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The sermon audio podcast of Cornerstone Church in Orangeburg, S.C. Helping disconnected people find, follow, and be like Jesus.
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Thursday Aug 01, 2024
Thursday Aug 01, 2024
Perspective:
What we see based on our circumstances
The reason I bring up perspective is…
This series has been all about “LIVING WITH PURPOSE”
What that purpose is will be determined by your PERSPECTIVE
In the first week, we learned the important foundational truths concerning our PURPOSE
God created the world ON PURPOSE and FOR A PURPOSE
The ULTIMATE PURPOSE for EVERYTHING and EVERYONE is to GLORIFY GOD
Isaiah 43:7
…everyone who bears my name and is created for my glory. I have formed them; indeed, I have made them.”
Last week, we found out that we all have a PERSONAL CALLING
A personal calling is simply God’s tug on our hearts toward a particular thing. It can be for a specific situation, a season of life, or a lifetime.
Finished last week with some best practices around finding out that calling
Acts 13
2 As they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.
Today, we are talking about one of the most difficult aspects of following your calling
Overcoming FEAR
Your calling will be out of your comfort zone…
Any time we are pulled out of our comfort zones, we will have to deal with fear
- Leaving things we like behind
- Meeting new people
- Changing locations
- Changing friends
Your calling will be out of your comfort zone but is accompanied by God’s peace and Provision
To help us understand this, I want us to think of fear as a VOICE IN OUR EAR
- This voice has some lies that it tells us
Voices of fear around calling:
Voice #1: I don’t have what it takes
Often in our calling… WE LIMIT WHAT WE BELIEVE GOD CAN GO THROUGH US
Let’s look at someone who experienced this
Moses:
- Raised in Egypt
- Ran away and, for 40 years, kept sheep
- Burning bush
- God calls Moses to go and free His people
Exodus 3
11 But Moses asked God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 12 He answered, “I will certainly be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I am the one who sent you: when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will all worship God at this mountain.”
Exodus 4
10 But Moses replied to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent—either in the past or recently or since you have been speaking to your servant—because my mouth and my tongue are sluggish.”
Here is that voice of fear… “I DON’T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES…”
- I can’t do this
- I can’t overcome my issues
- I can’t speak well enough (Moses)
This is the WRONG PERSPECTIVE
11 The Lord said to him, “Who placed a mouth on humans? Who makes a person mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go! I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say.” 13 Moses said, “Please, Lord, send someone else.”
This voice of fear can be strong
- Moses talking to God in a bush on fire
- He begs God to send someone else
14 Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses, and he said, “Isn’t Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, he is on his way now to meet you. He will rejoice when he sees you. 15 You will speak with him and tell him what to say. I will help both you and him to speak and will teach you both what to do.
This is what it means that God’s calling will be out of your comfort ZoneThis is what it means that God’s calling will be out of your comfort Zone
Fear can paralyze you
- It keeps you out of God’s will
- Miss out on God’s purpose for your life
Key Question:
How do we overcome this voice?
By understanding:
What we lack, God will provide
But this is IMPORTANT
God’s provision always FOLLOWS obedience
God is patient with our struggles
- See how patient he is with Moses
- Explains his power and authority
- Sends aid through Aaron
Don’t fall for the incorrect thinking that…
“God will never give you more than you can handle”
- This is wrong
A better way of thinking is…
“If you can handle it without God, then it’s not from God”
We get to see Moses mature as he follows God
- Leads the people for 40 years
At the end of his life, he gives Joshua and the people this wisdom…
Deuteronomy 31:6,8
6 Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For the Lord your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you.” 8 The Lord is the one who will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”
Follow Him… Trust Him… Seek Him
- And He will lead you
Voice #2: It’s not worth the trouble
Worth the trouble:
The benefits, outcomes, or results of an action or effort are sufficient to justify the time, energy, and difficulties involved in carrying it out.
We make this decision ALL THE TIME
- Is this conversation worth the trouble?
- Is this friendship…
- Is this job…
- Is apologizing…
- Is forgiving them…
- I’m trying to help…
Let’s look at a story about someone who felt the same way…
Jonah 1
1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it because their evil has come up before me.”
Jonah was a prophet of Israel
- God called him to go to Israel’s enemy, Nineveh
Here is how Jonah Responded…
3 Jonah got up to flee to Tarshish from the Lord’s presence. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. He paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the Lord’s presence.
