More Part Two

YOU NEED MORE POWER

 

A car without an engine is an oxymoron.  It’s like saying……. I met a Christian without any power. We often do life without the power.

After 70 days into a new year, a new era and a new life, Moses comes to an incredible realization.  I’ve been liberated from slavery I’ve been given a future, but I need MORE. I need more than just freedom from slavery, I need something MORE.  I want MORE!!!!

And he cries out his famous words, 

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Exodus 33;15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”  

God says ok, my presence will go with you.  But Moses isn’t satisfied. He wants more. 

17 The Lord replied to Moses, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.”

18 Moses responded, “Then show me your glorious presence.”

19 The Lord replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh,[c] before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose. 20 But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live.” 21 The Lord continued, “Look, stand near me on this rock. 22 As my glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and let you see me from behind. But my face will not be seen.”

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In the original Hebrew, THE WORD PRESENCE IS THE WORD FACE. GLORY means ‘full weight’  Moses is saying I want the full force and authority of your face to go with us.

A) Closeness of a Face

B)  It gives me the picture of power and authority. 

When you go to start that business I’ll pour so much favor on you your business will soar.  When you get married, I’ll be that 3 fold cord that can’t be broken.  When you are in a corner, I’ll light your path so you can find a way out.  

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John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear more fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Acts 1:4 Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.”. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk[c] from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. 

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When Suddenly, there was a sound like a mighty rushing wind……

You need MORE than just to be saved from Hell, you need MORE POWER.

Eg:  Experts say that the next war will be a cyber war aimed at knocking out the power grid.   Why? Because nothing works without power.  Without power America is vulnerable.

People die in winter when the power goes off.

Ever had a power blackout that goes on for hours or days.  It’s intolerable to live without power.  It makes life slower, harder, more difficult.  

HERES A NEWSFLASH.  The power doesn’t just happen. 

HOW DO WE GET THE POWER.  PAY THE PRICE FOR POWER.

• Fasting is a price that generates power
• Prayer is a the price you have to pay to get power
• Worshipping with your whole heart generates power

Whats insulating you from his power.

What price are you prepared to get full of power and become power-full.

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Coming up at Influencers. Find out more at www.influencers.church

More Part One

The body raises the temperature in order to destroy viruses, and protect the body. 

We need to raise the temperature.  It burns off the viruses and troubles of our lives.  

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Eg:  Shadrach/Mesach and Abegnigo in the fire

Temperature builders

• Prayer 
• Intimacy
• Unity

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In Exodus 32 the covenant and agreement between God and Israel has been broken. Israel has failed it’s part of the agreement and built a golden calf. Within 40 days of the Mosaic law given, the people in their insecurity have asked Aaron to create a golden calf. Their insecurity and the lack of leadership combined created the perfect opportunity to forsake God.

There will be times this where when the perfect combination of insecurity and delays in leadership at work or home or church will tempt you to abandon your trust and make something else more important than Jesus.  

The result of this failure is the breaking of the agreement God had with his people.  He said I’ll always go with you, if you put me first. 

The result is that God withdraws his presence and decided he will no longer go with them.  

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Exodus 33 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ 2 I will send an angelbefore you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.”

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So what does Moses do. He is the innocent victim of other people’s insecurity, but what does he do. He raises the temperature by going into deep conversation with God. 

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Exodus 33 12Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

14 The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”  17 And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”  18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”  19 And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”  21 Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock.22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

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NOW SHOW ME YOUR GLORY IS AN UNASHAMED GRAB FOR MORE.  

Why ‘more’ should be your pursuit in 2017.  

What God offered him was his presence, but what Moses wanted was the pattern. 

The justice system of a nation was revealed to Moses during the glory.  The sanitation system.  The sacrificial system. He was getting insight into how to build, how to create, how to execute, how to create a nation with rules and laws and principles from a group of slaves who had been told for 430 years what to do. 

God wants you to go from being told what to do by the world’s system to creating and designing. 

The bible is filled in the New Testament with scriptures about more

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Ephesians 3;20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably MORE than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.

Rom 5:15 how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16

Romans 8 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

James 4:6  But he gives us more grace.

John 15: 8 that you bear more fruit, and prove to be my disciples.

