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Silence Your Negative Thoughts

Your life is always moving in the direction of your strongest thoughts.

Your thoughts have incredible power.

You have incredible power over your thoughts.

Romans 15:13 NIV
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Proverbs 4:23 NIV
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Romans 8:5&6 NIV
“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”

If you cannot define it, you cannot defeat it.

4 categories of negative thinking

1. Relational Cynicism

2. Negative Filtering

3. Absolute Thinking

4. Blaming

I Samuel 30:6b NKJV
“…But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”

POWER THOUGHTS

1. Relational Cynicism

With God’s help I will get rid of all bitterness and skepticism. I choose to believe the best about others and be kind, compassionate and loving. I will love and forgive others as Jesus has loved and forgiven me.

2. NEGATIVE FILTERING

God, by your power I take every thought captive and make it obedient to the truth of Christ. Because You are good I choose to think on what’s good, right, true, helpful and worthy of praise. As I trust in You, Your peace will guard my heart, soul and mind in Christ Jesus.

3. Absolute Thinking

As Jesus loved and accepted me, I will love and accept others. Rather than always being right, I’m called to always be loving. Rather than just making a point, I choose to make a difference. In humility, I choose to love others above myself.

4. Blaming

God has given me a life and mind if my own. By His grace, I will own my own choices and choose God’s best for me. I have been given everything I need to accomplish everything God wants me to do. In Christ I will overcome.

Discussion:

1) Are your thoughts more negative or positive?

2) In which of the categories of negative thinking do most see yourself?

3) What about doing a negativity fast?

  • Seek God’s help to identify negative neural pathways in your thoughts.

  • Use the above power thoughts or, using the Bible write your own and speak them over yourself throughout the day.

  • Encourage your Bold and Brave sisters on FB with your victories.

  • What is your “go to” Bible passage to help you when life beats you down?

  • Practice ruminating in His Word

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Heroes of Faith

Verses about FAITH:

Matthew 21:22 - And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

Romans 10:17 - So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Mark 11:22-24 - And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

2 Corinthians 5:7 - For we walk by faith, not by sight.

1 Corinthians 2:5 - That your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

James 1:5-8 - If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

James 2:24 - You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Luke 17:5 - The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith.”

The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you!

“When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does his master say, ‘Come in and eat with me’? No, he says, ‘Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.’ And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. 10 In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’”

Hebrews 11

1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. 2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.

3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

  • What does verse 1 mean?

  • What do you believe about the beginning of creation? Can the Bible’s version be believed?

4 It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.

  • Genesis 4

  • What did faith really have to do with Abel’s obedience?

5 It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. 6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

  • Genesis 5:21-24

  • Do you think God spared Enoch from death because of his faith?

  • Why is it impossible to please God without faith?

  • Is there a way to seek God that isn’t sincere?

7 It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.

  • How do you think Noah had the faith to believe in something that had never happened before?

  • What righteousness comes by faith?

8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. 9 And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. 10 Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.

11 It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. 12 And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.

  • What other faith did Abraham have in his life? Did it ever falter?

  • What do you think would have happened if Abraham didn’t have faith?

13 All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. 14 Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. 15 If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. 16 But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

17 It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, 18 even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” 19 Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.

  • Could you have done what Abraham did?

  • Has God given you any promises that may not come to pass in your lifetime?

20 It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau.

  • Genesis 27:27-33

21 It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.

22 It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left.

23 It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command.

24 It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. 27 It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. 28 It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.

29 It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned.

30 It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down.

31 It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

32 How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. 33 By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. 35 Women received their loved ones back again from death.

But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. 36 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. 37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. 38 They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.

39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. 40 For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.

  • Finish what we could not finish in class. Write down your thoughts and findings in a notebook.

  • Ask God where you need to grow in your faith right now. Spend some time in prayer asking Him what promises He’s given you.

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Empowered People

Empowered People Empower People

How do you feel you can become more empowered? Do you think or feel you are empowered now?

Know who you are and let God develop it!

It’s not about what you feel. It’s about what He says!

Empower: To give somebody the authority or power to do something

Matthew 16:13-19

True empowerment comes from a relationship with Jesus.

Believers of Christ Jesus are the HANDS of God to execute His divine will, order and authority in the Earth.

As it is said during offering time at Freedom Valley, we don’t HAVE to give, we GET to give. It is a PRIVILEGE to serve and work for God!

We are representing the Most High and His ambassadors.

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The Barren Fig Tree

Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

Luke 13:6-9, “Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’

“The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’”

———-

What, on earth, does this parable mean?
Why do you think Jesus didn’t explain it?

First, let’s read the context.

———

Luke 13:1-5, “About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. 2 “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?” Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered? 3 Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God. 4 And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? 5 No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”

——-

When we search for things on the internet, there are some non-negotiables you have to remember:

The Bible is true.
Jesus is the perfect son of God.
God is good.

Search:

  • “garden and vineyard symbolism in the Bible”

  • “fig symbolism in the Bible”

  • “the gardener in the Bible”

  • “the law regarding first fruits, Leviticus 19:23-25

Candace’s notes:

  • I think we need to focus on the grace of this passage, rather than the “punishment”. This parable reflects Jesus offering a chance for repentance and forgiveness of sin, showing his grace toward his believers. The fig tree was also given the chance to be IN the vineyard, or garden, where it otherwise would not have been. Fig trees were typically off to the wayside, along roads, not really cultivated and planned out.

    • The church of God his his vineyard, distinguished from the common, with a fence around it. We are fig-trees planted in this vineyard by our baptism; we have a place and a name in the visible church, and this is our privilege and happiness. To be placed in GOOD SOIL!

