A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! James 3:5-6,9-10 NLT

 

For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. Matthew 12: 34 NLT

 

1. WHAT HAVE OTHERS CALLED YOU?

 

Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives. “Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon….The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names: Daniel was called Belteshazzar. Hananiah was called Shadrach. Mishael was called Meshach. Azariah was called Abednego. Daniel 1:3-4;7 NLT

 

DANIEL MEANS “GOD IS MY JUDGE”

BELTESHAZZAR MEANS “LADY, PROTECT THE KING”

 

HANANIAH MEANS “YAHWEH HAS BEEN GRACIOUS”

SHADRACH MEANS “I AM FEARFUL OF GOD”

 

MISHAEL MEANS “WHO CAN COMPARE TO MY GOD? NO ONE!”

MESHACH MEANS “I AM DESPISED, CONTEMPTIBLE, & HUMILIATED”

 

AZARIAH MEANS “YAHWEH HAS HELPED”

ABEDNEGO MEANS “THE SERVANT OF NEBO”

 

2. WHAT HAVE YOU SPOKEN OVER YOURSELF?

 

Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.” Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.” Luke 1:18-20 NLT

 

WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO SPEAK IN YOUR LIFE YOU WILL EVENTUALLY LIVE IN YOUR LIFE.

 

3. WHAT IS YOUR TRUE IDENTITY?

 

After a very hard delivery, the midwife finally exclaimed, “Don’t be afraid—you have another son!”  Genesis 35:17 NLT

 

 

Rachel was about to die, but with her last breath she named the baby Ben-oni Genesis 35:18 NLT

 

Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” “What is your name?” the man asked. He replied, “Jacob.” “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.” Genesis 32:26-28 NLT

 

 

'“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.' Revelation 2:17 NLT

Lift Their Lid

Parenting With Purpose – Week 2

 

LIFT THEIR LIDS

 

“IS YOUR CEILING GOING TO BE THE FLOOR, THE FOUNDATION, THAT YOUR KIDS ARE GOING TO BUILD THEIR LIVES ON, OR IS YOUR CEILING GOING TO BE A LID THAT HINDERS THEIR GROWTH?”

 

WE ARE ALL IMPARTING OUR VALUES, BELIEFS, ATTITUDES AND HABITS TO OUR KIDS OR THOSE WHO WE ARE POURING IN TO

 

“Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians

 

CHILDREN ABSORB WHAT THEY CONSISTENTLY HEAR

 

WHAT MESSAGES ARE WE ABSORBING EVERY DAY?

 

“CHOOSE THE RIGHT FILTER: ARE WE FILTERING GOD’S WORD THROUGH THE MESSAGES OF OUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLET, OR ARE WE FILTERING THE NEWS THROUGH THE TRUTH, GRACE, AND LOVE OF GOD’S WORD.” – PASTOR SCOTT WILSON

 

“WISE PARENTS CELEBRATE THE DIFFERENCES!”

 

“After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you— from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’ No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. “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.” Joshua

 

“Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110. They buried him in the land he had been allocated, at Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel.” Judges

 

1. REFLECT & INSPECT

 

HAS YOUR LID BEEN LIFTED?

 

WE CAN’T LIFT THE LIDS OF THOSE WE ARE POURING IN TO UNLESS SOMEONE HAS LIFTED OUR LID

 

“WE POINT THEM TO THE KINDNESS, JUSTICE, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD AS THE ANTIDOTE TO RACISM, GENDER BIAS, A POVERTY MINDSET, AND AGE DISCRIMINATION. AND WE NOTICE WHAT THEY DO WELL SO THEY’LL BELIEVE THEY CAN BE MORE AND DO MORE THAN THEY EVER IMAGINED.”

 

WHAT VALUES OR LIDS AM I CURRENTLY IMPARTING IN MY CHILDREN OR THOSE WHO I INFLUENCE?

 

“YOU CANNOT CHANGE WHAT YOU DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE” – DR. PHIL

 

“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 way— the path that brings me back to you.” Psalms

 

“WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU AS A CHILD WAS NOT YOUR FAULT, BUT WHAT YOU DO WITH IT WHEN YOU’RE AN ADULT IS YOUR CHOICE.”

 

1. REDEFINE

 

“THE GOAL IS TO CREATE A CLEAR, COMPELLING VISION OF WHAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE ALL ABOUT.” – STEPHEN COVEY

 

WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN?

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP PRIORITIES?

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SCRIPTURES?

ARE THERE ANY VALUES THAT YOU INHERITED FROM YOUR PARENTS THAT YOU WANT TO CONTINUE…OR STOP?

WHD DO YOUR KIDS LIKE MOST ABOUT BEING PART OF YOUR FAMILY?

COMPLETE THIS STATEMENT: “WE BELIEVE GOD WANTS US TO _________”

 

“A WRITTEN DECLARATION ISN’T A GUARANTEE OF FAMILY SUCCESS, BUT IT CAN HELP ESTABLISH A FAMILY’S IDENTITY EVEN AS IT REINFORCES WHAT IS IMPORTANT.”

 

 

1. BE CONSISTENT & INTENTIONAL

 

 

“IT’S NOT WHAT WE DO ONCE IN A WHILE THAT SHAPES OUR LIVES. IT’S WHAT WE DO CONSISTENTLY.” – TONY ROBBINS

 

 

 

 

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” A. W. Tozer

 

 

NEEDS TO BE MET BY MOTHERS

 

Safety

Safety comes in the form of a person.

 

Nurture

The Soviet Union did an experiment many years ago where they took infants and only gave them their basic needs food and sleep, but no human contact or nurturing and most of them died. It is why skin-to-skin is so vital in babies and the miracles of that concept with premature babies is amazing because, Without nurture, we wither.

 

Basic Trust

We aren’t born trusting; trust is learned.  That our interactions form trust and most of our EI comes from our relationship with our Mother

 

Belonging and Invitation

Feeling wanted is not an intellectual exercise, but a relational one. You can’t say you are wanted you have to experience in a relationship. They want me around!

 

Someone to Love

The development comes not from being loved but by loving.

 

Godly attributes are found in Mothering. We were created in his image.

 

“Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you!” Isaiah 49:15 NLT

 

TYPES OF MOTHERS

 

The Phantom Mom

 

emotionally unavailable. Present physically but not emotionally. You lack that connection which causes detachment Which makes it hard for you to emotionally connect with other people and the problem is you don't just magically start emotionally connecting you have to make conscious decisions on how to start bringing that into your life because it's not a Behavior you learned as a child.

 

The China Doll Mom

 

fragile, unable to deal with stress. We tend to learn how to deal with emotions through our mothers how to deal with some of those stressful emotional things so if your mom is very fragile and unable to deal with stress and she was this China Doll it causes you to have this lack of being able to contain your emotions. When you're a kid You don't just have emotions you are emotional and your mother helped you try to contain those emotions and teach you that unless she didn't learn that as a child and so she is very stressed out doesn't know how to contain them then that's to learn Behavior you gather from them.