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The reason someone will ask for more

1. When you are in need and realize you are missing something.  
2. When you’ve tasted something you like
3. When you’re addicted to something.
4. When you are offered something and you realize it’s valuable

Wanting more is a sign of moving forward

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But here’s the rub and heres the challenge for 2017.  If you want more, you’ll need more.  

• More blueprints from God require more skill to build.
• More miracles requires more faith
• More faith requires more prayer
• More victories means more battles
• More fruitfulfness means more pruning and planting
• More schools for our church to reach hurting kids requires more workers.
• More workers requires more compelling communication of the vision.  
• More successful marriages requires more skill and commitment.

MORE REQUIRES MORE

• More promotions require more leadership
• Reaching more people means everyone asking more
• Planting 200 campuses will require more pastors and leaders
• Raising 10000 leaders will require a lot more leadership schools and development.  

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Luke 12: 48 From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

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CHALLENGE

Write down what you need more of from God.  

Write down what that more will need more of from you.

Relationship to Revelationship Part 2

John 20:  But thomas said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”  26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”  28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

John 20;30/31  30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

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Every miracle Jesus did, every delay, every moment, every word was to produce one thing in people who followed him.  BELIEF.

BECAUSE What you believe MATTERS…… 

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THE BELIEF PYRAMID

- Believe

- Values

- Priorities

- Practice

- Performance and results

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Once there were five-year-old twin boys, one a pessimist and the other an optimist. Wondering how two boys who seemed so alike could be so different, their parents took them to a psychiatrist.  The psychiatrist took the pessimist to a room piled high with new toys, expecting the boy to be thrilled. But instead he burst into tears. Puzzled, the psychiatrist asked, "don't you want to play with these toys?" "Yes," the little boy bawled, "but if I did I'd only break them."

"Next the psychiatrist took the optimist to a room piled high with horse manure. The boy yelped with delight, clambered to the top of the pile, and joyfully dug out scoop after scoop, tossing the manure into the air with glee. "What on earth are you doing?" the psychiatrist asked. "Well,” said the boy, beaming

“There’s got to be a pony in here somewhere!"

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If you google insecurity or symptoms of insecurity you will discover thousands and thousands of pages and articles and advice about this core threat.  

There is a long list of symptoms of insecurity. 

• Jealousy
• Over dependency
• Constant anger
• Low self confidence
• Feeling vulnerable
• Poor communication skills

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Insecurity creates questions in your mind about yourself, your abilities, your relationships, others and God.  

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Genesis 18  10 Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”

Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.11 Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”

13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” 15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”

Insecurity created major problems for Sarah.  It made her encourage Abraham to sleep with another woman.  What a disaster that turned out to be.  Then it made her laugh in disbelief.  Then it made her lie.   Insecurity is like a snowball.  It just gets bigger and bigger the more it runs unchecked.  

A few thousand years later God comes to another woman in another time and place.  

Luke 1  28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”  29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”  34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[b] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”  38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

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The most dangerous part of Insecurity is that it creates a REAL difficulty to believe.  

Imagine if we KNEW that delays were really a test of our character and not a test of God’s.  WOW!!!!

Jesus delayed his visit to Mary and Martha so he could turn their disadvantage into an advantage. He delayed so they would believe. 

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Mary and Martha had a relationship with Jesus but not a revelationship with Jesus. Relationships are constantly changing, revelationships are steady as a rock.   

If we could move from relationship to revelationship from insecurity to certainty it would change everything about our lives.

Choosing to believe defeats the insecurity of life. 

If we would believe that God is working all things together for my good, then we would look at what’s happening at work differently, we would look at what’s happening in your Dream Team differently, you would look at that marriage differently.  You would approach your finances differently. 

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Romans 8:28  28 And we know that in all things God is working things together for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose.

Relationship to Revelationship

Insecurity in the dictionary is defined as

"Subject to doubt"
"Not confident or certain"
"Not firmly or reliably placed or fastened"

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INSECURITY means to‘question one's worth, position or conviction." It means to QUESTION!  Insecurity will cause you to question your spouse, question your boss, question your teacher, and question God.

Insecurity aborts God’s agenda again and again in your life and our lives collectively because it makes you question.

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It started in the Garden of Eden. Let me show you how.

