLT
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
2. THE GIFT OF UNDERSTANDING
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who rose into the heavenly realm for us, and now sympathizes with us in our frailty. He understands humanity, for as a Man, our magnificent King-Priest was tempted in every way just as we are, and conquered sin. So now we come freely and boldly to where love is enthroned, to receive mercy’s kiss and discover the grace we urgently need to strengthen us in our time of weakness. Hebrews 4:14-16 TPT
3. THE GIFT OF LOVE
This is how we have discovered love’s reality: Jesus sacrificed his life for us. Beloved children, our love can’t be an abstract theory we only talk about, but a way of life demonstrated through our loving deeds. 1 John 3:16;18 TPT
And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:18-19 NLT
“Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow.” Isaiah 1:18 NLT
He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. Psalms 103:12 NLT
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me John 10:28 NLT
My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:38-39 NLT
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds, you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 NLT
That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT
“What do you Expect – Power of Expectations”
EXPECTATION
“…My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” John 10:10 NLT
EXPECTATION
Expectations, with the right heart, are the breeding ground of miracles
FRUSTRATION
DISAPPOINTMENT
ANGER
If we aren’t careful, we could begin to project our frustration, disappointment, and anger towards God when He doesn't meet our expectations
“JOHN THE BAPTIST, WHO WAS IN PRISON, HEARD ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THE MESSIAH WAS DOING. SO HE (JOHN) SENT HIS DISCIPLES TO ASK JESUS, ARE YOU THE MESSIAH WE’VE BEEN EXPECTING, OR SHOULD WE KEEP LOOKING FOR SOMEONE ELSE?” – Matthew 11:2-3 NLT
“…are you the messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” Matthew 11:3 NLT
What happens when you go one way but God goes another?
GOD MAY NOT ALWAYS LIVE UP TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS, BUT HE WILL ALWAYS LIVE UP TO HIS WORD
1. Inspect Your Perspective
PERSPECTIVE INFLUENCES EXPECTATION
“Now while John the Baptizer was in prison…” Matthew 11:2 TPT
“THEN JESUS WENT FROM GALILEE TO THE JORDAN RIVER TO BE BAPTIZED BY JOHN. BUT JOHN TRIED TO TALK HIM OUT OF IT ‘I AM THE ONE WHO NEEDS TO BE BAPTIZED BY YOU,’ HE SAID, ‘SO WHY ARE YOU COMING TO ME?” Matthew 3:13-14 NLT
Is this the guy?!
“Lord if its you,” peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” Matthew 14:28 NLT
“…Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “lord jesus save me!” Matthew 14: 29-30 NLT
AN UNHEALTHY PERSPECTIVE WILL ALWAYS CAUSE YOU TO DOUBT WHERE YOU’RE GOING
2. Remember what God has done
STORMS CAN BE SCARY, BUT JESUS IS WITH US
IF GOD HAS BEEN FAITHFUL TO YOU IN THE PAST, HE IS GOING TO BE FAITHFUL IN THE PRESENT AND IN THE FUTURE.
3. Trust That God Will Do It
IF GOD HAS BEEN FAITHFUL TO YOU IN THE PAST, HE IS GOING TO BE FAITHFUL IN THE PRESENT AND IN THE FUTURE.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
“God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” Numbers 23:19 NLT
GOD CAN OVERCOME YOUR FAILURE IF YOU CONTINUE TO HAVE FAITH
Late in the afternoon the twelve disciples came to him and said, “Send the crowds away to the nearby villages and farms, so they can find food and lodging for the night. There is nothing to eat here in this remote place.” But Jesus said, “You feed them.” “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Or are you expecting us to go and buy enough food for this whole crowd?” For there were about 5,000 men there. Luke 9:12-14 NLT
About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children! Matthew 14:21 NLT
Jesus replied, “Tell them to sit down in groups of about fifty each.” So the people all sat down. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers! Luke 9:14-17
When the day began to wear away. Luke 9:12 NKJV
But Jesus said, “You feed them.” Luke 9:13 NLT
Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces. Luke 9:16 NLT
he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. Luke 9:16 NLT
1. IT HAS TO BE BLESSED BEFORE IT CAN MULTIPLY
Now the law of Moses required that the priests, who are descendants of Levi, must collect a tithe from the rest of the people of Israel, who are also descendants of Abraham. But Melchizedek, who was not a descendant of Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham. And Melchizedek placed a blessing upon Abraham, the one who had already received the promises of God. And without question, the person who has the power to give a blessing is greater than the one who is blessed. Hebrews 7:5-7 NLT
2. IT HAS TO BE GIVEN AWAY TO MULTIPLY
Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right. Psalms 106:3 NIV
I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you… Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 NLT
Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. John 12:1-6 NKJV
1. THE ENEMY OF GENEROSITY
This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. John 12:6 NKJV
Then Jesus said, “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.” He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would later betray him. John 6:70-71
SUCCESS IS CONFRONTING OUR WEAKNESSES AND OVERCOMING THEM!
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
2. THE EXTRAVAGANCE OF GENEROSITY
And now, because of my devotion to the Temple of my God, I am giving all of my own private treasures of gold and silver to help in the construction 1 Chronicles 29:3 NLT
Solomon loved the Lord and followed all the decrees of his father, David, so the king went there and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings. 1 Kings 3:3-4 NLT
While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” Luke 21:1-4 NLT
EXTRAVAGANCE IS NOT THE AMOUNT, BUT THE ATTITUDE BEHIND IT!
She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time. Mark 14:8 NLT
they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord 2 Corinthians 8:5 NIV
THE MOST EXTRAVAGANT YOU CAN GIVE GOD IS YOUR HEART
3. THE REWARD OF GENEROSITY
I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed. Mark 14:9 NLT
When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”; “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.” Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?”; Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” John 11:32;39-40;43-44 NLT
GENEROSITY IS A REFLECTION OF GRATITUDE
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-6 NLT
Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. Hebrews 11:6 NLT
You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 NLT
I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. Genesis 12:2 NIV
The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him. Genesis 12:7 NLT
For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NLT
Blessed Life – Week 4
The Principal of the First
What is up family? We are in week four of our series the blessed life based on a book with the same title written by pastor Robert Morris and this book radically changed my life! At the beginning of this series Pastor Mike made a challenge for you to not miss a week of this series because I truly believe these principles will radically transform your life, but if you miss any weeks so far you can go online and catch up because I really layout some foundational truth about our heart and the purpose behind why we do what we do in regards to these principles.
Today is probably one of the most difficult messages to speak and teach on as we are going to be tackling some meaty teachings today, but I believe it is probably the most important message out of the series as we are going to be talking about
The Principal of the Firsts
If God is 1st in your life, then everything comes into order. Now I’m not saying that you won't go through trials or tough times because even Jesus said we're going to go through trials; what I'm saying is despite the trials we go through, we have the proper alignment in life. If we routinely seek Him first and make God 1st, He will reveal solutions to our problems and struggles through the light of His presence and the power of His voice. His peace guards our hearts against chaotic thoughts and emotions. Wouldn't you rather go through life with your life in order instead of out of order?
This principle of the 1st is a theme throughout the entire Bible because it is laying out the placement of God in our lives. Watch what it says in Exodus:
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.” Exodus 13:1-2 NKJV
Consecrate means to set apart! Notice he says it is mine. These are very strong words God using in the original text very powerful statement where he's making a claim and leaving a very clear description to the people of Israel of what is of importance to him. The first.
“Every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have; the males shall be the Lord’s. But every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. And all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. Exodus 13:12-13 NKJV
Notice it says that every donkey you must break its neck if you don't redeem it which means you will lose it anyway. Think about that with your tithe and finances: if you don't redeem them they would become lost
Now to understand this principle of 1st there are several things we need to grasp about this principle.