This voice works because we want to stay comfortable
- Because we can be lazy
The way this voice often sounds is…
“I like where I am in life right now”
“God wants me to be happy, so he’s not calling me to do this”
“If I say yes, then everything in my life is going to change”
I don’t like them enough to help them
These are all the WRONG PERSPECTIVE
There are consequences when we say NO to the voice of God and listen to the voice of fear instead
- We don’t want to be out of God’s will
We will be “SWALLOWED UP” by CHAOS
Back to Jonah
- Swallowed by the great fish
- Spit out 3 days later
- Goes to Nineveh and preaches
- The city turns to God and repents
Jonah 4
2 He prayed to the Lord, “Please, Lord, isn’t this what I said while I was still in my own country? That’s why I fled toward Tarshish in the first place. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and one who relents from sending disaster.
This is the God that Jonah was running from
He knew God would forgive them
It’s also why God didn’t destroy Jonah when he tried to run
How do we overcome this voice?
Hebrews 12:1-2
1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
I’m so glad that Jesus didn’t look at us and say…
- “They’re not worth the trouble”
- They are always messing up
- They are always hurting each other
- They are always hurting themselves
No…
He saw us at our WORST and still said, “THEY ARE WORTH IT”
Tuesday Jul 23, 2024
Tuesday Jul 23, 2024
Last week… Started a new series
LIVING WITH PURPOSE
Learned 2 important truths:
God created the world ON PURPOSE and FOR A PURPOSE
Which means…
The ULTIMATE PURPOSE for EVERYTHING and EVERYONE is to GLORIFY GOD
Today, we are talking about the next step in purpose, which is…
- Finding Your Personal Calling
Separate into two parts:
Part 1: What do we mean by “PERSONAL CALLING”
A personal calling is simply God’s tug on our hearts toward a particular thing. It can be for a specific situation, a season of life, or a lifetime.
Specific Situation
- At work
- With a person
Season of life
- Parenting (adoption)
- Marriage
- School
- College
- Job
Lifetime
- Full-time ministry
- Personal calling that takes your whole life
Let’s talk about what a calling is NOT
This means that a calling is NOT Necessarily…
- What is going to make you rich
- What is going to always make you happy
- What you are meant to do forever
>>But it DOES mean that you will find the MOST FULFILLMENT in your personal calling<<
Why is that?
Your Calling is a specific way to glorify God in your life
Remember what we have already said about everyone’s purpose…
- The ULTIMATE PURPOSE for EVERYTHING and EVERYONE is to GLORIFY GOD
Your personal calling will help you be a part of the team to build God’s kingdom
- Don’t find your own calling in someone else’s calling
“Your calling isn’t about you; it’s about all the people that you’re going to impact.” ~ John Bevere
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
11 In view of this, we always pray for you that our God will make you worthy of his calling, and by his power fulfill your every desire to do good and your work produced by faith, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified by you, and you by him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:31
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
Your calling may or may not be your “JOB”
Your calling is your MINISTRY
- It can take many forms
Don’t need a bunch of “PASTORS.” We need Christian…
- Teachers
- Medical workers
- Scientists
- Engineers
- Mothers/Fathers
People who “DO EVERYTHING FOR THE GLORY OF GOD”
People who are passionate about doing what God has uniquely wired them to do
Another important point about calling…
Your calling will be out of your comfort zone but is accompanied by God’s peace and Provision
- Callings are not easy, but HARD/DIFFICULT
Your calling may cause you to…
- Go somewhere new
- Talk to people you don’t know
- Take risks that you can’t control
And ultimately…
Trust God like NEVER BEFORE
Philippians 4:7
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Lastly, what is a personal calling?…
Your Calling can often be seasonal, and each season teaches you what you need to know for the next
David being prepared for Goliath…
1 Samuel 17
32 David said to Saul, “Don’t let anyone be discouraged by him; your servant will go and fight this Philistine!”
33 But Saul replied, “You can’t go fight this Philistine. You’re just a youth, and he’s been a warrior since he was young.”
34 David answered Saul, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it down, and rescued the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. 36 Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 Then David said, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.”
David had CONFIDENCE because of God’s faithfulness in the past
- That season prepared him for the next
CONTENTMENT vs HOLY DISCONTENTMENT
- Contentment: Being OK where you are
- Holy Discontentment: Feeling of God calling you to a new place, but waiting on HIS TIMING…
Stay faithful where you are NOW, and God will be faithful in placing you where you NEED TO BE
Part 2: How do you find your calling
A few steps…
1: Seek God purposefully and intensely
Prayer and fasting
What is God pulling your heart to?