  • The law of first fruits forbids eating fruit from a tree in its first three years. The gardener may have disposed of the fruit, either by plucking it at an early stage or dropping it for compost, to prevent anyone from inadvertently eating the forbidden fruit. He could be an observant Jew and the owner is not, unfamiliar with the laws of first fruits. Now that the tree is entering its productive period, the gardener has saved it from the ax, without letting the master know what happened to the earlier fruit. (another surprise coming though, because in the 4th year, all fruit goes to God)

  • I also think the fact that the owner checks fruit himself is significant. I think God is the owner, in this parable, and Jesus is the gardener. He doesn’t send someone else, he go himself to find the fruit. The God of heaven requires and expects fruit from those that have a place in his vineyard. He has his eye upon those that enjoy the Gospel, to see whether they live up to it; he seeks evidences of their getting good by the means of grace they enjoy. Leaves will not serve, crying Lord, Lord; blossoms will not serve, beginning well and promising fair; there must be fruit.

  • When disappointed though, the owners reaction is severe. He found none, none at all, not one fig. It is sad to think how many enjoy the privileges of the Gospel, and yet do nothing at all to the honor of God, not to answer the end of his entrusting them with those privileges; and it is a disappointment to him and a grief to the Spirit of his grace.

    • He only expected fruit—not MUCH fruit, and he wasn’t hasty! THREE YEARS! Year after year he came. If you apply this to the Jews of Jesus’ day, he came one space of time before the captivity, another after that, and another in the preaching Joh the Baptist, and of Christ Himself. OR—it could allude to the three years of Christ’s public ministry, which were now coming to an end. God is LONG-suffering, and patient. His patience is abused.

    • Lack of fruit in a tree means taking up space that a fruit-bearing tree COULD be taking. So, it not only didn’t bring fruit, but it hurt the overall fruit-bearing of the entire garden. Those who do not do good, do hurt, by the influence of their bad example; they grieve and discourage those that are good; they harden and encourage those that are bad. And the mischief is the greater, and the ground more cumbered, if it be a high, large spreading tree, and if it be an old tree of long standing.

What else could you do to a tree that has been tended, watered, pruned, and waited upon, but to cut it down? It doesn’t seem so harsh when you put it that way. There is nothing more to be done, except continue to wait. And waiting is hurting the rest of the garden. But Jesus, our gardener, still asks for more grace for us.

Ultimately, I think Jesus was issuing a warning to the Jewish people—God’s people. They would be given more time to produce fruit—only because Jesus was interceding for them…but God’s patience wouldn’t last forever. Our takeaway can be the same. We must produce fruit, because God cares deeply about fruitfulness, but we don’t have to do it alone.

So, now application.

  1. What would producing fruit have looked like to the audience Jesus was speaking to?

  2. What does producing fruit mean to us today?

  • Spend some time in prayer asking God how you can produce fruit in your life right now.

  • Google “fruit in the Bible” and read the passages that come up.

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The Power Struggle

What does it mean to be surrendered to God? Is there a difference between following Jesus, and total surrender? How do you know if you’re totally surrendered?

Surrender definition: verb. “cease resistance to an enemy or opponent and submit to their authority.”

Submit definition: verb. “accept or yield to a superior force or to the authority or will of another person.”

I’ve been wrestling with this idea lately on the back burner during Made New. The process of sanctification should be constant, but can only happen if we’re totally surrendered. It’s a process that Jesus leads us through step by step, and it’s beautiful and graceful, but it’s not easy. How do we continually submit to it?

I would argue that there are different levels of surrender. And you can’t stay in one level forever. There will come a moment when the Holy Spirit will urge you on…and you’ll either move forward with Him, or begin to move away from Him. I’ve seen it happen too many times to count. I get to rejoice with those who move forward, and mourn for those who don’t.

  1. Initial surrender to the drawing of the Holy Spirit that leads to salvation. John 6:44, Acts 2:21

  2. When we can let go of attempting to earn God’s favor, and just rely upon the finished work of Jesus Christ. John 1:12, 2 Corinthians 5:21

  3. When we make room in our lives for more of the filling of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18

  4. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and begin to exhibit traits of His character. Galatians 5:22

  5. When we are constantly changing, denying ourselves, and our self-worshipping nature is replaced with one that resembles Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 6:13, Mark 8:34

Galatians 2:20, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Biblical Heroes who demonstrated submission and total surrender:

  • Esther…Esther 4:16 “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.”

  • Paul & Silas in Acts 16. Midnight singing and dungeon faith.

  • Paul in Acts 14. Getting back up and going back into town. Back to the missionary work he was called to.

  • Joseph throughout his life. Doing what was right, not what was easy.

  • Moses? (Why do some people seem to get there so much quicker than others? Woman at the well, vs. Moses who seemed to be constantly fearful and questioning God)

  • Job at the end?

  • Who else can you think of?

Discussion:

  1. What stage do you think you’re at? Why?

  2. What’s the benefit of moving through the stages?

  3. Would you say it’s difficult to move through them?

  4. If we’re having trouble, how do we get through it?

  • Identify the stage you’re in, and make specific goals about moving forward.

  • Identify some selfish recurring thoughts, that you can focus on changing.

  • Spend some time in prayer asking God what is the next thing to work on.

  • Identify some people who you can confide in and will help you through this journey.

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Battle Strategy

I - Identify the enemy. It’s not what it often seems.

“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”Ephesians 6:12 NLT

•How do we fight such foes?

