Love Divine
• I wonder what Christmas means to a mother who has lost her husband, who must take care of 3 or 4 children, working every day, never quite getting everything done, never making ends meet? What does Christmas mean to her?
• I wonder what Christmas means to the little children in the Horn of Africa, living in a hut, who knows nothing of shopping malls or Christmas trees? What does Christmas mean to them?
• I wonder what it means to missionaries who are half a world away from families & friends, who are sacrificing so much to take the precious gospel message to others who have never heard? What does it mean to them?
• I wonder what it means to those families that are at loved ones beds side as they are struggling to take a breath and contemplate if they should stop the machines.
I’m sure that it means different things to different people.
To merchants it is the busiest time of the year. Stores stay open longer, & hire extra people to accommodate all the shoppers. It means more profit, hopefully enough profit to see them through lean times ahead.
For some employees it means a Christmas bonus, a little more money in their pockets to do things that they want to do.
For many teen-agers & adults it is a time of fun & parties. For children it is a time of impatience, with time seeming to pass so slowly, as they wait for Christmas morning.
This morning I want to ask you what does this Christmas mean to you.
Luke 2:8-14:
8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
The fact that God made the announcement to shepherds helps us to understand the real meaning of Christmas. "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son," & He chose to announce that to shepherds first of all.
Shepherds were at the opposite end of the social strata from King Herod & all the influential people of the day. They lived in the fields with their animals. They weren’t respected. They had no power or prestige. Yet, God’s angel came to them & said, "Unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ, the Lord." Unto shepherds a Savior was born.
In that one simple announcement God made known some very important truths.
I. GOD KNOWS YOU, AND YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO HIM
First of all, it tells us, "No matter how insignificant you may think you are, God knows you, & you are important to Him."
A. All throughout scripture we see God honoring & using people & things that the world often overlooks or ignores.
1 Corinthians 1:26-28:
26 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. 27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world…
B. So when God decided to select a mother for His Son, He went past the fashion salons & beauty parlors.
He went past the furs & diamonds & gold, & went to an insignificant village called Nazareth. He found a peasant girl.
She did not dress in designer clothes. She did not have a sophisticated education. But she was pure, & God selected her to be the mother of His only begotten Son.
II. YOUR LIFE MATTERS, BECAUSE GOD LOVES YOU
The second thing this passage teaches us is that life matters. Not only you, but your life counts with God.
A. I imagine those shepherds must have sat around the campfire many times & wondered if life was really worthwhile or not. "What difference does it make if we watch the sheep or not?"
Maybe we wonder, too, "What difference does it make if I get up every morning or not? It seems as if my life is an endless cycle of things that really don’t mean anything. I just wonder if life is worth living at all?"
When God comes & makes His announcement to shepherds, He is also saying to us, "Your life is worthwhile. It is My gift to you. Therefore live every golden moment of it, because your life does matter to Me."
B. You see, every life matters. We should know that. It’s impossible to live, even for a few moments on this earth, & not influence somebody in one way or another. We are always influencing someone, either for good or for bad.
APPL. You see, everybody’s life counts for something.
ILL. Some years ago, a cartoon appeared in newspapers across the land. It pictured two farmers in Kentucky, standing in a field as snow fell softly. One turned to the other & asked, "Anything exciting happen today?" "Nah, nothing exciting," said the other farmer. "Oh, there was a baby born over at Tom Lincoln’s home, but nothing exciting ever happens around here."
But that baby born in the home of Tom Lincoln one day became the President of the United States. He changed the course of history & liberated the slaves. One life can make a difference!
I wonder if there were people in Bethlehem on that night so long ago, asking, "Anything exciting happen today?" Maybe they were told, "No, nothing much. Oh, I hear some woman gave birth to a baby in a stable, but nothing exciting ever happens around here." Except that a baby was born, a baby that changed the world.
III. YOUR FAITH MATTERS, TOO
A. Finally, this. Your faith matters, too. Shepherds were men of faith. They probably had more faith than some of the scribes & Pharisees who went to the synagogue every day.
They prayed over & over again, "Let the Messiah come. Let Him come today!" They prayed that prayer for hundreds of years, & they must have wondered, "Is our faith worth anything? Does God hear our prayers? Does God keep His promises? Will the Messiah ever come?"
There must have been many who quit praying, & quit having faith. But when the announcement came to shepherds, God was saying, "Your faith matters, & it is not in vain. I am a God who hears & who keeps His promises. Now the Messiah has come, & I have kept My promise."
B. How about us? Sometimes we become weary. There may be times when we wonder if it is worthwhile going to church. There are times when we wonder if it is worth sacrificing for God.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Will you allow the Lord to use You?
Will you Allow the Lord to use you?
Luke 1:38:
38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
Sometimes we don’t really understand all that God is doing in our lives but that isn’t any reason to doubt.
Many times especially in the beginning we have no idea, all we need to know is that God is in full control and we just have to have faith.
From the story of Mary we see her great step of faith.
• A young unmarried girl who became pregnant risked disaster.
• Unless Joseph agreed to marry her, she would probably remain unmarried for life.
• If her own father rejected her, she could be forced into begging or prostitution in order to earn her living.
• And Mary, with her story about becoming pregnant by the Holy Spirit, risked being considered crazy as well.
Still Mary said, despite the possible risks,” May everything you have said about me come true.”
All she knew was that God was asking her to serve Him, and she willing obeyed.
Don’t wait to see the bottom line before offering your life to God.
Heb 11:1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
The beginning point of faith believes in Gods character: He is who he says.
The end point believes in Gods promises: He will do what He says.
When we believe that God will fulfill His promises even though we don’t see those promises materializing yet, we demonstrate true faith.
Offer yourself willingly, even when the outcome seems disastrous.
1. Our Response
God’s announcement of the birth of a special child was met with various responses throughout Scriptures.
• Sarah, Abraham’s wife laughed(Gen 18:9-15)
• Zechariah doubted (Luke 1:18)
By contrast, Mary graciously submitted.
She believed the angel’s words and agreed to bear the child, even under humanly impossible circumstances.
God is able to do the impossible.
Our response to His demands should not be laughter or doubt but willing acceptance.
2. The Cleansing and Call
Isaiah 6:5-8:
5 Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7 He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”
8 Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”
I said, “Here I am. Send me.”
Isaiah realized that he was sinful before God, with no hope of measuring up to Gods standard of holiness.
When Isaiah’s lips were touched with a live burning coal, however, he was told that his sins were forgiven.
In response, Isaiah submitted himself to Gods service.
No matter how difficult his task would be, he said, “Here I am. Send me”
The painful cleansing process was necessary before Isaiah could fulfill the task to which God was calling him.
Before we accept Gods call to speak for Him to those around us, we must be cleansed as Isaiah was, confessing our sins and submitting to Gods control.
Letting God purify us may be painful, but we must be purified so that we can truly represent God, who is pure and holy.
So I ask you church will you answer the call that God has placed on your life?
Are you up to the challenge? The reward of choosing to be obedient far out ways the sacrifices to living a pure and holy life. Are you willing to lay it all down for Him as He was for you?
Luke 1:38:
38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
Sometimes we don’t really understand all that God is doing in our lives but that isn’t any reason to doubt.
Many times especially in the beginning we have no idea, all we need to know is that God is in full control and we just have to have faith.
From the story of Mary we see her great step of faith.
• A young unmarried girl who became pregnant risked disaster.
• Unless Joseph agreed to marry her, she would probably remain unmarried for life.
• If her own father rejected her, she could be forced into begging or prostitution in order to earn her living.
• And Mary, with her story about becoming pregnant by the Holy Spirit, risked being considered crazy as well.
Still Mary said, despite the possible risks,” May everything you have said about me come true.”
All she knew was that God was asking her to serve Him, and she willing obeyed.
Don’t wait to see the bottom line before offering your life to God.
Heb 11:1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
The beginning point of faith believes in Gods character: He is who he says.
The end point believes in Gods promises: He will do what He says.
When we believe that God will fulfill His promises even though we don’t see those promises materializing yet, we demonstrate true faith.
Offer yourself willingly, even when the outcome seems disastrous.
1. Our Response
God’s announcement of the birth of a special child was met with various responses throughout Scriptures.
• Sarah, Abraham’s wife laughed(Gen 18:9-15)
• Zechariah doubted (Luke 1:18)
By contrast, Mary graciously submitted.
She believed the angel’s words and agreed to bear the child, even under humanly impossible circumstances.
God is able to do the impossible.
Our response to His demands should not be laughter or doubt but willing acceptance.
2. The Cleansing and Call
Isaiah 6:5-8:
5 Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7 He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”
8 Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”
I said, “Here I am. Send me.”
Isaiah realized that he was sinful before God, with no hope of measuring up to Gods standard of holiness.
When Isaiah’s lips were touched with a live burning coal, however, he was told that his sins were forgiven.
In response, Isaiah submitted himself to Gods service.
No matter how difficult his task would be, he said, “Here I am. Send me”
The painful cleansing process was necessary before Isaiah could fulfill the task to which God was calling him.
Before we accept Gods call to speak for Him to those around us, we must be cleansed as Isaiah was, confessing our sins and submitting to Gods control.
Letting God purify us may be painful, but we must be purified so that we can truly represent God, who is pure and holy.
So I ask you church will you answer the call that God has placed on your life?
Are you up to the challenge? The reward of choosing to be obedient far out ways the sacrifices to living a pure and holy life. Are you willing to lay it all down for Him as He was for you?
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Walk Victorious
Walk Victorious
1. Go with God
Psalm 27:1:
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?
Ever feel that the Holy Spirit was directing you to something?
But all you could see were the gigantic reasons why you couldn’t do it.
Ever felt as if you didn’t feel qualified?
Well you have two choices. You could shrink back into your comfort zone or step out in faith, knowing that Almighty God was on your side.
No one says it will be easy, and Satan will lie and tell you that you can’t do it.
But we must decide and believe that you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength.
2. Be Consistent
Proverbs 16:7:
7 When people’s lives please the Lord,
even their enemies are at peace with them
Are goal in life shouldn’t be to please others but to please God. By striving to please God we find ourselves moving in the right direction.
Many times though we take one step forward in faith and then two steps backwards.
Ever know anyone who is happy and in a good attitude one day, then the next day they are negative and depressed. Have you ever been that person?
We make a little progress, and then we back up, for many will never experience the victories that God has in store for them.
Church we must be consistent. Are attitude needs to always be: I refuse to go backwards. I am going forward with God. I am going to be the person He wants me to be. I am going to fulfill my destiny.
If you will maintain that mind-set, God will continually work in your life.
If you will trust in God, He’ll fight your battles for you.
3. Stand Strong
Mark 11:22:
22 Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God.
It doesn’t matter what you’re going through, or how big your opponents are.
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? Rom 8:31
Keep an attitude of faith, stay calm, stay in a positive frame of mind and don’t try to do it all your own way.
Let God do it His way. If you will simply obey His commands, He will change things in your favor.
The Bible says don’t get weary and faint in your mind. Heb 12:3
Remember, stand strong. When negative thoughts come, reject them and replace them with Gods thoughts.
You may not see anything happening with your natural eyes, but in the unseen realm, in the spiritual world, God is at work.
And if you’ll do your part and keep believing at the right time, God will bring you out with the victory.
1. Go with God
Psalm 27:1:
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?
Ever feel that the Holy Spirit was directing you to something?
But all you could see were the gigantic reasons why you couldn’t do it.
Ever felt as if you didn’t feel qualified?
Well you have two choices. You could shrink back into your comfort zone or step out in faith, knowing that Almighty God was on your side.
No one says it will be easy, and Satan will lie and tell you that you can’t do it.
But we must decide and believe that you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength.
2. Be Consistent
Proverbs 16:7:
7 When people’s lives please the Lord,
even their enemies are at peace with them
Are goal in life shouldn’t be to please others but to please God. By striving to please God we find ourselves moving in the right direction.
Many times though we take one step forward in faith and then two steps backwards.
Ever know anyone who is happy and in a good attitude one day, then the next day they are negative and depressed. Have you ever been that person?
We make a little progress, and then we back up, for many will never experience the victories that God has in store for them.
Church we must be consistent. Are attitude needs to always be: I refuse to go backwards. I am going forward with God. I am going to be the person He wants me to be. I am going to fulfill my destiny.
If you will maintain that mind-set, God will continually work in your life.
If you will trust in God, He’ll fight your battles for you.
3. Stand Strong
Mark 11:22:
22 Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God.
It doesn’t matter what you’re going through, or how big your opponents are.
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? Rom 8:31
Keep an attitude of faith, stay calm, stay in a positive frame of mind and don’t try to do it all your own way.
Let God do it His way. If you will simply obey His commands, He will change things in your favor.
The Bible says don’t get weary and faint in your mind. Heb 12:3
Remember, stand strong. When negative thoughts come, reject them and replace them with Gods thoughts.
You may not see anything happening with your natural eyes, but in the unseen realm, in the spiritual world, God is at work.
And if you’ll do your part and keep believing at the right time, God will bring you out with the victory.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Conquers
Conquers
Romans 8:37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
Believers have always had to face hardships in many forms: persecution, illness, imprisonment, and even death.
Christ has risen and gives us the victory over all things.
1. Be a Victor
1 Corinthians 15:57:
57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul says that because of the resurrection, nothing we do is useless.
Sometimes when we don’t see the results that we think we should as we serve the Lord we start to just begin to go through the motions.
Knowing that Christ has won the ultimate victory should affect the way we live right now
To live your best life now requires that you believe you are a victor and not a victim.
When it looks dark and dreary and you don’t see any way out, I want to encourage you today to keep believing.
Don’t make the mistake of sitting around feeling sorry for yourself.
Don’t let discouragements over an apparent lack of results keep you from doing the work of the Lord enthusiastically as you have opportunity.
Put on a fresh new attitude. Take what God has given you and make the most of it.
You know the truth: it’s time to allow that truth to set you free.
2. Possess the Land
Numbers 13:30:
30 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!”
I would like to remind you how the children of Israel had been miraculously delivered from the Egyptians and camped right next door to the Promise Land, but didn’t go in for fear of the giants.
Don’t allow a similar lack of faith or a wrong mind-set to rob you of your destiny.
Many are camped right next door to their Promise Land today.
God has great things He wants to do in your life.
He wants to increase you, heal your body, restore your marriage, and even bless you financially.
If you get your thinking lined up with Gods thinking, nothing will be able to stop you.
Isaiah 55:8-9 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
The Glasses
Mother's father worked as a carpenter. On this particular day, he was building some crates for
the clothes his church was sending to some orphanage in China. On his way home, he
reached into his shirt pocket to find his glasses, but they were gone. When he mentally replayed
his earlier actions, he realized what happened; the glasses had slipped out of his pocket unnoticed
and fallen into one of the crates, which he had nailed shut. His brand new glasses were heading for China!
The Great Depression was at it's height and Grandpa had six children. He had spent $20 for those glasses that very morning. He was upset by the thought of having to buy another pair. "It's not fair," he told God as he drove home in frustration. "I've been very faithful in giving of my time and money to your work, and now this."