- People
- Problems
- Passions
- Gifts
1 Thessalonians 5:16-21
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray constantly, 18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Don’t stifle the Spirit. 20 Don’t despise prophecies, 21 but test all things. Hold on to what is good.
James 1:5
5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.
Will include gifts and talents
- Can’t sing… probably not called to be a singer
It can be pretty obvious
- Student
- Parent
2: Seek Confirmation
- The role of the church family
Acts 13
2 As they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.
3: Begin to operate in faith
Trust God in your calling
- Walk like David
Look for opportunities
This is one of the most important things you can do in your life
Monday Jul 15, 2024
Monday Jul 15, 2024
The Power of Lullabies
Pastor of Underground Church in Iran (Muslim Country)
“It seems to me that the church in the West is under some sort of satanic lullaby.”
New Series:
LIVING WITH PURPOSE
Next few weeks
Looking at how we Discover our purpose
Today, we will look at the Idea of Purpose from a 50,000-foot view
Title: THE LULLABY OF FALSE PURPOSE
To know your part in the plan, you need to understand the LARGER PLAN
We can’t understand our purpose outside of God’s larger purpose for all things
This is what we MUST know…
God created the world ON PURPOSE and FOR A PURPOSE
We are not an accident
On Purpose = You and this world are NO Accident
- You are not a mistake
- You have purpose because all of God’s creation has purpose
Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.
For A Purpose = Why did God create the World
FOR HIS GLORY
Isaiah 43:6-7
6 Bring my sons from far away, and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
7 everyone who bears my name and is created for my glory. I have formed them; indeed, I have made them.”
That means:
The ULTIMATE PURPOSE for EVERYTHING and EVERYONE is to GLORIFY GOD
This is where the Lullabies Come in
If your ultimate purpose is to Glorify God with your life, then our enemy wants to do anything he can to distract you from that purpose
What are some of the SATANIC LULLABIES in our current culture?
Satanic Lullaby of Happiness
As long as I am doing things that make me happy and feel good, then everything will be OK, and I will have purpose.
- Sexual gratification
- Laziness
- Over-eating
- Things that make us “FEEL GOOD”
- Addictions to substances and experiences
There is nothing wrong with “BEING HAPPY” unless that takes over priority
God’s purpose for your life is not to be HAPPY but to be HOLY and display His GLORY
Seeking pleasure only leads to FLEETING HAPPINESS
Seeking Holiness leads to FULFILLMENT and JOY
Ephesians 4
17 Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thoughts. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts. 19 They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more. 20 But that is not how you came to know Christ, 21 assuming you heard about him and were taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, 23 to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.
Satanic Lullaby of Power
As long as I am in charge or people who think like me are in charge, then everything will be OK, and I will have purpose.
- Political power
- Racial/national power
The Lie in the Garden
Genesis 3
4 “No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it…
The lullaby of power speaks to a part of us that WANTS to be in charge
- Wants to BE OUR OWN GODS
1 Peter 5
5 All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you. 8 Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 9 Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.
Satanic Lullaby of Fame
As long as I can be popular and accepted by enough people, then everything will be OK, and I will have purpose
Most kids today want to be “YouTubers”
- Our culture highly values fame
Many may not want to be “MACRO FAMOUS”
We do like being “MICRO FAMOUS”
- Social Media
Fame is giving ownership of yourself to those who don’t know you
1 Samuel 15:24
24 Saul answered Samuel, “I have sinned. I have transgressed the Lord’s command and your words. Because I was afraid of the people, I obeyed them.
With fame, others become your master
This lullaby will tell you to…
- Do whatever
- Believe whatever
- Be Whatever
- Others think you should do/believe/be
Matthew 5:16
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Satanic Lullaby of Accomplishment
As long as I can work hard to have the life that I want, then I will be worthwhile, everything will be OK, and I will have purpose
The American dream
- Wealth
- Success
- Status
“I can take care of myself”
“I did it MY way”
“I didn’t need ANYONE but me”
You can strive and strive, and you will still go to the grave the same as everyone else
Luke 12
16 Then he told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? 18 I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there.
19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’
21 “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
Mark 8:36
36 For what does it benefit someone to gain the whole world and yet lose his life?
Don’t pursue accomplishments for yourself but for God’s kingdom
- These accomplishments are eternal
Satanic Lullaby of Personal Goodness
As long as I do good and treat others good, that means that I am good, everything will be ok, and I will have purpose.