1. THE FIRSTBORN MUST BE SACRIFICED OR REDEEMED
Now the question comes up how do you know which to do. How do you know if you're supposed to sacrifice it or redeem it? If it's clean it is to be sacrificed and if it's unclean he needs to be redeemed and what exodus says here is that it is redeemed with a clean animal. So to redeem the unclean donkey you needed a clean lamb to redeem it.
Now how does that apply today because that seems like some ancient stuff that we can't always comprehend in 2023? Think about it this way: how are you born do you think you were born clean or unclean?
For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. Psalms 51:5
Romans says because of the sin of Adam that sin has spread to everyone. So we are born into sin with a sinful nature. However, Jesus was born into this world clean. The Bible says he was pure and never sinned and he was sacrificed so that we could be redeemed and clean. Now, why am I saying this?
JESUS IS GOD’S TITHE
God gave his 1st born son 1st watch what Roman says,
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8
Did you see that? God sent his son as a sacrifice before we got our act together. While we were still in sin he sent his tithe. He sent Jesus while we were still mocking him, beating him, spitting on him, and nailing him to a cross. While we were still consumed with the sin he hoped and desired that we would receive the free gift of Jesus’ sacrifice and receive the forgiveness that would redeem our unclean sin. I'm glad he didn't wait for me to get my act together to redeem me.
So he gave his son in faith!
We tithe 10% in faith… We put God 1st in trust! The first fruit means that the tithe comes 1st and for that to happen we need faith! God says give me the first lamb, the firstborn I want the 1st. Don't wait till you have 10 lambs and then hand over the scrawny one that you don't really want. No, give me the first before you even have 9 more that follows because that takes faith.
Many people think that the tithe the 10% is what causes the blessing but that's not the truth it's
Your faith and obedience cause the blessing
Now I really want you to see this principle in the eyes of faith. Think back all the way to the book of Joshua the people of Israel 40 years before were delivered from the powerful Egyptian army out of slavery and the people still did not have faith to trust God to be their provider and sustainer. When he brought them to the promised land their response was we cannot defeat the nations that live in this land and they were filled with doubt, not faith. So for 40 years, the people of Israel wandered in the desert until all the doubters became old and died away.
Now Joshua is in command and the people of Israel are ready to inherit the promised land that was theirs from the beginning. And they're stepping into their first battle to take down the mighty city of Jericho and watch what God instructs the people of Israel to do.
Jericho and everything in it must be completely destroyed as an offering to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and the others in her house will be spared, for she protected our spies. “Do not take any of the things set apart for destruction, or you yourselves will be completely destroyed, and you will bring trouble on the camp of Israel. Everything made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron is sacred to the Lord and must be brought into his treasury.” Joshua 6:17-19
Now the logical thinking would be that after you win your first battle you would take the spoils of war to fund the mission of conquering the rest of the land. But God said everything from the first battle would be given to him as an offering. Why? Because it was the first city conquered in the promised land and that would make it the first fruit. He didn't say conquered 10 cities and give me the spoils from the 10th one he says give me the 1st and you can have the rest and that's going to take faith and of course, tithing takes faith to give the 1st.
2. FIRSTFRUITS MUST BE OFFERED
Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase Proverbs 3:9 NKJV
All your increase which means bonuses and all the God brings into your home. Honor God with it. Now I want you to notice something this isn't the law in proverbs where God is kind of writing out the guidebook for the people of Israel. This is actually hundreds of years after the law was written we're Solomon is reinforcing that this is a principle, not just a rule.
The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God. Exodus 23:19 NKJV
Notice God says to bring the firstfruits not give first fruit Why is that? Because:
You can’t give what’s not yours
And we've already associated that the tithe is set apart for God so it is already his that's why we just bring it to the House of the Lord. So, you can either bring it or you steal it as we talked about 2 weeks ago in Malachi chapter 3.
Now, remember when we talked about how in the book of Joshua God commanded the people of Israel to take all the spoils they received from the battle of Jericho and offer 1it to God as an offering because it was the first fruits and that was their tithe? Well not everybody has faith and there was a dude Achan just didn't want to trust God and took matters into his own hands.
But Israel violated the instructions about the things set apart for the Lord. A man named Achan had stolen some of these dedicated things, so the Lord was very angry with the Israelites. Joshua 7:1-2
So Achan takes some the first fruit offering and keeps it for himself. Took what was set apart for himself and God becomes angry and now their mission which was redeemed is now cursed and the people of Israel go to battle and when they just came out and a victory that was amazing and miraculous they get beat handily by the men of Ai.
And Joshua goes and he's weeping on his face before God and God goes dude get up why you laying on your face like that because there's only one logical explanation as to why you were defeated you didn't obey the covenant and my commands by giving me the 1st. People stole from me and my blessings could not be there because there was sin in its place. And God says until you deal with this you'll never defeat your enemies until you get those things that were set apart and give him to me you won't have victory and so Joshua dealt with it and God blessed their mission.
Listen to me: when we don't tithe we are not setting apart what God called to be holy and we're not seeing our finances be redeemed but now we are cursing them.
Why would you want curses in your bank account because the Lord knows you already got enough problems in that bank account already. Wouldn't you want it blessed? Heres what I know:
IT TAKES FAITH TO TITHE AND IT TAKES FAITH TO BELIEVE THAT 90% BLESSED IS FAR BETTER THAN 100% CURSED.
Listen to what it says in Genesis 4:
And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Genesis 4:3 NKJV
I want you to notice this it says in the process of time Cain brought an offering. It didn't say he brought the first fruit it just says an offering over the course of time.
Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. Genesis 4:4-5 NKJV
The Lord respected and accepted Abel's offering but did not accept Cain's offering and it's not that God wouldn't accept it that he couldn't accept it because God has to be 1st and can never be 2nd. God is above all and he is 1st and just because you don't make him 1st Doesn't change who he is and that means he could never be second. He is God!
Tithing represents who is 1st in your life. You can tell me all day long who's 1st in your life but your lifestyle and your choices are the real answer. The first belongs to God we can give God the first of our time. We can give him the first of our finances. What the tithe is really is giving our first to God. It is saying, God, I'm gonna give you the 1st and trust you redeem the rest.
So when we understand the principle of tithing we can look at our bank accounts and say God you come first And I trust now when I tithe 1st you're going to redeem the rest and provide for me. You can also say God I understand the principle a first because you come first in my schedule I give you the first portion of my week by attending church and believe you will redeem the rest of my week because I will honor you and model to my family God comes 1st.
Sadly some people view Monday as the beginning of the week other people think Friday is when their week begins because they think I'm going to party and have a good time but very few people view attending church as the tithe of their time by giving God the first of their week as they worship God and they serve in the body to see people that are far from Jesus have a welcoming loving experience in our church community. Even in business, this is why chick fila, hobby lobby and others, are BLESSED and still at the top of the lists for revenues minus 1 day of the week against their competition…bc they give the first part of their week. Number 3:
3. THE TITHE MUST BE FIRST
One-tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord and must be set apart to him as holy. Leviticus 27:30
OK now let me use a little illustration here say I hire a contractor to remodel my kitchen and the contractor gives me a bid and says this is how much it's going to cost for materials, this is how much is going to cost to pay my workers, and this is the profit I'm going to make which will just say is $1000. Now the contractor doesn’t tithe on the material cost or on what he pays his workers he tithes on his profit which is his increase. So let's say I give him 10 $100 bills for his $1000 profit. What's his tithe? $100.
Now, which of the $100 bills is his tithe? Now what we do is we set some aside for a mortgage, set some aside for our car payment, set some aside for our utilities, set some aside for our food, and then we set some aside for our tithe. However, when we do that our tithe is not our first fruit which means Gods not first because our mortgage is getting our first fruit.
