February 19 2017 Getting A Grip On Change

GETTING A GRIP ON CHANGE

Genesis 32:22-32

Verses 24-30 – Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face and yet my life was spared.”

Four Steps To Change

1. The crisis phase.

Prov. 18:12 – Pride ends in destruction (discomfort.) Humility ends in honor.

LESSON: We don’t change until our fear of change is exceeded by the pain we’re experiencing.

2. The commitment phase.

Verse 26 – The man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

LESSON: God often allows our problems to continue long enough to see if we really mean business.

Gal. 6:9 – After while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up.

3. Confession.

Verse 27 – The man asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, “Jacob.”

LESSON: He will never change us as an individual until we honestly confess our faults and sins.

Prov. 28:13 – He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

4. Cooperation.

Verse 30 – So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face.”

Verse 28 – “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel.”

II Cor. 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come.

January 29 2017 The Life God Blesses

THE LIFE GOD BLESSES

Decade of Destiny - Part 3

FOUR PITFALLS ON YOUR JOURNEY

1. Cultural Distractions.

2. Voices of Doubt

3. Tempting Shortcuts.

4. Discouraging Delays

LESSONS FROM NOAH: GENESIS 6-9

1. I must dare to be different from my culture.

Genesis 6:12 (NLT)"God observed all the corruption in the world, and he saw violence and depravity everywhere. "

Genesis 6:5-6 (LB)'When God saw the extent of human wickedness, and that the trend and direction of men's lives were only towards evil, he was sorry he had made them. It broke his heart"

Genesis 6:8 (MSG)"But Noah was different. God liked what he saw in Noah."(LB) "Noah was a pleasure to the Lord"

Genesis 6:9a (LB)"Noah was the only truly righteous man living on the earth at that time.

2. I must listen to the voice of God, not the voices of doubt.

Hebrews 11:7a (NCV)"It was by faith that Noah heard God's warnings about things he could not yet see."

Hebrews 11:7b (LB)"Noah's belief in God was in direct contrast to the disbelief of tile rest of the world..."

Genesis 6:9c (NIV)"Noah walked with God."

3. I must do exactly as God tells me to do.

Genesis 6:9b (LB) "Noah always tried to conduct his affiuirs according to God's will."

Genesis 6:22 & 7:5 (NLT) "Noah did eveiy!hing exactly as God had commanded him."

Hebrews 11:7b (NCV)"Noah obeyed God and built a large boat to save his family."

4. I must refuse to give up on the dream God gives me.

Hebrews 11 :7a (LB)"Noah trusted God. When he heard God's warning about the future, Noah believed him even though there was no sign of a flood..."

Hebrews 11 :7b (NCV)'...By his flu/h, Noah showed that the world was wrong, and he became one of those who are made right with God through flu/h."

Genesis 6:8 (KJV)"Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord."

Memory Verse: 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NASB) "For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.

January 15 & 22 2017 Getting Where You Want To Be

GETTING WHERE YOU WANT TO BE

Decade of Destiny - Part 2

GENESIS 24:1-57

1. Determine your present position

Ask 

-Where Am I Now?

-What Would I Like to Change?

Gen. 24:1"Abraham was now old and well advanced in years., and the Lord had blessed him in every way."

2. Describe exactly what you want.

Gen. 24:3-4 "Don't get a wife for my son from the Canaanite girls who live around here. Instead, go back to my country, to the land of my relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac."

Ask

-What do I want to be?

-What do I want to do?

-What do I want t to have?

-Why do I want it?

Gen. 24:5 "The servant asked Abraham, 'What If the woman is unwilling to leave her home and come back with me to this land?"

3. Find a promise from God

Gen. 24:7 (NCV) Abraham said "The Lord brought me from the land of my relatives to this land and he

SOLEMNLY PROMISED me that he would give this land to my descendants. So, he will send his angel before you, So that you can get a wife there for my son."

4. Ask God for help. 

Gen. 24:12(NLT)"Then Eliazar prayed, '0 Lord, God of my master Abraham. Give me success and show this kindness to my master, Abraham. Help me to accomplish the purpose of my journey.

Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)"So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we wil/find grace to help us when we need it."

5. Identify the barriers.

Ask: Why don't I have it already

vs. 21 - Finding the right girt

vs. 58 - Getting her to say yes in faith

vs. 49 - Getting the parent consent

6. Create a step by step plan.

Ask

-How do I intend to get there by the end of this decade?