- Spirituality
- Religion
- Secular morality
Isaiah 64
All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
Personal goodness is a satanic lullaby
Instead, we pursue God’s righteousness by being renewed
Romans 12:2
2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
If the Pond is poisoned, then everything downstream of the pond will be poisoned as well
- We have been drinking poisoned water as a culture
- These lullabies are the poison
So, we start with the story the Bible is telling
The ULTIMATE PURPOSE for EVERYTHING and EVERYONE is to GLORIFY GOD
- You will not find true purpose outside of this
Are you allowing satanic lullabies to distract you from your purpose?
Tuesday Jun 11, 2024
Tuesday Jun 11, 2024
A WILDERNESS SEASON IS WHERE WE LEARN WHO GOD IS, HOW HE LOVES US, AND HOW WE SHOULD INTERACT WITH HIM
All relationships have rules
- Friendship has rules
- Dating has rules
- Marriage has rules
- Parenting has rules
- Business partnerships have rules
- Employees and employers have rules
Rules give identity and terms to relationships
What are some common rules?
No lying – Breaking trust breaks the foundation of EVERY relationship
Eyes only for that one person – Choosing each other over everyone else
No stealing – Don’t take what doesn’t belong to you
In the absence of rules, there is no freedom except for the one who is mightier and meaner than all the rest
God has
- Reintroduced Himself – THE GREAT I AM
- Rescued – From Egypt and their enemies
- Provided – Food and water in the desert
All this without ANY RULES
- But God is about RELATIONSHIP
Exodus 6:7
7 I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. You will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from the forced labor of the Egyptians.
In order for this to happen, God has to give the people:
RULES FOR THE RELATIONSHIP
Exodus 20
1 Then God spoke all these words: 2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.
3 Do not have other gods besides me.
4 Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth.
7 Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.
8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
12 Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
13 Do not murder.
14 Do not commit adultery.
15 Do not steal.
16 Do not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
What do the 10 Commandants teach us?
1: They teach us about God
Dating & finding out you hate what they love
I HAVE to go Camping
I NEVER want to travel
I MUST have 5+ kids
Rules demonstrate values
- God’s rules demonstrate his values
We see this in the Structure
- The first 4 commandments deal with the Israelites’ responsibility to God
- The final 6 commandments address the Israelites’ responsibility toward each other
This is why Jesus said…
Matthew 22
37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
- This has ALWAYS been what God valued
- He wasn’t saying something new
2: God’s rules don’t strip us of our freedom
- Instead, they give us freedom in their design and order
The right tool for the job – WASHING THE CAR
- Car wash mitt vs Sanding block
- Both will “CLEAN” the car
- But only one will not require a lot of EXTRA work
Living in God’s laws allows us to OPERATE as he designed us
- That was true then; it’s true now
If your life seems out of order, then you need to EXAMINE your life to see what must change
Psalm 139
23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
3: We don’t earn our salvation by following God’s Rules; we follow God’s rules because we are saved.
Wedding Vows…
- Sickness and in health
- Rich or poor
Imagine saying these things to someone you just met…
Wedding Vows only apply because the RELATIONSHIP is established
- You are not EARNING their love; you are responding to it
This is how God’s laws work
- You choose not to follow them
- But then you are choosing not to be in a relationship with him
- He has made the way
- He has paid the price
- He only asks that we respond
But we are NOT saved through following them
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
There is only ONE way to God
- Through JESUS
John 14:6
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
So if we are NOT saved THROUGH the rules, then what are the rules for now?
Knowing how to walk in God’s freedom in his designed order
- He is the creator
- He knows how we best operate
Paul talked about this…
Romans 6:1-2
What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
Romans 6:12-13
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires. And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness.
Offer yourself to God for RIGHT LIVING (righteousness)
- Live in the grace and Goodness of created order
New Rules for New Relationships
- Some of you have never truly experienced what following Jesus feels like because you have not chosen to live under HIS rules
- You have continued to live in old habits and desires
- You will NEVER experience life there
New Rules for New Seasons
In some wilderness seasons, you need to operate under NEW rules
- Fasting more
- Praying more
- seeking more
- Cutting out unnecessary things
Are you willing to learn what God is teaching you in your WILDERNESS SEASON?
- God is trying to teach you who He is
- How he loves you
- How to follow him
- How to trust him
Monday Jun 03, 2024
Monday Jun 03, 2024
Disappointment is more than a feeling – It’s a direction
- Leads you on a path
This is important because our series is called “LOST”
- A WAY out of the wilderness
A WILDERNESS SEASON IS WHERE WE LEARN WHO GOD IS, HOW HE LOVES US, AND HOW WE SHOULD INTERACT WITH HIM
Part of this learning is learning HOW to handle Disappointment
- Especially disappointment with God
What is disappointment?