For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. Romans 11:16 NKJV
I want you to see this is we made the first fruit holy it redeems the rest and makes the rest holy. In the root is only all the branches and its fruit becomes holy. If the tithe is 1st and God is 1st then the rest is holy. So your tithe is the first that leaves your hand.
Because if we're honest and we don't make the first fruit the first fruit which causes the rest to be holy what happens is we send some aside for a mortgage, we set some aside for our car payment, we set some aside for our utilities, we set some aside for our food, and oops we don't have quite enough to set aside for our tithe and God cannot accept and redeem that because he was not first. Remember in Malachai when God said you are robbing me. He also says you are not bringing me your first or your best offering when you do bring offerings and it is so dishonoring I wish you wouldn’t bring me any offering at all! God has to be 1st in our life and we have to trust that he has our best interests at heart. That's faith!
Now how does this work for me? I get paid every other Friday and my check is direct deposited so it just magically appears in my bank account and So what I've done is I set up recurring giving that the very first thing that comes out of my bank account on payday is my tithes and offerings. Now some people write checks and when they get paid the very first thing they do is write a tithe check or some people physically go online on their payday and give their tithe. But what they're doing and what I'm trying to do is to always make the first fruit the first fruit because I always want God to be 1st.
Now what if you get paid and go to pay your tithe and maybe you write a check or pay online on your payday but you get so busy one day that you get home that night and you're like I forgot to write my tithe check where I forgot to pay my tithe online and you jump online to pay your tithe and you realize your wife bought groceries already and you're like great my check already cursed for this pay period. No! That's not the way it works because God is not legalistic.
Tithing isn't about following rules it's about your heart and your intentions
2nd corinthians 9 says:
“Let giving flow from your heart, not from a sense of religious duty…” 2 Corinthians 9:7 TPT
We do it just because we want God to be 1st in our lives and he knows your heart.
{PERSONAL STORY} – MY FIRST YEAR TITHING – BLESSED AND REDEEMED FINANCES
That's why I tell you only you can keep yourself accountable to this and as one of your pastors I will teach you the truth but I'll not be looking at your paycheck and your donation and see if you're giving 10% that's between you and God. it's also why I say if you don't feel called to Bloom go to a church that you feel called to be a part of an apply these principles too because I care more about you being blessed and I don't want you to walk in the curse any longer. God has great things in store for you but he has to be 1st in your life.
And in the future, your children will ask you, ‘What does all this mean?’ Then you will tell them, ‘With the power of his mighty hand, the Lord brought us out of Egypt, the place of our slavery. Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, so the Lord killed all the firstborn males throughout the land of Egypt, both people and animals. That is why I now sacrifice all the firstborn males to the Lord… Exodus 13:14-15
One day your children will come and ask you why do you sacrifice the first fruits to the Lord and you'll tell him we weren't always blessed like we are now. We didn't use to be farmers or ranchers we used to be slaves, but God redeemed us and out of a grateful heart we remember that and we understand that we never want to walk in this life without God being 1st. Because I don't want to take one step without God’s direction. because only a surrendered disciple can walk in the thriving will of God. That is still true for us today thousands of years later parents we model to our children what redemption and surrender looks like and if God is not first in your life and he is 2nd and 3rd in your life he will be 4th 5th and 6th in your children's lives. We explain to them the redemption we explain to them the goodness of God and we show them what freedom looks like and we explain why God is 1st in our lives.
So the question I want to end with
is God really first in your life?
Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Psalms 119:1-5 NLT
And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home. Luke 16:9 NKJV
He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own? Luke 16:10-12 NKJV
No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Luke 16:13 NKJV
1. WHAT IS MAMMON?
And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves… Genesis 11:4 NKJV
'“How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.’ Isaiah 14:12-14 NLT
No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24 NKJV
Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matthew 6:25-26 NKJV
MAMMON PROMISES US THINGS ONLY GOD CAN PROVIDE
Cause my heart to bow before your words of wisdom and not to the wealth of this world. Psalms 119:36 NLT
2. IS MONEY EVIL?
MONEY IS NOT EVIL IT IS NEUTRAL
For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10 NLT
And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home. Luke 16:9 NKJV
ONLY GOD CAN TURN UNRIGHTEOUS MAMMON INTO SOULS
3. WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MY MONEY?
If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. Luke 16:10 NLT
SATISFACTION IS ROOTED IN LIVING YOUR PURPOSE!
And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? Luke 16:11 NLT
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV
Decide:
“When you have plans that are diligent, it leads to plenty.” Proverbs 21:5.
Discover:
“God will supply all your needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19.
Dream:
“God can do exceedingly abundantly more than all we can ask for or imagine.” Ephesians 3:20
'They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest. Psalms 126:6 NLT
None of us can do everything but everybody can do something and together, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!
HOW CAN YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR HEART IS?
'And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? Matthew 16:26 NLT
Life is good for the one who is generous and charitable, conducting affairs with honesty and truth. Psalms 112:5 TPT
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT
“I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ Malachi 3:6-7 NIV
“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ Malachi 3:8 NIV
“In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Malachi 3:8-9 NIV
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 3:10-12 NIV
3 UNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT TITHING
1. TITHING IS A TEST
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. Malachi 3:10 NIV
2. TITHING IS BIBLICAL
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. Genesis 14:18-20 NIV
this memorial pillar I have set up will become a place for worshiping God, and I will present to God a tenth of everything he gives me. Genesis 28:22 NLT
One-tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord and must be set apart to him as holy. Leviticus 27:30 NLT
And it shall be, when you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you possess it and dwell in it, you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground, which you shall bring from your land that the Lord your God is giving you, and put it in a basket and go to the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide. Deuteronomy 26:1-2 NKJV
then you shall say before the Lord your God: ‘I have removed the holy tithe from my house, and also have given them to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me; I have not transgressed Your commandments, nor have I forgotten them. I have not eaten any of it when in mourning, nor have I removed any of it for an unclean use, nor given any of it for the dead. I have obeyed the voice of the Lord my God, and have done according to all that You have commanded me. Deuteronomy 26:13-14 NKJV
Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel and the land which You have given us… Deuteronomy 26:15 NKJV
“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. Mathew 23:23
3. TITHING IS A BLESSING
Moreover he commanded the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to contribute support for the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves to the Law of the Lord. 2 Chronicles 31:4 NKJV
As soon as the commandment was circulated, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of grain and wine, oil and honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything. And the children of Israel and Judah, who dwelt in the cities of Judah, brought the tithe of oxen and sheep; also the tithe of holy things which were consecrated to the Lord their God they laid in heaps. In the third month they began laying them in heaps, and they finished in the seventh month. 2 Chronicles 31:5-7 NKJV
And when Hezekiah and the leaders came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord and His people Israel. Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. And Azariah the chief priest, from the house of Zadok, answered him and said, “Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat and have plenty left, for the Lord has blessed His people; and what is left is this great abundance. 2 Chronicles 31:8-10 NKJV
I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:12-14 NLT
Level 1: Initial Giver… What do I do with my stuff?
Level 2: Consistent Giver… What do I do with God’s stuff? .
Level 3: Intentional Giver… What does God want me to do with God’s stuff?
Level 4: Spiritual Giver… What does God want me to GIVE from what GOD has provided?
Level 5: Surrendered Giver… What does God want me to KEEP from what GOD has provided?