Several months later, the director of the orphanage was on furlough in the United States. He wanted to visit all the churches that supported him in China, so he came to speak one Sunday at my grandfather's small church in Chicago. The missionary began by thanking the people for their faithfulness in supporting the orphanage. "But most of all," he said, "I must thank you for the glasses you sent last year. You see, the Communists had just swept through the orphanage, destroying everything, including my glasses. I was desperate. Even if I had the money, there was simply no way of replacing those glasses. Along with not being able to see well, I experienced headaches every day, so my coworkers and I were much in prayer about this. Then your crates arrived. When my staff removed the covers, they found a pair of glasses lying on top.
The missionary paused long enough to let his words sink in. Then, still gripped with the wonder of it all, he continued: "Folks, when I tried on the glasses, it was as though they had been custom-made just for me! I want to thank you for being a part of that."
The people listened, happy for the miraculous glasses. But the missionary surely must have confused their church with another, they thought. There were no glasses on their list of items to be sent overseas.
But sitting quietly in the back, with tears streaming down his face, an ordinary carpenter realized the
Master Carpenter had used him in an extraordinary way.
We are foolish to try to fit God into our mold- to make His plans and purposes conform to ours.
Instead, we must strive to fit into His plans.
If you believe Gods Word, all things are possible.
3. Keep Pressing Forward
Deuteronomy 20:3-4:
3 He will say to them, ‘Listen to me, all you men of Israel! Do not be afraid as you go out to fight your enemies today! Do not lose heart or panic or tremble before them. 4 For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!’
Just like the Israelites, we sometimes face overwhelming oppositions. Whether at school, at work or even at home, we can feel outnumbered and helpless.
We can feel secure today when we consider that God is able to overcome even the most difficult odds.
Remember the enemy always fights the hardest when he knows God has something great in store for you.
Keep believing, keep praying, and keep pressing forward.
Galatians 6:9:
9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
It may be hard right now, but remind yourself that you have the power of God inside you.
It is discouraging to continue to do right when you see no tangible results.
I challenged you this morning to keep doing good and to trust God for the results.
In due time, we will reap a harvest of blessings.
The darkest battle, the darkest storm, will always give way to the brightest sunrise.
Matthew 19:26 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Romans 8:37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
Believers have always had to face hardships in many forms: persecution, illness, imprisonment, and even death.
Christ has risen and gives us the victory over all things.
1. Be a Victor
1 Corinthians 15:57:
57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul says that because of the resurrection, nothing we do is useless.
Sometimes when we don’t see the results that we think we should as we serve the Lord we start to just begin to go through the motions.
Knowing that Christ has won the ultimate victory should affect the way we live right now
To live your best life now requires that you believe you are a victor and not a victim.
When it looks dark and dreary and you don’t see any way out, I want to encourage you today to keep believing.
Don’t make the mistake of sitting around feeling sorry for yourself.
Don’t let discouragements over an apparent lack of results keep you from doing the work of the Lord enthusiastically as you have opportunity.
Put on a fresh new attitude. Take what God has given you and make the most of it.
You know the truth: it’s time to allow that truth to set you free.
2. Possess the Land
Numbers 13:30:
30 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!”
I would like to remind you how the children of Israel had been miraculously delivered from the Egyptians and camped right next door to the Promise Land, but didn’t go in for fear of the giants.
Don’t allow a similar lack of faith or a wrong mind-set to rob you of your destiny.
Many are camped right next door to their Promise Land today.
God has great things He wants to do in your life.
He wants to increase you, heal your body, restore your marriage, and even bless you financially.
If you get your thinking lined up with Gods thinking, nothing will be able to stop you.
Isaiah 55:8-9 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
The Glasses
Mother's father worked as a carpenter. On this particular day, he was building some crates for
the clothes his church was sending to some orphanage in China. On his way home, he
reached into his shirt pocket to find his glasses, but they were gone. When he mentally replayed
his earlier actions, he realized what happened; the glasses had slipped out of his pocket unnoticed
and fallen into one of the crates, which he had nailed shut. His brand new glasses were heading for China!
The Great Depression was at it's height and Grandpa had six children. He had spent $20 for those glasses that very morning. He was upset by the thought of having to buy another pair. "It's not fair," he told God as he drove home in frustration. "I've been very faithful in giving of my time and money to your work, and now this."
Several months later, the director of the orphanage was on furlough in the United States. He wanted to visit all the churches that supported him in China, so he came to speak one Sunday at my grandfather's small church in Chicago. The missionary began by thanking the people for their faithfulness in supporting the orphanage. "But most of all," he said, "I must thank you for the glasses you sent last year. You see, the Communists had just swept through the orphanage, destroying everything, including my glasses. I was desperate. Even if I had the money, there was simply no way of replacing those glasses. Along with not being able to see well, I experienced headaches every day, so my coworkers and I were much in prayer about this. Then your crates arrived. When my staff removed the covers, they found a pair of glasses lying on top.
The missionary paused long enough to let his words sink in. Then, still gripped with the wonder of it all, he continued: "Folks, when I tried on the glasses, it was as though they had been custom-made just for me! I want to thank you for being a part of that."
The people listened, happy for the miraculous glasses. But the missionary surely must have confused their church with another, they thought. There were no glasses on their list of items to be sent overseas.
But sitting quietly in the back, with tears streaming down his face, an ordinary carpenter realized the
Master Carpenter had used him in an extraordinary way.
We are foolish to try to fit God into our mold- to make His plans and purposes conform to ours.
Instead, we must strive to fit into His plans.
If you believe Gods Word, all things are possible.
3. Keep Pressing Forward
Deuteronomy 20:3-4:
3 He will say to them, ‘Listen to me, all you men of Israel! Do not be afraid as you go out to fight your enemies today! Do not lose heart or panic or tremble before them. 4 For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!’
Just like the Israelites, we sometimes face overwhelming oppositions. Whether at school, at work or even at home, we can feel outnumbered and helpless.
We can feel secure today when we consider that God is able to overcome even the most difficult odds.
Remember the enemy always fights the hardest when he knows God has something great in store for you.
Keep believing, keep praying, and keep pressing forward.
Galatians 6:9:
9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
It may be hard right now, but remind yourself that you have the power of God inside you.
It is discouraging to continue to do right when you see no tangible results.
I challenged you this morning to keep doing good and to trust God for the results.
In due time, we will reap a harvest of blessings.
The darkest battle, the darkest storm, will always give way to the brightest sunrise.
Matthew 19:26 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Monday, November 21, 2011
A Thankful Heart
I Thess. 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Sometimes the circumstances of our lives are not always the best. In fact, they may be downright bad, but still, we are to look for something to be thankful for! And there is ALWAYS something positive for which we can be thankful!
A Thankful Heart
I have three simple thoughts about thanksgiving.
1- We have it so good
2- We enjoy it so much
3- We express it so little
1. Great Days
Matthew 6:34:
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Don’t let your worries about tomorrow affect your relationship with God today.
I read a story about a man who started having a problem with his eye.
He went to the doctor and was dx as having cancer in the eye..
The man was devastated that he was going to lose his vision. In surgery, the doctors discovered that rather than cancer, the problem was an extremely unusual fungus that they were able to remove and save his vision.
When the man heard the good news, he said, ‘this is the greatest day of my life”.
Think about it. He had simply received the news that he could continue to see.
If you can see and hear, if you are healthy, if you have family and friends, if you’ve got a job, food, and a place to live, then learn to appreciate those things.
Thank God for all you have.
2. Praise Him
Psalm 100:4:
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name
God alone is worthy of being worshiped.
We need to learn to start off our day by thanking God for the basics: “Father, thank you for my health. Thank you for my children. Thank you for my family. Thank you for your home. Father thank you for all you’ve done.”
God already knows your needs. He knows what you’re going to say before you say it.
There is nothing wrong with asking God for things, but we need to learn to spend more time in prayer thanking Him and praising Him for His goodness than requesting His goodies.
We need to learn to spend more time giving God thanks for what Hes already done than we do asking Him to do new things.
3. Extol the Lord
Psalm 34
1 I will praise the Lord at all times.
I will constantly speak his praises.
God promises great blessings to His people, but many of these blessings require active participation.
Life is all about how you choose to see things.
You can complain about your boss, or you can thank God for your job.
You can complain about mowing the lawn, or you can thank God that you have a yard.
You could complain about the price of gas or you could thank God that you have a car.
Imagine if you got in a wreck and an 18 wheeler almost crashed into you. Know would you complain about your crashed up car or be thankful you’re even alive.
We need to make up our minds to let His praise continually be in our mouths.
Sometimes the circumstances of our lives are not always the best. In fact, they may be downright bad, but still, we are to look for something to be thankful for! And there is ALWAYS something positive for which we can be thankful!
A Thankful Heart
I have three simple thoughts about thanksgiving.
1- We have it so good
2- We enjoy it so much
3- We express it so little
1. Great Days
Matthew 6:34:
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Don’t let your worries about tomorrow affect your relationship with God today.
I read a story about a man who started having a problem with his eye.
He went to the doctor and was dx as having cancer in the eye..
The man was devastated that he was going to lose his vision. In surgery, the doctors discovered that rather than cancer, the problem was an extremely unusual fungus that they were able to remove and save his vision.
When the man heard the good news, he said, ‘this is the greatest day of my life”.
Think about it. He had simply received the news that he could continue to see.
If you can see and hear, if you are healthy, if you have family and friends, if you’ve got a job, food, and a place to live, then learn to appreciate those things.
Thank God for all you have.
2. Praise Him
Psalm 100:4:
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name
God alone is worthy of being worshiped.
We need to learn to start off our day by thanking God for the basics: “Father, thank you for my health. Thank you for my children. Thank you for my family. Thank you for your home. Father thank you for all you’ve done.”
God already knows your needs. He knows what you’re going to say before you say it.
There is nothing wrong with asking God for things, but we need to learn to spend more time in prayer thanking Him and praising Him for His goodness than requesting His goodies.
We need to learn to spend more time giving God thanks for what Hes already done than we do asking Him to do new things.
3. Extol the Lord
Psalm 34
1 I will praise the Lord at all times.
I will constantly speak his praises.
God promises great blessings to His people, but many of these blessings require active participation.
Life is all about how you choose to see things.
You can complain about your boss, or you can thank God for your job.
You can complain about mowing the lawn, or you can thank God that you have a yard.
You could complain about the price of gas or you could thank God that you have a car.
Imagine if you got in a wreck and an 18 wheeler almost crashed into you. Know would you complain about your crashed up car or be thankful you’re even alive.
We need to make up our minds to let His praise continually be in our mouths.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Ignite
Pastor,
Hello my name is Danny Parsons and I am pastor of Church of the New Harvest in Elyria OH.
I am excited to be sharing with you about “Ignite”. Ignite is a movement that starts with you. I would like to ask you a question, how are your sheep doing? Are they just as on fire for God as they were when they first got saved? Or has the trials and tribulations of this world been weighing on them? If your answer is the same as mine and many other pastors then I would like to share with you what the Spirit laid on my heart.
Plan: To ignite (To arouse the passions of; excite) believers once again for Christ.
Purpose: To awaken the church ( the body of Christ) to once again take control of the battle of life, to get out of despair and stop believing the lies of Satan , to realize their position in Christ and get believers excited about the work of the Holy Spirit once again, to cause Christians to spark a change in their overcoming views of Christ and to ignite such a change in the believers walk that they truly feel nothing is impossible with God and therefore they will go out and testify of His great love and win souls for the Kingdom.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, Hebrews 10:24
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one
another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with
thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3: 16, ESV)
A church will never be as strong and vibrant in the service of God as it ought to be until it shares in this ministry of watching over and stirring up one another.
Unlike Cain, we must understand that we are our brother’s keeper, or many would be subject to stumble and live unfruitful spiritual lives.
Unless we watch over one another, spiritual growth could cease, sin would overtake us, and godly living could take a downward turn.
Weak links within the body of Christ affects the strength and often the demeanor of the whole.
If the Holy Spirit prompts you to discover more about this please contact me for your way to get involved with this movement.
Blessings,
Danny Parsons (440) 714-0820
Dannyparsons51@gmail.com
But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3: 13, ESV)
Hello my name is Danny Parsons and I am pastor of Church of the New Harvest in Elyria OH.
I am excited to be sharing with you about “Ignite”. Ignite is a movement that starts with you. I would like to ask you a question, how are your sheep doing? Are they just as on fire for God as they were when they first got saved? Or has the trials and tribulations of this world been weighing on them? If your answer is the same as mine and many other pastors then I would like to share with you what the Spirit laid on my heart.
Plan: To ignite (To arouse the passions of; excite) believers once again for Christ.
Purpose: To awaken the church ( the body of Christ) to once again take control of the battle of life, to get out of despair and stop believing the lies of Satan , to realize their position in Christ and get believers excited about the work of the Holy Spirit once again, to cause Christians to spark a change in their overcoming views of Christ and to ignite such a change in the believers walk that they truly feel nothing is impossible with God and therefore they will go out and testify of His great love and win souls for the Kingdom.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, Hebrews 10:24
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one
another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with
thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3: 16, ESV)
A church will never be as strong and vibrant in the service of God as it ought to be until it shares in this ministry of watching over and stirring up one another.
Unlike Cain, we must understand that we are our brother’s keeper, or many would be subject to stumble and live unfruitful spiritual lives.
Unless we watch over one another, spiritual growth could cease, sin would overtake us, and godly living could take a downward turn.
Weak links within the body of Christ affects the strength and often the demeanor of the whole.
If the Holy Spirit prompts you to discover more about this please contact me for your way to get involved with this movement.
Blessings,
Danny Parsons (440) 714-0820
Dannyparsons51@gmail.com
But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3: 13, ESV)
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Keep Walking on the Water
How do YOU deal with doubt? Here is how one jury did:
A defendant was on trial for murder in Oklahoma. There was strong evidence indicating guilt, but there was no corpse.
In the defense’s closing statement the lawyer, knowing that his client would probably be convicted, resorted to a trick.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I have a surprise for you all," the lawyer said as he looked at his watch. "Within one minute, the person presumed dead in this case will walk into this courtroom."
He looked toward the courtroom door. The jurors, somewhat stunned, all looked on eagerly. A minute passed. Nothing happened.
Finally the lawyer said, "Actually, I made up the previous statement. But you all looked on with anticipation. I, therefore, put it to you that there is reasonable doubt in this case as to whether anyone was killed and insist that you return a verdict of not guilty."
The jury, clearly confused, retired to deliberate. A few minutes later, the jury returned and pronounced a verdict of guilty.
"But how?" inquired the lawyer. "You must have had some doubt; I saw all of you stare at the door."
Answered the jury foreman: "Oh, we did look. But your client didn’t."
Doubt: to be uncertain about; consider questionable or unlikely; hesitate to believe.
Many times along our walk with Christ we have moments of doubts.
Am I good enough, can He really use me, is it even worth the hassle, I let Him down one too many times. He will never forgive me for this. I have made too many mistakes.
This morning I want to encourage you to…..
Keep Walking on the Water!
Matthew 14:25-28:
25 about three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
1. Its takes some form of Faith
Matt 17:20
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
There is great potential in even a little faith when we trust in Gods power to act.
If you are facing a problem today that seems as big and immovable as a mountain, turn your eyes from the mountain and look to Christ for more faith.
Only then will you be able to overcome the obstacles that stand in your way.
Peter was the only one who responded in true faith.
