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
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Say What?
A speaker was speaking about the power of positive thinking and the power of words.
One of the audience raised his hand and said, “It’s not because I say good fortune, good fortune, good fortune that will make me feel better.
Nor will saying bad luck, bad luck, bad luck, make me feel worse. They’re only words and, by themselves, have no power.”
The speaker replied. “Shut up, you fool, you don’t understand a thing about this.” The member of the audience was stunned, his face became red and he was about to reply. “Why you…….…”
The speaker raised his hand. “Please excuse me. I didn’t mean to upset you. Please accept my most sincere apologies.”
The member of the audience calmed down. Some people in the hall murmured; others shuffled their feet.
The speaker resumed. “There’s the reply to the question you asked me. A few words made you very angry. The other words calmed you down.” “Now do you understand the power of words?”
Say What?
When it comes to our words, many times we are our own worst enemies.
1. Speak Words of Faith
Proverbs 6:2:
2 if you have trapped yourself by your agreement
and are caught by what you said—
Our words are vital in bringing our dreams to pass.
The moment you speak something out, you give birth to it.
Ex. We are going to fail.
This principle works whether you are saying something positive or negative, so make them words of faith.
Begin speaking words of faith, victory, health and success over your life.
2. Boldly Confess God’s Word
Proverbs 12:18:
18 Some people make cutting remarks,
but the words of the wise bring healing.
If negative statements such as “nothing good ever happens to me” are the norm in your life, they will literally prevent you from moving ahead in life.
Your words can make or break you.
When you believe God’s Word and begin to boldly confess it you begin making it valid in your own life.
When we speak Gods Word it begins bringing to life all the great things God has in store for you.
Ex. No weapons formed against me shall prosper; we are more than conquerors, my God shall supply all my needs. Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world.
3. Speak of His Goodness
Psalm 35:28:
28 Then I will proclaim your justice,
and I will praise you all day long.
God never commanded us to repeatedly verbalize our pain and suffering.
You could experience a new sense of joy in your home, if you’d simply stop talking about negative things in your life.
Begin talking about Gods Word.
Quit speaking words of defeat, and start speaking words of victory.
Don’t use your words to describe your situation: use your words to change your situation.
Begin speaking of His goodness and favor over your life.
4. The Miracle in Your Mouth
Romans 10:10-11:
10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”[
Church there is a miracle in your mouth.
If you want to change your world, start by changing your words.
Stop complaining about poverty or lack and start declaring, “God supplies all my needs in abundance”.
Stop complaining nothing good ever happens to me and start declaring “everything I touch prospers and succeeds.
Stop cursing the darkness and use your words to command light to come into your situation.
Your words have that power.
One of the audience raised his hand and said, “It’s not because I say good fortune, good fortune, good fortune that will make me feel better.
Nor will saying bad luck, bad luck, bad luck, make me feel worse. They’re only words and, by themselves, have no power.”
The speaker replied. “Shut up, you fool, you don’t understand a thing about this.” The member of the audience was stunned, his face became red and he was about to reply. “Why you…….…”
The speaker raised his hand. “Please excuse me. I didn’t mean to upset you. Please accept my most sincere apologies.”
The member of the audience calmed down. Some people in the hall murmured; others shuffled their feet.
The speaker resumed. “There’s the reply to the question you asked me. A few words made you very angry. The other words calmed you down.” “Now do you understand the power of words?”
Say What?
When it comes to our words, many times we are our own worst enemies.
1. Speak Words of Faith
Proverbs 6:2:
2 if you have trapped yourself by your agreement
and are caught by what you said—
Our words are vital in bringing our dreams to pass.
The moment you speak something out, you give birth to it.
Ex. We are going to fail.
This principle works whether you are saying something positive or negative, so make them words of faith.
Begin speaking words of faith, victory, health and success over your life.