-How long will it take?

7. Be patient and persistent.

Hab. 2:3 (LB)"These things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!"

8. Enlist a team for support.

Eccles. 4:12 (NLT)"One person standing alone is easily attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three people are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."

Mal. 18:20 Jesus: "Wherever two or three come together in my name, there iwill be with them!"

9. Pay the price

Gen 24:53 "Then Eliazar brought out gold and silver and articles of clothing and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave expensive gifts to her brother and her mother."

Ask 

-What will it cost?

-What am I willing to give?

-Is it worth it?

October16 2016 The Life God Blesses

THE LIFE GOD BLESSES

FOUR PITFALLS ON YOUR JOURNEY

1. Cultural distractions
2. The voices of doubt
3. Tempting short cuts
4. Discouraging delays

LESSONS FROM NOAH: GENESIS 6-9

1. I must dare to be different than my culture.

Genesis 6:12 – God observed all the corruption in the world, and He saw violence and depravity everywhere.

Genesis 6:5-6 – When God saw the extent of human wickedness, and that the trend and direction of men’s lives were only towards evil, he was sorry He had made them.  It broke His heart.

Genesis 6:8 – But Noah was different.  God liked what He saw in Noah.  Noah was a pleasure to the Lord.

Genesis 6:9a – Noah was the only truly righteous man living on the earth at that time.

2. I must listen to the voice of God, not the voices of doubt.

Hebrews 11:7a – It was by faith that Noah heard God’s warnings about things he could not yet see.

Hebrews 11:7b – Noah’s belief in God was in direct contrast to the disbelief of the rest of the world.

Genesis 6:9c – Noah walked with God.

3. I must do exactly as God tells me to do.

Genesis 6:9b – Noah always tried to conduct his affairs according to God’s will.

Genesis 6:22 & 7:5 – Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.

Hebrews 11:7b – Noah obeyed God and built a large boat to save his family.

4. Refusing to give up my God given dreams that God gives me.

Hebrews 11:7a – Noah trusted God.  When he heard God’s warning about the future, Noah believed Him even though there was no sign of a flood.

Hebrews 11:7b – By his faith, Noah showed that the world was wrong, and he became one of those who are made right with God through faith.

Genesis 6:8 – Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

September 11 2016 Seeing Through The Eyes Of Faith

SEEING THROUGH THE EYES OF FAITH

Numbers 13:17-33

TWO WAYS TO SEE THINGS

I.    Notice what happens when we allow fear to dominate our lives.

A)    We misunderstand what God can do.

1. Verses 28-29 – But the people who live there are powerful.  The cities are fortified and very large.  The Amalekites, the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites (all giants) live there.

• Lesson The longer you look at a problem, the bigger it gets.

B)    They underestimate what God can do.

1. Verse 33 – We felt like grasshoppers before them, they were so tall.

• Lesson: Problems rarely defeat us it’s our perspective that defeats.

C)    The results of fear:

1. Discouragement.

a)    14:1 – Then all the people began weeping aloud and they carried on all night long.

       2. Discontented.

        a) 14:2 – Their voices rose in a great chorus of complaint against Moses and Aaron.

       3. There was a desire to return to the old.

       a)   14:3 – Let’s get out of here and return to Egypt, they shouted.

II.    We need to see what happens when faith dominates our life.

       A)   Verse 30 – But Caleb reassured the people as they stood before Moses, “Let us go       up at once and possess it,” he said, “for we are well able to conquer it.”

1. Ephesians 1:18
2. Examples of Spiritual sight.

Genesis 21 – Hagar

Luke 24 – Disciples on Emmaus Road

2 Kings – Elisha’s servant

Genesis 13 – Abraham
        
3.    Spiritual eyes see opportunities, not obstacles.

III. We see the decision of the future here.

A)    Kadesh means place of decision.

CONCLUSION: Moses could lead the people to Kadesh, but he couldn’t make the decision for them.

He didn’t bring us out this far to bring us back again.
He brought us out to bring us into the Promised Land.
He didn’t bring us out this far to bring us back again.
He brought us out to bring us into the Promised Land.
Though there be giants in the land,
We will not be afraid.
He brought us out to bring us into the Promised Land.