Disappointment happens when my expectations are not aligned with my real-time experiences
Disappointment is magnified in “WILDERNESS” season because we are already stressed/worried/anxious/frustrated
“When God’s timing seems questionable, his lack of intervention seems hurtful, and his promises seem doubtful, I get afraid. I get confused. And left alone with those feelings, I can’t help but feel disappointed that God isn’t doing what I assume a good God should do.” ~ Lysa Terkeurst
This is exactly where some of you are right now—disappointed with God:
- You keep praying, but he keeps ignoring you.
- All your friends are getting married right now, but you aren’t.
- You asked him to heal, but instead, your loved one got worse.
- You busted your butt in the off-season, but someone else got the starting position.
- You’re killing yourself trying to make rent and feed kids, but prayer isn’t paying the bills.
- You’ve done everything right in parenting, yet your kids aren’t turning out like you hoped. . . or maybe God isn’t giving you the kids you long for in the first place.
And you’re like, “God, I don’t understand! How can this be your perfect plan? How can this be good? God, I had dreams but all you’ve left me with are disappointments.”
The Problem with disappointment is that it’s NOT just a FEELING, it’s a DIRECTION…
Disappointment Directed Decisions
Examples:
Disappointed in a previous relationship, so you overcompensate in the next one
- Overly Jealous
- Overly Controlling
Disappointed with yourself, so you second guess or push yourself too hard
- Never have any joy
Disappointed in how you were raised, so you choose to either over-control or passively parent
Disappointed in your life, so you look for someone to blame
What we must know:
Disappointment in life is unavoidable, but how we handle it matters and the story the Bible is telling has a lot to say about that…
Catching the story up to this point
- Freed the people from Egypt
- Led them through the Red Sea
- God has fed the people in the desert
- Manna
- Quail
- God has given them victory over some enemies
- Taken them to Mount Sinai
- Gives them the 10 Commandments
- Moses goes up the mountain to hear from God
- Gone for about 40 days
Exodus 32
1 When the people saw that Moses delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, “Come, make gods for us who will go before us because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!”
1: Disappointment Leads you to FORGET
They forgot what ALL God has already done for them
What all had God done for them:
- Fed them
- Led them
- Gave them water
- Freed them from the greatest empire
But as soon as Moses was gone a little too long, they FORGOT
- What God had commanded
- What his purpose for them was as His people
Disappoint causes us to come down with…
Spiritual Amnesia
How do we handle disappointment?
Remembering that…
GOD IS FAITHFUL
2 Thessalonians 3:3
3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.
1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Forgetfulness is not Disappointment’s only problem…
2: Disappointment Leads you to DESIRE CONTROL
- This God Yahweh is uncontrollable, different, and scary
- Let’s make a God we can SEE, TOUCH, and FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH
“Come, make gods for us who will go before us…”
Since Adam and Eve, we have either been trying to BE LIKE GOD or MAKE OUR OWN GODS
You may be thinking…
We would NEVER make a God of our own…
- We literally do it ALL THE TIME
What is “god” (The idea of)
And Ideal that gives purpose, meaning, and direction
That Means…
What God values is valuable, and what he doesn’t value is not valid
A positive example of this…
“Because humanity is made in the Image of God, then ALL human life is Valuable – From the beginning of life to the end
A negative example of this…
My Jesus loves EVERYONE
- Don’t Judge, Love is love, love wins, God created me this way,
My Jesus is a PATRIOT
- Law and order over alone.. No mercy, Might makes right, Judgement, and religion
The reason these stories are SO IMPORTANT is because the Bible is telling us a very important story…
The story the Bible is telling is any God we make in our own image to control is no God at all but just a fake, sad attempt to control our own lives, which always ends in our own destruction
Disappointments last problem direction is…
3: Disappointment Leads you BACK into captivity
Exodus 32
2 Aaron replied to them, “Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people took off the gold rings that were on their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took the gold from them, fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it into an image of a calf. Then they said, “Israel, these are your gods, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!”
Let’s follow the Logical Flow
Disappoint makes us:
- Forget – Giving us the freedom to…
- Desire Control – Gives us the insane idea that
- Where we came from is better than where God is leading us Back to captivity
False gods, whatever they are or whatever they look like, don’t give us freedom; they only make us slaves
What do I mean by CAPTIVITY?