2. Boldly Confess God’s Word
Proverbs 12:18:
18 Some people make cutting remarks,
but the words of the wise bring healing.
If negative statements such as “nothing good ever happens to me” are the norm in your life, they will literally prevent you from moving ahead in life.
Your words can make or break you.
When you believe God’s Word and begin to boldly confess it you begin making it valid in your own life.
When we speak Gods Word it begins bringing to life all the great things God has in store for you.
Ex. No weapons formed against me shall prosper; we are more than conquerors, my God shall supply all my needs. Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world.
3. Speak of His Goodness
Psalm 35:28:
28 Then I will proclaim your justice,
and I will praise you all day long.
God never commanded us to repeatedly verbalize our pain and suffering.
You could experience a new sense of joy in your home, if you’d simply stop talking about negative things in your life.
Begin talking about Gods Word.
Quit speaking words of defeat, and start speaking words of victory.
Don’t use your words to describe your situation: use your words to change your situation.
Begin speaking of His goodness and favor over your life.
4. The Miracle in Your Mouth
Romans 10:10-11:
10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”[
Church there is a miracle in your mouth.
If you want to change your world, start by changing your words.
Stop complaining about poverty or lack and start declaring, “God supplies all my needs in abundance”.
Stop complaining nothing good ever happens to me and start declaring “everything I touch prospers and succeeds.
Stop cursing the darkness and use your words to command light to come into your situation.
Your words have that power.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
God's Favor
What we put into our minds determine what comes out in our words and action.
Philippians 4:8:
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Ever hear a song that you can’t get out of your head, it’s so true what we allow in comes out.
Luke 6:45:
45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.
Jesus reminds us that our speech and actions reveal our true underlying beliefs, attitudes, and motivations.
It’s so important that we guard what we allow to enter into our spirit. Many times we allow the lies of Satan to fill our minds and we get so discouraged and many Christians turn their back on the church and ultimately on God.
God’s Favor
Def: Feel or show approval or preference for.
1. Seek God’s Favor
Psalms 119:57-58
The Lord is my portion: I have promised to keep Your words. I sought Your favor with all my heart: be gracious to me according to Your word.
Declaring God’s favor isn’t some spooky, spiritual mumbo- jumbo.
Its quite easy to declare God’s favor in your life.
Each day , say something like “ Father, I thank you that I have your favor. Your favor is opening doors of opportunity and bringing success into my life. Your favor is causing people to want to help me”.
Then go out with confidence, expecting good things to happen, expecting doors to open.
2. Speak God’s Favor
1 Samuel 18:14:
14 David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the Lord was with him.
We need to get in the habit of consistently speaking God’s favor over our lives.
Ex.
Thank you that you are going to heal me. I thank you that your favor has lead me to the right doctors.
Learn to speak God’s favor over every area of your life.
Remember, the more favor-minded you are, the more of God’s favor you’re going to experience.
3. The Power of God’s Favor
Psalms 23:6
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
Sometimes we don’t feel that we deserve His favor.
Ex. Kings David committed adultery then had the woman’s husband killed. Even so the bible tells us he was a man after Gods own heart.1 Sam 13:14.
You might say how this could be…
Because David repented and sought forgiveness, and God forgave him and gave him a new start.
He didn’t focus on his faults or on the things he had done wrong, but he continued to live favor- minded, expecting goodness and mercy all the days of his life.
This morning, instead of expecting to get the short end of the stick in life, why not start expecting God’s blessings to chase after you?
Instead of expecting to barely get by in life, start expecting the goodness of God to overtake you.
NewLivingTranslation(©2007)Rom12:2
Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Philippians 4:8:
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Ever hear a song that you can’t get out of your head, it’s so true what we allow in comes out.
Luke 6:45:
45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.
Jesus reminds us that our speech and actions reveal our true underlying beliefs, attitudes, and motivations.
