The Big Comfy Couch

As Christians, we enjoy a certain amount of favor...and many blessings from God. We forget, easily, that his blessings are conditional on our behavior.

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." (Ephesians 6:18)
"Pray continually." (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
"Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray." (James 5:13)
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." (Romans 12:12)
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:6)

When God says to stop praying:

1. When there’s unrepentant sin. Joshua 7

   1. Matthew 5:23-24

2. When It’s time for action. Exodus 14

3. When you’re doing so with selfish motives. Luke 10

Bottom line: Don’t get too comfy on the couch. The ONE THING worth being concerned about is relationship with your heavenly father, through Jesus Christ. If that’s right, the rest will be worked out.

THE COUCH POTATO: The Whirlwind

THE WHIRLWIND: “You have planted the wind”

• Laziness now, means chaos later.  The chaos is often our fault. Hosea 8:7a

Hosea 1:2

Hosea 2:14-16

Hosea 3:1

A couple ways to avoid the whirlwind:

1. Church is not a vaccine. Hosea 8:11

2. Stop making excuses. Hosea 8:12

   1. Knowing the laws, and happily being obedient to them, are two different things.

3. Look for the root. Hosea 10:13

4. Allow the whirlwind to bring you back to Him.

   1. Hosea 2:6 How bloody do you have to be to repent?!

   2. Hosea 2:16. could be said as, God is my partner. Not my slave-driver.

   3. Hosea 14 Healing for the Repentant

More of Candace’s favorite verses in the book of Hosea:

• 4:2, “You make vows and break them;

  you kill and steal and commit adultery.

  There is violence everywhere—

  one murder after another.

  3 That is why your land is in mourning,

  and everyone is wasting away.

  Even the wild animals, the birds of the sky,

  and the fish of the sea are disappearing.”

4:4, “Don’t point your finger at someone else and try to pass the blame! My complaint, you priests, is with you.”

4:9-11a, “And what the priests do, the people also do.’ So now I will punish both priests and people for their wicked deeds. 10 They will eat and still be hungry. They will play the prostitute and gain nothing from it, for they have deserted the Lord 11 to worship other gods.”

4:16, “Israel is stubborn,
like a stubborn heifer.
So should the Lord feed her
like a lamb in a lush pasture?

5:5, “The arrogance of Israel testifies against her
Israel and Ephraim will stumble under their
load of guilt.”

6:5-7, “I sent my prophets to cut you to pieces—to slaughter you with my words, with judgments as inescapable as light. 6 I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.”

6:11, “O Judah, a harvest of punishment is also waiting for you, though I wanted to restore the fortunes of my people.”

7:1, “I want to heal Israel, but its sins are too great.”

7:7-9, “Burning like an oven, they consume their leaders. They kill their kings one after another, and no one cries to me for help. The people of Israel mingle with godless foreigners, making themselves as worthless as a half-baked cake! Worshiping foreign gods has sapped their strength, but they don’t even know it. Their hair is gray, but they don’t realize they’re old and weak.”

8:2-3, “Now Israel pleads with me, ‘Help us, for you are our God!’ 3 But it is too late.”

8:5c, “How long will you be incapable of innocence?”

8:13, “The people love to offer sacrifices to me, feasting on the meat, but I do not accept their sacrifices.”

THE COUCH POTATO: The Problem with Potatoes

The Problem with Potatoes

Mathew 21:28-31 NLT

• Called to Work

  • Fruitful Faith

  • Multiply mentality

• First Son's Faith

  • Feelings are often foolish.

  • Feelings change quickly. Lives change slowly.

  • Live for later

• Second Son's Sin

  • Right words

  • Actions matter

• Get Off The Couch

Matthew 7:21 NLT

THE COUCH POTATO: Love, The Beautiful Prize

Two types of Couch Potatoes:

• The eater

• The waiter

Mark 12:29-34 (TPT)

Loving God is meant to consume you.

Love your neighbor in the same way you love yourself.

A well-rounded disciple, close to the Kingdom of God….will be passionate about BOTH. Being a learner, AND a servant. An eater AND a waiter.

1 Corinthians 13 in TPT

• “The Aramaic word for love is hooba, and it is a homonym that also means “to set on fire.”

