January 3 2016 What Happens When You Have Faith

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE FAITH

Daring Faith: Key To Miracles - Part 1

Romans 1:17 “The Gospel shows us how God makes people right with himself—that it begins and ends with FAITH. The Scripture says those who are right with God will live by trusting in Him.”

Memory Verse: Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

FAITH IS seeing from God's point of view. 

Hebrews 11:1 (NLT) “What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen and to be certain of things we do not yet see.”

Ephesians 1:18 “I pray that the eyes of your heart will be flooded with light so that you can see the wonderful future God has promised to those he called . . .” 

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE SEE

(Numbers 13-14 - Spying out the Promised Land)

WITH EYES OF FEAR?

1. WE EXAGGERATE our difficulties

Numbers 13:27b “It’s a magnificent land BUT the people living there are powerful, and their cities are fortified and large! What’s more, we saw Anakim giants there!” -28

Numbers 13:31-32 “. . . other spies said, “They’d crush us!” So the majority report of the spies was negative.”

2. WE UNDERESTIMATE our own abilities

“We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.” Numbers 13:33

3. WE get discouraged

“Then all the people began weeping aloud, and they carried on all night!” Numbers 14:1

4. WE START TO to gripe about our life

Numbers 14:2 “All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron . . . ‘We wish we had died in Egypt!’ they wailed, ‘Or even here in the wilderness!’”

5. WE EVENTUALLY give up and we blame God.

Numbers 14:3 “Why is the Lord bringing us to this land to be killed with swords . . . We’d be better off going back to Egypt!”

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE SEE WITH EYES OF FAITH?

1. FAITH shrinks my problem

Genesis 18:14a “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”

Luke 1:37 “For nothing is impossible with God!”

2. FAITH opens the door for a miracle

Mark 11:22-24 Jesus said, “Have faith in God! If you have faith in God and you don’t doubt, you could tell this mountain to get up and jump into the sea, and it would. Whatever you ask for in prayer will be yours, IF you only have the faith.”

3. FAITH moves God to act on my Behalf

Matthew 9:29 Jesus said, “According to your faith it will be done to you.” 

4. FAITH unlocks all the promises of God

2 Corinthians 1:20a “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are all ‘Yes’ in Christ!”

5. FAITH turns God-given dreams into reality

Ephesians 3:20 (LB) “Glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us, is able to do FAR

MORE than we would ever DARE TO ASK or even DREAM of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes!” 

6. FAITH GIVES ME  power to hold on in tough times. 

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NLT) “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we’re not crushed and broken. We’re perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit. We’re attacked but God never abandons us.

We get knocked down, but we get up and keep going!”

John 3:16 (CEV) “God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life.” 

How To Grow In Your Faith during the DARING FAITH SERIES

1. Listen to all 10 Weekend Messages of the campaign.

2. Carry the weekly Bible verse with you.

3. Set 3 faith goals for growing, giving, and going.

May 1 2011 When You're Running Out Of Everything

WHEN YOU’RE RUNNING OUT OF EVERYTHING

(I Kings 17:1-16)
(I Kings 17:1 – Now Elijah confronted King Ahab, as surelyas God lives, the God of Israel whom I worship and serve, there will be no dew or rain during the next few years unless I give the word!)

KERITH: THE RAVINE OF OBSCURITY
(I Kings 17:2-7 Then the Lord said to Elijah, Go east and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. The Kerith brook will give you fresh water to drink and I’ve commanded ravens to bring you food there every day. SoElijah obeyed what the Lord said to do. He moved to the Kerith Ravine and lived there. The birds brought him food each morning and evening and he drank from the brook. But after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain.)

3 REASONS GOD ALLOWS BROOKS TO DRY UP

1. To keep from depending on the brook
2. To move me to a better place.
3. To prove He hasn’t forgotten me.

JOURNEY NORTH: THE ROAD OF INSECURITY
(I Kings 17:8-9a – Then the Lord said, now get up and go to Zarephath and live there. I’ve prepared a widow there to take care of you. So Elijah went to Zarephath.)

WHAT TO REMEMBER

1. The path to a miracle is always through discomfort.
2. The source of a miracle is always unexpected.
3. The pattern for a miracle is C.P.R.

ZAREPHATH: THE REFINERY OF SCARCITY
I Kings 17:9b-16 – When he reached the town gate, Elijah saw a widow gathering firewood. He asked her, Would you please bring me a drink of water? As she was going to get it, Elijah added, And please bring me a small piece of bread too. The woman answered, As surely as your God lives, I swear I have no bread. I only have a handful of flour left in a small jar and a little olive oil left in a jug. I came to gather some wood so I could go home and cook our last meal. My son and I will eat it and we’ll die of hunger. Don’t be afraid, Elijah said, Go home and first make a small loaf of bread from what you have, and bring it to me. Then cook something for yourself and your son. God says, I assure you that jar of flour will never be empty, and the jug of oil will never run out, until the day I send rain to the land. So the widow did what Elijah told her to do, and she and her son and Elijah had enoughfood every day. The jar of flour and the jug of oil never ran out, just as God had promised.)

WHAT TO REMEMBER

1. What I need more of, give what I have to God.
2. What I have the least of, give that to God.
3. I give to be a blessing.

LESSONS FOR TOUGH TIMES

1. God is all you need.
2. Where God guides, God provides.
3. Trust God one day at a time.
4. God’s promises hinge on my obedience.

February 13 2011 Turning Tough Times Into Something Worthwhile

*no sermon audio*

Turning Tough Times Into Something Worthwhile

(Philippians 1:12-20 - Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.)

Four Steps To Turning Tough Times Around

1. See our opportunity for advancement

(Verse 12 - Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.)

Two opportunities:

• To Witness

(Verse 13 - As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.)

• To Strengthen our character

(Verse 14 - Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.)

Lesson: God has a purpose behind every one of my problems

2. Establish correct priorities for life

(Verse 15-16 - It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.)

(Verse 18 - But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice)

Lesson: Focus on what really counts and let the rest go

3. Understand that strength is available

(Verse 19 - for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.)

(Philippians 4:13 - I can do everything through him who gives me strength.)

Lesson: With God's power every tough time can be turned into something worthwhile

4. Keep a correct motive

(Verse 20 - I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.)

Lesson: Jesus first. Others second. Myself third.

August 15 2010 Managing Tough Times Under Pressure

Managing Tough Times Under Pressure

(1 Peter 1:10 - 12 - Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.)

There are tough times today
*Disbelief
*Disinterested
*Disdain
*Life Storms

(1 Timothy 1:18-19 - Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.)
(Proverbs 10:25 - When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.)

1. We must have a sacrificing spirit
(verse 11 - trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.)
(Revelation 13:8 - All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.)
(John 10:18 - "No one takes it from me, but I lay it d own of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.")
(2 Peter 1:4 - Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.)

2. Be willing to accept some denials in life
(Matthew 6:33 - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.)
*Elijah
*3 Hebrew Children
*Noah
(Isaiah 40:31 - but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.)

3. We must maintain a willingness to serve
(verse 12 - It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.)
(Mark 9:35 - Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.")

4. We must open our lives to the grace of the Lord, Jesus Christ
(Verse 10 - Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care)
(Romans 3:24 - and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.)
(Acts 15:8 - God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.)
(2 Timothy 2:1 - You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.)
(Hebrews 4:16 - Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.)