It’s so important that we guard what we allow to enter into our spirit. Many times we allow the lies of Satan to fill our minds and we get so discouraged and many Christians turn their back on the church and ultimately on God.
God’s Favor
Def: Feel or show approval or preference for.
1. Seek God’s Favor
Psalms 119:57-58
The Lord is my portion: I have promised to keep Your words. I sought Your favor with all my heart: be gracious to me according to Your word.
Declaring God’s favor isn’t some spooky, spiritual mumbo- jumbo.
Its quite easy to declare God’s favor in your life.
Each day , say something like “ Father, I thank you that I have your favor. Your favor is opening doors of opportunity and bringing success into my life. Your favor is causing people to want to help me”.
Then go out with confidence, expecting good things to happen, expecting doors to open.
2. Speak God’s Favor
1 Samuel 18:14:
14 David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the Lord was with him.
We need to get in the habit of consistently speaking God’s favor over our lives.
Ex.
Thank you that you are going to heal me. I thank you that your favor has lead me to the right doctors.
Learn to speak God’s favor over every area of your life.
Remember, the more favor-minded you are, the more of God’s favor you’re going to experience.
3. The Power of God’s Favor
Psalms 23:6
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
Sometimes we don’t feel that we deserve His favor.
Ex. Kings David committed adultery then had the woman’s husband killed. Even so the bible tells us he was a man after Gods own heart.1 Sam 13:14.
You might say how this could be…
Because David repented and sought forgiveness, and God forgave him and gave him a new start.
He didn’t focus on his faults or on the things he had done wrong, but he continued to live favor- minded, expecting goodness and mercy all the days of his life.
This morning, instead of expecting to get the short end of the stick in life, why not start expecting God’s blessings to chase after you?
Instead of expecting to barely get by in life, start expecting the goodness of God to overtake you.
NewLivingTranslation(©2007)Rom12:2
Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Guilty beyond a Reasonable Doubt
Guilty beyond a Reasonable Doubt
“If we find any evidence you are a Christian, we will kill you.”This death threat was uttered from an Iranian judge spoken to an underground Believer in Iran as quoted in the latest Voice of the Martyrs publication (2009 Special Issue page 8). - What if we were faced with the same proclamation that this judge gave to this man?
- How would we react in this same situation?
- Are we prepared to face this possible life or death situation?
- If Christianity was made illegal tomorrow and we were brought before a court for the crime of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence in the average life of an American Believer to convict them?
If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? By "evidence," I don't mean how many Bibles you own, or how many bumper stickers you might have on your car with Christian sayings on them. I mean hard evidence. If your family members, neighbors, and coworkers were interviewed and asked the question, "Is (your name here), in your opinion, a real Christian?" we might not be happy with the response.
So, how do I know if you are a Christian? How do you know if I'm one? There must be evidence.
Matthew 7:20
New Living Translation (NLT)
20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
If someone examined your life, would they find any spiritual fruit—hard evidence to prove that you are a true follower of Jesus Christ?
John 13:34-35:
34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
Do people see petty bickering, jealousy, and division in your church? Or do they know you are Jesus followers by your love for one another?
Love is more than simply warm feelings: it is an attitude that reveals itself in action.
You can tell instantly who truly loves Jesus Christ and someone who doesn't by their actions or fruits they bare.
They may have professed Jesus Christ, but their actions told everyone around them they follow Satan.
I watch the members of various churches. Those who speak profanity, condemn others, commit adultery, abuse those around them, hate others who were not in their church, put greed and envy above the Savior and indulge in pleasures of the flesh are no more Christian than Muslims are.
We are literally on trial.
Satan is the accuser=prosecutor. ." The word "accuse" is defined, "(1) to charge with, or declare to have committed a crime, (2) to find at fault; to blame . .
In Revelation 12:10 Satan is referred to as "the accuser of our brethren
Revelation 12:10
New Living Translation (NLT)
10 Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens,
“It has come at last—
salvation and power
and the Kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Christ.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters
has been thrown down to earth—
the one who accuses them
before our God day and night.