If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? Matthew 16:25-26 NLT
Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right. Psalms 106:3 NIV
Remember me, Lord, when you show favor to your people, come to my aid when you save them, that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may share in the joy of your nation and join your inheritance in giving praise. Psalms 106:4-5 NIV
You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Acts 20:35
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1-2 NIV
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:37-38 NIV
Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Matthew 6:21 NLT
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:37-38 NIV
HOW TO DEVELOP A HEART OF GENEROSITY
But if there are any poor Israelites in your towns when you arrive in the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tightfisted toward them. Instead, be generous and lend them whatever they need. Deuteronomy 15:7-8 NLT
1. DEAL WITH A SELFISH HEART
Do not be mean-spirited and refuse someone a loan because the year for canceling debts is close at hand. If you refuse to make the loan and the needy person cries out to the Lord, you will be considered guilty of sin. Deuteronomy 15:9
WHY DID GOD INVENT GIVING?
GIVING OVER ANY OTHER ACTIVITY WORKS SELFISHNESS AND GREED OUT OF OUR HEARTS
People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives. Proverbs 16:2 NLT
when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. James 4:3 NLT
2. DEAL WITH A GRIEVING HEART
Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do. Deuteronomy 15:10 NLT
HOW DO YOU COMBAT GRIEF?
YOU HAVE THE PROPER PERSPECTIVE REGARDING “YOUR” MONEY
3. DEVELOP A GENEROUS HEART
Give him a generous farewell gift from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. Share with him some of the bounty with which the Lord your God has blessed you. Deuteronomy 15:14 NLT
HOW DO YOU WALK IN GENEROSITY?
BY RENEWING OUR MINDS
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Romans 12:2 NLT
A heart touched by God desires to give
“I know that when I take time to talk to God and obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit I feel alive and life is joyous and exciting.” Peter Marshall
It is time for people to quit wandering, and it is time for people to connect with their God-given purpose.
“We are not saved to go to heaven. If so, why didn't we go to heaven right then? Heaven is a by-product. We are saved to tell others and to let Jesus Christ live in us.” -Jimmy Draper
4. DEVELOP A GRATEFUL HEART
Remember that you were once slaves in the land of Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you! That is why I am giving you this command. Deuteronomy 15:15 NLT
live each day with holy awe and reverence throughout your time on earth. For you know that your lives were ransomed once and for all from the empty and futile way of life handed down from generation to generation. It was not a ransom payment of silver and gold, which eventually perishes, but the precious blood of Christ—who like a spotless, unblemished lamb was sacrificed for us. 1 Peter 1:17-19 TPT
What am I doing?! – Purpose
“Why am I here”
Purpose
Do you feel like you are living in the purpose God designed you to live in?
1. You’re blatantly living in sin
“don’t let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to god, for your were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of god.” Romans 6:12-13 NLT
2. You lack joy and excitement
3. You don’t feel much fulfillment in life
4. You feel stuck
5. You have no direction
A life of purpose brings focus
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 NIV
We will find our purpose less in what we do and more in what we are willing to surrender
Surrender leads to obedience and obedience fuels our purpose
“Its in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for…part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.” Ephesians 1:11 MSG
“Your will be done” Matthew 6:10
Who we are doesn’t flow from what we do…what we do flows from who we are
“Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph – a beautiful robe.” Genesis 37:3 NLT
“When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.” Genesis 37:4 NIV
“…listen to this dream, he said, “we were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!” His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” and they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them.” Genesis 37:6-8 NLT
“The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. Potiphar noticed this and realized that the Lord was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned.” Genesis 39:2-4 NLT
“…now Joseph was well-built and handsome…” Genesis 39:6 NIV
“Come and sleep with me,” she demanded.” Genesis 39:7
“Look, he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.” Genesis 39:8-9 NLT
“she grabbed him by his cloak demanding, “come on sleep with me!” joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house. When she saw that she was holding his cloak and he had fled, she called out to her servants. Soon all the men came running. “Look!” she said “ my husband has brought this Hebrew slave here to make fools of us! He came into my room to rape me, but I screamed. When he heard me scream, he ran outside and got away, but he left his cloak behind with me.” Genesis 39:12-18 NLT
If you ever feel like “Nothing gold can stay” that’s an indicator that you’re living in YOUR will not HIS
“but the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden.” Genesis 39:21 NLT
“Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. The Lord was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.” Genesis 39:22-23 NLT
God wants to use you in every situation you are in
“I had a dream last night, and no one here can tell me what it means. But I have heard that when you hear about a dream you can interpret it.”
“it is beyond my power to do this,” joseph replied. “but God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.” Genesis 41:15-16 NLT
“Therefore, pharaoh should find an intelligent and wise man and put him in charge of the entire land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh should appoint supervisors over the land and let them collect one fifth of the crops during the seven good years. Have them gather all the food produced in the good years that are just ahead and bring it to Pharaoh’s storehouses. Store it away , and guard it so there will be food in the cities. That way there will be enough to eat when the seven years of famine come to the land of Egypt. Otherwise this famine will destroy the land.” Genesis 41:33-36 NLT
Our purpose is not found in a thing that we do, but rather in the type of life that we live
“He has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time..” 2 Timothy 1:9 NIV
1. What will be the most important thing in my life?
Whatever is at the center of your life…is your God
Is Christ TRULY at the center of your life?
2. What will be the character of my life?
We take who we are into eternity…not what we did
The Fruits of the Spirit
- Love
- Joy
- Peace
- Patience
- Kindness
- Goodness
- Faithfulness
- Gentleness
- Self Control
3. What will be the contributions of my life?
“…I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last…” John 15:16 NIV
4. What will be the communication of my life?
YOU WILL ONLY RISE UP TO THE LEVEL OF YOUR IDENTITY
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. James 1:2 NLT
YOU MUST SWITCH FROM PITY TO POTENTIAL IF YOU ARE GOING TO GROW IN LIFE.
'These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 1:7 NLT
A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume. And the day you die is better than the day you are born. Ecclesiastes 7:1 NLT
GOD IS LESS CONCERNED WITH OUR SHORT-TERM HAPPINESS AS HE IS WITH OUR CHARACTER.
1. GOOD TIMES CAN BE DECEPTIVE
Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies— so the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us. Ecclesiastes 7:2-3 NLT
'Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. Psalms 90:12 NLT
“Life is like a parachute jump; you've got to get it right the first time” Elenor Roosevelt
…for sadness has a refining influence on us. Ecclesiastes 7:3 NLT
Sorrow is better than laughter… Ecclesiastes 7:3 NLT
THE KEY TO RESILIENCE IN LIFE AND EFFECTIVENESS IS BEING NEUTRAL
2. HARD TIMES BRING WISDOM
'A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time. Better to be criticized by a wise person than to be praised by a fool. Ecclesiastes 7:4-5 NLT
THE SAD REALITY IS TOO MANY CHRISTIANS WALK AROUND WITH A NARCISSISTIC SPIRITUALITY
“God cannot use a man until he has hurt him deeply.” A. W. Tozer
For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” Hebrews 12:6 NLT
A fool’s laughter is quickly gone, like thorns crackling in a fire. This also is meaningless. Ecclesiastes 7:6 NLT
Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride. Ecclesiastes 7:8 NLT
3. WISDOM BRINGS PROTECTION
'Wisdom and money can get you almost anything, but only wisdom can save your life. Ecclesiastes 7:12 NLT
'And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? Matthew 16:26 NLT
Accept the way God does things, for who can straighten what he has made crooked? Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life. Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 NLT
'And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 NLT
'How wonderful to be wise, to analyze and interpret things. Wisdom lights up a person’s face, softening its harshness. Ecclesiastes 8:1 NLT
Are you spending time with God?
Are you diving into the word of God?
Are you selflessly serving?
Are you intentionally doing life with life-giving people?
Are you making church a priority for your family?
Are you walking in the will of God?
Are you living at peace with others to the best of your ability?
'At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Matthew 27:46 NLT
'Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last. Luke 23:46 NLTå
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD LIES BEHIND EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS
'I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. Romans 7:19 NLT
WHY DOES IT FEEL LIKE THERE IS INEQUITY IN THE WORLD?
