Anticipation… - The Mysteries of The Magi

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Matthew 2:1-12

GOD CAN USE ANYTHING

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
Romans 1:20

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Psalms 19:1

GOD IS NOT LIMITED BY OUR IMAGINATIONS AND UNDERSTANDINGS.

GOD USES EVERYTHING TO GET OUR ATTENTION AND ALWAYS POINTS US BACK TO THE FEET OF JESUS.

Something to be Thankful for: Mercy

Thanks:
      \THaŋ(k)s\
noun
      An expression of gratitude.

Giving:
      \ˈɡiviŋ\
adjective
      providing love or other emotional support; caring.

• Forgiveness
• Grace
• Mercy

 What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?
Romans 9:22

What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory?…
Romans 9:23

“I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.”
~ Abraham Lincoln ~

And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness…
Exodus 34:6

…maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”
Exodus 34:7

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.
Exodus 33:19

“I think that is a better thing than thanksgiving: thanks-living. How is this to be done? By a general cheerfulness of manner, by an obedience to the command of Him by whose mercy we live, by a perpetual, constant delighting of ourselves in the Lord, and by a submission of our desires to His will.”
~ Charles Spurgeon ~

Something to be Thankful for: grace

Thanks:
      \THaŋ(k)s\
noun
      An expression of gratitude.

Giving:
      \ˈɡiviŋ\
adjective
      providing love or other emotional support; caring.

• Forgiveness
• Grace
• Mercy

      Grace:
      \ɡrās\
noun
      Unmerited favor of God towards man.

“Grace is the very opposite of merit… Grace is not only undeserved favor, but it is favor shown to the one who has deserved the very opposite.”
~ Harry Ironside ~

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.
Titus 2:11-12

Are YOU Thankful For God’s Grace?

The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”
Jonah 1:1-2

But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.
Jonah 1:3

Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.
Jonah 1:4-5

The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish.”
Jonah 1:6

Then the sailors said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.” They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah.
Jonah 1:7

So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What kind of work do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?”
Jonah 1:8

He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”

This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so.)
Jonah 1:10

The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?”
Jonah 1:11

“Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”
Jonah 1:12

This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”
Jonah 3:7-9

But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry.
Jonah 4:1

If I’m not showing grace… have I forgotten the grace I’ve been shown?

Are YOU Thankful for the grace you’ve been shown?

Is there someone in your life that needs to be shown Grace?

Something to be Thankful for: Forgiveness

Thanks:
      \THaŋ(k)s\
noun
      An expression of gratitude.

      Giving:
      \ˈɡiviŋ\
adjective
      providing love or other emotional support; caring.

      Thanksgiving:
      \thaŋ(k)s-ˈgi-viŋ\
noun
      the expression of gratitude, especially to God.

• Forgiveness
• Grace
• Mercy

Forgive: stop feeling angry or resentful toward (someone) for an offense, flaw, or mistake.

Forgiveness: the action or process of forgiving or being forgiven.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.
Ephesians 1:7

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14

Four conditions of Forgiveness
• humble yourself by admitting your sins;
• praying to God – asking for forgiveness;
• seeking God continually;
• and turning from sinful behavior.

Are you Thankful you have received forgiveness?

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Matthew 18:21-22

“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
Matthew 18:23-25

“At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
Matthew 18:26-27

“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
Matthew 18:28

“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.
Matthew 18:29-30

What Is Forgiveness?

Psychologists generally define forgiveness as a conscious, deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you, regardless of whether they actually deserve your forgiveness.

When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
Matthew 18:3

“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’
Matthew 18:32-33

In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
Matthew 18:34

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Matthew 18:35

Unforgiveness is choosing to stay trapped in a jail cell of bitterness, serving time for someone else’s crime.

“Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness.”
~ Corrie Ten Boom ~

Are you thankful for forgiveness?

Have people in your life experienced the same forgiveness you received?

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32

Not A Fan. - am i just following the rules?

Fan:
      \ˈfan\
noun
      an enthusiastic admirer

      Follower:
      \ˈfälō(ə)r\
noun
      an adherent or devotee of a particular person, cause, or activity.

ADAPTIVE SELF

FALSE SELF

HYPOCRITE

      hyp·o·crite:
      \ˈhipəˌkrit\
noun
      An interpreter from underneath.