Thankfully Jesus is are advocate=defense attorney
Advocate is just a fancy term for a lawyer, someone who pleads your case before the bar or justice. John writes, 1 John 2:1:
1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.
“Jesus goes before God on our behalf and says, “Father, I know they are sinners, but they have repented and My blood has cleansed them. They belong to Me.”
God is the Judge
Revelation 20:11-15:
The Final Judgment
11 And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. 12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. 14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. 15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Everyone’s life will be reviewed and evaluated. Deeds are seen as clear evidence of a person’s actual relationship with God. Each of us must serve Christ in the best way we know and live each day knowing the books will one day be opened.
Then comes the cross examination of ourselves.
I read recently that 50 percent of all born-again Christians don’t have the assurance of salvation.
Perhaps a lot of so-called Christians do not have the assurance of salvation because they are not really saved. Just because you attend church or engage in certain religious activities does not necessarily mean you are a Christian. The Apostle Paul instructed those in the early church to examine themselves to see if their faith was genuine .
2 Corinthians 13:5:
5 Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.
Just as we get physical checkups, we are to give ourselves spiritual checkups.
We should look for a growing awareness of Christ’s presence and power in our life.
Then we will know if we are a true Christian or merely imposters.
The only way others can tell whether you are a Christian is by your works. While all the good works in the world won't save a person,
Titus 3:5:
5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit .
Because of this we do great deeds that will serve as reasonable evidence that someone is saved.
Works won't save you, but if you really are saved, then works will be something that comes natural to you.
In Acts 26, the Bible outlines three steps you must take to be sure you are a Christian. Acts 26:18:
18 to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’
So first, you must have your eyes opened. A spiritual blindness afflicts those who have not yet turned their lives over to Jesus Christ, because "Satan . . . has blinded the minds of those who don't believe . . ." (2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT).
Second, you must turn from darkness to light. Satan loves darkness. Hell is referred to as outer darkness. If you want to really believe, then you need to come out of the darkness and into the light (Acts 26:18).
Third, you must turn from the power of Satan to God. A lot of people today want to live in two worlds. If you want to be a Christian on Sunday, but want to live the other way the rest of the week, it won't work (2 Corinthians 6:14). You must turn from Satan to God.
Have your spiritual eyes been opened? Have you turned from darkness to light? Have you turned from the power of Satan to God? If you've taken these steps, then God has forgiven your sins and has a place for you among God's people in heaven. This is the hope of those who truly belong to Christ.
“If we find any evidence you are a Christian, we will kill you.”This death threat was uttered from an Iranian judge spoken to an underground Believer in Iran as quoted in the latest Voice of the Martyrs publication (2009 Special Issue page 8). - What if we were faced with the same proclamation that this judge gave to this man?
- How would we react in this same situation?
- Are we prepared to face this possible life or death situation?
- If Christianity was made illegal tomorrow and we were brought before a court for the crime of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence in the average life of an American Believer to convict them?
If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? By "evidence," I don't mean how many Bibles you own, or how many bumper stickers you might have on your car with Christian sayings on them. I mean hard evidence. If your family members, neighbors, and coworkers were interviewed and asked the question, "Is (your name here), in your opinion, a real Christian?" we might not be happy with the response.
So, how do I know if you are a Christian? How do you know if I'm one? There must be evidence.
Matthew 7:20
New Living Translation (NLT)
20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
If someone examined your life, would they find any spiritual fruit—hard evidence to prove that you are a true follower of Jesus Christ?
John 13:34-35:
34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
Do people see petty bickering, jealousy, and division in your church? Or do they know you are Jesus followers by your love for one another?
Love is more than simply warm feelings: it is an attitude that reveals itself in action.
You can tell instantly who truly loves Jesus Christ and someone who doesn't by their actions or fruits they bare.