Genesis 3:1-5 (NKJV)

1 “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 
5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

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The clear inference was that Adam and Eve were not yet good enough, that they lacked something.

He got them to question their position as King and Queen of the Earth and to feel like they were not complete. 

Eg; Cain and Abel
EVERY BREAKDOWN OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIP has at it’s core INSECURITY. 

The Answer Is A Revelation Of His Fatherhood And Our Sonship.

My security lies in the fact that God is my Father and I’m actually his child.  I’ve been born by his incorruptible seed. I am not like the son of God, I am a son of God.  

But, if we don’t have that revelation that GOD is actually our Father then we operate from out of an orphan spirit. 

And orphan spirit is one that does not know to whom they belong and the fruit of an orphan spirit is insecurity.

Insecurity affects us internally: our faith, our boldness, our confidence in embracing our future, and embracing each other, and it’s determined by our degree of feeling secure as Fathers son or daughter. 

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Insecure people are suspicious people that have to control others

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John 11:35 JESUS WEPT

These 2 words happen in the context of a real life tragedy. Not only is it a tragedy, but it’s created confusion, it’s made Mary and Martha unsure of their relationship with Jesus. 

JOHN 11:11 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume later on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.)3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” 

Have you ever tried to hint to God about things.

4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days,

(Listen to the contradiction. He heard Lazarus was sick and then stayed another 2 days. Why????)  

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.  20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.  

(NOTE:  Martha went to church in her disappointment, Mary stayed home. Important to encourage the Mary’s to get out and come back)

21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”  23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”  27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God,who is to come into the world.” 

Martha is only the second person in the gospels to say this.  Peter was the other.  Martha has what Jesus was after.  A shift from relationship to revelation-ship.

32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Notice she blames Jesus here.  How often do we do that.

33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.  “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37

Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead

40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”41   “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, 

The obvious question when you read this story is 

WHY DIDN’T Jesus TURN UP TO HEAL HIS FRIEND LAZARUS.  

Why put them through all of that grief.  Why would he allow people he loved to suffer for 4 days when he was only 1 day away.  He could have made it, but he didn’t.  

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1. JESUS already had relationship with them like he has with you, but he wants more than relationship he wants revelationship.  

Talk about the difference between relationship and revelation-ship. Delay and a lack of contact in relationships cause a strain because they bring out the insecurity in all of us. Delays expose bring to the surface the worst thoughts and amplify our insecurity. Jesus wanted to take the uncertainty out of them once and for all.  

Relationship needs PROXIMITY to survive.  Revelation-ship creates A CERTAINTY that survives everything.

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2. Jesus really felt the pain of his delay.

Jesus really felt their grief and their pain and has to hold himself back from intervening. He weeps with them. He can see that the wait for the big reveal has injured them and hurt them and it hurts him. He knows that he was only a day away when they called for help and they can’t work out why he didn’t come.  It called into Q their relationship.  Does he really love us. I thought we had a relationship with Jesus. Why didn’t he make us a priority? All these questions going through their head.  

• Even though Jesus feels their pain, he is committed to taking them from relationship to revelationship. 

APPLICATION: I believe there are people in confusion, there are people who can’t work it out.  What you have prayed for isn’t happening. Why Lord? We know God CAN do it, he wants us to go far beyond that. 

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THE RESULTS

• Martha is one of only 2 people who has a revelation of Jesus as the messiah recorded in the gospels clearly. 
• It was Mary in John 12 who poured out that expensive perfume all over Jesus feet.  Once she had certainty, she gave everything.  
• Mary never stays home again.  She is at the cross.

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You’ll never be prepared to give it all until you have moved from relationship to revelation-ship.    So get ready for a resurrection that reveals Jesus as not someone you have a relationship with, but someone who is worth giving everything for.  

Unfriended Part 2

RECAP

Recognize who is missing

Realize what is really going on

React quickly "the father ran quickly to His son"

Reconnect them with the community the pack

Wage war against isolation

It is either Gods will be done & his kingdom come or the enemies plan

Which camp does the concept of unfriending someone sit in?  

A Community Committed to one another is a rare commodity

Transactional vs Transformational

Looking out for one another vs looking out for one another 

Luke 15

15 Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. 2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them! 3 So Jesus told them this story: 4 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. 6 When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!