•Where is the battleground?

“We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NLT

Verse 5b in NIV “…and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

II - The battlefield is in our minds

•What thoughts weigh you down?

•How about these thoughts-

“I’m not _____ enough.” How would you fill in the blank?

“They don’t like me”

“I’m not as ____ as they are.”

“…and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

•How do we make those thoughts obedient to Christ?

•What does the Word say in response to those thoughts.

Talk back to those thoughts.

Think about what you’re thinking about.

Do you ever get vague feelings of dis-ease? It’s easy to follow those feelings.

1.Stop

2.Look

3.Listen

STOP- “I’m NOT going to think that thought!”

LOOK to Jesus. Ask for His help. Remind yourself the truth of His word.

LISTEN- ask Holy Spirit to speak truth to your spirit.

“See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.”
Isaiah 49:16a NLT

“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.” Ephesians 1:4-5, 7 NLT

III - Offensive battle strategy

1. Worship

2. Praise

3. Giving thanks

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”Philippians 4:8 NLT

“Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” Romans 12:10 NLT

ESV: “Outdo one another in showing honor.”

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.” Hebrews 10:23-24 NLT

“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT

“The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25 NLT

I Am Your Beloved - Bethel Music

For further study:

•“Crash the Chatterbox” book by Steven Furtick

•“Battlefield of the Mind” book by Joyce Meyer

  1. Encourage each other and build each other up! Use the notecards provided to send someone you know an encouraging note.

  2. Identify at least one area where your thoughts get out of control. Develop your own personal battle strategy.

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3 Days to Live: What do you do?

If you knew you only had a week to live, what would you do with it?

Most answers center around sort of selfish things..and we’re unapologetic about that. See sights we’ve never seen, travel the world, profess our undying love for an old flame, spend time with our families.

I think a lot about what Jesus did with his last week left on Earth. He knew it was his last week. He knew what He had to do, and yet there wasn’t anything He needed to see. Nothing He needed to experience that He hadn’t yet. What He did do with His last week, is absolutely fascinating.

As we approach Easter, I have been studying the “Holy Week”. The week leading up to the crucifixion and death of Jesus. I just can’t get away from what happened on Thursday.


John 13:1:-17

Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

13 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas,[b] son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”

Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.

9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”

10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.”


He washed their feet and they ate together. He taught them how to remember his sacrifice, which wasn’t just the bread and the wine. It’s not just about feeding yourself, but about serving others.

Jesus lowered Himself to the position of the lowliest slave. Feet were gross in that culture. There was dust and dirt and poop in the streets…and the people wore sandals. It was a gross job, and it put you in a position of bowing to another person. It must have felt so vulnerable too, for the MESSIAH to be washing your feet, and everyone watching. Peter thought he was being honoring when he refused Jesus…he didn’t want Jesus to think he was taking advantage of Him, or like he thought he was better than Him somehow.

There is an element to this of allowing Jesus to serve you. Accepting the fact that Jesus laid down His life for you, and so you are valuable to Him. We’re not serving a God who elevates Himself over us, but who humbled Himself for us.


Discussion:

  1. What do you think it would feel like to have Jesus wash your feet?

  2. What do you think it means for us to wash other people’s feet?

  3. How do you serve others in your life? (outside the church, inside the church)

  4. What do you think needs to change in your life, to line up with the spirit of what Jesus is saying here?

Read:

  • Proverbs 19:17

    • How can you show kindness to the poor?

  • Acts 20:35

    • Why is it more blessed to give than to receive? What does that really mean, and how can you allow that truth to change your life?

  • Matthew 5:16

    • What does it mean to let your light shine before others? How do we balance doing good deeds and allowing the grace of Jesus to cover us in salvation?

  • Galatians 5:13

    • What does it mean to use your freedom to indulge the flesh? How do we serve one another in love?

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From Victim to Victor

The book of Esther

Ways this book is unique:

  • There seems to be a sort of theme, of power grabbing in this book, but also of luck and chance. It seems to say, “when you roll the dice against the people of God, the dice roll against you.”  

  • There’s also a bit of moral ambiguity in this book...the Jewish people are hiding..they are integrating into culture, even pieces of it that aren’t so….moral...and yet, they are STILL models of faith when things get tough. 

  • BUT the biggest way that this book is unique, is that God is not mentioned even once in this book. 


Esther 4:7-16

  1. She has PASSION FOR HIS PURPOSES.

  2. She had SACRIFICIAL SELFLESSNESS.

  3. She had a FOUNDATION OF FAITH.

  4. She had RESOLUTE RESOLVE.

DISCUSSION

  • How do you think we go about developing a passion for HIS purposes?

    • Ask him for the passion! A lot!

    • Obedience breeds passion.

    • Giving your time and attention to it.

  • How do we identify selfishness in our lives, and how do we change it?

    • Fasting selfishness

    • Fasting food

  • How do we build a foundation of faith for ourselves? for our families?

    • Looking back on what God has done—being thankful for what He has done.

    • Make like-minded friends. Soul-friendship. Practicing vulnerability.

    • Get in the Word for yourself.

    • Set an example for your family—pray out loud, worship by example.

    • Accountabilty Partner

  • How do we stop second-guessing and just go all in?

    • Reminding yourself of what He’s done before.

    • Take baby steps. Faithful with the little things.

    • Humility—be willing to fail. Willing to ask for help.

    • Be patient for big faith. Build it over time!

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The Power of Prayer

The Power of Prayer

The Power to Prevail

What are you saying for me with THIS SITUATION? 