 

The Controlling Mom

 

unable to empower, release. Lack of making your own decisions. You feel like you are not in control some else is. You become timid never take a risk.

 

The Trophy Mom

 

Accept you if you perform. You feel like you have to prove you are worthy to be loved. You struggle with imperfections.

 

The Still-the-Boss Mom

 

The goal as you age into adulthood is that you actually become friends with your parents you enjoy your parents unfortunately some Dynamics is it doesn't matter if you're 40 years old 50 years old I'm still the boss and you're still the little child in my mind the way I treat you.  Which then can cause you to always feel like you're less than with other leaders and other people or you go the opposite and you have to dominate because you're insecure and you keep people down.

 

NEEDS TO BE MET BY FATHERS

 

Unconditional, expressed love

 

Unconditional which means there are not limits or bars to reach AND IT IS EXPRESSED. Many adults say they have never heard their Dad say I love you!

 

Security and Comfort

 

When Dad is home I am safe. We are protected.

 

Praise and Affirmation

 

Not just saying I love you but I see you and the value that is in you and calling that out!

 

Provision

 

Dad is a provider. He takes care of my needs. I feel secure.

 

Purpose in Life

 

That he lets them know they can make a difference in this world and they will be great men and women as they grow.

 

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 NLT

 

According to the Life Application Bible,

“In Roman culture, the adopted person lost all rights in his old family and gained the rights of a legitimate child in his new family. He became a full heir to his new father’s estate. Likewise, when a person becomes a Christian, he or she gains all the privileges and responsibilities of a child in God’s family.”

 

TYPES OF FATHERS

 

Performance-oriented

 

demand obedience and performance. No rest always striving always proving yourself and your well.  Never good enough.

 

Passive

 

home but not home, roommate. There but not there. Comes home and zones out and never involved in their life. Lack of emotion, passion, initiative can develop in adults.

 

Absentee

 

simply not around. Either left or travels so much that they miss a lot of life. You lack intimacy and fear people will always leave you or not be there.

 

Authoritarian

 

prioritize the law over love. Follow my rules. You better obey me! So you always look at rules over relationships as you grow up You fear always failing and the punishment that will follow that. 

 

Abusive

 

emotionally, physically, or sexually abusive. He is supposed to protect you, and love you, and affirm and As you grow it can cause Shame, guilt, anger, lack of trust.

 

Now you may be saying Pastor Mike  I don't really deal with either one of those I have a father that was good and a mother that was good and they provided cared for they were present make nurtured me love me. that's phenomenal and those are wonderful things and I am so glad that you were experienced as a child was that. I will say though this that the distance between a dysfunctional and abusive parent and a good parent is this (Show with hands) what the distance between good and perfect is this and how good your parents are there are not perfect like your God is and we still need to rise above the good to experience the perfect love and relationship with God. How do we move Beyond good to perfect or how do we move Beyond abusive distant and hurtful relationships with our parents to a perfect relationship with God?

 

 

1. RECOGNIZE

 

How many people when you go out to eat with your kids and they get a kids menu one of the games on there is two pictures that look identical except there are ten or so things in the picture that are different and your objective is to Circle and find what is difference between the two pictures. the same is true with the when we've you got with there are Godly attributes he places in both of our parents however they're not perfect and they've experienced things and so you got to recognize and I asked how is God different than my parents?

 

this is not dishonoring to your parents and it's not bashing your parents it's what we need for healing and how we move forward for the healthy view of God for ourselves and also transfer that to our children.

 

what you experienced as a child is not your fault what you do as an adult is your responsibility. Have you ever known something was wrong but you were too busy to deal with it or you procrastinated and forgot to do with it? like a light bulb goes out and what are your kitchens you keep forgetting to go to the store to buy a lightbulb so you just go weeks and weeks with a dim room. or there's up toilet that just runs a little bit and you just live with it even though it makes your water bill go up. or maybe your wife tells you over and over that she needs new windshield wipers and you keep forgetting and then when it rains she's driving in dangerous ways through a storm barely be able to see through her windshield. I mean I would never do any of those things those are not examples of me another imperfect people.

 

So many times that's us in life. we know there's things that need to be addressed and fixed we just muscle through it we just ignore it we just act like we can push it off but it's causing us to live a life with a dim view and we are not able to see clearly it is costing us in ways sometimes we don't even understand.

 

There are distinct differences between your Earthly parents and your heavenly father and you've got to recognize it.

 

'See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!

1 John 3:1 NLT

 

The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 NASB

 

Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close. Psalms 27:10 NLT

 

Give yourself permission to feel to grieve and investigate those differences. to be honest with yourself.

 

I had to investigate those incorrect views of God based on the way I was raised in therapy. through therapy I started identifying hurts from my past I started remembering occasions in my life. Through therapy I started realizing that I had to learn to cope with some dysfunctions from my childhood survive through painful moments and as I became an adult I started responding to people in situations out of an instinctive nature that was unhealthy not a conscious decision to be healthy. you got to recognize these things or you can't walk towards health.

 

2. RELEASE

 

You're going to have to give your parents a gift that  humanly speaking they may not deserve. That gift is forgiveness. it's not letting them off the hook and it's not saying that what they did was right and not wrong. It's saying I'm releasing them to God. I'm not the judge he is, I'm not the corrector he is and I'm not the creator he is.

 

Story of Monkeys in India and the hollowed-out coconuts.

 

I do know this… Unforgiveness is more about you than the other person involved… Unforgiveness impacts your life far more than the other person… Unforgiveness is far beyond the offense and if we do not understand that it will destroy us… Resentment points your anger and animosity toward a person or a situation… When resentment controls us it tells ourselves that this person or situation is keeping us from happiness or joy… We make a person or situation our focal point for happiness…

 

Surely resentment destroys the fool Job 5:2

 

Resentment destroys us… It controls us… It becomes what we focus on and think about… We tend to get any quiet times we focus on the person and the incident… We have imaginary conversations with that person if we had the opportunity to tell them how we feel… It becomes all consuming.

 

Bitterness becomes something deeper because it goes beyond the person or the situation…. It becomes your outlook on life… It starts creeping into every area of our life… No longer are we upset at just the one incident or person, but we start seeing it impact other areas of our life and we are more sensitive in other areas of our life…

 

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Hebrews 12:14-15

 

The writer of Hebrews refers to bitterness as a POISONOUS ROOT… That it grows in our hearts and is poison to our life. Roots do 3 things.. ROOTS ABSORB, STORE, AND GROW.

 

So a root of bitterness is going to absorb every negative feeling that surround resentment and bitterness… Anger, hurt, jealousy, hate, vengeance, retribution, sadness, broken heart, pain… 

 

Then it stores it…. It harbors those feelings… Those feelings start to become a part of you… Now sadness defines, anger defines you… heart ache defines you… You start to realize that joy, happiness, and peace is the rarity not the norm in your life….