And I saw something else under the sun: In the place of judgment—wickedness was there, in the place of justice—wickedness was there. Ecclesiastes 3:16 NIV
'I said to myself, “God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.” Ecclesiastes 3:17 NIV
'The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 2 Peter 3:9 NLT
WHY DOES IT FEEL LIKE THERE IS OPPRESSION IN THE WORLD?
'Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed— and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors— and they have no comforter. Ecclesiastes 4:1 NIV
And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive. But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun. Ecclesiastes 4:2-3 NIV
WHY DOES IT FEEL LIKE THERE IS RIVALRY IN THE WORLD?
'And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:4 NIV
Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves. Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:5-6 NIV
WHY DOES IT FEEL LIKE IT’S THINGS OVER PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD?
'Again I saw something meaningless under the sun: There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless— a miserable business! Ecclesiastes 4:7-8 NIV
'Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NIV
WHY DOES IT FEEL LIKE POPULARITY IS SO IMPORTANT IN THE WORLD?
'Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor. There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:13-16 NIV
HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND TO THESE FEELNGS?
THERE ARE TWO WAYS WE LEARN IN LIFE
1. WE LEARN THINGS IN RETROSPECT
2. WE LEARN THINGS BY WISDOM
YOUR ATTITUDE IS THE RUDDER THAT GUIDES YOUR LIFE
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Ecclesiastes 5:1 NIV
'Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. Ecclesiastes 5:2 NIV
'God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!; “Be still, and know that I am God! Psalms 46:1-3,10 NLT
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD LIES BEHIND EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS
And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” Genesis 2:16-17 NIV
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9 NIV
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:2-8 NIV
What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:9-11 NIV
'“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”Revelation 4:11 NLT
FOUR PILLARS
1. GOD IS WISE
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 NLT
You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. Genesis 50:20 NLT
2. GOD IS ALSO MYSTERIOUS
He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV
Are we only fish to be caught and killed? Are we only sea creatures that have no leader? Habakkuk 1:14 NLT
Why then does my suffering continue? Why is my wound so incurable? Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook, like a spring that has gone dry.” Jeremiah 15:18 NLT
3. WE CANNOT LET WHAT WE CANNOT KNOW DESTROY WHAT WE CAN ENJOY
I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. Ecclesiastes 3:12 NIV
That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 3:13 NIV
So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Matthew 6:34 NLT
4. REST IN THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD
'I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and v nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him. Ecclesiastes 3:14 NIV
Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. Job 1:21 CSB
'Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account. Ecclesiastes 3:15 NIV
'But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip. Acts 2:23-24 NLT
Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Hebrews 12:15 NLT
“Unforgiveness is like drinking poison yourself and waiting for the other person to die.” -Marianne Williamson
'Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:14,17-21 NIV
TRUE JUSTICE IS PAYING ONLY ONCE FOR EACH MISTAKE. TRUE INJUSTICE IS PAYING MORE THAN ONCE FOR EACH MISTAKE.
1. HOW DO YOU RESPOND INWARDLY?
…For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Luke 6:45 NIV
'Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Romans 8:5-7 NIV
HURT PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE
'A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 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. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Ephesians 6:10-18 NLT
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. Proverbs 26:22 NIV
A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. Proverbs 16:28 NIV
'With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape. A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. Proverbs 11:9,13 NIV
“Self-pity is of the devil, and if I wallow in it, I cannot be used by God for his purpose in the world.” -Oswald Chambers
to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV
2. HOW DO YOU RESPOND OUTWARDLY?
THE REASON WE FEAR CONFRONTATION IS BECAUSE WE FEAR BEING EXPOSED AND BEING VULNERABLE.
He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” Genesis 3:10 NLT
FEAR WILL MAKE YOU DO AT LEAST 1 OF 3 THINGS…. GET DISTANT, GET DEFENSIVE, AND/OR GET DEMANDING.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 NLT
“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. Matthew 18:15-16 NLT
Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing. Proverbs 12:18 NLT
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. James 1:19 NLT
GUIDELINES TO COMMUNICATING
Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you. Ephesians 4:29 GNT
Life of Community – Critical Need for Community
Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13:35 NLT
LOVE IN ACTION
“Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!” Romans 12:15-16 NLT
Community
Surgeon General’s Warning: Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation – Dr. Vivek H. Murthy
58% of Americans feel alone
73% of youth feel alone
Epidemic: an outbreak of disease that spreads quickly and affects many individuals at the same time
Disease: harmful deviation from the normal structure or functional state…
29% increased risk of heart disease
32% increased risk of stroke
50% increased risk of developing dementia
60% increased risk of premature death
The Critical Need for Community
1. We were created for community
“I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.” Jeremiah 24:7
“The Lord God said, “it is not good for the man to be alone…” Genesis 2:18 NIV
Healthy Relationships keep us happier, healthier and help us live longer
2. We were created to navigate the highs and lows of life together
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 NIV
True friends never get in the way unless the way is down
“he was blameless-a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil.” Job 1:1 NLT
“When three of Job’s friends heard of the tragedy he had suffered, they got together and traveled from their homes to comfort and console him. Their names were Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him. Wailing loudly, they tore their robes and threw dust into the air over their heads to show their grief. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words.”
Job 2:11-13 NLT
Evaluate your current community
“Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NKJV
Life altering moments raise life-defining questions
Can you share your heart with them?
Can you communicate your joys with them?
Can you communicate your sorrows with them?
Can you share frustrations with them?
Can you share victories with them?
Can you share prayer requests with them?
Do they pray with you or for you?
Do they lift you up or tear you down?
Do they encourage you?
Do they add value to you?
Do they care about your spouse/family?
You can have connections and still be lonely
LIFE-GIVING community
3. Community Provides encouragement and accountability
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 NIV
4. Community provides shared joy and celebration
“Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep” Romans 12:15
5. Community empowers us to fulfill our purpose
“All the believers were one in heart and mind.” Acts 4:32 NIV
TAKE HOME
Get in a life giving community
Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13:35 NLT
Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13 NIV
When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Romans 12:13 NLT
You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35 NLT
SIMPLY PUT, A GENEROUS LIFE IS A BLESSED LIFE.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? Matthew 16:24-26 NLT
The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25 NLT
THERE IS NOTHING MORE CHRISTLIKE THAN TO SELFLESSLY GIVE
'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NIV
3 MINDSETS THAT SHAPE YOUR GENEROSITY
1. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH
You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes! Haggai 1:6 NLT
GENEROSITY DOES SOMETHING SPIRITUALLY IN OUR LIVES
'Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land. 1 Kings 17:13-14 NIV
Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.” 1 Kings 17:24 NIV
Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13 NLT
2. THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH
Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Luke 6:38 NLT
3. THERE IS INFINITELY MORE THAN ENOUGH
“The lord will guarantee a blessing on everything you do and will fill your storehouses with grain. Deuteronomy 28:8 NLT
And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. 2 Corinthians 9:8-11 NLT
ACTION STEPS
And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 NLT
You must each decide in your heart how much to give. 2 Corinthians 9:7
YOU CAN’T OUT GIVE GOD!