• It is an intense affection that must be demonstrated.

• 1 Corinthians 13:5 - The Aramaic can be translated “Love does not stare at evil.”

• 1 Corinthians 13:8 - “Love never, not even once, fails [lapses]” or “Love never falls down” (it keeps going higher).

• The action phrases in this version really got me too...

  • Refuses to be jealous

  • Joyfully celebrates

  • Never stops believing

  • Never takes failure as defeat

  • Never gives up

  • Never stops loving

  • Extends beyond prophecy

  • More enduring than tongues

  • Remains long after words of knowledge are forgotten

We can’t afford to be too fat or too thin in our spirituality.  We can’t afford being lopsided Christians who only care about learning, or only care about serving.  We must love God, and love people, these are the greatest commandments. 

The Couch Potato Christian is an oxymoron.

CHURCH CAMP: Mountaintops 4 // Change the World

Acts 1:6-11

1. World changers are focused on their mission, and they trust God to work out the future.

2. World Changers have to go back down the mountain.

To do that, sometimes we need a few things.

1. They needed closure.

2. They needed a commissioning.

3. They needed a helper.

4. They needed to get to work.

In this series, we have defined VIBRANT, PASSIONATE, AND SELFLESS.

• VIBRANT disciples are single-minded in their dynamic life-worship of God.

• PASSIONATE disciples obediently pursue Jesus.

• SELFLESS disciples are willing to sacrifice comfort to demonstrate love.

• We CHANGE THE WORLD with the message of the Gospel.

“We aren’t the church because we all believe the same thing--we’re the church because we have a singular PURPOSE.”

In and out.  Up the mountain.  Down the mountain.

• Renew your vibrancy.  

• Feed your passion. 

• Practice selflessness.

• CHANGE THE WORLD.

CHURCH CAMP: Mountaintops 3 // Selfless

Mark 9:2-9

Selfless followers spend time alone with Jesus.

Luke 9:32

Selfless followers listen to Jesus.

Mark 14:35-36

Selfless followers lead others.

Sign up to serve SELFLESSLY.

CHURCH CAMP: Mountaintops 2 // PASSIONATE

“I believe kids at this age NEED other adults in their lives saying the same things as their parents, AND peers who believe what they do. I still believe kids ARE the church, not the future of the church”

“Mountaintop experiences help even when you’re not on the mountain.”

1. MountainTop Moments

• Vibrant is single-minded, active, fun, bold, dynamic, life-worship of God.

2. MountainTop Moments create Passion

Exodus 32:31

“Most of us don’t have an obedience problem we have a passion problem.”

Exodus 33:12-18

3. Passion = obedience

John 14:15

4. Passionate Disciples obediently pursue more of God

5. Passion creates a request for more presence

CHURCH CAMP: Mountaintops

1 Kings 18-19

1. Vibrant is single-minded, active, fun, bold, dynamic life-worship of God.

2. Every vibrant disciple, needs mountaintop moments.

3. Vibrant disciples don’t journey alone.

DEEP DIVE: Lessons From Africa

Matthew 28:19-20

Lesson ONE: Phony Faith vs. Authentic Faith

Mark 9:13-25

Lesson TWO: Importance of Honor

Mark 6:1-6

Lesson THREE: I will give everything for the Gospel

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

SIGN UP BELOW TO HELP WITH OUR CHURCH CAMP SERMON SERIES & EVENTS:

DEEP DIVE: I'm Out

John 6

1. Jesus doesn’t always make it easy. I’m out when things get tough.

2. Jesus didn’t apologize for offending them. I’m out when something offends me.

   1. Let me be clear: JESUS is perfect, WE are not. Just because Jesus didn’t apologize, doesn’t mean you don’t have to. We have to be careful not to be so SACRED, that we never say I’m Sorry.

3. The crowd vs The disciples.

The crowd had a starving spirit…ME CHURCH spirit..
-always wants more
-never satisfied. Never content.
-tend to want the power only for the POWER.