28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
That was a tremendous act of faith; ask yourself if you would have been like people or the others who just sat there in fear?
2. The choice is Yours
How many of you would get out of the boat?
Do you have the kind of faith that would enable you to step onto the water?
Most of us know the rest of the story. He got out of the boat, started walking, got scared, and began to sink.
He even received a rebuke from Jesus.
31“You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
But think about it- Jesus didn’t say those words to the other disciples. The implication is the others had no faith at that moment.
When you think of those words like that they go from being words of rebuke to words of encouragement.
What if you looked at this event as Jesus saying to you, “you started so well. You believed me, and got out of the boat. You did it!
You walked on water just as I did. But then we allowed doubt to enter, and when that happened, you began to sink.
When this happens we must call out to Jesus to forgive us for our lack of faith. Ask Him to increase your faith and to help you to trust Him enough to follow His leading.
When circumstances around you threaten to pull you into the deep waters of doubt, ask the Holy Spirit to help you focus on Him.
A defendant was on trial for murder in Oklahoma. There was strong evidence indicating guilt, but there was no corpse.
In the defense’s closing statement the lawyer, knowing that his client would probably be convicted, resorted to a trick.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I have a surprise for you all," the lawyer said as he looked at his watch. "Within one minute, the person presumed dead in this case will walk into this courtroom."
He looked toward the courtroom door. The jurors, somewhat stunned, all looked on eagerly. A minute passed. Nothing happened.
Finally the lawyer said, "Actually, I made up the previous statement. But you all looked on with anticipation. I, therefore, put it to you that there is reasonable doubt in this case as to whether anyone was killed and insist that you return a verdict of not guilty."
The jury, clearly confused, retired to deliberate. A few minutes later, the jury returned and pronounced a verdict of guilty.
"But how?" inquired the lawyer. "You must have had some doubt; I saw all of you stare at the door."
Answered the jury foreman: "Oh, we did look. But your client didn’t."
Doubt: to be uncertain about; consider questionable or unlikely; hesitate to believe.
Many times along our walk with Christ we have moments of doubts.
Am I good enough, can He really use me, is it even worth the hassle, I let Him down one too many times. He will never forgive me for this. I have made too many mistakes.
This morning I want to encourage you to…..
Keep Walking on the Water!
Matthew 14:25-28:
25 about three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
1. Its takes some form of Faith
Matt 17:20
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
There is great potential in even a little faith when we trust in Gods power to act.
If you are facing a problem today that seems as big and immovable as a mountain, turn your eyes from the mountain and look to Christ for more faith.
Only then will you be able to overcome the obstacles that stand in your way.
Peter was the only one who responded in true faith.
28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
That was a tremendous act of faith; ask yourself if you would have been like people or the others who just sat there in fear?
2. The choice is Yours
How many of you would get out of the boat?
Do you have the kind of faith that would enable you to step onto the water?
Most of us know the rest of the story. He got out of the boat, started walking, got scared, and began to sink.
He even received a rebuke from Jesus.
31“You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
But think about it- Jesus didn’t say those words to the other disciples. The implication is the others had no faith at that moment.
When you think of those words like that they go from being words of rebuke to words of encouragement.
What if you looked at this event as Jesus saying to you, “you started so well. You believed me, and got out of the boat. You did it!
You walked on water just as I did. But then we allowed doubt to enter, and when that happened, you began to sink.
When this happens we must call out to Jesus to forgive us for our lack of faith. Ask Him to increase your faith and to help you to trust Him enough to follow His leading.
When circumstances around you threaten to pull you into the deep waters of doubt, ask the Holy Spirit to help you focus on Him.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
It all starts with God
The Big Question: What on Earth Am I Here For?
It all starts with God
Colossians 1:16:
Christ Holds It All Together
15 -18We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him.
1. It’s not about You
If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by His purpose and for his purpose.
The search for the purpose of life has puzzled people for thousands of years. That’s because we typically begin at the wrong starting point- ourselves.
We ask self-centered questions like: What do I want to be? What should I do with my life? What are my goals, my ambitions, and my dreams for my future?
But focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life’s purpose.
The Bible says in Job 12:10 “ It is God who directs the lives of His creatures: everyones life is in His power.”
You didn’t create yourself, so there is no way you can tell yourself what you were created for!
If I handed you an invention you had never seen before, you wouldn’t know its purpose, and the invention itself wouldn’t be able to tell you either.
Only the creator or the owner’s manual could reveal its purpose.
2. Discover the purpose of your life
You exist only because God wills that you exist. You were made by God and For God – and until you understand that, life will never make sense.
You were made for God, not vice versa, and life is about letting God use you for His purposes, not you using Him for your purpose.
Romans 8:6 says “Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God.”
But being successful and fulfilling your life’s purpose are not at all the same issues.
You could reach all your personal goals, becoming a raving success by the world’s standard, and still miss the purposes for which God created you.
It’s not about how to cram more activities into an overloaded schedule. Actually, it will teach you how to do les in life- by focusing on what matters most. It’s about becoming what God created you to be.
3. Without God life makes no sense.
You were made by God and for God- and until you understand that, life will never make sense.
The easiest way to discover the purpose of an invention is to ask the creator of it.
The same is true for discovering your life’s purpose: Ask God.
God is not just the starting point of your life: He is the source of it.
Ephesians 1:11:
11 -12It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
You discover your identity and purpose through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
God was thinking of you long before you ever thought about Him.
His purpose for your life predates your conception. He planned it before you existed, without your input!
The purpose of your life fits into a much larger, cosmic purpose that God has designed for eternity.
Point to ponder: It’s not about me.
Question to consider: How can you remind yourself that life is really about living for God, not yourself?
Life on earth is really preparation for eternity.
It all starts with God
Colossians 1:16:
Christ Holds It All Together
15 -18We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him.
1. It’s not about You
If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by His purpose and for his purpose.
The search for the purpose of life has puzzled people for thousands of years. That’s because we typically begin at the wrong starting point- ourselves.
We ask self-centered questions like: What do I want to be? What should I do with my life? What are my goals, my ambitions, and my dreams for my future?
But focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life’s purpose.
The Bible says in Job 12:10 “ It is God who directs the lives of His creatures: everyones life is in His power.”
You didn’t create yourself, so there is no way you can tell yourself what you were created for!
If I handed you an invention you had never seen before, you wouldn’t know its purpose, and the invention itself wouldn’t be able to tell you either.
Only the creator or the owner’s manual could reveal its purpose.
2. Discover the purpose of your life
You exist only because God wills that you exist. You were made by God and For God – and until you understand that, life will never make sense.
You were made for God, not vice versa, and life is about letting God use you for His purposes, not you using Him for your purpose.
Romans 8:6 says “Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God.”
But being successful and fulfilling your life’s purpose are not at all the same issues.
You could reach all your personal goals, becoming a raving success by the world’s standard, and still miss the purposes for which God created you.
It’s not about how to cram more activities into an overloaded schedule. Actually, it will teach you how to do les in life- by focusing on what matters most. It’s about becoming what God created you to be.
3. Without God life makes no sense.
You were made by God and for God- and until you understand that, life will never make sense.
The easiest way to discover the purpose of an invention is to ask the creator of it.
The same is true for discovering your life’s purpose: Ask God.
God is not just the starting point of your life: He is the source of it.
Ephesians 1:11:
11 -12It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
You discover your identity and purpose through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
God was thinking of you long before you ever thought about Him.
His purpose for your life predates your conception. He planned it before you existed, without your input!
The purpose of your life fits into a much larger, cosmic purpose that God has designed for eternity.
Point to ponder: It’s not about me.
Question to consider: How can you remind yourself that life is really about living for God, not yourself?
Life on earth is really preparation for eternity.
It all starts with God
The Big Question: What on Earth Am I Here For?
It all starts with God
Colossians 1:16:
Christ Holds It All Together
15 -18We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him.
1. It’s not about You
If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by His purpose and for his purpose.
The search for the purpose of life has puzzled people for thousands of years. That’s because we typically begin at the wrong starting point- ourselves.
We ask self-centered questions like: What do I want to be? What should I do with my life? What are my goals, my ambitions, and my dreams for my future?
But focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life’s purpose.
The Bible says in Job 12:10 “ It is God who directs the lives of His creatures: everyones life is in His power.”
You didn’t create yourself, so there is no way you can tell yourself what you were created for!
If I handed you an invention you had never seen before, you wouldn’t know its purpose, and the invention itself wouldn’t be able to tell you either.
Only the creator or the owner’s manual could reveal its purpose.
2. Discover the purpose of your life
You exist only because God wills that you exist. You were made by God and For God – and until you understand that, life will never make sense.
You were made for God, not vice versa, and life is about letting God use you for His purposes, not you using Him for your purpose.
Romans 8:6 says “Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God.”
But being successful and fulfilling your life’s purpose are not at all the same issues.
You could reach all your personal goals, becoming a raving success by the world’s standard, and still miss the purposes for which God created you.
It’s not about how to cram more activities into an overloaded schedule. Actually, it will teach you how to do les in life- by focusing on what matters most. It’s about becoming what God created you to be.
3. Without God life makes no sense.
You were made by God and for God- and until you understand that, life will never make sense.
The easiest way to discover the purpose of an invention is to ask the creator of it.
The same is true for discovering your life’s purpose: Ask God.
God is not just the starting point of your life: He is the source of it.
Ephesians 1:11:
11 -12It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
You discover your identity and purpose through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
God was thinking of you long before you ever thought about Him.
His purpose for your life predates your conception. He planned it before you existed, without your input!
The purpose of your life fits into a much larger, cosmic purpose that God has designed for eternity.
Point to ponder: It’s not about me.
Question to consider: How can you remind yourself that life is really about living for God, not yourself?
Life on earth is really preparation for eternity.
It all starts with God
Colossians 1:16:
Christ Holds It All Together
15 -18We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him.
1. It’s not about You
If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by His purpose and for his purpose.
The search for the purpose of life has puzzled people for thousands of years. That’s because we typically begin at the wrong starting point- ourselves.
We ask self-centered questions like: What do I want to be? What should I do with my life? What are my goals, my ambitions, and my dreams for my future?
But focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life’s purpose.
The Bible says in Job 12:10 “ It is God who directs the lives of His creatures: everyones life is in His power.”
You didn’t create yourself, so there is no way you can tell yourself what you were created for!
If I handed you an invention you had never seen before, you wouldn’t know its purpose, and the invention itself wouldn’t be able to tell you either.
Only the creator or the owner’s manual could reveal its purpose.
2. Discover the purpose of your life
You exist only because God wills that you exist. You were made by God and For God – and until you understand that, life will never make sense.
You were made for God, not vice versa, and life is about letting God use you for His purposes, not you using Him for your purpose.
Romans 8:6 says “Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God.”
But being successful and fulfilling your life’s purpose are not at all the same issues.
You could reach all your personal goals, becoming a raving success by the world’s standard, and still miss the purposes for which God created you.
It’s not about how to cram more activities into an overloaded schedule. Actually, it will teach you how to do les in life- by focusing on what matters most. It’s about becoming what God created you to be.
3. Without God life makes no sense.
You were made by God and for God- and until you understand that, life will never make sense.
The easiest way to discover the purpose of an invention is to ask the creator of it.
The same is true for discovering your life’s purpose: Ask God.
God is not just the starting point of your life: He is the source of it.
Ephesians 1:11:
11 -12It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
You discover your identity and purpose through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
God was thinking of you long before you ever thought about Him.
His purpose for your life predates your conception. He planned it before you existed, without your input!
The purpose of your life fits into a much larger, cosmic purpose that God has designed for eternity.
Point to ponder: It’s not about me.
Question to consider: How can you remind yourself that life is really about living for God, not yourself?
Life on earth is really preparation for eternity.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
More
More
1. The God of Increase
Daniel 4:3:
3 How great are his signs,
how powerful his wonders!
His kingdom will last forever,
his rule through all generations.
God desires your generation to shine.
God wants each generation to increase. He isnt going to bless you and allow the next generation to fade away.
That’s just the way our God is.
Do you believe that this morning?
2. Get out of the Rut
John 14:12:
12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.
You may not have any money and very little education.
In the natural, the future may not look very bright. Some people around you may try to discourage you and tell you there’s no reason to hope for more.
Others may tell you to stay where it’s safe although it’s really being stuck in a rut of defeat.
Don’t listen to all the naysayers. Get out of the rut.
God is not limited by your environment, family background, or present circumstances.
God is limited only by your lack of faith.
Today step out in faith and you will break through the barriers.
3. Passing on a Legacy
Psalm 78:4:
4 We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.
Start expecting more than the generation preceding you.
God wants each generation to go further than the previous generation.
He doesn’t want you to stay where you are.
You can choose to pass on a legacy of godly attitudes, blessings, and success to your children today.
Today I want to tell you a story. It's a special story called a 'parable'. A parable is an earthly story that has a heavenly meaning. In the Bible there are many parables that Jesus told so we could understand His teachings better.
This is a story about a farmer and a pumpkin.
The Farmer lives wa-a-a-a-ay out in the country. On his farm He has a pumpkin patch.
Pumpkins are really special. They start out as small oval seeds that grow into big, orange pumpkins. The farmer plants the seeds, waters, and cares for the pumpkin vines and patiently waits as they grow.
Finally by October there are big, orange pumpkins in his pumpkin patch! Some are tall and lean, some are short and round, and some have bumps and lumps. But they are all pumpkins and all were planted and cared for by the Farmer.
One day the Farmer chose a pumpkin for a special project. He brings it in from the field and washes it off. You have to be careful with pumpkins; they're tough on the outside, but if you drop them, they break into pieces!
The Farmer takes a large knife and cuts a hole in the top of the pumpkin. Inside there is yucky, slimy pulp waiting for Him. That has to go! He cleans it all out and throws it away - never to be seen again.
After that He gives the pumpkin a new face! He cuts two triangles for eyes, a square for a nose, and a big, wide smile!
Then He does something really special. He puts a small white candle down inside the pumpkin and lights the wick.
How that pumpkin glows! As people pass by, they see the smiling pumpkin and smile back. They know that once again the Farmer has taken a simple pumpkin and changed it into a glorious sight!
The Meaning of the Parable:
Just like us, all the pumpkins were different. But there was something the same about every one of them - that yucky, slimy pulp on the inside!
The yucky, slimy pulp is like the sin that's in us. Romans 3:23 says: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." That's every single one of us.
God has made a way that all our sin can be forgiven and washed away. God even says He'll cast them as far as the East is from the West. Romans 5:8 says: "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
John 3:16 goes on to say: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life."
After cleaning out that pumpkin, the Farmer gave the pumpkin a new face! The Bible says God can make us a new creation too.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
Then came the really special part. The light was placed inside that pumpkin and it glowed for all to see!
2 Corinthians 4:6 says: "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."
And Matthew 5:16 says: "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
So we can become like that pumpkin in the Christian object lesson - a glorious sight for others to see the love of Jesus!
1. The God of Increase
Daniel 4:3:
3 How great are his signs,
how powerful his wonders!
His kingdom will last forever,
his rule through all generations.
God desires your generation to shine.
God wants each generation to increase. He isnt going to bless you and allow the next generation to fade away.
That’s just the way our God is.
Do you believe that this morning?
2. Get out of the Rut
John 14:12:
12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.
You may not have any money and very little education.