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Malachi 3:10 NLT
Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. Matthew 7:20 NLT
Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. Matthew 7:21 NLT
'Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return. Matthew 25:11-13 NLT
“Money creates problems. climbing one mountain exposes another, higher peak. however, there is something better out there: real virtue. it is its own reward. virtue is the one good thing that reveals itself to be more than we expect and something that one cannot have in degrees. we simply have it or we don't. And that is why virtue is The Only Thing Worth striving for.” Ryan Holiday
“If the path you're on isn't making you a more generous, compassionate, hopeful, and merciful person (or, in other words, more like Jesus), then the destination isn't worth the journey.” Carey Nieuwhof
'You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. 1 Peter 1:22 NLT
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13:34-35 NLT
1. People of Love have an Authentic Affection
Be devoted to one another in love. Romans 121:10 NIV
How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting. Psalms 133:1-3 NLT
“I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:19-20 NLT
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:25 NLT
'So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time, we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up or quit. Therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith. Galatians 6:9-10 MSG
2. People of Love Honor one another.
Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10 NIV
My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives? Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” James 2:1-4,8 NLT
EVERY PERSON IS SPECIAL TO GOD, EVERY PERSON MATTERS TO GOD, & EVERY PERSON IS LOVED BY GOD.
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Philippians 2:3-4 NLT
The LORD doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 NLT
SEEING VALUE IN PEOPLE IS NOT ABOUT THEIR VALUE TO YOU, BUT THEIR VALUE TO GOD.
3. People of Love have a Spiritual Enthusiasm
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Romans 12:11 NLT
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT
Ministry is the pathway to maturity in our faith.
HOW DO WE INTENTIONALLY PURSUE HEALTH IN OUR CHURCH FAMILY?
1. WE RESPECT ONE ANOTHER
2. WE SHOW LOVE AND AFFIRMATION
3. WE GIVE SUPPORT
4. WE SPEND TIME TOGETHER
5. WE HAVE CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS
6. WE HAVE A SHARED MISSION WITH A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. Romans 12:9-17 NIV
I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 NLT
BOTH GIFTINGS AND GODLY CHARACTER MUST BE PRESENT FOR TRUE EFFECTIVENESS.
'You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. 1 Peter 1:22 NLT
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13:34-35 NLT
Love must be sincere. Romans 12:9 NIV
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Romans 12:9 NLT
“ Be tolerate with others and strict with yourself.” Marcus Aurelius
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.Romans 12:9 NIV
You who love the Lord, hate evil! Psalms 97:10 NLT
Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice. Amos 5:15 NLT
hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 NIV
'If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. John 15:19 ESV
'Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world.”John 18:36 ESV
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15 ESV
1. It is not enough to simply choose Good over Evil.
2. You will eventually drift toward your desires and feelings.
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. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. Psalm 63:1-4 ESV
So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Colossians 3:5NLT
Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. Colossians 3:5-6 NLT
You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Colossians 3:7-9 NLT
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves… Colossians 3:12 NLT
you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Colossians 3:12-15 NLT
Mercy/Compassion
Kindness
Humility
Gentleness
Patience
Forgiveness
Love
We need to learn how to walk in freedom so we make ourselves fully available to walk in His purpose for our lives
“In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets—some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing.” 2 Timothy 2:20-21 MSG
Will we be the conduit that God uses or not?
What in your life is keeping you from being the container or conduit that God wants to use?
Purpose
Life will never make sense until you live a life that is bigger than yourself
Purpose
“We have become his poetry, a recreated people that will fulfill the destiny {PURPOSE} he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the anointed one. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny {PURPOSE} and the good works we would do to fulfill it!” Ephesians 2:10 TPT
“It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for... part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.” Ephesians 1:11 MSG
A life of purpose brings focus
“Where there is no vision, the people perish…” Proverbs 29:18 KJV
God didn’t call us to a “just enough” life…he called us to a thriving life
“A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” John 10:10 MSG
“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians 3:13-14
A life of purpose brings endurance
“So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should” 1 Corinthians 9:26-27
A life of purpose brings fulfillment
“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches.” Philippians 4:19
When you align yourself with God, you will have an irrational amount of fulfillment
Your purpose will be found in living a life that is bigger than yourself
Fulfillment doesn’t chase success; fulfillment chases significance
“Once you’ve tasted significance, success will never satisfy” – John Maxwell
How Do I Find My Purpose?
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.” Ephesians 5:8-10 NIV
Live as children of the light (goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.”
1. Ask ourselves: “What do I need to stop doing?”
“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them... Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise...” Ephesians 5:11;15 NIV
Behind the darkness is God’s purpose for your life
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then... you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2
“Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; your feet from following evil.” Proverbs 4:25-27
2. Ask yourself: “What do I need to start doing?”
“Making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is” Ephesians 5:16-17 NIV
Dreams don’t just happen; They come to fruition by perseverance, character, and a fight for purpose
“remember, it is a sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” James 4:17
“God, I invite your searching gaze into my heart. Examine me through and through; find out everything that may be hidden within me. Put me to the test and sift through all my anxious cares. See if there is any path of pain I’m walking on, and lead me back to your glorious, everlasting ways – the path that brings me back to you.” Psalms 139:23-24 TPT
3. Ask yourself: “What am I waiting for?”
“I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians
People that procrastinate talk about a life of purpose; people who take initiative live a life of purpose
TAKE HOME
1. START DOING WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
You can start changing the world, by impacting your world
How you start impacts your future
2. GO ABOVE AND BEYOND
The things in life that mean the most are forged through sacrifice
“If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.” Matthew 5:41
3. STAY COMMITTED TO THE PROCESS
“for everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven…a time to plant and a time to harvest.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
Life is a series of seasons and God blesses those who are faithful during the process
The Word of God
“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105 NLT
330,222,422 Americans as of 2020
9% = 29,720,018
Approx. 205,000,000 proclaimed believers of Jesus in America
29,720,018 = 14%
Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. Joshua 1:6-8
If we are not careful and intentional, the world’s noise is what will define our hearts, not the Word of God
“…Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. Joshua 1:8 NLT
You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life. John 5:39-40
The reason people don’t believe that it has any power today is that we have stopped mixing our studying of the bible with faith
1. READING THE BIBLE DRAWS US CLOSER TO GOD
“IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD.” JOHN 1:1-5 NIV
“Come close to God, and God will come close to you...” James 4:8 NLT
2. READING THE BIBLE GIVES US DIRECTION
“I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, WHO TEACHES YOU WHAT IS GOOD FOR YOU AND LEADS YOU ALONG THE PATHS YOU SHOULD FOLLOW.” ISAIAH 48:17 NLT
“I WILL GUIDE YOU ALONG THE BEST PATHWAY FOR YOUR LIFE. I WILL ADVISE YOU AND WATCH OVER YOU.” PSALM 32:8 NLT
“YOUR WORD IS A LAMP TO GUIDE MY FEET AND A LIGHT FOR MY PATH.” PSALM 119:105 NLT
IF WE FOLLOW GOD’S GUIDANCE IT WILL LEAD US TO PEACE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS
3. READING THE BIBLE BRINGS US HEALING
“MY CHILD, PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT I SAY. LISTEN CAREFULLY TO MY WORDS. DON’T LOSE SIGHT OF THEM. LET THEM PENETRATE DEEP INTO YOUR HEART, FOR THEY BRING LIFE TO THOSE WHO FIND THEM, AND HEALING TO THEIR WHOLE BODY.” PROVERBS 4:20-22 NLT
“YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE” JOHN 8:32
4. READING THE BIBLE GIVES US NOURISHMENT
“PEOPLE DO NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT COMES FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD.” MATTHEW 4:4 NLT
5. READING THE BIBLE REMINDS US OF WHAT GOD THINKS OF US
“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.” JEREMIAH 1:5 NLT
“..BUT YOU ARE GOD’S CHOSEN TREASURE – PRIESTS WHO ARE KINGS, A SPIRITUAL ‘NATION’ SET APART AS GOD’S DEVOTED ONES. HE CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS TO EXPERIENCE HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT, AND NOW HE CLAIMS YOU AS HIS VERY OWN…”1 PETER 2:9 TPT
1. GET A BIBLE THAT MAKES SENSE TO YOU
2. DOWNLOAD THE BIBLE APP
3. START A PLAN TODAY
4. BE INTENTIONAL & PRIORITIZE
➡ READ THE TRUTH
➡ MEMORIZE THE TRUTH
➡ MEDITATE ON TRUTH
➡ UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH
And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:18-19
✓HOW WIDE IS THE LOVE OF GOD
“Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow.” Isaiah 1:18
He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. Psalms 103:12
✓HOW LONG IS THE LOVE OF GOD
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me John 10:28
✓HOW DEEP IS THE LOVE OF GOD
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form. Philippians 2:7
My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:38-39
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24
✓HOW HIGH IS THE LOVE OF GOD
Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God…. 2 Corinthians 2:15 NLT
And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. Mark 12:30 NLT
“I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” Romans 12:1 NLT
THE KEY TO A THRIVING RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS TRUST, WHICH IS DISPLAYED THROUGH ABANDONMENT TO GOD. THAT IS THE FOUNDATION OF WORSHIP.