The objective of the enemy of your life is to separate you from the pack to isolate you from  

Gods agenda is exactly the opposite

Fight for Unity

Have you ever reached out your hand to someone only to feel like you have it cut off

At what point do you stop reaching, stop searching for that sheep? What is your threshold?

RESIST THE DEVIL and he will flee James 4:7

Refuse to be moved

Too many people flee instead of resisting this causes us to be scattered and easily taken down

There is safety in the midst of the pack but separate from it you are vulnerable 

IN-FLUENCERS

    1.    Be Intentional

    2.    Be an Initiator

    3.    Be Inclusive 

    4.    Be Incorruptible 

    5.    Be an Investor 

 

If you feel like the outsider know that You are loved

Jesus is the stone the builders rejected he knows what it is for people to turn their back on him but he will never leave you or forsake you and he is the cornerstone of the community called the church; the center of the pack.

Where do you find yourself in the herd? On the fringe or right in the middle holding firm to the cornerstone?

Acts 2:42-47

42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper[i]), and to prayer.

43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

Prayer

The Pack

Pastoral Care

The Preaching of the Word

Unfriended Part 1

LUKE 15;  3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?  11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’  14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.  17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.  “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.  28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in.   31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.

 31 The father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.

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1. The Sheep

Isaiah 53:6;  All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own.  

People like this drift away by accident. They just get so caught up in their life, their troubles,  their bills, their kids, their job, that they forget their spiritual life and wander off. 

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2. The Coin

People like this are people who feel overlooked, not noticed, feel unfriended and devalued and unloved and the result is they get lost.

Genesis 2:18;  it’s not good for man to be alone.  

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3. The Prodigal Son

Walks away deliberately at some point, because of unresolved rejection issues.  

Not feeling loved will result in:

• Either you will leave God’s house because it doesn’t feel satisfying and ruin your Christian life.  
• Or you will live in the house, but never really belong.

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SO WHATS THE SOLUTION

1. Recognize who is missing.

2. Realize what’s really going on.

People unfriend you, the church and God because they feel unloved by either God, people or themselves. They have a spirit of rejection and like sheep they don’t know how to get back.  

I want you to write down on the notes 5 people you know who have just wandered off

3. React quickly, overcome your own rejection and make contact

Call them, text them, invite them.  

Verse 20 “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

4. Reason with them and help them see the truth

This is what the Father did with his older son, who felt like all his efforts to please and work hard were completely unappreciated. 

31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 

5. Reconnect them to the community with fanfare.

Look at what the shepherd did.  Put the sheep on his shoulders and brought him back into the sheep fold, and in the community of other sheep.  Look at what the woman did.  She is careful and thorough until she is reconnected with her coins.  Look at what the dad did.  He personally reconnects him back into the family and in relationship with everyone he has left.  

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THE TAKEAWAY/THE TO DO THIS WEEK

1. Who is missing you know?
2. Understand why they are missing. 
3. Overcome your own rejection and react quickly and make contact.
4. Reason with them. Talk deep to them.
5. Re-engage them. Bring them back. Find a way. 

Blessed Not Stressed Pt 4

Isaiah 5:8 Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field
till no space is left and you live alone in the land.

Matthew 5:3-10 (NIV) 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. 

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PRIORITY # 1 Don’t worry be happy

PRIORITY #2 Live from the inside out

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Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.    

Poor means to be humble and realize that Jesus is all you need. 

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Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted.  

Mourners are people who are so sorry for their sin, God visits them. 

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Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth.  

It is having the right or the power to do something but refraining for the benefit of someone else.   

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Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for God for they will be filled.

If you are really thirsty for God Jesus promise is that you will be deeply satisfied.

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Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. 

The pure heart is more than an external purity of behavior; it is an internal purity of motives.

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Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God. 

Peacemakers are those who bring the Prince of peace to others. 

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Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 

To be merciful is to show forgiveness and compassion to those in need.

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Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,  for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

The word Persecute means to be hassled.  Impeded harassed or resisted.  Resistance to our upward climb is not pleasant, but it is blessed. Why? Because it is undoubted evidence that we are really climbing upward. 

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PRIORITY #3 Father first, Jesus First, The Holy Spirit First

Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

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• How does putting God first help my marriage.
• How does putting God first bless my emotions. 
• How does putting God first bless my mind. 
• How does putting God first bless my finances. 