Back to patterns of Sin that Jesus has freed us from
- Patterns of broken thinking
- Patterns of Worry/stress/fear
- Patterns of Selfishness and greed
- Patterns of hate and violence
- Patterns of bitterness and unforgiveness
Don’t go back to those things
- This is the ONLY PLACE disappointment leads
Finishing the Story…
- God sees what the Israelites had done
- His anger burns against them – As it should
- Moses goes before God and begs for mercy
- God does not destroy them
This is a PICTURE of the gospel
- We deserve God’s wrath – Instead, he offers salvation
- But we HAVE SINNED. We acted Like his ENEMIES
- Any enemy of a perfect and powerful God should be destroyed
But the Gospel says this…
Romans 5:8
God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- On our worst day
- While serving false God/ideas
That’s the God of the Bible
- That the God who created you
Disappoint is Inevitable
- We will all experience it
But don’t let disappoint direct you, instead let the TRUST of God be your guide
Psalm 119
97 How I love your instruction! It is my meditation all day long.
98 Your command makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is always with me.
99 I have more insight than all my teachers because your decrees are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the elders because I obey your precepts.
101 I have kept my feet from every evil path to follow your word.
102 I have not turned from your judgments, for you yourself have instructed me.
103 How sweet your word is to my taste— sweeter than honey in my mouth.
104 I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every false way.
105 Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.
Tuesday May 28, 2024
Tuesday May 28, 2024
Choose Your Hard
- In your health
- In your relationships
- With your kids
- With your career
Same with Following God
- Without God = HARD
- With God = HARD
- Choose your heard
Just because all things are difficult doesn’t mean all OUTCOMES are the same value
- Some things, while difficult, are worth more than others
- We’re talking about this because of the new series…
>>LOST: A WAY IN THE WILDERNESS
Being in a wilderness season is when things are abnormally…
- Difficult
- Confusing
- Disorienting
- Uphill
- Just plane HARD
But wilderness seasons have purpose…
A WILDERNESS SEASON IS WHERE WE LEARN WHO GOD IS, HOW HE LOVES US, AND HOW WE SHOULD INTERACT WITH HIM
We are looking at the story of the EXODUS
- The escape of the Israelite people from Egypt to the PROMISED LAND
Last week was about the 10 plagues in Egypt
God’s purpose for many wilderness seasons is to teach us about Himself
Today, we continue that story…
Egypt finally has enough of God and his people
- They let Israel Go
- They send them with riches
Pharaoh has a change of heart…
Exodus 14
5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about the people and said, “What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us.”
So he gathers part of his army and pursues the people of Israel
- Israel is gathered on the banks of the Red Sea
Exodus 14
10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and there were the Egyptians coming after them! The Israelites were terrified and cried out to the Lord for help. 11 They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Isn’t this what we told you in Egypt: Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”
Moses responds…
13 But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation that he will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you must be quiet.”
Moses prays…
- Stretches out his arms
- God parts the waters
- Israel walks through unharmed
- Pharaoh follows them in
- God releases the waters and drowns the Egyptian army
Through this, Israel and the world learn that…
God always makes a way for His People
- God parted the waters
- God gave water from a rock
- God fed them in the desert
- God ALWAYS makes a way
What does this mean for us?
God is the one who makes a way in your circumstances
- In your pain
- In your struggle
First, God introduced Himself to the people
Next, God was teaching the people to TRUST HIM
- That is what wilderness seasons do
- They point you back to God and teach you to trust
There are two important things to know about GOD MAKING A WAY
1: Following God doesn’t always mean it will be easy or make sense.
That is what following God can be like
- You won’t always understand why
Israel didn’t know why God had brought them to the sea
“Have you brought us here to die!”
But God had a bigger purpose in bringing them there
- We’re still talking about it today
When you don’t know the WHY, Focus on the WHAT
What should I be doing now?
- Praying
- Serving
- Grow where you are planted
In most wilderness seasons of your life, you will not know the WHY until you are out of it
- But you can know the WHAT
- Back to the story…
- Israel has crossed the Red Sea
- Phorah’s army is gone
- For the first time, they experience real freedom
In celebration, they sing one of the first recorded songs in the Bible.
Exodus 15
2 The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
3 The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.
11 Lord, who is like you among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders?
12 You stretched out your right hand, and the earth swallowed them.
13 With your faithful love, you will lead the people you have redeemed; you will guide them to your holy dwelling with your strength.