“Prayin’ and pressin’ and pressin’ and prayin’”

When the enemy comes for you–are you gonna be ready for him?

God wants you relaxed in His presence.

“When I understand that you’re after my heart and not my hand, I will give you my hand!!” 

How can a person learn how to prevail in prayer?

  • Crisis–desperation

  • Practice–set aside time and space, consistency & commitment

  • Fasting

  • Getting to know the Father – He is FOR you.

  • Humility

Luke 18:1-8

Vs. 8, “Will He find this kind of PERSISTENT faith on the earth?” amplified version

Get your mind off the HOW–and get it on the WHO.

Remind Him!! I know WHO, not HOW. 

Other words that can be used to describe prayer:

  • Blessing

  • Supplication

  • Petition

  • Intercession

  • Devotion

  • Invocation

How do you believe you can enhance your own personal prayer life?

Doing it out of discipline: “you will only play as hard as you practice.”

It’s valuable: to the welfare and well-being of you and your family.

Doesn’t take fancy words - just a sincere heart and a humble cry

No comparison - it’s not about what others’ are doing.

We all got HOLES IN THE SOULS - gotta fill the holes!

Keeping things simple - allow it grow with the Holy Spirit

It is a privilege to PRAY!

Discussion Questions:

  • What would it mean for you to prevail in your life right now?

  • How can a person learn how to prevail in prayer?

  • How do you believe you can enhance your own personal prayer life?

Download the powerpoint from this teaching here.

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Stepping Into Purpose

STEPPING INTO PURPOSE:

  • VISION.

    • NOT: a vision board, all of your dreams coming true, knowing exactly where things are going, everything being perfect.

    • IS: letting GOD guide your path, a decision to allow yourself to submit, no matter what comes, going to the Word for guidance, a sense of purpose

    • “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11).

    • Godly vision: walking toward Jesus, always, not walking toward a goal, mindset, attitutde, bank account status, or anyTHING else.

  • WAITING

    • God sometimes purposefully conceals his purposes from us. Why? Because we would skip ahead if we knew? Because we’re proud and need to learn to rely on Him?

    • Psalm 25 - David’s waiting - He was 15 when he was anointed king, and 30 when he actually became king.

    • There’s something about the age of 30 in the bible. Jesus started his ministry then, David became king then, Joseph became a leader in Egypt at 30, Saul became the first king of Israel, the priests officially entered service at age 30, Ezekiel was called by God as a prophet then. Does this mean being 30 is a requirement to start something for God? NO. God uses the young too. I think it says more about the waiting period than anything. What are you doing in the waiting?

  • PURPOSE

    • Is your purpose unique on planet earth? Is your purpose a job? Is it a role? Is it only one thing? Is it that specific at all?

    • 1 Corinthians 10:30, “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Do you HAVE to do ONLY that which God calls you to? Is living a good, full, Godly life not enough? When Israel was living in the promised land, and following God, was that not enough?

  • PERSERVERANCE

    • Does failure mean it wasn’t meant to be? Does failure mean I’m not good enough? Does opposition mean it wasn’t meant to be?

    • How do we measure success? John the Baptist was only meant to PREPARE THE WAY for the Messiah. How is that measured? Moses was called to “bring the people out of Egypt,” not necessarily lead them into the promised land.

      • Romans 11:29, “For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.”

  • SERVICE

    • Your freedom is not for you, alone. Galatians 5:13-15, “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.”

    • I think this is the main reason we get purpose wrong. We see our purpose as something that WE want to do…versus something that serves God or others.

Discussion

  • Have you ever felt like God was calling you to something specific?

  • Have you ever asked God what His will is for your life? What was God’s answer?

  • What goals or measurements did you create for yourself to determine when you were an adult?

  • When doubts creep in, what do you use to come against those doubts and fears?

  • Do you set time aside for God? What do you do in that time?

  • Join us in our church-wide Bible Plan.

  • Read Psalm 119. Which part ministers to you the most?

  • Read Psalm 25. How can this passage help you in a waiting season?

  • 1 Corinthians 10:30, “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” How can you apply that to your life right now?

  • How can you serve others right now? Are you practicing servanthood within the church?

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Why Didn't God Answer My Prayers?

Notes:

Prayer can be powerful, but also confusing. John 14:13-14

You are not the main character of the story! God is the main character. God does not exist to serve US, but we exist to serve and glorify Him.

The purpose of prayer ISN'T to get God to do our will. It's to know GOD, so we can do HIS Will.

God is not a button to be pushed, but a relationship to be pursued.

Never build your theology around a single verse plucked out of context. Use the Bible to interpret the Bible.

So, why didn't God answer my prayer? (I DON’T KNOW. As your pastor, that’s above my pay grade.)

4 possibilities:

  1. Maybe you have a broken relationship. Hindering your intimacy with God. Mark 11:24-25, Matthew 5:24, 1 Peter 3:7, "if thou are a jerketh, God might not answer your prayers."

  2. Wrong motives. Selfish prayers.

  3. Maybe you don’t believe God will do it. You’re lacking faith. Mark 9:22-24. Matthew 9:22. Luke 7:50. Matthew 9:29-30. Faith matters. But God is still God. We don’t out our faith in FAITH, we put our faith in GOD.

  4. Maybe God has something different. It's just not God's will. 1 John 5:14-15.

"His grace is sufficient for me" His power is made perfect in my weakness and brokenness.
God may have something different in mind for you. Not always better, just different.

Then WHY pray?