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
Matthew 23:1-3

PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH

• You could not spit on the Sabbath because it would disturb the dirt and you would be guilty of plowing.

• You could not swat a fly on the Sabbath because you would be guilty of hunting.

• If your house was burning down on a Sabbath, you could not carry clothes out of it. However, you were allowed to put on several layers of clothes as the house was burning down. You could leave without breaking the law because you were wearing them instead of carrying them.

They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
Matthew 23:4

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
Matthew 23:13

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
Matthew 23:23-24

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
Matthew 23:27-28

When we aren’t willing to share our brokenness, we never get to share our witness for God’s grace and mercy.

Not A Fan. - knowledge about him or intimacy with him?

Fan:
      \ˈfan\
noun
      an enthusiastic admirer

      Follower:
      \ˈfälō(ə)r\
noun
      an adherent or devotee of a particular person, cause, or activity.

Are you a Follower of Jesus?

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Luke 9:23

These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
Matthew 15:8

When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.
Luke 7:36

A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.
Luke 7:37

As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
Luke 7:38

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
Luke 7:39

Do you do what you do for God out of duty?
or
Do you do what you do out of a desire to honor Him?

Do not confuse Knowledge about Jesus for intimacy with Jesus.

A Biblical word for intimacy is “Know”

And Adam knew Eve his wife
Genesis 4:1 (KJV)

Now the man was intimate with his wife Eve
Genesis 4:1 (ESV)

YADA (Hebrew Word for Knew)
To Know completely and to be completely Known

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.
Psalm 139:1-4

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
Luke 7:44

You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.
Luke 7:45

You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.
Luke 7:46

Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
Luke 7:47

Who are you most like in this Story?

Do you know about Jesus, or do you Know Jesus?

Not A Fan. - Do you believe or are you committed?

Fan:
      \ˈfan\
noun
      an enthusiastic admirer

      Follower:
      \ˈfälō(ə)r\
noun
      an adherent or devotee of a particular person, cause, or activity.

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Luke 9:23

• So how do you start determining if you really are a follower of Jesus?
• How do you decide if this is even something you would want to consider?

We must define the relationship.

Have you made a DECISION for Jesus, or Have you COMMITTED to Jesus?

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
John 3:1-2

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
John 3:3

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
John 3:4

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
John 3:5-6

You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.
John 3:7

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
John 3:8-9

“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.
John 3:10-11

I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.
John 3:12-13

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
John 3:14-15

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:16-17

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
John 3:18

Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
John 5:19

For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.
John 5:20-21

Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.
John 5:22-23

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
John 5:24

Not A Fan. - The Cross

Fan:
\ˈfan\
noun
an enthusiastic admirer

“Jesus never asked us to sit on the sidelines and cheer for His cause…”
~ Craig Groeschel ~

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:23

“No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord…”
John 10:18

What have we sacrificed in return???

“When Christ calls a man, He bids him-Come and Die…”
~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer ~

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
1 Corinthians 1:18

Why would God use a symbol of torture, of death, of weakness to save the world?

Does the cross represent WEAKNESS or does it represent STRENGTH …?

“Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles… for the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”
1 Corinthians 1:22

Who else but God…
• …could take a cross that represented defeat-And turn it into a symbol of victory?
• …could take a cross that represented guilt-And turn it into a symbol for grace?
• …could take a cross that represented condemnation-And turn it into a symbol of freedom ?
• …could take a cross that represented pain and suffering-And turn it into a symbol of healing and hope?
• …could take a cross that represented death-And turn it into a symbol of life?

When you are at your weakest - you are exactly where you need to be for God to be the strongest!

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”
1 Corinthians 1:27

“I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why for Christ’s sake, I delight in…” (and Paul gives us this list of “not so comfortable” things) weakness, insults, hardships, persecution and difficulties) and he concludes–“For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Strength comes when we realize our weakness.

Will you, like Christ did before us, trust God enough to let your weakness be His strength, will you trust Him to make all things new for you???