 

It starts to grow… Now what was a bad situation now is monumental… Now it is like a domino effect in your life that and more and more effects you and maybe people offend often that in the past never would… Then many times DEPRESSION starts to creep in and take up residence in your heart and mind….

 

Then Hebrews says it CORRUPTS MANY… That it starts to effect our relationships… Marriages, with our children, family members, our friends…  We start bearing the fruit of bitterness

We see bad in others

We justify criticizing and gossiping

We secretly celebrate other misfortunes

We bring people down/.

 

3. REJECT

 

'For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world... Ephesians 6:12 NLT

 

The devil wants to use the shortcomings of your parents to keep you from walking in an intimate relationship with God to keep you from your god-given identity in him. the reality is true hurt people hurt people and the shortcomings of your parents is a domino effect of what they've experienced in life.  there is the truth about something called a generational curse and unfortunately negative things compound and they grow through generation after generation. However, all authority is in Jesus when we recognize and we release we have the authority in the name of Jesus to reject those negatives.

 

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

 

4. RECEIVE

 

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. James 1:17 NLT

 

Whatever pain you experienced whatever loss you've experienced do those parental figures in your life you must start replacing the pain with God's truth and filling those voids with God himself. he will never leave you or forsake you, cast your cares upon Him for he cares about you, he made you wonderfully complex oh, you are his workmanship oh, he hold you in the palms of his hands, his eyes search and find you, never can you escape his presence. THE PROMISES GO ON AND ON!

 

'And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.' Romans 8:38-39 NLT

Revelation 12:11

That we overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony

 

PROTECTIVE MOTHER

 

“By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born because they saw he was no ordinary child and they were not afraid of the king’s edict” Hebrews 11:23.

 

Mother’s protect us in many ways:

-Physically: protect us from danger

-Morally: by teaching us right from wrong

-Emotionally: shield us from things they know will hurt us

-Spiritually: teach us to love and serve the Lord

 

INSTRUCTIVE MOTHER

 

This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I have been sent out to tell others about the life he has promised through faith in Christ Jesus. I am writing to Timothy, my dear son. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace. Timothy, I thank God for you—the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again. I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.

2 Timothy 1:1-5 NLT

 

The mothering heart teaches their children a few things:

-Teaches them about Jesus

They should hear about Jesus from you first.

-Teaches them the Bible

(Read to them in whatever stage they are in)

-Teach them the importance of attending church

Be the example by making it a priority and actually going.

 

NURTURING MOTHER

 

“But the child’s mother said, ‘As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.’”

2 Kings 4:30

 

-Listen with compassion

Hear them and let them know you are a safe place

-Offer encouragement

Share guidance and wisdom

-Dig Deeper

Challenge them on their journey, help them push through

-Give them opportunity

Help them to progress in their call, give them resources and connections.

 

 

SUPPORTIVE MOTHER

“And she made a vow, saying, ‘O Lord Almighty, if you will . . . remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life’” 1 Samuel 1:11.

 

There are three things that we can learn from Hannah.

1. God answers prayer concerning our children

2. To release our children to the Lord to use them as He sees fit.

3. To support our children in doing the Lord’s will.

 

LOYAL MOTHER

 

John 19:25

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother.

 

-Moms don’t give up!

-Always be their home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Praying for an Unbeliever & Serving at Church

 

“So it is with faith: if it is alone and includes no actions, then it is dead. But someone will say, “one person has faith, another has actions.” My answer is, “show me how anyone can have faith without actions. I will show you my faith by my actions.” So then, as the body without the spirit is dead, also faith without actions is dead.” James 2:17-18;26 GNT

 

 

CONFESSING SINS REGULARLY: REPENTANCE

 

READING & STUDYING THE BIBLE

 

PRAYING FOR AN UNBELIEVER

 

1. GOD’S HEART

 

“This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:3 NLT

 

1. GOD’S SACRIFICE

 

“For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:10 NLT

 

1. GOD’S POWER

 

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world…” Ephesians

 

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians

 

“But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” Matthew 5:44 NLT.

 

PRAY THAT THEY WILL KNOW GOD

 

“And this is the way to have eternal life – to know you, the only true God….” John 17:3 NLT

 

PRAY AGAINST HARDENED OR STUBBORN HEARTS

 

PRAY FOR GOD’S SPIRIT TO FILL THEM

 

 

 

“I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed. I’ll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands.” Ezekiel 36

 

PRAY AGAINST THE INFLUENCES OF THE WORLD

 

“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. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.”

 

PRAY FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO MINISTER TO THEM

 

PRAY AGAINST THE SIN IN THEIR LIFE

 

THERE IS POWER IN YOUR PRAYERS

 

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew

 

YOU WERE PRAYED FOR

 

SERVING AT CHURCH

 

MINISTRY IS THE PATHWAY TO MATURITY

 

“..He has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. Now these gifts are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.” Ephesians 4:7;11-15 NLT

 

ADMINISTRATION 

APOSTLESHIP

COMPASSION

DISCERNMENT 

EVANGELISM

EXHORTATION

FAITH

GENEROSITY

HEALING

HELPING

INTERPRETATION 

KNOWLEDGE

LEADERSHIP

MIRACLES

PROPHECY

SERVANTHOOD

SHEPHERDING

TEACHING

TOUNGES

WISDOM

 

“God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 4:10-11 NLT

 

YOU ARE BEING PRAYED FOR

 

 

 

 

Reading God’s Word

 

 

“SO IT IS WITH FAITH: IF IT IS ALONE AND INCLUDES NO ACTIONS, THEN IT IS DEAD. BUT SOMEONE WILL SAY, “ONE PERSON HAS FAITH, ANOTHER HAS ACTIONS.” MY ANSWER IS, “SHOW ME HOW ANYONE CAN HAVE FAITH WITHOUT ACTIONS. I WILL SHOW YOU MY FAITH BY MY ACTIONS.” SO THEN, AS THE BODY WITHOUT THE SPIRIT IS DEAD, ALSO FAITH WITHOUT ACTIONS IS DEAD.” JAMES 2:17-18;26 GNT

 

CONFESSING SINS REGULARLY: REPENTANCE

 

READING & STUDYING THE BIBLE

 

YOU SACRIFICE GROWTH WHEN YOU CHOOSE THE EASY WAY OUT

 

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%

  

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

 

1. 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

 

1. 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

 

1. 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

 

 

1. 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

 

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USE THE S.O.A.P. METHOD

 

S – SCRIPTURE

O – OBSERVATION

A – APPLICATION

P – PRAYER

 

BE INTENTIONAL & PRIORITIZE

 

EVERYONE HAS A DREAM, BUT VERY FEW HAVE EXECUTION

 