The purpose of prayer is relational. It’s to get to know God. To know Him intimately so we can know His will.
It’s reminder that you are not in control, and it keeps you close to the One who is.

If you find yourself in a prayer slump, what do you do? Keep on praying.

Even if He doesn’t, I still believe. My faith is not in a “what”, always in a “who”.

Discussion:

  1. Was is your main takeaway from this message?

  2. Have you ever found yourself in a prayer slump? What got you out of it?

  3. How would you answer, if an unbelieving friend asked you why you pray?

  4. What do you think it means to let the Bible interpret the Bible?

  5. What’s your current prayer routine look like? When and how often do you pray to God?

  6. What has God been teaching you lately?

This month, let’s try out some different kinds of prayer practices! Use this holiday time to think about what Jesus has done, specifically, why He came, and what difference it makes it your life. Try a few of these at home this month:

  1. Meditate on God’s Word

  2. Journal Your Prayers

  3. Get Quiet, Be Still

  4. Praise God Through Thanksgiving

  5. Worship and Pray Through Nature or Exercising

  6. Pray with Others

  7. Fast & Pray

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God Finds Us

Greta’s Notes:

Only the one who gave you life has the authority to identify you.

Only 1 has the right and authority to tell you who you are. Circumstances are not powerful enough to define you.

You are who God says you are!!!

God has given you a name.

Any person or system that seeks to diminish the value of who I am is actually anti-God.

Your weakness is a platform for the strength of God to be displayed through your life.

You will live up to or down to whatever you believe to be true about who you are.

There are some theological principles that are relegated to one book of the Bible or another…but not identity. Identity is na issue that is on every page of the Bible.

If we act like who God is calling us is who we really are, then we will see blessings explode in our lives.

We can be on the real estate of God’s blessings but not be able to enjoy it if we don’t know our identity.

While religions try to reach up to find god, our God keeps coming down to reach out to us.

“The Word became flesh and moved into the neighborhood.”

In the place where we are trying not to be found, God finds us.

Our belief (or unbelief) doesn’t shift the truth.

When you cannot trace his hand, trust his heart!

Discussion:

  1. What does your inner monologue tend to sound like? How could you improve it and make it line up with scripture more?

  2. Identify one negative though that goes through your head a lot. What do you think God would say to that thought?

  3. How do we go about giving God our weaknesses? What does that look like practically?

Really think this month about how you speak to yourself. What’s going on in your internal dialogue? Are you constantly thinking negatively about yourself? Are you proclaiming scripture in your life?

  • What can we learn from how God changed Abram’s name? What would it have meant to Abraham and what does it mean for you?

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Copy That

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What you copy is what you become. In “Copy That,” Pastor Steven Furtick of Elevation Church challenges us, not to replicate what we see in culture, but to imitate the character of Christ.

Hebrews 13:7

7  Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (NIV)

Don’t look for the gold, look forward to the Glory of God. 
What do you want to be filled with?  Fear? Depression?  - All you have to do, is what you see the world doing, but if you want to be filled with joy unspeakable full of Glory in the Holy Ghost – you can’t do what the world does and get what THE WORD says. 

People do what people see.

That that which you copy is that which you become. That which you believe is that which you become. – it is important that we are careful what we copy.

So, when he says, "Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you…" There are a lot of words that were spoken to you and over you and about you that have to be uprooted before the word God spoke about you can be planted. 

Even Moses… As holy as he was, as important as he was, as amazing as he was, Moses could only lead them so far. In the middle of this he gives them an instruction as he concludes his letter. He says, "Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith". Or in other words, copy that.

Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind".  Conform is something you can change. It's like an attitude or a posture. Transform is different. Transform is something that has to happen because of what's on the inside. Since you have Christ inside of you now… 

So, what's in you has to come out, and that's why the writer of Hebrews says, "Remember the word of God that was spoken to you, and copy that in your heart. Copy that in your life". 

How do you copy what you never saw? "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever". The Devil isn't very creative. God is a creator; the Devil is not. The Devil is so uncreative he only has three temptations. "The love of the world is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life".

The world worships talent. The world worships sensuality. But the weirdest thing about our culture right now is the way we worship youth. We don't remember our leaders who spoke the Word of God over us. They're irrelevant. They're not trendy. We'd rather go find somebody who hasn't even lived long enough that we can even know if they make it through their 20s. Do they even live to be 30? And we will copy that.

You need to spend more time remembering those who spoke the Word over you, because that's what Jesus did every time he was tempted, and that's what you copy. You fight the world with the Word. You fight the spirit of the world with the Word. So, every time the Devil said, "Do it," Jesus said, "It is written…"

All three things Jesus did to fight temptation, to fight hunger, to fight pride, to fight his senses, and to agree with the Spirit… All three things he said were already written in Scripture. 

You know how the Enemy condemns you. "You're worthless. You're this. You're that". Then you start to believe that, and you copy that, and you identify yourself with that. You're a good person. Christ has made you new. You're a new creation in Christ. God made you that way. But if you have bad patterns… The pattern of this world and the renewing of your mind. There are always voices speaking over you and to you and about you. What are you going to copy?

I am not consulting with my Enemy for my life strategy.

“I want you to stop indulging your insecurities. It gives you self pity. And it causes you to self medicate against pressure.”

I'm not going to copy it. I'm not going to take these thoughts and just think them, because I know where they lead.  The Enemy will take you back to what you saw all your life. Even as God is blessing you with something better, you will sink back down to the baseline of what you saw, because what you copy in your heart sets the direction of your life.