Now he brought me back to the entrance to the Temple. I saw water pouring out from under the Temple porch to the east (the Temple faced east). The water poured from the south side of the Temple, south of the altar. He then took me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the gate complex on the east. The water was gushing from under the south front of the Temple. He walked to the east with a measuring tape and measured off fifteen hundred feet, leading me through water that was ankle-deep. He measured off another fifteen hundred feet, leading me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another fifteen hundred feet, leading me through water waist-deep. He measured off another fifteen hundred feet. By now it was a river over my head, water to swim in, water no one could possibly walk through. He said, “Son of man, have you had a good look?” Ezekiel 47:1-7 MSG
4 LEVELS OF CONTROL
He walked to the east with a measuring tape and measured off fifteen hundred feet, leading me through water that was ankle-deep. Ezekiel 47:3 MSG
Be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. James 1:6-8 NLT
He measured off another fifteen hundred feet, leading me through water that was knee-deep. Ezekiel 47:4 MSG
The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. Lamentations 3:25 NLT
So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world? Galatians 4:9 NLT
He measured off another fifteen hundred feet, leading me through water waist-deep. Ezekiel 47:4 MSG
Taste and see that the lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Fear the lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the lord will lack no good thing. Psalms 34:8-10 NLT
He measured off another fifteen hundred feet. By now it was a river over my head, water to swim in, water no one could possibly walk through. Ezekiel 47:5 MSG
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Galatians 5:24-25 NLT
THE REWARDS OF SURRENDER
Then he took me back to the riverbank. While sitting on the bank, I noticed a lot of trees on both sides of the river. He told me, “This water flows east, descends to the Arabah and then into the sea, the sea of stagnant waters. When it empties into those waters, the sea will become fresh. Wherever the river flows, life will flourish—great schools of fish—because the river is turning the salt sea into fresh water. Where the river flows, life abounds. Fishermen will stand shoulder to shoulder along the shore from En-gedi all the way north to En-eglaim, casting their nets. The sea will teem with fish of all kinds, like the fish of the Great Mediterranean. “The swamps and marshes won’t become fresh. They’ll stay salty. “But the river itself, on both banks, will grow fruit trees of all kinds. Their leaves won’t wither, the fruit won’t fail. Every month they’ll bear fresh fruit because the river from the Sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.” Ezekiel 47:7-12 MSG
Wherever the river flows, life will flourish…; Where the river flows, life abounds. Ezekiel 47:8-9 MSG
WHEN WE ABANDON OURSELVES TO GOD’S WILL & PRESENCE WE BECOME THE CHURCH. THEN WE GET TO BE A PART OF SEEING SOULS SAVED & PEOPLE HEALED.
HOW TO HAVE A LIFESTYLE OF WORSHIP
1. INCORPORATE GOD IN YOUR LIFE
“For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 NLT
I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 NLT
2. CHOOSE TO REMAIN COMMITTED
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” Daniel 3:17-18 NLT
3. BE OBEDIENT
Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. Hebrews 13:15-16 NLT
Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” John 14:21 NLT
4. SHOW REVERENCE
But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. John 4:23 NLT
He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might. No, the lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love. Psalms 147:10-11 NLT
Fear of the lord leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm. Proverbs 19:23 NLT
….True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.” John 4:23 NLT
REASONS WE STRUGGLE
“The problem is most people overestimate or underestimate spiritual warfare. Funny how the devil likes when we over believe or under believe just don't bible believe” C.S. Lewis
Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11 NLT
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 NLT
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. Ephesians 6:13 NLT
KNOWING YOUR SPIRITUAL CLIMATE IS CRITICAL TO RECEIVING THE VICTORY THAT IS ALREADY YOURS.
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10 NLT
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Matthew 6:13 NIV
…The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:16 NLT
EFFECTIVE WARFARE PRAYERS
Now I, Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ—We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 2 Corinthians 10:1;3 NLT
1. WE MUST GET OUR HEARTS RIGHT
Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil; 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. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:11:13-17 NLT
CHARACTER ALWAYS TRUMPS KNOWLEDGE
2. WE MUST FIGHT WITH THE RIGHT WEAPONS
We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons… 2 Corinthians 10:4 NLT
OUR FOUR PRIMARY WEAPONS
…Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17 NLT
“The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. Isaiah 55:10-11NLT
He launches his promises earthward—how swift and sure they come! Psalms 147:15 MSG
WE NEED TO REPEAT GOD’S PROMISES UNTIL WE EXPERIENCE GOD’S PROMISE
Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands—Psalms 149:6 NLT
Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! John 14:14 NLT
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. Philippians 2:9-10 NLT
And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. Revelations 12:11 NLT
3. WE MUST UNDERSTAND THE REAL BATTLE
…knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 2 Corinthians 10:4 NLT
And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. Ephesians 4:26-27 NLT
Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live! Amos 5:14 NLT
Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life. Ephesians 4:22 NLT
But if I am casting out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. For when a strong man like Satan is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe—until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings. Luke 11:20-22 NLT
When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. Luke 11:24-26 NLT
4. WE MUST HAVE THE RIGHT FOCUS
We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 NLT
For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT
ACTION STEPS
Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 1 Peter 4:12 NLT
I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:12-14
He launches his promises earthward—how swift and sure they come! Psalms 147:15 MSG
WE NEED TO REPEAT GOD’S PROMISES UNTIL WE EXPERIENCE GOD’S PROMISES.
A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. Luke 6:45 NLT
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 NKJV
We all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. James 3:2 NLT
I love you I hate you
We are having baby I wish you were never born
You look great You've gained weight
I’m giving you a raise You are incompetent
I see potential in you. You are a failure
You’re smart You’re stupid
You make me happy You annoy me
I forgive you I should have never married you
I do I want a divorce
WHEN WE PULL THE TRIGGER OF NEGATIVE WORDS TOWARDS SOMEONE IT’S LIKE SPIRITUALLY SHOOTING THEM. WE BECOME LIFE-TAKING!
So the lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. Genesis 2:19-20 NLT
THE TRUTH OF WORDS
1. THEY FLOW FROM OUR THOUGHTS
Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14 NLT
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. 2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23
My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Proverbs 4:20-22 NLT
2. THEY SHAPE OUR FUTURE
WE MUST STOP SPEAKING NEGATIVITY INTO A LIFE THAT IS FILLED WITH POSSIBILITIES.
MIRACLES ARE RESTING ON THE TIP OF OUR TONGUES, AND WE HAVE TO WAKE THEM UP AND START SPEAKING THE PROMISES OF GOD AND HIS GOD-ORDAINED DESIGN IN OUR LIFE!
This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces. Numbers 13:27 NLT
But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak!… But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!” But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!”…We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!” Numbers 13:28;30-31;33 NLT
WE HAVE TO CONSTANTLY SPEAK ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO BE IN LIFE.