In the natural, the future may not look very bright. Some people around you may try to discourage you and tell you there’s no reason to hope for more.
Others may tell you to stay where it’s safe although it’s really being stuck in a rut of defeat.
Don’t listen to all the naysayers. Get out of the rut.
God is not limited by your environment, family background, or present circumstances.
God is limited only by your lack of faith.
Today step out in faith and you will break through the barriers.
3. Passing on a Legacy
Psalm 78:4:
4 We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.
Start expecting more than the generation preceding you.
God wants each generation to go further than the previous generation.
He doesn’t want you to stay where you are.
You can choose to pass on a legacy of godly attitudes, blessings, and success to your children today.
Today I want to tell you a story. It's a special story called a 'parable'. A parable is an earthly story that has a heavenly meaning. In the Bible there are many parables that Jesus told so we could understand His teachings better.
This is a story about a farmer and a pumpkin.
The Farmer lives wa-a-a-a-ay out in the country. On his farm He has a pumpkin patch.
Pumpkins are really special. They start out as small oval seeds that grow into big, orange pumpkins. The farmer plants the seeds, waters, and cares for the pumpkin vines and patiently waits as they grow.
Finally by October there are big, orange pumpkins in his pumpkin patch! Some are tall and lean, some are short and round, and some have bumps and lumps. But they are all pumpkins and all were planted and cared for by the Farmer.
One day the Farmer chose a pumpkin for a special project. He brings it in from the field and washes it off. You have to be careful with pumpkins; they're tough on the outside, but if you drop them, they break into pieces!
The Farmer takes a large knife and cuts a hole in the top of the pumpkin. Inside there is yucky, slimy pulp waiting for Him. That has to go! He cleans it all out and throws it away - never to be seen again.
After that He gives the pumpkin a new face! He cuts two triangles for eyes, a square for a nose, and a big, wide smile!
Then He does something really special. He puts a small white candle down inside the pumpkin and lights the wick.
How that pumpkin glows! As people pass by, they see the smiling pumpkin and smile back. They know that once again the Farmer has taken a simple pumpkin and changed it into a glorious sight!
The Meaning of the Parable:
Just like us, all the pumpkins were different. But there was something the same about every one of them - that yucky, slimy pulp on the inside!
The yucky, slimy pulp is like the sin that's in us. Romans 3:23 says: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." That's every single one of us.
God has made a way that all our sin can be forgiven and washed away. God even says He'll cast them as far as the East is from the West. Romans 5:8 says: "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
John 3:16 goes on to say: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life."
After cleaning out that pumpkin, the Farmer gave the pumpkin a new face! The Bible says God can make us a new creation too.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
Then came the really special part. The light was placed inside that pumpkin and it glowed for all to see!
2 Corinthians 4:6 says: "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."
And Matthew 5:16 says: "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
So we can become like that pumpkin in the Christian object lesson - a glorious sight for others to see the love of Jesus!
Monday, October 24, 2011
Change
Change
Definition of change : To cause to be different
Stages of Change
1. Resistance to change
2. Tolerant of change
3. Embrace the change
1. Change Your Family Tree
Judges 6:25-26:
25 That night the Lord said to Gideon, “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one that is seven years old. Pull down your father’s altar to Baal, and cut down the Asherah pole standing beside it. 26 Then build an altar to the Lord your God here on this hilltop sanctuary, laying the stones carefully. Sacrifice the bull as a burnt offering on the altar, using as fuel the wood of the Asherah pole you cut down.”
We all get comfortable where we are, and we use that as an excuse.
God wants you to break out of your norm; He wants you to break out of that mold.
You can do more, have more, and be more.
You can be the person to change your family tree!
Don’t pass junk down to your children and keep that negative cycle going.
You can break the curse in your family.
You can affect future generations by the decisions you make today.
2. Let Faith Blossom
Psalm 10:17:
17 Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless.
Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them
Even though you may spend your days working hard and still just seem to be barely getting by despite your circumstances continue to dream and expand your vision.
Perhaps you need to change your environment. Quit sitting around worrying and feeling sorry for yourself.
Instead, allow the Lord to elevate your faith today.
3. Soar with Eagles
1 Samuel 23:16:
16 Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God.
It’s amazing what can happen when you get into an atmosphere where people build you up rather than tear you down.
Where people encourage and challenge you to be the best you can be.
If you stay in an atmosphere of victory, you will develop a winning mind-set.
If you hang around people of faith, your own faith will increase.
It’s time for you to soar with eagles rather than pecking around with the chickens.
If you will do your part by thinking continuously about the goodness of God, living with faith and expectancy, God will take you places you’ve never even dreamed of.
Don’t be afraid of change.
As a child grows, you may notice small changes from day to day. But look at pictures from years ago and you will see amazing differences.
So you may not see much change in your service to God today compared to yesterday.
But if you diligently apply the steps taught in God's word, after a period of 5, 10, or 20 years you will see significant changes compared to where you began.
Two men were climbing a steep path up a tall mountain.
One looked to the top and asked, "How will we ever make it?" The other replied, "One step at a time." And that is the only way for you to change yourself.
People sometimes convince themselves, "I just can't change. It's too late.
Besides, I'm only human." They are not just belittling themselves; they are denying God's word. They will fail simply because they will give up instead of persisting in using God's power.
Repeat this: I can do all things, through Christ who gives me Strength. I don’t have to be strong enough. Yes
Definition of change : To cause to be different
Stages of Change
1. Resistance to change
2. Tolerant of change
3. Embrace the change
1. Change Your Family Tree
Judges 6:25-26:
25 That night the Lord said to Gideon, “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one that is seven years old. Pull down your father’s altar to Baal, and cut down the Asherah pole standing beside it. 26 Then build an altar to the Lord your God here on this hilltop sanctuary, laying the stones carefully. Sacrifice the bull as a burnt offering on the altar, using as fuel the wood of the Asherah pole you cut down.”
We all get comfortable where we are, and we use that as an excuse.
God wants you to break out of your norm; He wants you to break out of that mold.
You can do more, have more, and be more.
You can be the person to change your family tree!
Don’t pass junk down to your children and keep that negative cycle going.
You can break the curse in your family.
You can affect future generations by the decisions you make today.
2. Let Faith Blossom
Psalm 10:17:
17 Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless.
Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them
Even though you may spend your days working hard and still just seem to be barely getting by despite your circumstances continue to dream and expand your vision.
Perhaps you need to change your environment. Quit sitting around worrying and feeling sorry for yourself.
Instead, allow the Lord to elevate your faith today.
3. Soar with Eagles
1 Samuel 23:16:
16 Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God.
It’s amazing what can happen when you get into an atmosphere where people build you up rather than tear you down.
Where people encourage and challenge you to be the best you can be.
If you stay in an atmosphere of victory, you will develop a winning mind-set.
If you hang around people of faith, your own faith will increase.
It’s time for you to soar with eagles rather than pecking around with the chickens.
If you will do your part by thinking continuously about the goodness of God, living with faith and expectancy, God will take you places you’ve never even dreamed of.
Don’t be afraid of change.
As a child grows, you may notice small changes from day to day. But look at pictures from years ago and you will see amazing differences.
So you may not see much change in your service to God today compared to yesterday.
But if you diligently apply the steps taught in God's word, after a period of 5, 10, or 20 years you will see significant changes compared to where you began.
Two men were climbing a steep path up a tall mountain.
One looked to the top and asked, "How will we ever make it?" The other replied, "One step at a time." And that is the only way for you to change yourself.
People sometimes convince themselves, "I just can't change. It's too late.
Besides, I'm only human." They are not just belittling themselves; they are denying God's word. They will fail simply because they will give up instead of persisting in using God's power.
Repeat this: I can do all things, through Christ who gives me Strength. I don’t have to be strong enough. Yes
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Limitless
Limitless
1. Stop Limiting God
Philippians 3:13-14:
13 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, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Paul had a bad past. Because our hope is in Christ, however, we can let go of past guilt and look forward to what God will help us become.
Stop dwelling on your past and limiting what God wants to do in you, grow in the knowledge of God by concentrating on your relationship with Him now.
What does God have in store for you today?
His dream for your life is so much greater than you can imagine.
It’s time to quit limiting God.
God may give you a dream or an idea for an invention, a book, a song, or a movie.
One idea from God can forever change the course of your life.
God is not limited by what you have or don’t have.
He can do anything, if you simply stop limiting Him in your thinking.
2. Begin Looking Beyond
Hosea 6:3:
3 Oh, that we might know the Lord!
Let us press on to know him.
He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn
or the coming of rains in early spring.”
Many of us miss pivotal opportunities in our lives because we have grown accustomed to the status quo.
We refuse to make room in our own thinking for the new things God wants to do in our lives.
When a great opportunity comes along, rather than launching out in faith, we say “well, that could never happen to me. That’s too good to be true”.
Begin looking beyond where you are to where you want to be.
3. Oceans to Enjoy
Isaiah 17:7:
7 Then at last the people will look to their Creator
and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel.
Theres an old story about a little frog that was born at the bottom of a small well.
He and his family lived there and he was content to play in the water.
He even thought, life doesn’t get any better than this.
One day, he climbed to the top of the well and peered out over the edge.
The very first thing he saw was a pond a thousand times bigger than the well.
He ventures farther and discovered a huge lake.
Eventually, the little frog hopped all the way to the ocean, where everywhere he looked, all he could see was water.
Are you enclosed in your own little well?
Look over the edge. God has oceans He wants you to enjoy!
Isaiah 43:19
For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
1. Stop Limiting God
Philippians 3:13-14:
13 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, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Paul had a bad past. Because our hope is in Christ, however, we can let go of past guilt and look forward to what God will help us become.
Stop dwelling on your past and limiting what God wants to do in you, grow in the knowledge of God by concentrating on your relationship with Him now.
What does God have in store for you today?
His dream for your life is so much greater than you can imagine.
It’s time to quit limiting God.
God may give you a dream or an idea for an invention, a book, a song, or a movie.
One idea from God can forever change the course of your life.
God is not limited by what you have or don’t have.
He can do anything, if you simply stop limiting Him in your thinking.
2. Begin Looking Beyond
Hosea 6:3:
3 Oh, that we might know the Lord!
Let us press on to know him.
He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn
or the coming of rains in early spring.”
Many of us miss pivotal opportunities in our lives because we have grown accustomed to the status quo.
We refuse to make room in our own thinking for the new things God wants to do in our lives.
When a great opportunity comes along, rather than launching out in faith, we say “well, that could never happen to me. That’s too good to be true”.
Begin looking beyond where you are to where you want to be.
3. Oceans to Enjoy
Isaiah 17:7:
7 Then at last the people will look to their Creator
and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel.
Theres an old story about a little frog that was born at the bottom of a small well.
He and his family lived there and he was content to play in the water.
He even thought, life doesn’t get any better than this.
One day, he climbed to the top of the well and peered out over the edge.
The very first thing he saw was a pond a thousand times bigger than the well.
He ventures farther and discovered a huge lake.
Eventually, the little frog hopped all the way to the ocean, where everywhere he looked, all he could see was water.
Are you enclosed in your own little well?
Look over the edge. God has oceans He wants you to enjoy!
Isaiah 43:19
For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Abundance
Abundance
1. The King of Kings
1 Corinthians 2:9:
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love him.”
We cannot imagine all that God has in store for us, both in this life and for eternity
Years ago, a famous golfer accepted an invitation from the king of Saudi Arabia to play golf together for several days.
They had such a great time that the king asked the golfer what he wanted as a gift “anything you want”
The golfer said he collect golf clubs.
Weeks went by, and the golfer imagined possible receiving a solid gold putter or a diamond-studded sand wedge.
Then one day a certified letter arrived. Inside was a deed to a five hundred acre golf course.
Sometimes kings think differently than you and I think. We serve the King og kings.
Dream accordingly!
2. Good things Coming
Hebrews 11:1:
1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
The beginning point of faith believes in Gods character. He is who he says.
The end point believes in Gods promises: He will do what He says.
When we believe that God will fulfill his promises even though we don’t see those promises materializing yet, we demonstrate true faith.
If you dwell on positive thoughts your life will move in that direction.
If you expect defeat, failure, or mediocrity you are setting yourself up to lose, fail, or even sabotage every attempt to push above average.
You must think positive thoughts of victory, of abundance, of favor, of hope.
Start your day with faith and set your mind in the right direction, then go out expecting the favor of God.
Believe God for a great future.
You have good things coming!
3. Break Out of Prison
Psalm 42:11:
11 Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God!
Many of us are living behind self- imposed bars, in prisons of our own making.
Today you can choose to break out of that prison!
The door is unlocked.
Start expecting doors of opportunity to open for you, and they will.
John 11:43-44:
43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 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!”
Lazarus is brought back to life by responding to the voice of Jesus, yet he still needs those around him to get completely free.
We need each other. People need this church to find all that God has for them.
When you are stuck in a place of difficulty and you are wondering what to do next, this story is a life-giving reminder to have people praying for you as Lazarus’s sisters did, to be actively listening to the voice of God, and to join a group of people who can help you unwrap the tangled places in your life.
Knowing the wonderful and eternal future that awaits us gives us hope and courage to press on in this life, to seek His abundance.
1. The King of Kings
1 Corinthians 2:9:
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love him.”
We cannot imagine all that God has in store for us, both in this life and for eternity
Years ago, a famous golfer accepted an invitation from the king of Saudi Arabia to play golf together for several days.
They had such a great time that the king asked the golfer what he wanted as a gift “anything you want”
The golfer said he collect golf clubs.
Weeks went by, and the golfer imagined possible receiving a solid gold putter or a diamond-studded sand wedge.
Then one day a certified letter arrived. Inside was a deed to a five hundred acre golf course.
Sometimes kings think differently than you and I think. We serve the King og kings.
Dream accordingly!
2. Good things Coming
Hebrews 11:1:
1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
The beginning point of faith believes in Gods character. He is who he says.
The end point believes in Gods promises: He will do what He says.
When we believe that God will fulfill his promises even though we don’t see those promises materializing yet, we demonstrate true faith.
If you dwell on positive thoughts your life will move in that direction.
If you expect defeat, failure, or mediocrity you are setting yourself up to lose, fail, or even sabotage every attempt to push above average.
You must think positive thoughts of victory, of abundance, of favor, of hope.
Start your day with faith and set your mind in the right direction, then go out expecting the favor of God.
Believe God for a great future.
You have good things coming!
3. Break Out of Prison
Psalm 42:11:
11 Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God!
Many of us are living behind self- imposed bars, in prisons of our own making.
Today you can choose to break out of that prison!
The door is unlocked.
Start expecting doors of opportunity to open for you, and they will.
John 11:43-44:
43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 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!”
Lazarus is brought back to life by responding to the voice of Jesus, yet he still needs those around him to get completely free.
We need each other. People need this church to find all that God has for them.
When you are stuck in a place of difficulty and you are wondering what to do next, this story is a life-giving reminder to have people praying for you as Lazarus’s sisters did, to be actively listening to the voice of God, and to join a group of people who can help you unwrap the tangled places in your life.
Knowing the wonderful and eternal future that awaits us gives us hope and courage to press on in this life, to seek His abundance.
Increase
Increase
1. By Gods Power
Matthew 9:29:
29 …., According to your faith be it done unto you.