They may have professed Jesus Christ, but their actions told everyone around them they follow Satan.
I watch the members of various churches. Those who speak profanity, condemn others, commit adultery, abuse those around them, hate others who were not in their church, put greed and envy above the Savior and indulge in pleasures of the flesh are no more Christian than Muslims are.
We are literally on trial.
Satan is the accuser=prosecutor. ." The word "accuse" is defined, "(1) to charge with, or declare to have committed a crime, (2) to find at fault; to blame . .
In Revelation 12:10 Satan is referred to as "the accuser of our brethren
Revelation 12:10
New Living Translation (NLT)
10 Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens,
“It has come at last—
salvation and power
and the Kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Christ.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters
has been thrown down to earth—
the one who accuses them
before our God day and night.
Thankfully Jesus is are advocate=defense attorney
Advocate is just a fancy term for a lawyer, someone who pleads your case before the bar or justice. John writes, 1 John 2:1:
1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.
“Jesus goes before God on our behalf and says, “Father, I know they are sinners, but they have repented and My blood has cleansed them. They belong to Me.”
God is the Judge
Revelation 20:11-15:
The Final Judgment
11 And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. 12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. 14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. 15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Everyone’s life will be reviewed and evaluated. Deeds are seen as clear evidence of a person’s actual relationship with God. Each of us must serve Christ in the best way we know and live each day knowing the books will one day be opened.
Then comes the cross examination of ourselves.
I read recently that 50 percent of all born-again Christians don’t have the assurance of salvation.
Perhaps a lot of so-called Christians do not have the assurance of salvation because they are not really saved. Just because you attend church or engage in certain religious activities does not necessarily mean you are a Christian. The Apostle Paul instructed those in the early church to examine themselves to see if their faith was genuine .
2 Corinthians 13:5:
5 Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.
Just as we get physical checkups, we are to give ourselves spiritual checkups.
We should look for a growing awareness of Christ’s presence and power in our life.
Then we will know if we are a true Christian or merely imposters.
The only way others can tell whether you are a Christian is by your works. While all the good works in the world won't save a person,
Titus 3:5:
5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit .
Because of this we do great deeds that will serve as reasonable evidence that someone is saved.
Works won't save you, but if you really are saved, then works will be something that comes natural to you.
In Acts 26, the Bible outlines three steps you must take to be sure you are a Christian. Acts 26:18:
18 to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’
So first, you must have your eyes opened. A spiritual blindness afflicts those who have not yet turned their lives over to Jesus Christ, because "Satan . . . has blinded the minds of those who don't believe . . ." (2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT).
Second, you must turn from darkness to light. Satan loves darkness. Hell is referred to as outer darkness. If you want to really believe, then you need to come out of the darkness and into the light (Acts 26:18).
Third, you must turn from the power of Satan to God. A lot of people today want to live in two worlds. If you want to be a Christian on Sunday, but want to live the other way the rest of the week, it won't work (2 Corinthians 6:14). You must turn from Satan to God.
Have your spiritual eyes been opened? Have you turned from darkness to light? Have you turned from the power of Satan to God? If you've taken these steps, then God has forgiven your sins and has a place for you among God's people in heaven. This is the hope of those who truly belong to Christ.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Keep your Goal Insight
Ezekiel 37
A Valley of Dry Bones
1 The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones. 2 He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. 3 Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?”
“O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.”
4 Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! 6 I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
7 So I spoke this message, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons. 8 Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them.
9 Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’”
10 So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army.
11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ 12 Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord. 14 I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’”
Keep your Goal Insight
On July 4, 1952, Florence Chadwick was on her way to becoming the first woman to swim the Catalina Channel. She had already conquered the English Channel.
The world was watching. Chadwick fought the dense fog, bone-chilling cold and many times, the sharks. She was striving to reach the shore but every time she looked through her goggles, all she could see was the dense fog. Unable to see the shore, she gave up.