2: Worship While You Wait
If you haven’t ever been desperate for God, then worship doesn’t make sense
People in the desert
God had not told them what was next
- they were only just beginning their wilderness season
- But they worshiped
Worship does a few things…
Worship reminds us of God’s Goodness
- His faithfulness
- His love and purpose for us
- Our salvation
When we sing songs of God’s goodness, it helps our spirit rest assured that
If He was faithful then, He will be faithful now
Next
Worship Tell us is not all about us
- This is God’s story
- This is His plan
Worship realigns our hearts to Worship GOD and not OURSELVES.
God ALWAYS makes a way
- When the way seems blocked, WORSHIP
- When you don’t know why, focus on WHAT
Isaiah 43
1 Now this is what the Lord says— the one who created you, Jacob, and the one who formed you, Israel— “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and the rivers will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, and the flame will not burn you.
3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior.
You are not Forgotten in your wilderness
- God will make a way!
- TRUST HIM!
Tuesday May 21, 2024
Tuesday May 21, 2024
Key Question:
What Is A Wilderness Season?
A season of life where things are:
- Difficult
- Confusing
- Disorienting
- Uphill
- Out of the ordinary
Wilderness Seasons are a MAJOR PART of the Christian Walk
- We anticipate them
A WILDERNESS SEASON IS WHERE WE LEARN WHO GOD IS, HOW HE LOVES US, AND HOW WE SHOULD INTERACT WITH HIM
1 Peter 1:6-7
6 You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials 7 so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
This series is about MAKING THE MOST out of these seasons
- Don’t waste pain
- Learn what God is teaching
We will be looking at the TRUE story of the EXODUS
The freeing of the people of God (Israel) from captivity in Egypt
One of the most powerful stories in human history
The story up to this point:
- Joseph
- 400 years in Egypt
Exodus 1:13-14
13 They worked the Israelites ruthlessly 14 and made their lives bitter with difficult labor in brick and mortar and in all kinds of fieldwork. They ruthlessly imposed all this work on them.
The Exodus story is also Moses’ story
- Placed into a basket on the Nile
- Rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter
- Raised in Pharaoh’s Household
- Kills an Egyptian taskmaster
- Flees to the “WILDERNESS” for 40 years
- Burning Bush
- God sends him BACK to Egypt
The Great Rescue
We have a people who are:
- Oppressed
- Broken
- Tired
- Under Pressure
- Stuck
- LOST
Step 1 of God’s Rescue is:
1: God Promises Freedom
Exodus 6
2 Then God spoke to Moses, telling him, “I am the Lord. 3 I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, but I was not known to them by my name ‘the Lord.’ 4 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land they lived in as aliens. 5 Furthermore, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are forcing to work as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant.
6 “Therefore tell the Israelites: I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from the forced labor of the Egyptians and rescue you from slavery to them. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and great acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. You will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from the forced labor of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you to the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.” 9 Moses told this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their broken spirit and hard labor.
Israel’s freedom is found in God (Yahweh) ALONE
God is REINTRODUCING himself to his people
- He reminds them of His promise to their ancestors
But the people DO NOT believe
- They are so broken
- So LOST
How will God free them from the most powerful kingdom in the known world?
Step 2 of God’s Rescue is:
2: God Confronts Egypt
Exodus 7
1 The Lord answered Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother will be your prophet. 2 You must say whatever I command you; then Aaron your brother must declare it to Pharaoh so that he will let the Israelites go from his land. 3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. 4 Pharaoh will not listen to you, but I will put my hand into Egypt and bring the military divisions of my people the Israelites out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. 5 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the Israelites from among them.”
Egypt was the SUPERPOWER of its day
Superpowers think they are untouchable
They can do WHATEVER THEY WANT to WHOMEVER THEY WANT
God confronts the “gods” of Egypt through the plagues
Examples:
- Turn Nile River to blood – Hapi, the bull god, god of the Nile; Isis, goddess of the Nile; Khnum, ram god, guardian of the Nile
- Death of livestock – Hathor, goddess with a cow head; Apis, the bull god, symbol of fertility
- Darkness – Ra, the sun god; Horus, a sun god; Nut, a sky goddess; Hathor, a sky goddess
The “gods” of the Egyptians were POWERLESS against the God of Israel
At first, they tried to COPY God’s power, but they could not and were powerless to stop it
Step 3 of God’s Rescue is:
3: Israel Chooses to walk out free
Exodus 12
33 Now the Egyptians pressured the people in order to send them quickly out of the country, for they said, “We’re all going to die!” 34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls wrapped up in their clothes on their shoulders.