This is your time for increase.
You may have been sick for a long time, but this is your time to get well. You may be bound by addictions and bad habits, but this is the time to be set free. You may be struggling financially, but this is the time for promotion.
The key is to believe.
What He wants to do in your life is not going to be by your might or power.
It’s going to be by His Spirit.
The power of the Most High God shall come upon you and cause it to happen.
2. You Can Be It
2 Kings 2:9-10:
9 When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.”
And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.”
10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.”
Elijah was saying, if you can see it, you can be it.”
If you can visualize it with your spiritual eyes it can become a reality in your life.
Remember, low expectations trap you in mediocrity: a high expectation motivates and propel you to move forward in life.
This isn’t name it claim it but see it and believe it.
3. Raise Your Level of Expectancy
Colossians 3:2:
2And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.
God is extremely interested in what you see through your spiritual eyes.
It is a spiritual as well as a psychological fact: we move towards what we see in our minds.
Your life will follow your expectations.
If you raise your level of expectancy, you will enlarge your vision.
This could be the day you see your miracle and get your increase.
1. By Gods Power
Matthew 9:29:
29 …., According to your faith be it done unto you.
This is your time for increase.
You may have been sick for a long time, but this is your time to get well. You may be bound by addictions and bad habits, but this is the time to be set free. You may be struggling financially, but this is the time for promotion.
The key is to believe.
What He wants to do in your life is not going to be by your might or power.
It’s going to be by His Spirit.
The power of the Most High God shall come upon you and cause it to happen.
2. You Can Be It
2 Kings 2:9-10:
9 When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.”
And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.”
10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.”
Elijah was saying, if you can see it, you can be it.”
If you can visualize it with your spiritual eyes it can become a reality in your life.
Remember, low expectations trap you in mediocrity: a high expectation motivates and propel you to move forward in life.
This isn’t name it claim it but see it and believe it.
3. Raise Your Level of Expectancy
Colossians 3:2:
2And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.
God is extremely interested in what you see through your spiritual eyes.
It is a spiritual as well as a psychological fact: we move towards what we see in our minds.
Your life will follow your expectations.
If you raise your level of expectancy, you will enlarge your vision.
This could be the day you see your miracle and get your increase.
Expectations
Expectations
1. Reach Out by Faith
Matthew 9:21-22:
21 for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.”22 Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment.
Having a wrong attitude will always keep you from receiving the good things God wants to pour out in your life.
Your life will change when you change your thinking.
If you want to see God’s far and beyond favor, you have to start believing it, seeing it, and speaking it.
We do this by reaching out by faith.
2. Expect God’s Blessings
Ephesians 2:7:
7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
To experience Gods immeasurable favor, you must start expecting His blessings. Start thinking bigger.
Get rid of any old negative mind-set.
If you will make room for increase in your own thinking, God will bring those things to pass.
But God will not pour fresh, creative ideas and blessings into old attitudes.
3. Expect Great Things
Mark 9:23:
23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
With God all things are possible! Repeat
Let the seeds God is placing in your life take root so they can grow.
Expect Gods favor to help you break out of the ruts and rise to new heights.
It can happen without a bank loan or having the right education. It can happen in spite of your past and what your friends or family are telling you.
You don’t have to be bound by the barriers of the past.
Expect to excel in whatever you do.
Expect God to do great things in your life today.
1. Reach Out by Faith
Matthew 9:21-22:
21 for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.”22 Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment.
Having a wrong attitude will always keep you from receiving the good things God wants to pour out in your life.
Your life will change when you change your thinking.
If you want to see God’s far and beyond favor, you have to start believing it, seeing it, and speaking it.
We do this by reaching out by faith.
2. Expect God’s Blessings
Ephesians 2:7:
7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
To experience Gods immeasurable favor, you must start expecting His blessings. Start thinking bigger.
Get rid of any old negative mind-set.
If you will make room for increase in your own thinking, God will bring those things to pass.
But God will not pour fresh, creative ideas and blessings into old attitudes.
3. Expect Great Things
Mark 9:23:
23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
With God all things are possible! Repeat
Let the seeds God is placing in your life take root so they can grow.
Expect Gods favor to help you break out of the ruts and rise to new heights.
It can happen without a bank loan or having the right education. It can happen in spite of your past and what your friends or family are telling you.
You don’t have to be bound by the barriers of the past.
Expect to excel in whatever you do.
Expect God to do great things in your life today.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Reminders
Reminders
1. The Value of Memories
Numbers 15:39:
39 When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the Lord instead of following your own desires and defiling yourselves, as you are prone to do.
We need to put things in front of us that remind us of good times in the past, while expanding our vision for better experiences in the future.
Be careful not say “I wish I was still that happy or I wish those days were still here.”
No, let the image sink deep down inside you.
Don’t let good things God has done in your life slip away.
To produce it on the outside, you must first picture it on the inside.
Rev 12:11 and they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.
A testimony is someone giving an account of something they remember. Example a witness is called to give a testimony of what they may have seen or witnessed.
We need to give testimony of what all Christ has done on our behalf. We defeat the enemy by our testimonies.
If God did it once for you He will do it again.
2. Keep Gods Word Visible
Deuteronomy 6:6-9:
6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
To build yourself up spiritually and keep you filled with faith, you may benefit from decorating your home with Scriptures.
On the bathroom mirror or where ever you get dressed place scriptures such as “ I can do all things through Christ” or “ this is the day the Lord has made”.
Place on your refrigerator a reminder that “God always causes me to triumph”.
At the door, place the truth “Gods favor is surrounding me like a shield” or “Goodness and mercy are following you today”.
Put up things that help remind you to have a big vision for your life.
3. Renew Your Attitude
Matthew 9:17:
17 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.”
Have you assumed that you’ve reached your limits in life?
Sad to say, you are right… unless you are willing to change your thinking and start believing for something bigger.
When Jesus wanted to encourage His followers to enlarge their vision, He reminded them, You cant put new wine into old wineskins”.
He was saying that you cannot have a larger life with restricted attitudes..
Today, will you stretch your faith and vision and get rid of those old negative mind-sets that are holding you back?
1. The Value of Memories
Numbers 15:39:
39 When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the Lord instead of following your own desires and defiling yourselves, as you are prone to do.
We need to put things in front of us that remind us of good times in the past, while expanding our vision for better experiences in the future.
Be careful not say “I wish I was still that happy or I wish those days were still here.”
No, let the image sink deep down inside you.
Don’t let good things God has done in your life slip away.
To produce it on the outside, you must first picture it on the inside.
Rev 12:11 and they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.
A testimony is someone giving an account of something they remember. Example a witness is called to give a testimony of what they may have seen or witnessed.
We need to give testimony of what all Christ has done on our behalf. We defeat the enemy by our testimonies.
If God did it once for you He will do it again.
2. Keep Gods Word Visible
Deuteronomy 6:6-9:
6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
To build yourself up spiritually and keep you filled with faith, you may benefit from decorating your home with Scriptures.
On the bathroom mirror or where ever you get dressed place scriptures such as “ I can do all things through Christ” or “ this is the day the Lord has made”.
Place on your refrigerator a reminder that “God always causes me to triumph”.
At the door, place the truth “Gods favor is surrounding me like a shield” or “Goodness and mercy are following you today”.
Put up things that help remind you to have a big vision for your life.
3. Renew Your Attitude
Matthew 9:17:
17 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.”
Have you assumed that you’ve reached your limits in life?
Sad to say, you are right… unless you are willing to change your thinking and start believing for something bigger.
When Jesus wanted to encourage His followers to enlarge their vision, He reminded them, You cant put new wine into old wineskins”.
He was saying that you cannot have a larger life with restricted attitudes..
Today, will you stretch your faith and vision and get rid of those old negative mind-sets that are holding you back?
Monday, September 5, 2011
A word from the Lord
My Son,
As my children saw the sea part before them, so shall you see great things.
So not despise small beginnings for out of small things come great things.
Behold I will be doing great things for you, things that you have been waiting for. Behold I am your Father. Step in faith, each step is a step you need to take.
As my children saw the sea part before them, so shall you see great things.
So not despise small beginnings for out of small things come great things.
Behold I will be doing great things for you, things that you have been waiting for. Behold I am your Father. Step in faith, each step is a step you need to take.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Focus
Focus
Perhaps you started with big dreams in your hearts- you’re going to excel in your careers, excel as parents, and excel in your walk with God. You get started, but then things get difficult, and achieving your goals doesn’t happen as quickly as you had hoped.
Discouragement sets in, and we start to give up.
We start to lose focus, it doesn’t seem as clear as it once did.
1. Focus on Your Goals
Isaiah 51
A Call to Trust the Lord
1 “Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance—
all who seek the Lord!
Consider the rock from which you were cut,
the quarry from which you were mined
Your vision, what you see, has a tremendous impact in your life.
If you focus on an image of success in your mind, you’re going to move toward success, but if you see yourself as barely getting by, your marriage getting worse, your health going downhill, then most likely your life will gravitate towards those negative situations.
We need to quit allowing our imaginations to keep us beaten down.
Keep your goals you want to see come to pass in front of you.
That image will set the limits for your life.
2. Eyes of Faith
Genesis 15:5:
5 Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”
Why did God tell Abraham to go out and look at the stars?
Because God knew Abraham needed to get a picture of it in his mind.
Abraham and Sarah were old and childless, and in the natural, it was an impossible situation.
Whenever they looked up at the stars they were reminded of Gods promise.
They began to see the promise through eyes of faith.
You can’t give birth to a dream you have not first conceived.
You must conceive it on the inside through your eyes of faith before it will come to pass on the outside.
Change what you’re seeing, and you will change what you’re producing.
3. Break the Curse
Deuteronomy 11:26-28 - "See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse - the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known."
If your family has a long history of sickness and disease, divorce, or poverty, don’t sit back and see yourself the same way: “Well, I guess this is my lot in life.”
No, you more than anybody else need to start developing a new picture.
You need to see yourself as strong, healthy, and living a long, satisfied life.
You can be the one to break that curse.
But the first thing you must do is change the image you have of yourself on the inside.
Get a new vision.
Perhaps you started with big dreams in your hearts- you’re going to excel in your careers, excel as parents, and excel in your walk with God. You get started, but then things get difficult, and achieving your goals doesn’t happen as quickly as you had hoped.
Discouragement sets in, and we start to give up.
We start to lose focus, it doesn’t seem as clear as it once did.
1. Focus on Your Goals
Isaiah 51
A Call to Trust the Lord
1 “Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance—
all who seek the Lord!
Consider the rock from which you were cut,
the quarry from which you were mined
Your vision, what you see, has a tremendous impact in your life.
If you focus on an image of success in your mind, you’re going to move toward success, but if you see yourself as barely getting by, your marriage getting worse, your health going downhill, then most likely your life will gravitate towards those negative situations.
We need to quit allowing our imaginations to keep us beaten down.
Keep your goals you want to see come to pass in front of you.
That image will set the limits for your life.
2. Eyes of Faith
Genesis 15:5:
5 Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”
Why did God tell Abraham to go out and look at the stars?
Because God knew Abraham needed to get a picture of it in his mind.
Abraham and Sarah were old and childless, and in the natural, it was an impossible situation.
Whenever they looked up at the stars they were reminded of Gods promise.
They began to see the promise through eyes of faith.
You can’t give birth to a dream you have not first conceived.
You must conceive it on the inside through your eyes of faith before it will come to pass on the outside.
Change what you’re seeing, and you will change what you’re producing.
3. Break the Curse
Deuteronomy 11:26-28 - "See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse - the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known."
If your family has a long history of sickness and disease, divorce, or poverty, don’t sit back and see yourself the same way: “Well, I guess this is my lot in life.”
No, you more than anybody else need to start developing a new picture.
You need to see yourself as strong, healthy, and living a long, satisfied life.
You can be the one to break that curse.
But the first thing you must do is change the image you have of yourself on the inside.
Get a new vision.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Series " Your Best Life
Come join us as we begin a series of messages called “Your Best Life”.
If you don’t want to live your life with a ‘barely-getting -by’ mentality and you want to become the best you can be. Then you don’t want to miss these messages.
Sept 4th “Focus”
Sept 11th “Reminders”
Sept 18th “Expectations”
Oct 2 “Increase”
Oct. 9th “Abundance”
Oct 16th “Limitless”
Oct. 23rd “Change”
Oct 30th “More”
Join us at Church of the New Harvest Sundays at 11am.
223 Clinton Ave
Elyria Ohio, 44035
If you don’t want to live your life with a ‘barely-getting -by’ mentality and you want to become the best you can be. Then you don’t want to miss these messages.
Sept 4th “Focus”
Sept 11th “Reminders”
Sept 18th “Expectations”
Oct 2 “Increase”
Oct. 9th “Abundance”
Oct 16th “Limitless”
Oct. 23rd “Change”
Oct 30th “More”
Join us at Church of the New Harvest Sundays at 11am.
223 Clinton Ave
Elyria Ohio, 44035
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Do You See What He Sees
Illustration of useful things that clutter
Perhaps you started with big dreams in your hearts- you’re going to excel in your careers, excel as parents, and excel in your walk with God. You get started, but then things get difficult, and achieving your goals doesn’t happen as quickly as you had hoped.
Discouragement sets in, and we start to give up.
Do You See What He See
1. Expand Your Horizons
Psalm 31:24:
24 So be strong and courageous,
all you who put your hope in the Lord!
A. Look yourself in the mirror and say,” I am not going to settle for mediocrity. Nothing maybe going my way right now, but I am going to trust God to help me expand my horizons.
B. Focus on your goal, set your course, and have the attitude, I am going to reach my full potential in God. I am going to start living my best life now!
C. How’s your spiritual vision this morning? Are you focusing on your problems, on what you can’t do, on what you can’t have?
D. The barrier is in your mind. It’s not Gods lack of resources or your lack of talent that holds you back.
It’s simply because you are focused on the wrong things.
2. Get a New Vision
Mark 8:18:
18 ‘You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?’ Don’t you remember anything at all?
A. Your vision of who you are and what you can become has a tremendous impact in your life.
B. You need to start allowing God to use your imagination to build you up, to help you accomplish your dreams.
C. Take out the paintbrush of faith, hope, and expectancy and begin painting a bright future on the canvas of your heart.
Matthew 6:22-23:
22 “Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. 23 But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
Spiritual vision is our capacity to see clearly what God wants us to do and see the world from His point of view.
But this spiritual insight can be easily clouded. Self-serving desires, interest, and goals block that vision.
Serving God is the best way to restore it.
A “good” eye is one that is fixed on God.
3. See Yourself Rising
A. Each of us has a picture of ourselves in our imaginations.
B. You will never consistently rise higher than the image you have of yourself, and you will never accomplish things that you don’t first see yourself accomplishing.
C. If you can learn to look at life through your eyes of faith and start seeing yourself rising to new levels-seeing yourself accomplishing your dreams, receiving more, giving more, loving more, and enjoying life, seeing your family serving God- you’ll experience God’s blessings and favor.
Conclusion: It doesnt matter what you end up being in life as long as we are serving the Lord. I dont think it really mattered to David if he was a shepherd or a king as long as he could bring honor and glory to his Lord.David was a man who the Bible says was a man after Gods own heart and he was far from perfect.