'So it is with faith: if it is alone and includes no actions, then it is dead. But someone will say, “One person has faith, another has actions.” My answer is, “Show me how anyone can have faith without actions. I will show you my faith by my actions.” So then, as the body without the spirit is dead, also faith without actions is dead.' James 2:17-18,26 GNT

 

8 ATTRIBUTES OF A DISCIPLE

1. THEY ENGAGE IN THE BIBLE

2. THEY OBEY GOD AND DENY SELF

3. THEY SERVE GOD AND OTHERS

4. THEY SHARE JESUS WITH OTHERS

5. THEY HAVE A FAITH IN GOD

6. THEY SEEK AND WORSHIP GOD

7. THEY BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS

8. THEY ARE UNASHAMED ABOUT THEIR FAITH

 

THE KEY TO GROWTH IS THE POWER OF PROGRESSION

 

 

ACTIONS OF A DISCIPLE

CONFESSING SINS REGULARLY: REPENTANCE

 

'For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. ' Romans 3:23 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. Philippians 3:12 NLT

 

ADDRESSING ONLY THE ACTION OF SIN IS LIKE TAKING IBUPROFEN TO HEAL A DISEASE.  IT MAY TEMPORARILY RELIEVE THE SYMPTOMS, BUT IT NEVER FIXES THE ISSUES.

 

And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 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. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it… Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Romans 7:18-20;24 NLT

 

Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 7:24-25 NLT

 

1. REPENTANCE CAUSES A DEEPER PURSUIT OF JESUS

 

THE DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND WHAT YOU LOVE DETERMINES WHETHER YOU HAVE THE CAPACITY TO ALLOW SOMETHING TO SEPARATE YOU FROM WHAT YOU LOVE.

 

If you love me, keep my commands. John 14:15 NIV

 

COMPROMISE DOESN'T EXPOSE OUR WEAKNESS IN WILL POWER, BUT OUR WEAKNESS IN OUR RELATIONSHIP

 

2. REPENTANCE IS THE COMMITMENT TO LEAVE THE PAST IN THE PAST

 

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… Philippians 3:12-13 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

 

3. REPENTANCE DRIVES COMPASSION

 

We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.  2 Corinthians 6:6 NLT

 

'Our High Priest (Jesus) is not one who cannot feel sympathy for our weaknesses. On the contrary, we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin.

Let us have confidence, then, and approach God's throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it.' Hebrews 4:15-16 GNT

 

ALTAR

And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! 1 Corinthians 15:17-18 NLT

 

But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Luke 24:1-6 NLT

 

THE RESSURECTION IS REVOLUTIONIZING HISTORICAL EVENT

 

It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. Luke 24:10 NLT

 

Then he (Jesus) asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he ate it as they watched. Luke 24:41-43 NLT

 

THE RESSURECTION SHOWS THAT ALL THE BIBLE POINTS TO JESUS

 

They stopped short, sadness written across their faces… Luke 24:17 NLT

He was a prophet who did powerful miracles… Luke 24:19 NLT

But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel… Luke 24:20-21 NLT

 

Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:25-27 NLT

 

They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32 NLT

 

And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem Luke 24:33 NLT

 

THE RESSURECTION GIVES US HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

 

HOPE THAT THE FUTURE IS THERE

 

Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies. 1 Corinthians 15:43-44 NLT

 

HOPE THAT THE FUTURE IS PERSONAL

 

And he (Jesus) said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ Luke 24:46-47 NLT

 

THE RESSURECTION SHOWS THAT JESUS IS THE TRUE KING

 

So they worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. Luke 24:52 NLT

 

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 NLT

 

Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied. The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.” Acts 9:10-12 NLT

 

Ananias protested, “Master, you can’t be serious. Everybody’s talking about this man and the terrible things he’s been doing, his reign of terror against your people in Jerusalem! And now he’s shown up here with papers from the Chief Priest that give him license to do the same to us.” Acts 9:13-14 MSG

 

But the Lord said, “Go…” Acts 9:15 NLT

 

But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.” Acts 9:15 NLT

 

You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. John 15:16 NLT

 

So Ananias went and found Saul. Acts 9:17 NLT

 

He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 9:17 NLT

 

Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. Acts 9:18 NLT

 

And immediately he (Saul) began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!” All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?” Acts 9:20-21 NLT

 

1. God’s Callings Takes Trust

 

As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one!  Acts 9:3-7 NLT

 

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. Hebrews 11:8 NLT

 

2. God’s Calling Takes Deeper Faith

 

And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 NLT

 

 

3. God’s Calling Causes Growth

 

You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. Hebrews 5:12 NLT

 

But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. Luke 19:41-42 NLT

Failure  - Peter

Who is Your One? – Week 3 

“FOR THE SON OF MAN CAME TO SEEK AND SAVE THOSE WHO ARE LOST” LUKE 19:10 NLT

 

“JESUS CAME AND TOLD HIS DISCIPLES, ‘I HAVE BEEN GIVEN ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH. THEREFORE, GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL THE NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. TEACH THESE NEW DISCIPLES TO OBEY ALL THE COMMANDS I HAVE GIVEN YOU. AND BE SURE OF THIS: I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN TO THE END OF THE AGE.” MATTHEW 28:18-20 NLT

 

FAILURE DOESN’T DISCRIMINATE

 

TODAY’S GRACE TRIUMPHS OVER YESTERDAY’S FAILURES

 

“THEN JESUS SAID TO THEM, ALL OF YOU WILL BE MADE TO STUMBLE BECAUSE OF ME THIS NIGHT, FOR IT IS WRITTEN: I WILL STRIKE THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP WILL BE SCATTERED.” MARK 14:27

 

“BUT AFTER I HAVE BEEN RAISED, I WILL GO BEFORE YOU TO GALILEE. PETER SAID TO HIM, ‘EVEN IF ALL ARE MADE TO STUMBLE, YET I WILL NOT BE.” MARK 14:28-29

 

“JESUS SAID TO HIM(PETER), ‘ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU THAT TODAY, EVEN THIS NIGHT,

“BUT HE SPOKE MORE VEHEMENTLY, ‘IF I HAVE TO DIE WITH YOU, I WILL NOT DENY YOU!’ AND THEY ALL SAID LIKEWISE.” MARK 14:31

 

“THEN SIMON PETER, WHO HAD A SWORD, DREW IT AND STRUCK THE HIGH PRIEST’S SERVANT, CUTTING OFF HIS RIGHT EAR…” JOHN

 

“AND SIMON PETER FOLLOWED JESUS, AND SO DID ANOTHER DISCIPLE. NOW THAT DISCIPLE WAS KNOWN TO THE HIGH PRIEST, AND WENT WITH JESUS INTO THE COURTYARD OF THE HIGH PRIEST. BUT PETER STOOD AT THE DOOR OUTSIDE. THEN THE OTHER DISCIPLE, WHO WAS KNOWN TO THE HIGH PRIEST, WENT OUT AND SPOKE TO HER WHO KEPT THE DOOR, AND BROUGHT PETER IN. THEN THE SERVANT GIRL WHO KEPT THE DOOR SAID TO PETER, ‘YOU ARE NOT ALSO ONE OF THIS MAN’S DISCIPLES, ARE YOU?” HE SAID, “I AM NOT.” ” JOHN 18:15