35 The Israelites acted on Moses’s word and asked the Egyptians for silver and gold items and for clothing. 36 And the Lord gave the people such favor with the Egyptians that they gave them what they requested. In this way they plundered the Egyptians.
God had MADE A WAY
Israel still had to choose to LEAVE
- All they had known
- All the gods they had known
Application:
WHAT DOES THIS STORY MEAN FOR US?
1: God Promises Freedom – We Need Freedom
Like how Egypt made slaves out of Israel – Sin makes slaves out of us.
Romans 6:16
16 Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey—either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness?
Sin…
- Oppresses us
- Harms us
- Kills us
The “WILDERNESS OF HUMANITY” is because of sin
Some of you are LOST IN THE WILDERNESS because of your sin
- Your choices
- Way of thinking
- Lifestyles
- Beliefs
There are HOLDING YOU CAPTIVE
<<NOTE>>
Every wilderness season is NOT because of some hidden sin, but many times it is…
<Your Prayer>
Father, please reveal to me any hidden sin, thought pattern or way of living that is not in alignment with your ways
2: God Confronted Egypt – God Confronts lies and breaks strongholds
John 14:6
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
- Jesus came to show us the way through the TRUTH of His life
Sin is based on lies… It says…
- I know what’s best for me…
- This isn’t hurting anyone…
- No one will ever know…
- Did God really say?
In order to free us, God must directly challenge the idols, false assumptions, and lies—whether they originate from within ourselves or from our adversary
What does this look like for us?
- Reading and understanding the Bible (Learning Truth)
- Sermons and Bible study with others (Hearing Truth)
- Relationships that can speak TRUTH into your life (Hard Truths)
- Holy Spirit Conviction
3: Israel Chose to walk out Free – We must choose to walk in God’s Freedom
Galatians 5:1
For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Staying in Egypt meant staying a slave — Staying in our sin means staying its slave
- When God frees us, we must CHOOSE to walk in that freedom
- Don’t return
- Don’t stay put
- MOVE!
The reason you may be in the wilderness is for God to DEMONSTRATE his POWER and TRUTH to you
- Can’t see it when things are good
Our God is a God RESCUES HIS PEOPLE
- Then and NOW
- Don’t be a slave to LESSER THINGS
The START of making it through the wilderness is BREAKING THE HOLD of SIN, LIES, and STRONGHOLDS
It is only the POWER, TRUTH, and FREEDOM of God that can give us hope and purpose for our lives and our world
Thursday May 16, 2024
Thursday May 16, 2024
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Anxiety
-
Avoidance/Obsession
-
Short-Term Relief
-
Long-term Anxiety Growth
-
Over and Over….
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But we should think of anxiety differently than the rest of the world
-
We have patience and sympathy for those who do struggle
-
Make sure you see a professional if your anxiety goes to far
-
It’s something we do
-
But the answer isn’t “JUST STOP WORRYING ALL THE TIME”
-
We stockpile things to worry about
-
They are YOUR anxieties
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They are YOUR worries
-
For how much we hate our anxieties, we love to hold on to them…
-
We love to HOARD them
-
Want to keep it
-
Want to hold onto it
-
Want to fix it
-
Want to manipulate it
-
Want to control it
-
It’s been around for a LONG time
-
From David…
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Who are the righteous?
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Those who live under God’s right rule
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Healthy, Active Prayer life
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Cast your care immediately to Him
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Did it out of obligations (was supposed to)
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Not I do it because I see its true value
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It shifts your…
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Outlook
-
Your faith
-
Your determination
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View of God
-
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Why do you think atheists and others keep gratitude journals?
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Because God made us to be grateful, not worrisome
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You get better the more you do it
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The seasons
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The lessons
-
The people
-
The small miracles
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Keep a list of things you are really thankful for and return to them when worry creeps in
-
Practice Thankfulness everyday
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To a past event
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In a future possibility
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We are trapped but hold the key
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The key is our own mind and what we allow in there
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Only HE knows the Future
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Only HE can bring out what he desires
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Only God has ownership over us, not our fears, sin, or ourselves
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We make our minds SUBMIT to GOD’S TRUTH
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Not Anxieties VERSION of the truth
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Don’t play around with Anxiety
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Take it out!
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And We DO!
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The Holy Spirit
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We never believe the lie that we are captive to our thoughts
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This changes the cycle of worry and anxiety
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Memorize scripture that can bring you hope and clarity
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Faith
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Hope
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Wonder
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Excitement
Tuesday May 07, 2024
Monday Apr 22, 2024
Monday Apr 22, 2024
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