Chadwick was disappointed when she found out that she was only half a mile from the coast. She quit, not because she was a quitter but because her goal was not in sight anywhere. The elements didn't stop her. She said, "I'm not making excuses. If only I had seen the land, I could have made it."
Two months later, she went back and swam the Catalina Channel. This time, in spite of the bad weather, she had her goal in mind and not only accomplished it but beat the men's record by two hours.
Two points: restoration/consolidation
1. Restoration
An act of restoring or the condition of being restored, a bringing back to a former position or condition
Ex; old building
11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ 12 Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord. 14 I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’”
Dry bones represented the people’s spiritual dead condition.
Churches today may seem like a heap of dry bones at time, spiritually dead with no hope of vitality.
God can restore any church, no matter how dry or dead it may be.
Rather than give up, pray for renewal.
God is at work calling His people back to Himself, bringing new life into dead churches.
He promises to breathe new spiritual life into His people so that their hearts and attitudes will be right.
He wants to cleanse and renew our hearts today.
Titus 3:4-6:
4 But—“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.
2. Consolidation
The process of uniting: the quality or state of being united; specifically: the unification of two or more corporations by dissolution of existing ones and creation of a single new corporation
Philippians 2
Be Like Christ
1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
Ezekiel 36:25-27:
25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart 27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.
God promise to restore us spiritually, to accomplish this God has to give us a new heart for following Him.
He wants to transform us and empower us to do His will.
No matter how impure your life is right now, God is offering a fresh start.
Why try to patch up your old life when you can have a new one?
God is ready to answer your prayers but we must renew our heart with Him.
Is your heart right with God?
A Valley of Dry Bones
1 The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones. 2 He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. 3 Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?”
“O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.”
4 Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! 6 I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
7 So I spoke this message, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons. 8 Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them.
9 Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’”
10 So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army.
11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ 12 Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord. 14 I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’”
Keep your Goal Insight
On July 4, 1952, Florence Chadwick was on her way to becoming the first woman to swim the Catalina Channel. She had already conquered the English Channel.
The world was watching. Chadwick fought the dense fog, bone-chilling cold and many times, the sharks. She was striving to reach the shore but every time she looked through her goggles, all she could see was the dense fog. Unable to see the shore, she gave up.
Chadwick was disappointed when she found out that she was only half a mile from the coast. She quit, not because she was a quitter but because her goal was not in sight anywhere. The elements didn't stop her. She said, "I'm not making excuses. If only I had seen the land, I could have made it."
Two months later, she went back and swam the Catalina Channel. This time, in spite of the bad weather, she had her goal in mind and not only accomplished it but beat the men's record by two hours.
Two points: restoration/consolidation
1. Restoration
An act of restoring or the condition of being restored, a bringing back to a former position or condition
Ex; old building
11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ 12 Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord. 14 I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’”
Dry bones represented the people’s spiritual dead condition.
Churches today may seem like a heap of dry bones at time, spiritually dead with no hope of vitality.
God can restore any church, no matter how dry or dead it may be.
Rather than give up, pray for renewal.
God is at work calling His people back to Himself, bringing new life into dead churches.
He promises to breathe new spiritual life into His people so that their hearts and attitudes will be right.
He wants to cleanse and renew our hearts today.
Titus 3:4-6:
4 But—“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.
2. Consolidation
The process of uniting: the quality or state of being united; specifically: the unification of two or more corporations by dissolution of existing ones and creation of a single new corporation
Philippians 2
Be Like Christ
1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
Ezekiel 36:25-27:
25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart 27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.
God promise to restore us spiritually, to accomplish this God has to give us a new heart for following Him.
He wants to transform us and empower us to do His will.
No matter how impure your life is right now, God is offering a fresh start.
Why try to patch up your old life when you can have a new one?
God is ready to answer your prayers but we must renew our heart with Him.
Is your heart right with God?
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