I dont know why some people have such success and it seems others struggle but at the end of the day I want to hear people say" my heart looks like His heart" so matter what path my God leads me I will follow, either He has called me to be a shepherd or a king.
Perhaps you started with big dreams in your hearts- you’re going to excel in your careers, excel as parents, and excel in your walk with God. You get started, but then things get difficult, and achieving your goals doesn’t happen as quickly as you had hoped.
Discouragement sets in, and we start to give up.
Do You See What He See
1. Expand Your Horizons
Psalm 31:24:
24 So be strong and courageous,
all you who put your hope in the Lord!
A. Look yourself in the mirror and say,” I am not going to settle for mediocrity. Nothing maybe going my way right now, but I am going to trust God to help me expand my horizons.
B. Focus on your goal, set your course, and have the attitude, I am going to reach my full potential in God. I am going to start living my best life now!
C. How’s your spiritual vision this morning? Are you focusing on your problems, on what you can’t do, on what you can’t have?
D. The barrier is in your mind. It’s not Gods lack of resources or your lack of talent that holds you back.
It’s simply because you are focused on the wrong things.
2. Get a New Vision
Mark 8:18:
18 ‘You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?’ Don’t you remember anything at all?
A. Your vision of who you are and what you can become has a tremendous impact in your life.
B. You need to start allowing God to use your imagination to build you up, to help you accomplish your dreams.
C. Take out the paintbrush of faith, hope, and expectancy and begin painting a bright future on the canvas of your heart.
Matthew 6:22-23:
22 “Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. 23 But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
Spiritual vision is our capacity to see clearly what God wants us to do and see the world from His point of view.
But this spiritual insight can be easily clouded. Self-serving desires, interest, and goals block that vision.
Serving God is the best way to restore it.
A “good” eye is one that is fixed on God.
3. See Yourself Rising
A. Each of us has a picture of ourselves in our imaginations.
B. You will never consistently rise higher than the image you have of yourself, and you will never accomplish things that you don’t first see yourself accomplishing.
C. If you can learn to look at life through your eyes of faith and start seeing yourself rising to new levels-seeing yourself accomplishing your dreams, receiving more, giving more, loving more, and enjoying life, seeing your family serving God- you’ll experience God’s blessings and favor.
Conclusion: It doesnt matter what you end up being in life as long as we are serving the Lord. I dont think it really mattered to David if he was a shepherd or a king as long as he could bring honor and glory to his Lord.David was a man who the Bible says was a man after Gods own heart and he was far from perfect.
I dont know why some people have such success and it seems others struggle but at the end of the day I want to hear people say" my heart looks like His heart" so matter what path my God leads me I will follow, either He has called me to be a shepherd or a king.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
What do you have to offer God?
With Help from Little Friends
Topic
God will use you if you allow Him to do so.
Biblical basis
Passage John 6:1-15:
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
1 After this, Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. 2 A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick. 3 Then Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around him. 4 (It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration.) 5 Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” 6 He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.
7 Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!”
8 Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. 9 “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”
10 “Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. 12 After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” 13 So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves.
14 When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!” 15 When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.
Description
The key ingredient in the miracle of Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000 was not the day, the crowd, the messages, the disciples or even the food. It was the boy with the lunch bag who had the courage to come forward and offer something seemingly insignificant to the Lord. Jesus used the seemingly puny gift of a child’s lunch to create one of His most dramatic miracles.
The big idea
We often hold ourselves back from God’s plan because we see ourselves as having nothing of value to offer, but when we give what we have, He can work miracles.
All of us need to realize that all of us have lots to offer in doing God’s work.
Illustration: pyramid building
In the word
I. Jesus Had Compassion
A. In Matthew 14:14 it says. Jesus saw the crowd and had compassion!
B. Compassion is not just feeling sorry for someone but really hurting for and with them.
C. Compassion is saying, “I know what is going on in your life. I know your needs, and I care!”
D. Jesus knows each of our needs, and He cares about each one of those needs.
1. He sees the needs of those around us as well.
2. Don’t ever think that your needs or others’ needs are too big or too small for God to help you!
E. According to Luke 12:27-30. God knows our needs.
II. Jesus Was the Answer
A. Jesus was the answer for the needs of the crowd.
B. In John 6:7 Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!”, the disciples were focused on the need and missed the answer—Jesus.
C. In John 6:8-9 , Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. 9 “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”
Andrew had an idea—but how far would the loaves and fishes really go?
D. Isn’t that just like us? “But God, can You really do it? Can You really use me?”
III. Bring What You Have to Jesus
A. In Matthew 14:18, Jesus says, “Bring them here to Me.”
1. Jesus says, “Give Me what you have and I’ll do something with it.”
2. Bring your gifts, talents and dreams to Jesus.
3. Bring what you have and lay it at the feet of Jesus. He can do the incredible!
B. How do you bring things to Jesus? By prayer!
1. God is faithful to meet your needs, no matter how big they may seem to you.
2. What you bring to Jesus can meet your needs and the needs of others.
C. God will use you to meet the needs of others. The question is whether you will bring your gifts, talents and abilities to God.
Rise up mighty warrior and walk in the anointing of the Lord.
Ps 23: 6 surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Topic
God will use you if you allow Him to do so.
Biblical basis
Passage John 6:1-15:
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
1 After this, Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. 2 A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick. 3 Then Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around him. 4 (It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration.) 5 Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” 6 He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.
7 Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!”
8 Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. 9 “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”
10 “Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. 12 After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” 13 So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves.
14 When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!” 15 When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.
Description
The key ingredient in the miracle of Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000 was not the day, the crowd, the messages, the disciples or even the food. It was the boy with the lunch bag who had the courage to come forward and offer something seemingly insignificant to the Lord. Jesus used the seemingly puny gift of a child’s lunch to create one of His most dramatic miracles.
The big idea
We often hold ourselves back from God’s plan because we see ourselves as having nothing of value to offer, but when we give what we have, He can work miracles.
All of us need to realize that all of us have lots to offer in doing God’s work.
Illustration: pyramid building
In the word
I. Jesus Had Compassion
A. In Matthew 14:14 it says. Jesus saw the crowd and had compassion!
B. Compassion is not just feeling sorry for someone but really hurting for and with them.
C. Compassion is saying, “I know what is going on in your life. I know your needs, and I care!”
D. Jesus knows each of our needs, and He cares about each one of those needs.
1. He sees the needs of those around us as well.
2. Don’t ever think that your needs or others’ needs are too big or too small for God to help you!
E. According to Luke 12:27-30. God knows our needs.
II. Jesus Was the Answer
A. Jesus was the answer for the needs of the crowd.
B. In John 6:7 Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!”, the disciples were focused on the need and missed the answer—Jesus.
C. In John 6:8-9 , Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. 9 “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”
Andrew had an idea—but how far would the loaves and fishes really go?
D. Isn’t that just like us? “But God, can You really do it? Can You really use me?”
III. Bring What You Have to Jesus
A. In Matthew 14:18, Jesus says, “Bring them here to Me.”
1. Jesus says, “Give Me what you have and I’ll do something with it.”
2. Bring your gifts, talents and dreams to Jesus.
3. Bring what you have and lay it at the feet of Jesus. He can do the incredible!
B. How do you bring things to Jesus? By prayer!
1. God is faithful to meet your needs, no matter how big they may seem to you.
2. What you bring to Jesus can meet your needs and the needs of others.
C. God will use you to meet the needs of others. The question is whether you will bring your gifts, talents and abilities to God.
Rise up mighty warrior and walk in the anointing of the Lord.
Ps 23: 6 surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Tithing
You've all been Tithing!"
The church treasurer had resigned. The accounts were a mess, and nobody wanted to take on the job. The church deacons, at their wits'end, co-opted the local Chinese grocery owner to supervise the finances.
The shop-keeper seldom came to church, but he agreed to pull the church out of the red -- providing that the deacons would not ask him for a report until the next Annual General Meeting.
At the next A.G.M., the shopkeeper presented his report. A $5,000 loan on the church had been paid, the church had donated $2,000 to missions, and there was a $1,253 credit balance at the bank, with no outstanding debts.
The congregation sat in stunned silence. At last someone staggered to his feet and said, "How did you DO it?"
Quietly the shop-keeper explained: "You all buy groceries at my store, yes? And you all want cledit, yes? And I GIVE you cledit, yes? And I give you my bill at month's end, yes? And you can't read my writing, yes? And you don't know that I add 10% to your bill, yes? And you haven't missed paying my bills, yes? Well, now all of you have been TITHING for a YEAR! Praise God, yes?!"
Stewardship -- The Sign of Loyalty
1 Chronicles 29:10-29:20
STEWARDSHIP -- THE SIGN OF LOYALTY
1 Chronicles 29:10-11
INTRODUCTION:
Today we are going to address a topic that is often uncomfortable for both the pastors and people of many churches. We are going to address the topic of stewardship. This is not going to be a fund raising campaign. Nor is this going to be a plea for more money. It is simply going to be an honest look at the issue of stewardship from a passage in 1 Chronicles which talks about how David and the people provided the resources for building the temple of God. As we look at this passage together we will be asking and answering three questions: 1) Why do we give? 2) How do we give? and 3) What do we give? We will not be exhaustive in our answers to these questions but will primarily stick to this passage and see what it has to say to us regarding these things.
In today’s lesson we will learn that stewardship is a sign of loyalty to God. David writes, “O Lord, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire (for stewardship) in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you” (29:18). Stewardship is the evidence that our hearts are truly loyal to God. This is the case because our finances are usually one of the last areas that we are willing to turn over to God. Therefore, when one becomes a good steward we can be sure of their devotion to God. A pastor I know once said, “If God has their checkbook, you know he has their heart.” I think that is very true. Let’s look at this passage together.
I. WHY SHOULD WE GIVE?
This is a very good question to start with as it is foundational to understand the purpose of stewardship. Many would say that they have worked very hard to earn their money and so why should they turn around and give it away to God. They worked for it. They earned it. It belongs to them. But as we begin to delve into the passage at hand we quickly learn that this simply isn’t true.
A) Because Everything Belongs To God.
If it really belongs to you, you can do with it as you please. However right off the bat we learn that it doesn’t really belong to us but to God. David prays, “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours” (v. 11). This exposes a fundamental flaw in the world views of most people including many Christians. It shows us that our possessions and our money really belongs to God and not to us. And since it doesn’t belong to us in the first place we have no right to hoard it for ourselves.
B) Because Everything Comes From God.
Not only does God own all things, but also everything we have comes to us as a gift from God. “Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all” (v. 12). We give to God because in reality he is both the owner of all things and the source of all things. David clearly understood this when he wrote: “Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand” (v.14). When you understand this truth you realize that when you give you are not giving God what belongs to you, but you are giving God what already belongs to him. For David this was a matter of praise and worship. “Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name” (v. 13). We are often guilty of viewing the song service as the worship. But the offering is every bit as much an act of worship as is singing praise to God. In fact, if we sing our praise to God, but do not back that up with giving to God our songs of praise ring empty.
II. HOW SHOULD WE GIVE?
This questions deals with what manner we should give to God. Did you know that it is not enough to simply give to God? Did you know that you can give to God, but do it in the wrong way? It is important that when we give to God we do it for the right reason and in the right way.
A) We Should Give Generously.
David and the people gave very generously to the Lord’s work. “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand” (v.14). We can give generously to God because God has given generously to us. How generous were David and the people in their giving? Consider these numbers. “Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple: three thousand talents (110 tons) of gold (gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents (260 tons) of refined silver” (vv. 3-4). When the people saw the generosity of their leader they were moved to follow suit. “They gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents (190 tons) and ten thousand darics (180 pounds) of gold, ten thousand talents (375 tons) of silver, eighteen thousand talents (675 tons) of bronze and a hundred thousand talents (3,750 tons) of iron. Any who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the Lord” (vv. 7-8). That is some very generous giving. But before you get overwhelmed with those massive numbers remember that that were able to generously give to God because God had given generously to them. The Bible tells us that we should give to God in proportion to how we have been blessed. This is the principle of tithing. This is the practice of giving 10% of what God has given us back to him. We give to God generously as he has blessed us.
B) We Should Give Willingly.
It is one thing to give generously, but it is another to give willingly. Would you be able to give as generously as the people of Israel did and do so willingly or would you have to be coerced? There are many examples throughout history of kings collecting money from the people by force. But David did not have to send out the army to go door to door collecting from the people at the point of a sword. “The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord” (v. 9). David also said, “I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you” (v.17). In verse eighteen David prays that this will always be the desire of the hearts of the people. That they would always desire to give to God both generously and willingly. It is this attitude of giving generously and willingly that identifies one as being loyal to God.
III. WHAT SHOULD WE GIVE?
We have learned why we should give to God and how we should give to God. Now we turn our attention to what we should give to him. There are three things that we should give to God that are suggested by this passage. David gave gold and silver “for all the work to be done by the craftsmen” (v.5).
A) We Should Give Our Tithe.
David and the people gave God there gold and silver. They gave to God financially. As I mentioned earlier, our financial giving is governed by the principle of the tithe. “A tithe of everything ... belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord” (Leviticus 27:30). The Bible identifies a tithe as a tenth. So ten percent of everything we make belongs to God and he expects us to honor him by giving to him. To keep the tithe that belongs to God is considered stealing from God.
In the Old Testament they brought their tithe to the temple which is where they worshiped. So I believe that we give our tithe where we worship. If you worship here at Heritage, you should give your tithe here. If you attend another church, you should give your tithe there. You should give your tithe at your place of worship.
A tithe is not an offering. The Bible distinguishes between tithes and offerings so they are not the same thing. The tithe is what you owe to God, its what belongs to God. An offering is what you choose to give above your tithe. An offering is usually given for a particular cause or ministry. That also distinguishes it from a tithe. The tithe was given to God to be used as he specified, not as the people specified. To give money that is earmarked for a particular purpose is not a tithe, but an offering. The tithe belongs to God and because it belongs to God we have no right to determine how it will be used. That is up to him.
B) We Should Give Our Talent.
The gold and silver was given so that the craftsmen would have the necessary provisions to work with. These craftsmen were giving their talent to God and we should be doing the same. You may not think of yourself as being particularly talented but everybody has things that they are good at and that they enjoy doing. These are the talents that God has given you and you have a responsibility to give them back to God by using them in his work. You may think of your talent only as a way to make a living, but you need to start seeing as a way to do ministry as well.
C) We Should Give Our Time.
This is closely related to giving God our talent. If the craftsmen were to give God their talent in constructing the temple, then they were going to have to give him a good amount of their time as well. Next to our money our time is probably our most precious commodity. It seems like we never have enough time. But if we are to give our talent to God we must also give our time to God. It takes time to prepare for and teach a Sunday School class or Bible study. It takes time to clean the church. It takes time to make repairs. It takes time to minister to our community. Everything takes time and so we must be willing to carve the necessary time out of our busy schedules.
God expects us to generously and willingly give him our tithe, talent and time. That is the sign of loyalty.