“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
Colossians 2:13-15

There’s no comfortable way to carry a cross…

“For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for Him…”
Philippians 1:29

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James 1:2-4

Christ says, “Give me all. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want you. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don’t want to cut off a branch here and a branch there. I want to have the whole tree down. I don’t want to drill the tooth, or crown it, or stop it, but to have it out.”
~ C. S. Lewis ~

“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.”
Matthew 16:25

A call to stand against opposition

A call to Action

A Call for Encouragement

A Call FOR BOLDNESS

A Call To Prayer

The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:
In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
Nehemiah 1:1-2

They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
Nehemiah 1:3

When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
Nehemiah 1:4

      Prayer:
      /prer/
noun
      A solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or an object of worship.

“God Never Allows Pain without a purpose”
~ Jerry Bridges ~

“Your Greatest Ministry will most likely come out of your greatest hurt.”
~ Rick Warren ~

When we are burdened, what should we do?

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
Psalm 55:22

Accept IT
Cast IT
Leave IT

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Then I said: “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
Nehemiah 1:5-7

God initiates Prayer in Us

“Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’
Nehemiah 1:8-9

“They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”
Nehemiah 1:10-11

When Is the last time you were so burdened that all you could do was pray?

When was the last time you were burdened for the church?
When was the last time you were burdened for your Neighbors?
When was the last time you were burdened for our nation?
When was the last time you were burdened for the lost?

step up - answer the call

God doesn’t call the PREPARED. God PREPARES the called.

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
Ephesians 4:1

3 things we are called to:
• God calls us to salvation.
• God calls us to sanctification
• God calls us to service.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.
1 Corinthians 1:26

God doesn’t call the prepared. God prepares the called.

Sometimes the criticism from people confirms Calling of God!

TWO QUALITIES OF CALLING

1) CALLING COSTS
But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
Acts 9:15-16

The moment you step into your calling, you step out of your comfort zone.

God often uses our deepest pain to launch our greatest calling!

PRIVATE PAIN is a big part of PUBLIC CALLING

Serving Jesus is a GIFT—GRIND!
Living your call is a THRILL—BURDEN!
Ministry is EXHILARATING—EXHAUSTING!

2) CALLING SUSTAINS

…Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14

…We constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you!
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

GOOD QUESTIONS - WHY DO YOU DOUBT?

With Spiritual Doubts - Why Do You Doubt?

What is doubt?

      Doubt:
      /dout/
noun
      a feeling of uncertainty or a lack of conviction*
On an emotional level, doubt is indecision between belief and disbelief

What is faith?
      Faith:
      /fāTH/
noun
      complete trust or confidence in someone or something

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he 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.”
John 20:24-25 (NIV)

Doubt can CRIPPLE you!
Doubt can ROB you of joy!
Doubt can SHACKLE you!
Doubt can HINDER your future!

Faith can HEAL you!
Faith Can GIVE YOU Joy!
Faith can FREE you!
Faith makes YOUR FUTURE certain!

So the Lord said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.
Genesis 15:9-12 (NIV)

When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces.
Genesis 15:17 (NIV)

Doubt makes us believe in the negatives of “What If” living

How Can we have faith that God can save us from our sins but can’t do anything else?

In a World Full of Doubt, We must be a people Full of Faith!

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!” 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.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
John 20:26-29 (NIV)

We have to choose one or the other:
It’s Faith vs. Doubt

People Make Choices… and Choices make People

Will you choose today, to keep doubting?
Or
Will you choose today, to live by Faith?

Good Questions - Do you Want to be well?

In a storm—Why Are You So Afraid?
Need a miracle—Do You Believe I Can Do This?
Ongoing challenge—Do You Want to Be Well?
With spiritual doubts—Why Do You Doubt?

Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades.
John 5:1-2

Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.
John 5:3

One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
John 9:5-6

“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
John 5:7-9a

THE LONGER A PROBLEM PERSISTS:

• THE MORE DISCOURAGED WE BECOME

• THE MORE EXCUSES WE MAKE

• THE MORE YOU LEARN TO 

REVEAL ANSWER

You cannot change what you are willing to tolerate.

• You can’t help someone who 

REVEAL ANSWER

 help, you can only help someone that 

REVEAL ANSWER

 help.

“DO YOU WANT TO BE MADE WELL?”

What is the biggest hindrance of faith?

Until our desire becomes bigger than our disability, we will not be able to start to find healing.

Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
John 5:8-9a

• I DON’T WANT TO HEAR YOUR EXCUSE. I WANT TO SEE YOUR FAITH.

Good Questions - Do you believe I can do this?

Storm - Why Are You So Afraid?
Need A Miracle - Do You Believe I Can Do This?
Ongoing problem — Do You Want to Be Well?
Spiritual doubts—Why Do You Doubt?

As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When (Jesus) had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored.
Matthew 9:27-30

WHAT KIND OF FAITH HONORS GOD?

1) FAITH THAT BELIEVES WHEN IT DOESN’T SEE.

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
Hebrews 11:1

When (Jesus) had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied.
Matthew 9:28

The size of our request reveals the strength of our faith.

2) FAITH THAT PERSISTS WHEN NOTHING CHANGES

 Be persistent in prayer, and keep alert as you pray, giving thanks to God.
Colossians 4:2

3) FAITH THAT WORKS WHEN IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE

You see that (Abraham’s) faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
James 2:22

I’d rather be blind with faith that God can heal…
Than see and have no faith!

It takes faith to step away from the familiar.

Good Questions - Why Are You So Afraid?

The best way to find truth is on the other side of a good question.

• In a storm — Why Are You So Afraid?
• Need a miracle — Do You Believe I Can Do This?
• Ongoing challenge — Do You Want to Be Well?
• With spiritual doubts — Why Do You Doubt?

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, Why are you so afraid?“ Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Mark 4:35-41

2 THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN YOU’RE IN THE STORM

1) YOU’RE IN THE STORM WITH HIS PRESENCE.

A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.

     BUT…

Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.
Mark 4:37-38

THE PROMISE OF THE GOSPEL IS NOT THIS:
Having Jesus in the boat doesn’t mean storm is not going to rock you.

THE PROMISE IS:
It’s not going to sink you.

Never let the presence of a storm cause you to doubt presence of God.

God is my refuge & strength, my ever-present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1

Never leave me — never forsake me…
Hebrews 13:5

2) YOU’RE IN THE STORM FOR HIS PURPOSES.

Can’t tell you if God caused it or allowed it — but he always uses it.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Mark 4:39-41

#Nofilter - Elijah

FALSE GODS PROMISE WHAT ONLY THE TRUE GOD PROVIDES.

When (Ahab) saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?” “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals.
1 Kings 18:17-18

Monotheism — belief there is one God.
Polytheism — belief there is multiple gods.

What are the false gods we serve?

IT IS TIME TO QUIT WAVERING.

Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing.
1 Kings 18:19-21

Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire — he is God.” Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”
1 Kings 18:24

So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “O Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.
1 Kings 18:26

At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.”
1 Kings 18:27

At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”
1 Kings 18:36-37

Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord - he is God! The Lord - he is God!”
1 Kings 18:38-39

ELIJAH WOULD SAY:
“Stop wavering Rob”

May we remove the filters from the false gods in our lives, so that we can enjoy our life and have peace with the one true God.

FALSE GODS PROMISE WHAT ONLY THE TRUE GOD PROVIDES.

#Nofilter - Joseph

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33

Will people hurt us?

What do we do when people hurt us?

• Do to others what they did to you
• Do to others what worse than they did to you
• Do to others before they do it to you

JOSEPH GENESIS 37, 39-45

THE BROTHERS REACTION:

NOW JOSEPH IS IN THE BACK OF A CART HEADING TOWARD EGYPT TO BE SOLD:

NOW YOU’RE FALSLY PUT IN JAIL:

THE KING HAS A NEED:

THE FAMINE HAS COME:

IF YOUR JOSEPH, NOW WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

DON’T OVER SPRITUALIZE BIBLE PEOPLE:

THIS IS THE “Oh Crap Moment” RIGHT NOW

But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
Genesis 50:19-21

• If we allow bitterness to define us, it will define everything that we touch

• If we allow what happen to us, and let that defines us, it will fall on everyone else around us

Forgiveness has a close cousin… Forget

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Celebrate Recovery 8 Recovery Principles
Evaluate all my relationships. Offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for harm I’ve done to others when possible, except when to do so would harm them or others.

Prayer for Serenity
God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;
taking, as Jesus did,
this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it;
trusting that You will make all things right
if I surrender to Your will;
so that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.