 

“NOW THE SERVANTS AND OFFICERS WHO HAD MADE A FIRE OF COALS STOOD THERE, FOR IT WAS COLD, AND THEY WARMED THEMSELVES. AND PETER STOOD WITH THEM AND WARMED HIMSELF…THEREFORE THEY SAID TO HIM, “YOU ARE NOT ALSO ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES, ARE YOU?” HE DENIED IT AND SAID, “I AM NOT!” JOHN 18:18,25

 

 

“ONE OF THE SERVANTS OF THE HIGH PRIEST, A RELATIVE OF HIM WHOSE EAR PETER CUT OFF, SAID, ‘DID I NOT SEE YOU IN THE GARDEN WITH HIM?” JOHN 18:26

 

“PETER THEN DENIED AGAIN; AND IMMEDIATELY A ROOSTER CROWED.” JOHN 18:27

 

 

“THE LORD TURNED AND LOOKED AT PETER. THEN PETER REMEMBERED THE WORD OF THE LORD, HOW HE HAD SAID TO HIM, “BEFORE THE ROOSTER CROWS, YOU WILL DENY ME THREE TIMES.” SO PETER WENT OUT AND WEPT BITTERLY.” LUKE 22:61-62 NIV

 

“BUT WHEN THE MORNING HAD NOW COME, JESUS STOOD ON THE SHORE; YET THE DISCIPLES DID NOT KNOW THAT IT WAS JESUS. THEN JESUS SAID TO THEM, ‘CHILDREN, HAVE YOU ANY FOOD?” THEY ANSWERED HIM, “NO.” JOHN 21:4-5

 

“AND HE SAID TO THEM, “CAST THE NET ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BOAT, AND YOU WILL FIND SOME. SO THEY CAST, AND NOW THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DRAW IT IN BECAUSE OF THE MULTITUDE OF FISH.” JOHN 21:6

 

“THEN THE DISCIPLE JESUS LOVED SAID TO PETER, ‘IT’S THE LORD!” WHEN SIMON PETER HEARD THAT IT WAS THE LORD, HE PUT ON HIS TUNIC (FOR HE HAD STRIPPED FOR WORK), JUMPED INTO THE WATER, AND HEADED TO SHORE. THE OTHERS STAYED WITH THE BOAT AND PULLED THE LOADED NET TO THE SHORE, FOR THEY WERE ONLY ABOUT A HUNDRED YARDS FROM SHORE…” JOHN 21:7 NLT

 

“WHEN THEY GOT THERE, THEY FOUND BREAKFAST WAITING FOR THEM – FISH COOKING OVER A CHARCOAL FIRE…” JOHN 21:9 NLT

 

HE KNOWS WHO YOU ARE

HE WANTS YOU TO BE HEALED

HE WANTS A COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU

 

“THE SERVANTS AND OFFICERS WHO HAD MADE A FIRE OF COALS STOOD THERE…THEREFORE THEY SAID TO HIM, “YOU ARE NOT ALSO ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES, ARE YOU?” HE DENIED IT AND SAID, “I AM NOT!” JOHN 18:18,25

 

YOUR PAST FAILURES DO NOT DEFINE YOUR FUTURE

 

“SIMON(PETER) SON OF JOHN, DO YOU LOVE ME MORE THAN THESE?”

 

“YES LORD,” PETER REPLIED, “YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU.” THEN FEED MY LAMBS,” JESUS TOLD HIM. JESUS REPEATED THE QUESTION: “SIMON (PETER) SON OF JOHN, DO YOU LOVE ME?” “YES, LORD,” PETER SAID, “YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU. “THEN TAKE CARE OF MY SHEEP,” JESUS SAID. A THRID TIME HE ASKED HIM, “SIMON SON OF JOHN, DO YOU LOVE ME?” PETER WAS HURT THAT JESUS ASKED THE QUESTION A THRID TIME. HE SAID, “LORD YOU KNOW EVERYTHING. YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU.” JESUS SAID, “THEN FEED MY SHEEP.” JOHN 21:15-17 NLT

 

1. REVEAL

 

“SEARCH ME, GOD, AND KNOW MY ANXIOUS THOUGHTS; AND SEE IF THERE IS ANY HURTFUL WAY IN ME…” PSALMS 139:23-24 NASB

 

1. REPENT

 

“FOR EVERYONE HAS SINNED; WE ALL FALL SHORT OF GOD’S GLORIOUS STANDARD. YET GOD, IN HIS GRACE, FREELY MAKES US RIGHT IN HIS SIGHT.” ROMANS 3:23-24

 

1. REJOICE

 

“I HAVE NO GREATER JOY THAN THIS: TO HEAR THAT MY CHILDREN ARE WALKING IN TRUTH.” 3 JOHN 1:4 CSB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 NLT

 

'Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home… Titus 1:8 NLT

 

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!” Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.” “Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied. Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “That’s right,” Jesus said. Luke 7:39-43 NLT

 

“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Luke 7:47 NLT

 

a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”' Luke 10:38-42 NLT

 

1. SITTING DOWN AT JESUS’ TABLE MEANS HE KNOWS WHO YOU TRULY ARE

 

“Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” Luke 19:5 NLT

 

Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:8-10 NLT

 

2. SITTING DOWN AT JESUS’ TABLE MEANS HE WANTS YOU HEALED

 

Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. Matthew 9:10 NLT

 

But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” Matthew 9:11 NLT

 

When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Matthew 9:12 NLT

 

LIFE CHANGE HAPPENS IN THE PRIVATE MOMENTS NOT PUBLIC AND THOSE MOMENTS ONLY HAPPEN THROUGH A RELATIONSHIP

 

Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” Matthew 9:13 NLT

 

 

3. SITTING DOWN AT JESUS’ TABLE MEANS HE WANTS A COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU

 

On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

 

In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again. 1 Corinthians 11:24-26 NLT

 

So let each individual first evaluate his own attitude and only then eat the bread and drink the cup. For continually eating and drinking with a wrong spirit will bring judgment upon yourself by not recognizing the body. This insensitivity is why many of you are weak, chronically ill, and some even dying. 1 Corinthians 11:28-30 TPT

 

After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow...Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.' John 13:12-17 NLT

For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost. Luke 19:10 NLT

 

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 NLT

 

1. AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS ARE PURSUED

 

So he (Jesus) left Judea and returned to Galilee. He had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar… John 4:3-5

 

YOUR GOD SEES YOU

 