CONCLUSION:
When I was growing up one of Pepsi’s most popular commercials was The Pepsi Challenge. The challenge was to a taste test between Pepsi and Coke. They believed that if you would be willing to give Pepsi a try, you would find that you liked it better. In Malachi chapter 3 God introduces us to The Tithe Challenge. “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 you will not have room enough for it” (Malachi 3:10). God says test me. Give tithing a try and you will find that God blesses you. As we begin a new month I want to encourage you to take The Tithe Challenge. If you are not currently tithing, I would like to challenge you to give 10% of your income to God this month. If you do you will be blessed by God. If you don’t, the Bible says you will be cursed by God. “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse ... because you are robbing me” (Malachi 3:8-9). But if you tithe you will avoid this curse and receive God’s blessing. That doesn’t mean that God will make you rich. But it does mean that the 90% you have left will be sufficient to meet your needs (not your greeds) and if you were honest many of you are having a hard time doing that on 100%. Give tithing a try this month.
Steve Dow
Emily Wesleyan Church
hope@ewchurch.com
Please email me if you use this sermon or a revision of it. Thankyou!
Study Guide:
STEWARDSHIP -- THE SIGN OF LOYALTY
1 Chronicles 29:10-20
February 2, 2003
“Keep this desire [for stewardship] in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you.” 1 Chronicles 29:18
I. WHY SHOULD I GIVE?
A) Because Everything _______________ To God.
B) Because Everything _______________ God.
II. HOW SHOULD I GIVE?
A) We Should Give _______________.
B) We Should Give _______________.
III. WHAT SHOULD WE GIVE?
A) We Should Give Our _______________.
“A tithe of everything ... belong to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.” Leviticus 27:30
B) We Should Give Our _______________.
C) We Should Give Our _______________.
The Tithe Challenge
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse ... 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 you will not have room enough for it.” Malachi 3:10
The church treasurer had resigned. The accounts were a mess, and nobody wanted to take on the job. The church deacons, at their wits'end, co-opted the local Chinese grocery owner to supervise the finances.
The shop-keeper seldom came to church, but he agreed to pull the church out of the red -- providing that the deacons would not ask him for a report until the next Annual General Meeting.
At the next A.G.M., the shopkeeper presented his report. A $5,000 loan on the church had been paid, the church had donated $2,000 to missions, and there was a $1,253 credit balance at the bank, with no outstanding debts.
The congregation sat in stunned silence. At last someone staggered to his feet and said, "How did you DO it?"
Quietly the shop-keeper explained: "You all buy groceries at my store, yes? And you all want cledit, yes? And I GIVE you cledit, yes? And I give you my bill at month's end, yes? And you can't read my writing, yes? And you don't know that I add 10% to your bill, yes? And you haven't missed paying my bills, yes? Well, now all of you have been TITHING for a YEAR! Praise God, yes?!"
Stewardship -- The Sign of Loyalty
1 Chronicles 29:10-29:20
STEWARDSHIP -- THE SIGN OF LOYALTY
1 Chronicles 29:10-11
INTRODUCTION:
Today we are going to address a topic that is often uncomfortable for both the pastors and people of many churches. We are going to address the topic of stewardship. This is not going to be a fund raising campaign. Nor is this going to be a plea for more money. It is simply going to be an honest look at the issue of stewardship from a passage in 1 Chronicles which talks about how David and the people provided the resources for building the temple of God. As we look at this passage together we will be asking and answering three questions: 1) Why do we give? 2) How do we give? and 3) What do we give? We will not be exhaustive in our answers to these questions but will primarily stick to this passage and see what it has to say to us regarding these things.
In today’s lesson we will learn that stewardship is a sign of loyalty to God. David writes, “O Lord, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire (for stewardship) in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you” (29:18). Stewardship is the evidence that our hearts are truly loyal to God. This is the case because our finances are usually one of the last areas that we are willing to turn over to God. Therefore, when one becomes a good steward we can be sure of their devotion to God. A pastor I know once said, “If God has their checkbook, you know he has their heart.” I think that is very true. Let’s look at this passage together.
I. WHY SHOULD WE GIVE?
This is a very good question to start with as it is foundational to understand the purpose of stewardship. Many would say that they have worked very hard to earn their money and so why should they turn around and give it away to God. They worked for it. They earned it. It belongs to them. But as we begin to delve into the passage at hand we quickly learn that this simply isn’t true.
A) Because Everything Belongs To God.
If it really belongs to you, you can do with it as you please. However right off the bat we learn that it doesn’t really belong to us but to God. David prays, “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours” (v. 11). This exposes a fundamental flaw in the world views of most people including many Christians. It shows us that our possessions and our money really belongs to God and not to us. And since it doesn’t belong to us in the first place we have no right to hoard it for ourselves.
B) Because Everything Comes From God.
Not only does God own all things, but also everything we have comes to us as a gift from God. “Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all” (v. 12). We give to God because in reality he is both the owner of all things and the source of all things. David clearly understood this when he wrote: “Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand” (v.14). When you understand this truth you realize that when you give you are not giving God what belongs to you, but you are giving God what already belongs to him. For David this was a matter of praise and worship. “Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name” (v. 13). We are often guilty of viewing the song service as the worship. But the offering is every bit as much an act of worship as is singing praise to God. In fact, if we sing our praise to God, but do not back that up with giving to God our songs of praise ring empty.
II. HOW SHOULD WE GIVE?
This questions deals with what manner we should give to God. Did you know that it is not enough to simply give to God? Did you know that you can give to God, but do it in the wrong way? It is important that when we give to God we do it for the right reason and in the right way.
A) We Should Give Generously.
David and the people gave very generously to the Lord’s work. “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand” (v.14). We can give generously to God because God has given generously to us. How generous were David and the people in their giving? Consider these numbers. “Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple: three thousand talents (110 tons) of gold (gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents (260 tons) of refined silver” (vv. 3-4). When the people saw the generosity of their leader they were moved to follow suit. “They gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents (190 tons) and ten thousand darics (180 pounds) of gold, ten thousand talents (375 tons) of silver, eighteen thousand talents (675 tons) of bronze and a hundred thousand talents (3,750 tons) of iron. Any who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the Lord” (vv. 7-8). That is some very generous giving. But before you get overwhelmed with those massive numbers remember that that were able to generously give to God because God had given generously to them. The Bible tells us that we should give to God in proportion to how we have been blessed. This is the principle of tithing. This is the practice of giving 10% of what God has given us back to him. We give to God generously as he has blessed us.
B) We Should Give Willingly.
It is one thing to give generously, but it is another to give willingly. Would you be able to give as generously as the people of Israel did and do so willingly or would you have to be coerced? There are many examples throughout history of kings collecting money from the people by force. But David did not have to send out the army to go door to door collecting from the people at the point of a sword. “The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord” (v. 9). David also said, “I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you” (v.17). In verse eighteen David prays that this will always be the desire of the hearts of the people. That they would always desire to give to God both generously and willingly. It is this attitude of giving generously and willingly that identifies one as being loyal to God.
III. WHAT SHOULD WE GIVE?
We have learned why we should give to God and how we should give to God. Now we turn our attention to what we should give to him. There are three things that we should give to God that are suggested by this passage. David gave gold and silver “for all the work to be done by the craftsmen” (v.5).
A) We Should Give Our Tithe.
David and the people gave God there gold and silver. They gave to God financially. As I mentioned earlier, our financial giving is governed by the principle of the tithe. “A tithe of everything ... belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord” (Leviticus 27:30). The Bible identifies a tithe as a tenth. So ten percent of everything we make belongs to God and he expects us to honor him by giving to him. To keep the tithe that belongs to God is considered stealing from God.
In the Old Testament they brought their tithe to the temple which is where they worshiped. So I believe that we give our tithe where we worship. If you worship here at Heritage, you should give your tithe here. If you attend another church, you should give your tithe there. You should give your tithe at your place of worship.
A tithe is not an offering. The Bible distinguishes between tithes and offerings so they are not the same thing. The tithe is what you owe to God, its what belongs to God. An offering is what you choose to give above your tithe. An offering is usually given for a particular cause or ministry. That also distinguishes it from a tithe. The tithe was given to God to be used as he specified, not as the people specified. To give money that is earmarked for a particular purpose is not a tithe, but an offering. The tithe belongs to God and because it belongs to God we have no right to determine how it will be used. That is up to him.
B) We Should Give Our Talent.
The gold and silver was given so that the craftsmen would have the necessary provisions to work with. These craftsmen were giving their talent to God and we should be doing the same. You may not think of yourself as being particularly talented but everybody has things that they are good at and that they enjoy doing. These are the talents that God has given you and you have a responsibility to give them back to God by using them in his work. You may think of your talent only as a way to make a living, but you need to start seeing as a way to do ministry as well.
C) We Should Give Our Time.
This is closely related to giving God our talent. If the craftsmen were to give God their talent in constructing the temple, then they were going to have to give him a good amount of their time as well. Next to our money our time is probably our most precious commodity. It seems like we never have enough time. But if we are to give our talent to God we must also give our time to God. It takes time to prepare for and teach a Sunday School class or Bible study. It takes time to clean the church. It takes time to make repairs. It takes time to minister to our community. Everything takes time and so we must be willing to carve the necessary time out of our busy schedules.
God expects us to generously and willingly give him our tithe, talent and time. That is the sign of loyalty.
CONCLUSION:
When I was growing up one of Pepsi’s most popular commercials was The Pepsi Challenge. The challenge was to a taste test between Pepsi and Coke. They believed that if you would be willing to give Pepsi a try, you would find that you liked it better. In Malachi chapter 3 God introduces us to The Tithe Challenge. “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 you will not have room enough for it” (Malachi 3:10). God says test me. Give tithing a try and you will find that God blesses you. As we begin a new month I want to encourage you to take The Tithe Challenge. If you are not currently tithing, I would like to challenge you to give 10% of your income to God this month. If you do you will be blessed by God. If you don’t, the Bible says you will be cursed by God. “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse ... because you are robbing me” (Malachi 3:8-9). But if you tithe you will avoid this curse and receive God’s blessing. That doesn’t mean that God will make you rich. But it does mean that the 90% you have left will be sufficient to meet your needs (not your greeds) and if you were honest many of you are having a hard time doing that on 100%. Give tithing a try this month.
Steve Dow
Emily Wesleyan Church
hope@ewchurch.com
Please email me if you use this sermon or a revision of it. Thankyou!
Study Guide:
STEWARDSHIP -- THE SIGN OF LOYALTY
1 Chronicles 29:10-20
February 2, 2003
“Keep this desire [for stewardship] in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you.” 1 Chronicles 29:18
I. WHY SHOULD I GIVE?
A) Because Everything _______________ To God.
B) Because Everything _______________ God.
II. HOW SHOULD I GIVE?
A) We Should Give _______________.
B) We Should Give _______________.
III. WHAT SHOULD WE GIVE?
A) We Should Give Our _______________.
“A tithe of everything ... belong to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.” Leviticus 27:30
B) We Should Give Our _______________.
C) We Should Give Our _______________.
The Tithe Challenge
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse ... 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 you will not have room enough for it.” Malachi 3:10
Sunday, August 14, 2011
7th Annual Cross Walk
7th Annual Cross Walk
To dream is to hope for things that seem unobtainable, to realize your potential in God you will see extraordinary possibilities begin to unfold. Many if not all of Lorain County residents all have a dream.
That the economy will improve, more jobs will be created, less violence in the neighborhoods. This year’s cross walk is centered on obtaining such dreams. 2 Chronicles 7:14 tells us how we can obtain these dreams. It states “if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”
September 3rd I am asking that people from all walks of faith meet at the steps of Lorain City Hall at noon as we open up in prayer for this great community. We will proceed to walk up Broadway to 254 taking Lake Ave into Elyria finishing at Church of the New Harvest for another unified prayer time for our community. As we all walk I ask that each person be in a prayer mind set for the leaders, local businesses and families as we pass by them.
No-one is expected or required to walk from start to finish, each person will decide that for themselves. This year’s cross walk will be headed off by my dad Danny Sr. who continues to battle with cancer. He will be the first in line to carry the 6ft wooded cross.
Everyone is very forth coming to voice that there are problems. On this day will be your chance to do something positive that will make a change. God plainly set forth certain conditions for us to meet if we want our city to prosper. Being obedient to God will bring forth benefits and rewards for us. Disobedience brings suffering, and punishment. What will you choose?
September 3rd make a commitment to be a strong and courageous child of God, fearlessly proclaiming Gods Word, and listen to His message in relationship to your own life- retain, repent and be renewed.
This year’s walk will focus on renewing our community and I believe it starts with the people. Dare to make a change in not only your own life but in someone else’s.
Even though we live for the day we have to plan for the future. What futures will our children, and their children have if we don’t do our part and pray for this land that we live in. For more details regarding the walk I can be reached at 1(440) 714- 0820 or dannyparsons51@gmail.com.
To dream is to hope for things that seem unobtainable, to realize your potential in God you will see extraordinary possibilities begin to unfold. Many if not all of Lorain County residents all have a dream.
That the economy will improve, more jobs will be created, less violence in the neighborhoods. This year’s cross walk is centered on obtaining such dreams. 2 Chronicles 7:14 tells us how we can obtain these dreams. It states “if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”
September 3rd I am asking that people from all walks of faith meet at the steps of Lorain City Hall at noon as we open up in prayer for this great community. We will proceed to walk up Broadway to 254 taking Lake Ave into Elyria finishing at Church of the New Harvest for another unified prayer time for our community. As we all walk I ask that each person be in a prayer mind set for the leaders, local businesses and families as we pass by them.
No-one is expected or required to walk from start to finish, each person will decide that for themselves. This year’s cross walk will be headed off by my dad Danny Sr. who continues to battle with cancer. He will be the first in line to carry the 6ft wooded cross.
Everyone is very forth coming to voice that there are problems. On this day will be your chance to do something positive that will make a change. God plainly set forth certain conditions for us to meet if we want our city to prosper. Being obedient to God will bring forth benefits and rewards for us. Disobedience brings suffering, and punishment. What will you choose?
September 3rd make a commitment to be a strong and courageous child of God, fearlessly proclaiming Gods Word, and listen to His message in relationship to your own life- retain, repent and be renewed.
This year’s walk will focus on renewing our community and I believe it starts with the people. Dare to make a change in not only your own life but in someone else’s.
Even though we live for the day we have to plan for the future. What futures will our children, and their children have if we don’t do our part and pray for this land that we live in. For more details regarding the walk I can be reached at 1(440) 714- 0820 or dannyparsons51@gmail.com.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Birth
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness..........you are more blessed than the millions who will not survive this week.
If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation.......you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.
If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep...you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace....... you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.
If your parents are still alive and still married........you are very rare, even in the United States.
If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful.....you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.
If you prayed yesterday and today........you are in the minority because you believe God does hear and answer prayers.
________________________________________
The Birth
Genesis 17:15-17:
15 Then God said to Abraham, “Regarding Sarai, your wife—her name will no longer be Sarai. From now on her name will be Sarah. 16 And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants.”
17 Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?”
Genesis 18:9-14
9 “Where is Sarah, your wife?” the visitors asked.
“She’s inside the tent,” Abraham replied.
10 Then one of them said, “I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!”
Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent. 11 Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children. 12 So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?”
13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord
Luke 1:11-20
11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.
18 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.”
19 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! 20 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 1:30-38
30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she’s now in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.”
38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
What does God want to birth in you? Let’s look at all the similarities in all three of these examples.
1. God gave a promise
2. All had doubt and disbelief
3. In spite of their doubt and disbelief God still did what He said He would do.
In all three cases where impossible circumstances.