Discussion Questions:

1.     Has God ever directed you to copy someone else?  Who was it?

2.     Have you ever found yourself worshiping the things of this world? What do/did you worship?

3.     What example do you want to set for others?

4.     What are ways we can put God first in our lives?

5.     Do you find fulfillment in chasing God, or chasing the things of this world (Money, cars, fame, etc.)?

6.     People do what people see. - Whether we know it or not, we can influence others just by the things we do and what others see us do.  We lead by example *so we need to be careful about our choices and the example we set*  Agree/Disagree? (Or what do you think that means?)

7.     What was your biggest take away?

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  • Read Mathew 4, 5 & 6.

  • Read Romans 12:2

  • "Tell me who your friends are, and I'll tell you who you are." It's a proverb so old, some say no one really knows where it came from anymore.  – but the actual book of Provers 13:20 says:  If you want to grow in wisdom, spend time with the wise.  Walk with the wicked and you’ll eventually become just like them. (The Passion Translation) - Which is why it is important to be plugged in with a monthly growth group, a weekly home group and serving on a team – Church is not enough; those close interpersonal relationships can help us deal with life’s pressure and stress.  Are you attending a home group or serving on an FV team? If not consider getting plugged in.

 

Further Study:

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Girl, Get Up

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Luke 8:49

The “Eve” in us

When Eve ate from the fruit, it was like a part of her died. There was a part of her that she could never access again because she ate from the fruit. The “Casket”.

The casket that follows us, we’re all carrying a casket. Eve had to carry a casket and a curse.

Never sleep on a woman who has a casket and a curse because she also has a see attached to her name.

The enemy’s greatest threat is going to be the woman, a woman who figures out that the heel couldn’t keep her from walking into the next dimension of her destiny. Bruised hells still crush serpent’s head.

When Jairus meets Jesus, his daughter is sick. Because you don’t just turn off, you don’t just die. There’s a slow fading of your hope, the slow fading of your healing, the slow fading of your purpose.

There are 2 parts to Jairus. The Sick and the fighting to be healed.

Praying Grandmother – There’s always going to be somebody fighting on your behalf.

When he was fighting for his daughter, he has to contend with the fact that Jesus is in great demand – she goes form sick to dead, what happened in between? Jesus was healing other people.

There are so many moments where our dreams and desires go from sick to dead.

There’s a man who comes up to Jairus and says Don’t worry the teacher anymore, your dream is dead. There’s always going to be another voice trying to convince you to not go after the healing you need.
That’s not even the voice you own. That’s a generational voice.

Silencing the voices – no more talking me out of who God has called me to be, no more convincing me that I don’t have the power to do it. You’re telling me to give up – makes me go stronger!

You don’t even know who you are. You’ve been praying for change – God’s been waiting for you to see that you are the change.

Gods not impressed with your degrees or your bank account. He’s impressed with your heart – worship.

I’m tired of making love with the thing that’s trying to kill me.

Saturate.

Somebody stopped praying because they thought it was dead. They stopped bothering the teacher.  God will leave you down to no other option so that you will know it was a miracle when it happens.

Time for you to start bothering the teacher again.

When you see a No properly you don’t grieve Nos, you celebrate Nos, because you realize I was either thinking too low or you have something better you want to give me from a different source. Celebrate when I get a No because I’m one step closer to the Yes you have attached to my name.

Jesus answered – who did Jesus answer? Jesus knew instantly that Jairus was thinking something on the inside. Before the thought came out, He sent a word to combat the thought.

Only Believe. The word “only” suggests there are other possibilities of what he could do.

The key to the next level. Stop diluting your prayer requests with fear & doubt & anxiety & insecurity. Dilute it down to nothing but belief.

Doubt is contagious. Insecurities are contagious. Only room for belief.

Little girl, arise. Girl, Get up. You’ve been down too long and its time for you to get up again.

There are people who need to see you awaken that little girl that’s down on the inside of you.

Her spirit returned. She got her fight back. She got her power back. She got her authority back. She got her vulnerability back. She got her humility back. She got her creativity back.

My daughter needs to see you get up. My sister needs to see you get up. My generation needs to see a woman.

 

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you ever had a dream that you thought was dead? If that dream was revived, how would that change you now?

  2. Have you ever felt like you were “bothering the teacher” in your prayers? Did that affect your prayer life?

  3. Biggest takeaway?

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How Great Is Our God

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“The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭33:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“He counts the stars and calls them all by name.” Psalms‬ ‭147:4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing.” Isaiah‬ ‭40:26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“It is the Lord who provides the sun to light the day and the moon and stars to light the night, and who stirs the sea into roaring waves. His name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, and this is what he says:” Jeremiah‬ ‭31:35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?” Isaiah‬ ‭40:12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Ok, so He breathed (spoke) and created the stars, He counted them all and gave them each a name! As if that’s not enough his hands spanned the heavens.

I mean

HOW

BIG

IS

OUR

GOD!

But how intimately He loves each one of us!

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139:13-18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Col 1:17 (NIV)

Discussion Questions:

  • When you consider how big God is, and yet how intimately He loves you, how does that affect the problems you are dealing with?

  • Does this kind of scientific fact help you in your faith?

  • What was your biggest takeaway from this message?


This week, choose a verse about God’s greatness, and a verse about His love, and meditate on them, journal about them, really study them. How should they change how we see God, and interact with Him?

ALSO! Mark your calendars and watch the Bold & Brave Facebook group for info about this year’s Women’s Conference at the Hershey Lodge, November 12013!