3. THEY LEAD TO VICTORY
As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:35-40 NLT
Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” Mark 4:35 NLT
God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? Numbers 23:19 NLT
WHEN WE PRAISE AND THANK GOD WE SEE BEYOND OUR CURRENT REALITY AND INTO OUR GOD-GIVEN DESTINY
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
ACTION STEPS
Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Colossians 4:2 NLT
Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Ephesians 4:29 NLT
…Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 NLT
I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom, and I have clear direction for my life.
I am blessed with creativity, courage, ability, and with abundance.
I am blessed with a strong will, self-control, and self-discipline.
I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, and with faith, favor, and fulfillment.
I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion, and divine protection.
I am blessed with an obedient heart and with a positive outlook on life.
I declare that any curse that has ever been spoken over me, any negative evil word that has ever come against me, is broken right now.
I am blessed in the city.
I am blessed in the country.
I am blessed when I go in.
I am blessed when I come out.
Everything I put my hands on is going to prosper and succeed.
I claim these promises in the powerful name of Jesus!
HEAVEN MOVES POWERFULLY THROUGH OUR PRAYERS
And when the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures saw the Lamb had taken the scroll, they fell facedown at the feet of the Lamb and worshiped him. Each of them had a harp and golden bowls brimming full of sweet fragrant incense—which are the prayers of God’s holy lovers. Revelation 5:8 TPT
(The Angel) was given a great quantity of incense to offer up, consisting of the prayers of God’s holy people, upon the golden altar that is before the throne. And the smoke of the incense with the prayers of the holy ones billowed up before God from the hand of the angel. Then the angel filled the golden incense burner with coals of fire from the altar and hurled it onto the earth Revelation 8:3-5 TPT
CONTINUAL PRAYERS CAUSE A RELEASING OF THE MOVE OF GOD
So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from him. Matthew 6:33 TPT
Ask, and the gift is yours. Seek, and you’ll discover. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. For every persistent one will get what he asks for. Every persistent seeker will discover what he longs for. And everyone who knocks persistently will one day find an open door. Matthew 7:7-8 TPT
Tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer! Elijah was a man with human frailties, just like all of us, but he prayed and received supernatural answers. James 5:16-17 NLT
Forgiveness
Forgiveness
The pain you feel today is the pain you can heal today
Bitterness
“…And make sure no one lives with a root of bitterness sprouting within them which will only cause trouble and poison the hearts of many.” Hebrews 12:15 TPT
Forgiveness is a choice
Why is it so hard to forgive others?
1. We have the wrong idea of forgiveness
Forgiveness is not:
- Minimizing the hurt you feel or the offense that took place
- Reconciliation
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18 NIV
Forgiveness is our choice
I will not let my external circumstances dictate the condition of my heart
- Instant Restoration of Trust
Through true forgiveness, it is possible to build trust again
2. We don’t think its fair
Forgiveness
For(Give)ness
“but God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:8 NLT
If we are waiting for the other person to be worthy of forgiveness we will never forgive
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT
3. We don’t think we can forgive
“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
“THE LESSONS OF FORGIVENESS IN HEAVEN’S KINGDOM REALM CAN BE ILLUSTRATED LIKE THIS: THERE ONCE WAS A KING WHO HAD SERVANTS WHO HAD BORROWED MONEY FROM THE ROYAL TREASURY. HE DECIDED TO SETTLE ACCOUNTS WITH EACH OF THEM. AS HE BEGAN THE PROCESS, IT CAME TO HIS ATTENTION THAT ONE OF HIS SERVANTS OWED HIM ONE BILLION DOLLARS. SO HE SUMMONED THE SERVANT BEFORE HIM AND SAID TO HIM, ‘PAY ME WHAT YOU OWE ME.’ WHEN HIS SERVANT WAS UNABLE TO REPAY HIS DEBT, THE KING ORDERED THAT HE BE SOLD AS A SLAVE ALONG WITH HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN AND EVERY POSSESSION THEY OWNED AS PAYMENT TOWARD HIS DEBT. THE SERVANT THREW HIMSELF FACEDOWN AT HIS MASTER’S FEET AND BEGGED FOR MERCY. ‘PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH ME. JUST GIVE ME MORE TIME AND I WILL REPAY YOU ALL THAT I OWE.’ UPON HEARING HIS PLEAS, THE KING HAD COMPASSION ON HIS SERVANT, AND RELEASED HIM, AND FORGAVE HIS ENTIRE DEBT.”
“NO SOONER HAD THE SERVANT LEFT WHEN HE MET ONE OF HIS FELLOW SERVANTS, WHO OWED HIM TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS. HE SEIZED HIM BY THE THROAT AND BEGAN TO CHOKE HIM, SAYING, ‘YOU’D BETTER PAY ME RIGHT NOW EVERYTHING YOU OWE ME!’ HIS FELLOW SERVANT THREW HIMSELF FACEDOWN AT HIS FEET AND BEGGED, ‘PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH ME. IF YOU’LL JUST GIVE ME TIME, I WILL REPAY YOU ALL THAT IS OWED.’
“BUT THE ONE WHO HAD HIS DEBT FORGIVEN STUBBORNLY REFUSED TO FORGIVE WHAT WAS OWED TO HIM. HE HAD HIS FELLOW SERVANT THROWN INTO PRISON AND DEMANDED HE REMIAN THERE UNTIL HE REPAID THE DEBT IN FULL”
“WHEN HIS ASSOCIATES SAW WHAT WAS GOING ON, THEY WERE OUTRAGED AND WENT TO THE KING AND TOLD HIM THE WHOLE STORY. THE KING SAID TO HIM ‘YOU SCOUNDREL! IS THIS THE WAY YOU RESPOND TO MY MERCY? BECAUSE YOU BEGGED ME, I FORGAVE YOU THE MASSIVE DEBT THAT YOU OWED ME. WHY DIDN’T YOU SHOW THE SAME MERCY TO YOUR FELLOW SERVANT THAT I SHOWED TO YOU?
“IN A FURY OF ANGER, THE KING TURNED HIM OVER TO THE PRISON GUARDS TO BE TORTURED UNTIL ALL HIS DEBT WAS REPAID. IN THIS SAME WAY, MY HEAVENLY FATHER WILL DEAL WITH ANY OF YOU IF YOU DO NOT RELEASE FORGIVENESS FROM YOUR HEART…” MATTHEW 18:23-35 TPT
“…RELEASE FORGIVENESS FROM YOUR HEART…” MATTHEW 18:35 TPT
“FORGIVENESS IS SETTING THE PRISONER FREE, ONLY TO FIND OUT THE PRISONER WAS ME” CORRIE TEN BOOM
There is freedom on the other side of your forgiveness
1. Examine Your Heart and Be Honest with Yourself
You cannot win a battle you won’t admit you’re in
“Leave your troubles with the lord, and he will defend you; he never lets honest people be defeated.” Psalms 55:22 GNTD
2. Realize That God Knew There Would Be Offenses in our Lives and That He Equipped Us with All We Need to Properly Forgive
“…It’s impossible...” Luke 17:1 NKJV
“Then He said to His disciples…It’s impossible that no offenses should come…” Luke 17:1 NKJV
“Make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all clothe yourselves with LOVE, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.” Colossians 3:13-15 NLT
Love
3. Make the Choice to Forgive and Continue to Forgive
Forgiveness is not a One-Time Thing
“THEN PETER CAME TO HIM AND ASKED, ‘LORD, HOW OFTEN SHOULD I FORGIVE SOMEONE WHO SINS AGAINST ME? SEVEN TIMES?” “NO, NOT SEVEN TIMES,” JESUS REPLIED, “BUT SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN!” MATTHEW 18:21-22
4. Pray for the One Who Hurt You
“Father forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34
Take Home: Forgive Someone You Need to Forgive