All three cases God birthed a miracle.
God is in the Miracle Business
John 20:30
There are also many other signs and miracles which Jesus performed in the presence of the disciples which are not written in this book.
Is anything too hard for the Lord? The obvious answer is “of course not!”
Make it a habit to insert your own specific needs into this question.
Is this day in my life too hard for the Lord? Is this habit I’m trying to break to hard for Him? Is this sickness to hard for Him to handle?
Asking the question this way reminds us that God is personally involved in your life and nudges you to ask for His power to help.
What God promises, He delivers. And He delivers on time! You can have complete confidence that God will keep His promises.
God is always on Time
Eph 2:10
For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
Their fulfillment may not be the next day, but they will be at the proper time”.
If you are waiting for God to answer some request or to fill some need, remain patient.
No matter how impossible God’s promises may seem, what He has said in His Word will come true at the right time.
God answers prayer in His own way and in His own time. He works best in impossible situations.
If you want to have your prayers answered, you must be open to what God can do in impossible situations. And you must wait for God to work in His way and in His time.
He always Finishes what He Starts
Phil 1:6
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
When you get discouraged, remember that God won’t give up on you.
He promises to finish the work He has begun.
When you feel incomplete, unfinished, or distressed by shortcomings, remember Gods promise and provision.
Don’t let your present condition rob you of the joy of knowing Christ or keep you from growing closer to Him.
Conclusion: As a pastor its very typical that people would come to me and want me to fix issues in their lives, their marriage, finances, health.
I can’t DO ANYTHING for problems 2,3,4 or 5 until you fixed the number 1 problem and that is putting Christ first in your life. When He is first everything else will fall into place.
Matthew 6:33:
33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
The key to giving birth to greatness is putting Christ first in your life.
If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation.......you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.
If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep...you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace....... you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.
If your parents are still alive and still married........you are very rare, even in the United States.
If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful.....you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.
If you prayed yesterday and today........you are in the minority because you believe God does hear and answer prayers.
________________________________________
The Birth
Genesis 17:15-17:
15 Then God said to Abraham, “Regarding Sarai, your wife—her name will no longer be Sarai. From now on her name will be Sarah. 16 And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants.”
17 Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?”
Genesis 18:9-14
9 “Where is Sarah, your wife?” the visitors asked.
“She’s inside the tent,” Abraham replied.
10 Then one of them said, “I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!”
Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent. 11 Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children. 12 So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?”
13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord
Luke 1:11-20
11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.
18 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.”
19 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! 20 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 1:30-38
30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she’s now in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.”
38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
What does God want to birth in you? Let’s look at all the similarities in all three of these examples.
1. God gave a promise
2. All had doubt and disbelief
3. In spite of their doubt and disbelief God still did what He said He would do.
In all three cases where impossible circumstances.
All three cases God birthed a miracle.
God is in the Miracle Business
John 20:30
There are also many other signs and miracles which Jesus performed in the presence of the disciples which are not written in this book.
Is anything too hard for the Lord? The obvious answer is “of course not!”
Make it a habit to insert your own specific needs into this question.
Is this day in my life too hard for the Lord? Is this habit I’m trying to break to hard for Him? Is this sickness to hard for Him to handle?
Asking the question this way reminds us that God is personally involved in your life and nudges you to ask for His power to help.
What God promises, He delivers. And He delivers on time! You can have complete confidence that God will keep His promises.
God is always on Time
Eph 2:10
For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
Their fulfillment may not be the next day, but they will be at the proper time”.
If you are waiting for God to answer some request or to fill some need, remain patient.
No matter how impossible God’s promises may seem, what He has said in His Word will come true at the right time.
God answers prayer in His own way and in His own time. He works best in impossible situations.
If you want to have your prayers answered, you must be open to what God can do in impossible situations. And you must wait for God to work in His way and in His time.
He always Finishes what He Starts
Phil 1:6
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
When you get discouraged, remember that God won’t give up on you.
He promises to finish the work He has begun.
When you feel incomplete, unfinished, or distressed by shortcomings, remember Gods promise and provision.
Don’t let your present condition rob you of the joy of knowing Christ or keep you from growing closer to Him.
Conclusion: As a pastor its very typical that people would come to me and want me to fix issues in their lives, their marriage, finances, health.
I can’t DO ANYTHING for problems 2,3,4 or 5 until you fixed the number 1 problem and that is putting Christ first in your life. When He is first everything else will fall into place.
Matthew 6:33:
33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
The key to giving birth to greatness is putting Christ first in your life.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Moving Forward
Thomas Edison’s teachers said he was “too stupid to learn anything.” He was fired from his first two jobs for being “non-productive.” As an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb.
Henry Ford failed and went broke five times before he succeeded.
Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.
27 publishers rejected Dr. Seuss’s first book.
Babe Ruth is famous for his past home run record, but for decades he also held the record for strikeouts. He hit 714 home runs and struck out 1,330 times in his career (about which he said, “Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.”).
Even though all these people experienced many failures they all have gone down in history because they didn’t give up, they continued moving forward and didn’t give up.
Franklin D. Roosevelt said “There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still.”
This morning I want to talk to you about three important ways that you can begin moving forward today.
Moving Forward
1. Stretch Your Faith
Romans 1:17:
17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
If you want to grow in the Lord and begin moving forward in your walk with Him.
You need to stretch your faith.
Ex: Stretch Armstrong doll
Perhaps you have a goal to break a bad habit, to lose some weight, or pay off some credit cards.
Whenever we start something we are all gun hole about it.
As time passes we get a little lazy: we get complacent.
We step into a comfort zone and just sit there.
Ex I pray each morning that’s good enough for me. Bible says in 1 Thess 5:17 pray without ceasing. Having a prayful attitude at all times.
I read my bible a few times a week. Psalms 1:2 says mediate on His word day and night..This means spending time reading and thinking about what you read. Its means asking yourself if your lifestyle lines up with His word.
We need to stretch our faith.
Maybe you feel as though you have been coasting, thinking you reached your limits.
Stretch your faith, believe for an increase. Don’t stop half way. Go right up to the top of your mountain. Believe God for more.
2. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
Hebrews 11:8:
8 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.
Abraham’s life was filled with faith. At Gods command, he left home and went to another land- obeying without question.
He was even willing to sacrifice his own his own son.
Don’t be surprised if God asks you to give up secure, familiar surroundings in order to carry out His will.
It doesn’t take any more effort to stay filled with faith than it takes to develop a negative attitude.
Dare to step out of your comfort zone today.
God has so much more in store.
Keep pursuing and keep believing.
3. Don’t Stop Now
Genesis 11:31:
31 One day Terah took his son Abram, his daughter-in-law Sarai (his son Abram’s wife), and his grandson Lot (his son Haran’s child) and moved away from Ur of the Chaldeans. He was headed for the land of Canaan, but they stopped at Haran and settled there.
Heading out to the promise land Canaan. Terah settled half way, maybe it was the climate, his health or fear but either way he missed out on Gods very best.
When the going gets tough the tough get going, but for most of us the saying goes When the going gets tough, the tough get duct tape.
Don’t settle for where you are at right now in your walk with the Lord.
I want to challenge you today to pull up your stakes, pack your tent, get your belongings, and start moving forward.
You are made for more than good enough.
Enlarge your Vision today!
You may have had a delay, but that’s okay: you can begin again today.
Henry Ford failed and went broke five times before he succeeded.
Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.
27 publishers rejected Dr. Seuss’s first book.
Babe Ruth is famous for his past home run record, but for decades he also held the record for strikeouts. He hit 714 home runs and struck out 1,330 times in his career (about which he said, “Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.”).
Even though all these people experienced many failures they all have gone down in history because they didn’t give up, they continued moving forward and didn’t give up.
Franklin D. Roosevelt said “There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still.”
This morning I want to talk to you about three important ways that you can begin moving forward today.
Moving Forward
1. Stretch Your Faith
Romans 1:17:
17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
If you want to grow in the Lord and begin moving forward in your walk with Him.
You need to stretch your faith.
Ex: Stretch Armstrong doll
Perhaps you have a goal to break a bad habit, to lose some weight, or pay off some credit cards.
Whenever we start something we are all gun hole about it.
As time passes we get a little lazy: we get complacent.
We step into a comfort zone and just sit there.
Ex I pray each morning that’s good enough for me. Bible says in 1 Thess 5:17 pray without ceasing. Having a prayful attitude at all times.
I read my bible a few times a week. Psalms 1:2 says mediate on His word day and night..This means spending time reading and thinking about what you read. Its means asking yourself if your lifestyle lines up with His word.
We need to stretch our faith.
Maybe you feel as though you have been coasting, thinking you reached your limits.
Stretch your faith, believe for an increase. Don’t stop half way. Go right up to the top of your mountain. Believe God for more.
2. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
Hebrews 11:8:
8 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.
Abraham’s life was filled with faith. At Gods command, he left home and went to another land- obeying without question.
He was even willing to sacrifice his own his own son.
Don’t be surprised if God asks you to give up secure, familiar surroundings in order to carry out His will.
It doesn’t take any more effort to stay filled with faith than it takes to develop a negative attitude.
Dare to step out of your comfort zone today.
God has so much more in store.
Keep pursuing and keep believing.
3. Don’t Stop Now
Genesis 11:31:
31 One day Terah took his son Abram, his daughter-in-law Sarai (his son Abram’s wife), and his grandson Lot (his son Haran’s child) and moved away from Ur of the Chaldeans. He was headed for the land of Canaan, but they stopped at Haran and settled there.
Heading out to the promise land Canaan. Terah settled half way, maybe it was the climate, his health or fear but either way he missed out on Gods very best.
When the going gets tough the tough get going, but for most of us the saying goes When the going gets tough, the tough get duct tape.
Don’t settle for where you are at right now in your walk with the Lord.
I want to challenge you today to pull up your stakes, pack your tent, get your belongings, and start moving forward.
You are made for more than good enough.
Enlarge your Vision today!
You may have had a delay, but that’s okay: you can begin again today.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
I Once Had a Dream
I Once Had a Dream
I would like to talk to you about your dreams.
Not the dreams of you have of winning the mega millions or living in a mansion or being married to a man that loves to clean house and do laundry. I am talking about dreams that if pursued would bring honor and glory to the Kingdom of God.
I would say it’s safe to say not every random dream should we go chasing after.
We need to ask ourselves “self what will I be able to do once this dream is obtained”
Teens: Get a degree you can do something with.
Tell story about farmer’s dog.
With enough determination, hard work and some illegal activity you could just about obtain any dream.
Matthew 16:26:
26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?
I know many of you once had a dream were you felt you finally knew what God plan for you were. At one time you even were so excited about it. Maybe it was to be a missionary or start an outreach or to lead 10 people to the Lord. But as time passes and problems arise you simple just packed those dreams away. Take a few moments to ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of those dreams…..
1. Unpack Your Dreams
Isaiah 43:19:
19 For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
If you’ve packed away your dreams, dare to unpack them today and ask God to rekindle them in your heart and mind.
It’s time to enlarge your vision.
God wants to pour out His favor on you.
He wants to do big things and new things in your life.
2. We Serve a Great God
Jeremiah 29:11:
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
You may have experienced adversity or trials in your past.
Perhaps you’ve had your share of setbacks and heartaches but today is a brand-new day.
We serve the Most High God, and His dream for your life is so much bigger and better than you can ever imagine.
Start thinking as God thinks. Think big. Think increase. Think abundance. Think more than enough.
3. With God on Your Side
Romans 8:31-32:
31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?
Never allow negative thinking to keep you from Gods best.
With God on your side, you cannot possibly lose.
He can make a way when it looks as though there is no way.
He can open doors that no one can shut.
He can cause you to be at the right place, at the right time.
He can supernaturally turn your dreams into reality.
The key is having our dreams fulfilled in His timing. God is never in a hurry and He is never late.
Don’t rush God like Abraham and Sarah did, just makes a mess of things Read Gen 16 one day.
Story of Lazarus John 11.
His sisters said he was to late there brother was dead. Maybe you feel it’s too late for your dream, it is now dead but remember Jesus has the final verdict whether it’s too late or not.
He will either be there in time to rescue the situation, or He will resurrect it to live again.
The marriage maybe in the divorce court, you may be heading for bankruptcy, the ministry opportunities may be gone, and the doctors may give no hope.
But if God has given you a dream He will come through in time- His time.
Never give up on your dream that God has planted in your heart.
Read passage from book. Prophets and personal Prophecy by Dr. Bill Hamon, pg 139
To dream is to hope for things that seem unobtainable. To realize your potential in God is to see extraordinary possibilities happen in your life.Pastor Danny Parsons
I would like to talk to you about your dreams.
Not the dreams of you have of winning the mega millions or living in a mansion or being married to a man that loves to clean house and do laundry. I am talking about dreams that if pursued would bring honor and glory to the Kingdom of God.
I would say it’s safe to say not every random dream should we go chasing after.
We need to ask ourselves “self what will I be able to do once this dream is obtained”
Teens: Get a degree you can do something with.
Tell story about farmer’s dog.
With enough determination, hard work and some illegal activity you could just about obtain any dream.
Matthew 16:26:
26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?
I know many of you once had a dream were you felt you finally knew what God plan for you were. At one time you even were so excited about it. Maybe it was to be a missionary or start an outreach or to lead 10 people to the Lord. But as time passes and problems arise you simple just packed those dreams away. Take a few moments to ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of those dreams…..
1. Unpack Your Dreams
Isaiah 43:19:
19 For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
If you’ve packed away your dreams, dare to unpack them today and ask God to rekindle them in your heart and mind.
It’s time to enlarge your vision.
God wants to pour out His favor on you.
He wants to do big things and new things in your life.
2. We Serve a Great God
Jeremiah 29:11:
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
You may have experienced adversity or trials in your past.
Perhaps you’ve had your share of setbacks and heartaches but today is a brand-new day.
We serve the Most High God, and His dream for your life is so much bigger and better than you can ever imagine.
Start thinking as God thinks. Think big. Think increase. Think abundance. Think more than enough.
3. With God on Your Side
Romans 8:31-32:
31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?
Never allow negative thinking to keep you from Gods best.
With God on your side, you cannot possibly lose.
He can make a way when it looks as though there is no way.
He can open doors that no one can shut.
He can cause you to be at the right place, at the right time.
He can supernaturally turn your dreams into reality.
The key is having our dreams fulfilled in His timing. God is never in a hurry and He is never late.
Don’t rush God like Abraham and Sarah did, just makes a mess of things Read Gen 16 one day.
Story of Lazarus John 11.
His sisters said he was to late there brother was dead. Maybe you feel it’s too late for your dream, it is now dead but remember Jesus has the final verdict whether it’s too late or not.
He will either be there in time to rescue the situation, or He will resurrect it to live again.
The marriage maybe in the divorce court, you may be heading for bankruptcy, the ministry opportunities may be gone, and the doctors may give no hope.
But if God has given you a dream He will come through in time- His time.
Never give up on your dream that God has planted in your heart.
Read passage from book. Prophets and personal Prophecy by Dr. Bill Hamon, pg 139
To dream is to hope for things that seem unobtainable. To realize your potential in God is to see extraordinary possibilities happen in your life.Pastor Danny Parsons
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