I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. Psalms 139:7-10 NLT

 

I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved. And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.' 1 Corinthians 10:33-11:1 NLT

 

2.AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS SEE THE POTENTIAL UNDERNEATH THE PAIN

 

near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.”He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” John 4:5-9

 

Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? John 4:10-11 NLT

 

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

 

And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”

“Go and get your husband,”Jesus told her. “I don’t have a husband,”the woman replied. Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!” John 4:10-18 NLT

 

JESUS CARES MORE ABOUT YOUR HEART THAN HE DOES YOUR COMFORT

 

…When sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. James 1:15

 

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come… Luke 4:18-19

 

3. AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS WANT OTHERS TO EXPERIENCE THE FREEDOM THEY HAVE RECEIVED

 

The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming””the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus told her, “I Am the Messiah” The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” So the people came streaming from the village to see him. John 4:25-26;28-30

 

 

Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. You know the saying, “Four months between planting and harvest.” But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! John 34-36 NLT

 

 

 

The God Who Is Our Shepherd  - Psalm 23

 

“SOME NATIONS BOAST OF THEIR CHARIOTS AND HORSES, BUT WE BOAST IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD.” PSALMS 20:7 NLT

 

“PRAISE THE LORD, MY SOUL, AND FORGET NOT ALL HIS BENEFITS” PSALMS 103:2 NIV

 

RIGHTEOUS

SANCTIFIER

BANNER OF VICTORY

PEACE

HEALER

PROVIDER

 

THE GOD WHO IS OUR SHEPHERD

 

“THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I LACK NOTHING. HE MAKES ME LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES, HE LEADS ME BESIDE QUIET WATERS, HE REFRESHES MY SOUL. HE GUIDES ME ALONG THE RIGHT PATHS FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE. EVEN THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE DARKEST VALLEY, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL, FOR YOU ARE WITH ME; YOUR ROD AND YOUR STAFF, THEY COMFORT ME.” PSALMS 23:1-6 NIV

 

“THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD…” PSALMS 23:1 NIV

 

“THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I LACK NOTHING.” PSALMS 23:1 NIV

 

THRIVE IN THIS LIFE

 

GOD IS YOUR SHEPHERD

 

A SHEPHERDS MAIN OBJECTIVE IS TO MAKE SURE HIS SHEEP ARE TAKEN CARE OF

 

“WHEN A LION OR A BEAR CAME AND CARRIED OFF A SHEEP FROM THE FLOCK” 1 SAMUEL 17:34 NIV

 

“ I WENT AFTER IT, STRUCK IT AND RESCUED THE SHEEP FROM ITS MOUTH.” 1 SAMUEL 17:35 NIV

 

“WHEN IT TURNED ON ME, I SEIZED IT BY ITS HAIR, STRUCK IT AND KILLED IT” 1 SAMUEL 17:35 NIV

 

 

YOU HAVE A SHEPHERD

 

THE LORD IS OUR RELATIONAL SHEPHERD

 

“I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD; I KNOW MY OWN SHEEP AND THEY KNOW ME, JUST AS MY FATHER KNOWS ME AND I KNOW THE FATHER. SO I SACRIFICE MY LIFE FOR THE SHEEP.” JOHN 10:14 NLT

 

“THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I LACK NOTHING” PSALM 23:1 NIV

 

“HE MAKES ME LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES…” PSALM 23:2 NIV

 

THE LORD IS OUR PROVIDING SHEPHERD

 

SHEPHERD ALWAYS KNOWS WHATS BEST FOR HIS FLOCK

 

NO FEAR

NO FRICTION FROM WITHIN THE FLOCK

NO PARASITES

NO HUNGER

 

“…HE LEADS ME BESIDE QUIET WATERS, HE REFRESHES MY SOUL.” PSALM 23:2 NIV

 

THE LORD IS OUR GUIDING SHEPHERD

 

GOD JUST WANTS US TO TAKE A STEP

 

WHAT IS ONE BABY STEP THAT GOD WANTS ME TO TAKE?

 

“HE GUIDES ME ALONG THE RIGHT PATHS FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE.”

 

THE LORD IS OUR GUIDING SHEPHERD

 

“I KNOW, LORD, THAT OUR LIVES ARE NOT OUR OWN. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO PLAN OUR OWN COURSE.” JEREMIAH 10:23 NLT

 

“BY YOUR WORDS I CAN SEE WHERE IM GOING; THEY THROW A BEAM OF LIGHT ON MY DARK PATH. IVE COMMITTED MYSELF AND ILL NEVER TURN BACK FROM LIVING BY YOUR RIGHTEOUS ORDER” PSALMS 119:105-106 MSG

 

“EVEN THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE DARKEST VALLEY, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL, FOR YOU ARE WITH ME; YOUR ROD AND YOUR STAFF, THEY COMFORT ME.” PSALM 23:4 NIV

 

THE LORD IS OUR PROTECTING SHEPHERD

 

YOUR ROD AND YOUR STAFF, THEY COMFORT ME

 

“ FOR GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT OF POWER AND OF LOVE AND OF A SOUND MIND” 2 TIMOTHY 1:7

'Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.' Psalms 20:7 NLT

 

'Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits ' Psalms 103:2 NIV

 

THE GOD WHO HEALS

He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.” Exodus 15:26 NLT

 

THE GOD WHO PROVIDES

'Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). Genesis 22:13-14 NLT

 

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1

 

FEAR IS CONQUERED BY FAITH AND FAITH IS FUELED BY TRUST

 

One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the Lord. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.” 2 Kings 4:1 NLT

 

1. GOD CARES ABOUT YOUR SITUATION

 

'The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.' Psalms 34:17-18 NLT

 

“What can I do to help you?” Elisha asked. 2 Kings 4:2 NLT

 

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things. Psalms 81:10 NLT

 

But no, my people wouldn’t listen. Israel did not want me around. Psalms 81:11 NLT

 

2. YOUR MINDSET MATTERS

 

“Tell me, what do you have in the house?” 2 Kings 4:2 NLT

 

“Nothing at all…" she replied. 2 Kings 4:2 NLT

 

“Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil,” she replied. 2 Kings 4:2 NLT

 

3. WE DO THE GIVING AND GOD DOES THE MULTIPLYING

 

And Elisha said, “Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled.” So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another. Soon every container was full to the brim! “Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons. “There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing. When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, “Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over.” 2 Kings 4:3-7 NLT

 

 

4. WHEN WE STOP GIVING GOD STOPS PROVIDING

 

“Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons. “There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing. 2 Kings 4:6 NLT

 

'Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “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 and for the sake of the Good News, 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?”  Mark 8:34-37 NLT

Psalms 20:7 NLT

 

Psalms 103:2 NIV

 

GOD IS MY BANNER OF VICTORY

Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi (which means “the Lord is my banner”). Exodus 17:15 NLT

 

Mark 10:27 NLT

 

GOD IS OUR PEACE

'And Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and named it Yahweh-Shalom (which means “the Lord is peace”). Judges 6:24 NLT

 

Matthew 21:21-22 NLT

 

Victory in God comes from believing in God’s promises, and Peace comes when you know that God has your best interest at heart.