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Battle Strategy

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The Bible is full of strategy. God moves in different ways at different times. Like a football team has mapped out their plays, like an army general would map out battle strategy, we can find in scripture promises to follow that will give us victory in every day life. 

  • Who is/who is NOT the enemy? Read Ephesians 6:12 & discuss as a group.

  • Be on guard, but don’t give him too much attention. How do we stay on guard? What are we looking for? Read I Peter 5:8 & discuss as a group.

  • Worship is an offensive weapon, in this battle. How do you use it in your life? Does looking at it like a weapon change anything for you?  Read   II Chronicles 20:22 & discuss as a group.

  • Put on your armor. Read Ephesians 6:10-18 & discuss each piece of armor separately.

    • Belt of truth. What does this mean? What are the implications of “truth” being your belt? (also read: John 14:6)

    • Breastplate of righteousness. What does righteousness mean? Why do you think it’s listed as the breastplate? (also read: 2 Corinthians 5:21)

    • Shoes of peace. Why is peace listed as the shoes? (also read: John 14:27)

    • Helmet of salvation. Why do you think salvation is the covering for your head? (also read: Romans 10:9)

    • Shield of Faith. What is faith shielding you from? (read also: Hebrews 11:1)

    • Sword of the Spirit. Why do you think you need a weapon in this fight? (read also: Hebrews 4:12)

Practical tools for studying the Bible:

  • Study Bible with cross references

  • Google cross reference a passage that speaks to me. 

  • Bible Dictionary 

  • Search verses in whatever area you want to grow. 

  • www.biblegateway.com

  • YouVersion Bible App

  • The Bible Project on YouTube

What’s your favorite Bible Study tool?

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  • Try Mirror therapy every day with the 40 I Am’s

  • Try a new Bible Study method! Something you’ve never tried before.

  • Take one of the above verses and meditate on it each week this month.

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The Miracle in the Mess

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Candace’s Notes

Philippians 1

The most productive parts of your life will not be the prettiest. The greatest miracles of your life will come in the middle of the biggest mess.

What’s happening IN me is always more important than what’s happening TO me.

Something is happening in the soil, something is taking root in your heart right now. In this season of my life, God is giving me. root system. Teaching me to focus. Looking forward to normal, but God is pruning some stuff out of my life right now to get me ready for what’s next.

Fruit without root doesn’t last long.

The smartest thing we’ve said: “I don’t know.”
The coolest thing happening right now is we’re all idiots. We all don’t know.

The truth is in the tension. The presence of faith does not eliminate uncertainty. In fact, it operates BY uncertainty. His clarity is not about the outcome. His clarity is what God is doing in the process.

The only thing you can really control is your focus.

The fruit of the spirit is joy, but the root of spirit is priorities.

You do not NEED to know the things that you cannot directly affect. You do not need to know all the details, to take your next step, just ask Abraham. Releasing my need to know is the hardest thing, because I thought information was the key, but yet Paul says there is a confidence that goes beneath knowledge.

Even though I have LESS money right now, I’m gonna have MORE fruit.

What’s going to come forth out of your life from this prison sentence?

Discussion:

  1. What’s one way you are correcting you’re thinking right now? Is there a lie (from the enemy) that you’ve been believing for a while?

  2. Furtick said, “the only thing you can control is your focus.” How is that true in your life? Have you been focused on the wrong things in any area?

  3. What’s one way you can grow your “root system” this summer? (grow in your faith)

  4. Do you have trouble “releasing your need to know”?

  1. Watch the whole sermon here.

  2. If you haven’t already, start the Bible Plan 40 Day Fast From Wrong Thinking.

  3. Take one scripture per week from the list below and focus on it, meditate on it, and pray through it.

    1. Read Romans 12:2

    2. Read Philippians 4:8

    3. Read Proverbs 4:23

    4. Read James 1:6-8

    5. Read Luke 21

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Don't Drop The Mic

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Candace’s Notes:

Why be a cheap copy of a great original when you can be great yourself?

Samuel was unable to distinguish between Eli’s voice and God’s. That is the initial stage where God’s voice sounds like the person who mentored you. Gradually you come to a point where the umbilical cord cuts…you come to a place where you realize that it’s God talking and not Eli. So it is my job to gradually lead you from a place where God sounds like me, til you can hear that God sounds like God!

What Samuel needs from Eli: wisdom & discernment
What Eli needs from Samuel: adventurous curiosity

We are looking at a generationally passing of the mic, from Eli to Samuel. Samuel can hear God, but cannot discern him. Eli has lost his ability to hear the voice, but not discern him. We have a generation of people that can hear the voice, but lack the wisdom to know what to do with what they hear.

The promise of God is bigger than the reality of the individual. Greatness must be grown into.

Great preaching is almost musical.

The Word of God does not need crutches. Truth needs no crutches. The human ability to sense truth is utterly amazing. We hear with more than our ears.

Everyone one of us is an orator. Whether we get paid for it or not.

Some people haven’t worked out in the gymnasium of expression enough to be able to express what they’re feeling.

The art of being a great speaker is being a great listener.

The mic is YOURS. It’s not going to be yours, it’s yours. It’s heavier than it looks. Don’t drop it when your feelings get hurt, don’t drop it when you’re angry.

“I wanna hear a Micheal Jordan flu game story. Like I time where you stood…” “I can’t think of a time that I didn’t.”

If you believe a thing that you are not willing to die over, it’s not worthy of your belief.

You become great in your mind, before you become great on a stage.

If you wrestle with insufficiency complexes…Change the way you talk to yourself, you’ll change how your story is…the woman with the issue of blood said within HERSELF “if I may but touch the hem of his garmet I’ll be whole”…the greatest sermon starts within you!