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In the GREAT SERMON ON THE MOUNT Jesus SAYS The cure for all your cares is to put me first. 

Blessed Not Stressed Pt 3

Matthew 6: Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?”   

1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

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Contentment:  Greek word avutarkeia
- a perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed 

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“Until you make peace with who you are, you will never be content with what you have.” ~Doris Mortman

1 Timothy 6:5,6  These are the things you are to teach and insist on. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who thinkthat godliness is a means to financial gain.

6 But Godliness with contentment is great gain.  9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

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Now godliness combined with contentment brings great profit.

A godly life brings huge profits to people who are content with what they have.

But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment.

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PORISMOS - The greek word for GAIN

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1. Stop looking at the lack you have

Luke 12: 14  “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

2. Stop comparing yourself to others

3. Develop a thankful attitude. 

4. Focus on accumulating not acquisition

5. Create Margins

Isaiah 5:8 Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field till no space is left and you live alone in the land.

6. Be content with what you have, but never with what you are.

Blessed Not Stressed Pt 1

 

TOP 10 SECRETS OF THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE

According to psychcentral.com these are the 10 most common attributes that happy people have in common.

1. They Practice Gratitude.

2. They Enjoy Their Own Company. 

3. They’re Honest and Tell the Truth.

4. They Make Time for Fun.

5. They Make Sure to Get Enough Sleep.

6. They Practice Forgiveness.

7. They Help Others.

8. They Enjoy Their Work.

9. They Have Good, Healthy Relationships.

10. They Believe in Something.

 

Jesus is the Centre of all things..

          "For from him and through him and for him are all things." - Romans 11:36 

JOHN 3:16….FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE....

The most Generous act in History by God the Father who sent Jesus to this earth for you and I.

Generosity personifies the character of God.

“Now, friends, I want to report on the surprising and generous ways in which God is working in the churches in Macedonia province. Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts. I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could—far more than they could afford!—pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians.
This was totally spontaneous, entirely their own idea, and caught us completely off guard. What explains it was that they had first given themselves unreservedly to God and to us. The other giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives. That’s what prompted us to ask Titus to bring the relief offering to your attention, so that what was so well begun could be finished up. You do so well in so many things—you trust God, you’re articulate, you’re insightful, you’re passionate, you love us—now, do your best in this, too.
I’m not trying to order you around against your will. But by bringing in the Macedonians’ enthusiasm as a stimulus to your love, I am hoping to bring the best out of you. You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us—in one stroke he became poor and we became rich”

— 2 Corinthians 8 (MSG)

1.  Everybody can be Generous

They were  “desperately poor.”

·     Often we see generosity as something we do when we can afford it.

·     Generosity is not an affordable item. 

·     Generosity comes from a position of your heart, not a position of your head.

"They gave offerings of whatever they could—far more than they could afford!"

2.  Generosity is Evidence of God at work.

 Now, friends, I want to report on the surprising and generous ways in which God is working in the churches in Macedonia province. 

·     Generosity is an evidence of a person walking with God.

3.  Generosity Opportunities are not always timely.

Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit.

·     Generosity is often defined by the circumstance.

Mark 12 (The widow) "The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they'll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford—she gave her all."

·     The opportunity of generosity is defined by the circumstances surrounding it. Generosity, in this case, is defined as what she couldn’t afford.

4.  Generosity is the result of Revelation.

vs5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.

·     The fight was between the natural (reason) and the spiritual (revelation)

·     The generous opportunity will be a decision of revealed conviction.

·     When you give out of Revelation and Conviction,  Lord calls it PURE.

5.  Generosity leads to Purity of heart.

The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts.

·     John 3:16 For so loved  that "HE GAVE"…..

·     Generosity comes form the place of "SO LOVING"....

·    "SO LOVING" demands ACTIVATION….

·     You can give and not love but you cannot love and not give.

6.  Generosity is a privilege and spontaneous.

They gave offerings of whatever they could—far more than they could afford!—pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians. This was totally spontaneous, entirely their own idea, and caught us completely off guard.

·     It becomes an a privilege because “WE GET TO” as compares to “WE HAVE TO.”