 

John 16:33 NLT

 

Mark 4:35-37 NLT

 

Mark 4:38 NLT

 

Mark 4:38-40 NLT

 

1. You have to believe the canoe will float.

 

Romans 4:18-24 NLT

 

Hebrews 11:17-19 NLT

 

2. Do you understand what a paddle really does? 

 

Exodus 14:10-12 NLT

 

Exodus 14:13-16 NLT

 

3. The Key to canoeing is balance

 

James 1:6-8 NLT

 

Philippians 4:7 NLT

 

Philippians 4:4 NLT

 

"Feelings are important in many areas but completely unreliable in matters of faith“ Eugene Peterson

 

Philippians 4:4-6 NLT

 

Philippians 4:7 NLT

 

Philippians 4:8-9 NLT

 

4. Who is in your canoe matters

 

1 Corinthians 15:33 NLT

 

Proverbs 27:19 TLB 

 

1 Thessalonians 5:11

 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

 

'Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.' Psalms 20:7 NLT

 

'Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits ' Psalms 103:2 NIV

 

'And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”' Matthew 3:17 NIV

 

'Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God.' John 16:26-27 NLT

 

GOD IS RIGHTEOUS

 

'And this will be his name: ‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness.’ Jeremiah 23:6 NLT

 

'Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. ' Philippians 3:8-9 NLT

 

1. SPIRITUAL SLAVERY IS A CHOICE

 

'Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living… Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.' Romans 6:16,19 NLT

 

'We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin.' Romans 6:6,10 NLT

 

2. SPIRITUAL SEPERATION IS A CHOICE

 

'When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. ' Romans 6:20-21 NLT

 

'But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death...' Romans 6:22-23 NLT

 

3. SALVATION IS A CHOICE

 

'For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.' Romans 6:23 NLT

 

GOD IS OUR SANCTIFIER

 

'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

 

'And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” ' Joshua 3:5 NKJV

 

 

“IF I WANTED TO BOAST, I WOULD BE NO FOOL IN DOING SO, BECAUSE I WOULD BE TELLING THE TRUTH. BUT I WON’T DO IT, BECAUSE I DON’T WANT ANYONE TO GIVE ME CREDIT BEYOND WHAT THEY CAN SEE IN MY LIFE OR HEAR IN MY MESSAGE, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE RECEIVED SUCH WONDERFUL REVELATIONS FROM GOD. SO TO KEEP ME FROM BECOMING PROUD, I WAS GIVEN A THORN IN MY FLESH, A MESSENGER FROM SATAN TO TORMENT ME AND KEEP ME FROM BECOMING PROUD. THREE DIFFERENT TIMES I BEGGED THE LORD TO TAKE IT AWAY. 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. THAT’S WHY I TAKE PLEASURE IN MY WEAKNESSES, AND IN THE INSULTS, HARDSHIPS, PERSECUTIONS, AND TROUBLES THAT I SUFFER FOR CHRIST. FOR WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM MADE STRONG” 2 CORINTHIANS 12:6-10

 

I CAN WORK WITH THAT

 

“…BECAUSE OF MIDIAN, THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL MADE FOR THEMSELVES HIDEOUTS IN THE MOUNTAINS—CAVES AND FORTS. WHEN ISRAEL PLANTED ITS CROPS, MIDIAN AND AMALEK, THE EASTERNERS, WOULD INVADE THEM, CAMP IN THEIR FIELDS, AND DESTROY THEIR CROPS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO GAZA. THEY LEFT NOTHING FOR THEM TO LIVE ON, NEITHER SHEEP NOR OX NOR DONKEY. BRINGING THEIR CATTLE AND TENTS, THEY CAME IN AND TOOK OVER, LIKE AN INVASION OF LOCUSTS. AND THEIR CAMELS—PAST COUNTING! THEY MARCHED IN AND DEVASTATED THE COUNTRY. THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, REDUCED TO GRINDING POVERTY BY MIDIAN, CRIED OUT TO GOD FOR HELP.”

 

“ONE DAY THE ANGEL OF GOD CAME AND SAT DOWN UNDER THE OAK IN OPHRAH THAT BELONGED TO JOASH THE ABIEZRITE, WHOSE SON GIDEON WAS THRESHING WHEAT IN THE WINEPRESS, OUT OF SIGHT OF THE MIDIANITES. THE ANGEL OF GOD APPEARED TO HIM AND SAID, “ GOD IS WITH YOU, O MIGHTY WARRIOR!”GIDEON REPLIED, “WITH ME, MY MASTER?...”

 

DOUBT

 

“IF GOD IS WITH US, WHY HAS ALL THIS HAPPENED TO US? WHERE ARE ALL THE MIRACLE-WONDERS OUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS TOLD US ABOUT, TELLING US, ‘DIDN’T GOD DELIVER US FROM EGYPT?’ THE FACT IS, GOD HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH US—HE HAS TURNED US OVER TO MIDIAN.”” JUDGES

 

 

ANGER

 

“THEN THE LORD TURNED TO HIM AND SAID, ‘GO WITH THE STRENGTH YOU HAVE, AND RESCUE ISRAEL FROM THE MIDIANITES. I AM SENDING YOU!’” – JUDGES 6:14 NLT

 

 

AUTHENTICITY IS AN EXPRESSWAY TO THE PRESENCE OF GOD

 

“THE LORD IS CLOSE TO ALL WHO CALL ON HIM, YES, TO ALL WHO CALL ON HIM IN TRUTH” PSALMS 145:18 NLT

 

“GIDEON SAID TO HIM, ‘ME, MY MASTER? HOW AND WITH WHAT COULD I EVER SAVE ISRAEL? LOOK AT ME. MY CLAN’S THE WEAKEST IN MANASSEH AND IM THE RUNT OF THE LITTER.” “GOD SAID TO HIM, ‘I’LL BE WITH YOU. BELIEVE ME, YOU’LL DEFEAT MIDIAN AS ONE MAN.” JUDGES 6:16 MSG JUDGES 6:15 MSG

 

DO NOT BE AFRAID OR DISCOURAGED, FOR THE LORD WILL PERSONALLY GO AHEAD OF YOU. HE WILL BE WITH YOU; HE WILL NEITHER FAIL YOU NOR ABANDON YOU.” DEUTERONOMY

“GOD SAID TO GIDEON, “YOU HAVE TOO LARGE AN ARMY WITH YOU…” JUDGES 7:2 MSG

 

“…MY POWER WORKS BEST IN WEAKNESS…” 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9

 

GOD CAN’T BLESS WHO YOU PRETEND TO BE

 

“THEN HE SAID TO THEM, “YOU LIKE TO APPEAR RIGHTEOUS IN PUBLIC, BUT GOD KNOWS YOUR HEARTS. WHAT THIS WORLD HONORS IS DETESTABLE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD.”