When you stop getting better, you start dying. When a teacher ceases to be a student, they begin to be irrelevant. Have the courage to critique yourself…The [critical] voices that live in my head, are still the voices that live in my head, but they don’t live too LOUD. The art of it is not to kill the voice, it’s to cut the volume down. Instead of existing at a 10, it exists at a 3. I don’t want to kill it, because then I become arrogant. If I become arrogant, I lose my anointing. God balances my accomplishments with the thorn in my flesh that makes me question myself. I don’t want him to remove the thorn in my flesh, because I want balance for the weight of the glory that he placed in my life. But I don’t want that voice to become so loud that it cannibalizes what he created in me.

You treat your spouse the way you treat yourself. We can talk about anything, but you can’t vent on me because you’re insecure about you.

How do we turn down the critical voice?

  1. Have an inner circle of people you trust to reaffirm you. Someone who has license to be honest with you. We need each other. Sometimes we won’t let people encourage us, because you’re addicted to pain.

One of the signs of greatness IS to be self-critical. The more you care about details, the closer you get to greatness.

The moment you open your mouth, you start to teach people who you are.

The further you push me, the higher you go.

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  • Join our church-wide Bible Study. Comment at least once!

  • Watch START Class, if you haven’t already!

  • Find one person to talk to regularly, maybe meet for coffee or a hang out night, and just talk about what you’re learning from God right now.

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The Crucifixion

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Notes:

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? It is recorded in Aramaic, for greek readers because it is an exact quote of Jesus' words.

What is the significance of the 9th hour? (6th hour to the 9th hour) noon to 3:00 p.m. - Josephus a Jewish historian, stated that the ninth hour was the time when Jews offered the daily evening sacrifice.

Darkness, not a solar eclipse, Passover occurred during a full moon, and a solar eclipse, can occur only during a new moon, rather, it is a supernatural act of God displaying displeasure and judgment upon humanity for crucifying His Son.

What is the significance of the curtain (veil) tearing during the crucifixion? That we now have access to God through Jesus - No one can come to the Father except through me. (The veil that separated people from the holy of holies (the most holy place)) - signifies the removal of separation between God and people.

What is the significance of Jesus being crucified at Passover? Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. - but not only that, sacrifices were made each year, Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice and ended the sacrificial system for atonement

DISCUSSION:

  • The darkness that came over the land, was it directed to the whole world, or towards Jesus? Was that part of God’s judgment on Jesus?

  • Jesus didn’t once comment on the pain or physical suffering, but He shrieked, screaming over God’s rejection. Why do you think that is?

  • What’s your biggest takeaway from these messages?

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  • When Jesus was suffering, he quotes scripture. What is your favorite verse to quote when you need strength? If you don’t have one, find one and memorize it!

  • Read Isaiah 53.

  • Research and learn about the Temple Mount and Solomon's Holy Temple

  • FURTHER READING: Matthew 21:33-41. Who do you think this parable was about?

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In Over Your Head

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Candace’s Notes

Today we’ve got a bunch of prophets who are trying to be Old Testament, but don’t understand Jesus changed everything. Not doom & gloom anymore, but GOOD NEWS.

THE HOLY SPIRIT

1. Not a force, not an aura...He is God. Acts 5:1-5
2. He is a person. John 16:13-15. He’s not some transcendental yoga pose.
3. He’s in charge of present operations. John 16:7-11
4. He is gentle. Matthew 3:16. He will not force you and turn you into something you’re not. He’s brings out who YOU are, but the power is real!
5. He has life in Himself. Romans 8:11. When Jesus died, the Holy Spirit did not.
6. He is creative life. Genesis 1:2. You might feel like you are nothing, but that is the perfect ingredient for God to make SOMETHING. if you tap into the Holy Spirit, you are FULL of potential.

He is likened to:

1. The symbol of “fire”. How do I know the spirit of God is working on you? What we try to conceal, God wants to reveal. He’ll bring the crap to the top. When you are in the refining fire of the Holy Spirit, the only thing that will burn away is bondage.
2. The symbol of “water”. Needed for the germination of seed. The Holy Spirit waters the Word. Isaiah 44:3, Joel 2:28, Revelation 22:1,
3. The symbol of a “dove”. The emblem of peace. The Holy Spirit will not speak of Himself. Easily frightened...won’t stick around. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit.
4. The symbol of “wind”. Can’t see it, but the effects of it. The breath of God, into man. Life!
5. The symbol of “oil”. Just like driving a car without oil, don’t live life without the Holy Spirit.

Ezekiel 47:1-9

God wants you in over your head.

Growth, trees, life, maturity. Making salt water fresh.

Ankle Deep = where you walk, go

Knee deep speaks to praying/intercession.

Waist deep speaks to our loins—purity.

Over your head = a strong, mature person

Discussion

  • Have you ever been baptized in the Holy Spirit? What is it like?

  • How do you see the Holy Spirit working in your life?

  • Do you still have questions about the Holy Spirit?

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  • Read John 16. Now, re-read it. Study it. Slowly work your way through it, over the course of a week.

  • What can we learn about the Holy Spirit from this passage?

  • What is God saying to you?

  • Read Romans 8. Do the same here. Write notes as you go.

    • What can we learn about the Holy Spirit from this passage?

    • What is God saying to you?

  • Read Acts 2. Do the same here. Keep a journal with your findings!

    • What can we learn about the Holy Spirit from this passage?

    • What is God saying to you?

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