 

1. BE HONEST WITH WHERE YOU’RE AT

 

“BEHOLD, YOU DELIGHT IN TRUTH IN THE INWARD BEING…” PSALM 51:6 ESV

 

1. SURRENDER IT TO GOD

 

“…“GOD OPPOSES THE PROUD BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” SO HUMBLE YOURSELVES UNDER THE MIGHTY POWER OF GOD, AND AT THE RIGHT TIME HE WILL LIFT YOU UP IN HONOR. GIVE ALL YOUR WORRIES AND CARES TO GOD, FOR HE CARES ABOUT YOU.”

 

 

1. KNOW WHO YOU ARE THROUGH HIM

 

THE ANGEL OF GOD APPEARED TO HIM AND SAID, “ GOD IS WITH YOU, O MIGHTY WARRIOR!

 

“WE HAVE BECOME HIS POETRY, A RE-CREATED PEOPLE THAT WILL FULFILL THE DESTINY 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 AND THE GOOD WORKS WE WOULD DO TO FULFILL IT!”

 

 

1. CLAIM YOUR VICTORY

 

 

“FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS THE ONE WHO GOES WITH YOU TO FIGHT FOR YOU AGAINST YOUR ENEMIES TO GIVE YOU VICTORY.’”

 

“When we live outside of a healthy community, we not only lose others. We lose ourselves...Who we understand ourselves to be is dramatically affected for better or worse by those we hold closest to us. We only truly come to know ourselves in the context of others. The more isolated and disconnected we are, the more shattered and distorted our self-identity. We are not healthy when we are alone. We find ourselves as we connect to others.” Erwin McManus

 

Studies show 3 out 5 Americans are lonely.

63% of men to be lonely, compared with 58% of women.

Social media use was tied to loneliness as well, with 73% of very heavy social media users considered lonely, as compared with 52% of light users.

 

4 THINGS THAT DESTROY RELATIONSHIPS

 

1. Selfishness destroys relationships 

 

James 4:1-2 NLT

 

Proverbs 28:25 GNB

 

2. Pride destroys relationships

 

 Proverbs 13:10 NLT  

 

Proverbs 16:18 NLT

 

Proverbs 16:18 MSG

 

3. Insecurity destroys relationships

 

Proverbs 29:25 MSG

 

4. Resentment destroys relationships

 

Psalms 73:21-22 NLT

 

Hebrews 12:15 NLT

 

3 BENEFITS OF A LIFE-GIVING COMMUNITY

 

Psalms 133:1-3 NLT

 

1. THERE IS AN ANOINTING IN OUR LIFE-GIVING RELATIONSHIPS

 

Psalms 133:2 NLT

 

The Christian needs another Christian who speaks God's word to him. He needs him again and again when he becomes uncertain and discouraged, for by himself he cannot help himself without belying the truth. He needs his brother man as a bearer and proclaimer of the Divine word of salvation. -Dietrich Bonhoeffer

 

2. THERE IS A HOPEFUL ANTICIPATION IN OUR LIFE-GIVING RELATIONSHIPS

 

Psalms 133:3 NLT

 

3. THERE IS A GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN IN OUR LIFE-GIVING RELATIONSHIPS

 

Psalms 133:3 NLT

 

1 Corinthians 11:24-26 NLT

 

1 Corinthians 11:28-30 TPT

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH

 

JULY 2019 8.2% OF ADULTS SHOWED SIGNS OF ANXIETY DISORDER

JULY 2020 36% OF ADULTS SHOWED SIGNS OF ANXIETY DISORDER

 

2 Timothy 1:7

 

THE 4 MISTRUTHS OF FEAR

 

1. FEAR TELLS US WE CAN’T MATCH THE SIZE OF OUR PROBLEMS

 

1 Samuel 17:4-11

 

1 Samuel 17:23

 

1 Samuel 17:26

 

Ephesians 1:4

 

Ephesians 2:10

 

Philippians 4:7

 

Philippians 4:19 ESV

 

2. FEAR TELLS US GOD DOESN’T CARE ABOUT US

 

Mark 6:45-51

 

Psalms 34:15 NIV

 

Psalms 33:18

 

“Peace is a belief that exhales.  Because you believe that God’s provision is everywhere - like air.” Ann Voskamp

 

3. FEAR TELLS US WE CAN’T REALLY CHANGE

 

Genesis 28:10

 

Genesis 28:11-15

 

Genesis 28:16-19

 

YOU CAN RENAME THE SITUATIONS IN YOUR LIFE BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN NAMING RIGHTS!

 

4. FEAR TELLS US WE ARE ALL ALONE

 

1 Kings 19:13-14

 

1 Kings 19:15-16,18

 

Deuteronomy 31:6

 

Matthew 26:37-38

 

James 5:16

 

 

 

'When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream! We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.” Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy! Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert. Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.' Psalms 126:1-6 NLT

 

TOO MANY TIMES WE LET THE NEGATIVITY OF OUR PRESENT CONNECT HYPOTHETICAL DOTS IN OUR FUTURE

 

'When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream! We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.” Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy! Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert. Psalms 126:1-4 NLT

 

'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 NLT

 

I am the Lord, and I do not change… Malachi 3:6 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

 

'The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.”’ Isaiah 40:8 NLT

 

JOY IS CULTIVATED WITH A HEALTHY REMEMBRANCE AND NURTURED BY AN ANTICIPATION OF WHAT GOD WILL DO NEXT!

 

Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert. Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.' Psalms 126:4-6 NLT

ALL SUFFERING, ALL PAIN, ALL EMPTINESS, ALL DISAPPOINTMENT IS SEED: SOW IT IN GOD AND HE WILL, FINALLY, BRING A CROP OF JOY FROM IT. -EUGENE PETERSON

1. WHAT LIE DO YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE TO MAKE YOUR NEGATIVE FEELING TRUE?

He (devil) was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44 NLT

We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One. 2 Corinthians 10:5 TPT

2. DO I TRULY FEAR GOD BY BEING IN AWE OF HIM?

'How joyful are those who fear the Lord - all who follow his ways! You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be!' Psalms 128:1-2 NLT

3. WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT?

'If God doesn’t build the house, the builders only build shacks. If God doesn’t guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap. It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don’t you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves? Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Like a warrior’s fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children! Your enemies don’t stand a chance against you; you’ll sweep them right off your doorstep.  Psalm 127:1-5 MSG

4. ARE YOU CARRYING THE WEIGHT ALONE?

'He was despised and rejected - a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.' Isaiah 53:3-5 NLT

'Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”' Matthew 11:28-30 NLT

PastorMike interviews Preston Ulmer founder of the Doubter's Club