Things Jesus DID NOT do for a starving spirit…

1. Keep feeding them baby food.

   1. If you only receive from God in worship services...you need to go deeper.

   2. In the context of someone else’s words..

   3. From the verse of the day...

2. Stress himself out trying to keep them happy.

3. Let them stay in that mindset.

4. Run after them and beg them to come back.

5. Blame himself.  He gave it over to His Father.

FULL HEART GREAT GAIN: Plundering Blessing

1 Samuel 15:1-31

1. Obey CAREFULLY. Remember who’s in charge.

2. Why RUSH for the plunder? Remember who blessed who.

3. What is more pleasing to God?

   1. Here’s the good news, the news of FULL HEART GREAT GAIN.  You can have everything you want.

      • You can.  But it’s not about adjusting everything you HAVE.  It’s about adjusting what you WANT. 

FULL HEART GREAT GAIN: Can't Lose

Mark 7:1-23

1. Full of Religion

   1. Mark 12:29-31

2. Cloudy Eyes

3. What Goes Into our Hearts

1. Luke 6:45

FULL HEART GREAT GAIN: The Windows of Heaven

Malachi 3:6-18

1. It’s called cheating.

2. Sometime something really is blocking our prayers.

   1. 1 Peter 3:7 TPT

   2. 1 Peter 5:5 NLT

   3. Romans 2:8 NLT

3. Blessings sometimes really do come in disguise.

   1. “God’s love is unconditional, but His blessings are very conditional.”

4. God cares deeply about HIs house.

   1. Tithing is one of those pieces of religion, of ritual, that we should stick to. It’s a constant reminder of who is in charge…and who is not.

      1. There are more than 2000 verses about money.  Jesus taught on it constantly!

         1. You could learn something new about money from the WORD every day for 5 years and not be done.  

         2. If the church talks a lot about money, it’s just mirroring the Word. 

      2. It’s also one of the last pieces of spiritual health that people conquer.

5. Do you have an eternal perspective?

   1. Matthew 6:19

FULL HEART GREAT GAIN: No if's

1 Timothy 6:1-10

1. GREAT GAIN. No if’s.

2. FULL HEART. Contentment

   1. Appreciation + eternal mindset + low need = contentment

3. The Root

   1. 1 John 2:16 “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.”

   2. Is there ONE THING, that, if changed, would change a lot of other things?

Use one of these as a phone background this week to help you remember to meditate on God’s Word!

ManFest: Jesus, the Masculine Model

Genesis 5:1-2 // Hebrews 4:15 // Luke 2:52 // Mark 12:30

Wisdom - Mind - Thoughts

• 1 Corinthians 1:30

• Jesus is the beginning of Wisdom

  • 1 Corinthians 14:20

Stature - Physical  - Strength

• Genesis 2:15

• 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

• 1 Timothy 4:8

Favor with God - Spiritual - Soul

• Jesus wept - John 11:35

• Jesus Prayed - Luke 5:15

• Jesus Slept - Mark 4:37-38

Favor with People - Social - Heart

• Mark 12:30 - Love your neighbor

• Genesis 2:18

• Proverbs 27:17

Growing People Change - Galatians 3:26-28

Between Two Gardens: Part 3

The Kingdom of God is upside down.

1. To become a leader, be a servant

   1. Matthew 20:24-28

2. To truly find life, die to self.

   1. Matthew 16:24-25

3. To get back at your enemy, love them.

   1. Matthew 5:43-48

   2. Romans 12:19-21

4. To become rich, give money away.

   1. Luke 6:38

   2. Luke 16:8-9

   3. 2 Corinthians 9:10

   4. Matthew 6:33

Luke 4:14-30

1. GOD IS NOT AN ENABLER (but be careful what you pray for)

   1. God promised to take care of Israel’s spiritual health.  But what happens when taking care of physical needs is no longer beneficial to the spiritual health? Does God place priority on the spiritual or the physical?

2. DON’T BECOME YOUR OWN GOD.

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LOCAL WAYS TO GIVE & SERVE:

GLOBAL WAYS TO GIVE & SERVE:

Between Two Gardens: Part 2

1. Lust is Not Love

   1. Proverbs 13:8-9

   2. 2 Samuel 13:1-2

2. Love is Not Locker Room Talk

   1. 2 Samuel 13:3-5

   2. 1 Corinthians 15:33

3. Love Requests - Lust Demands

   1. 2 Samuel 13:6-13

   2. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

   3. Sexual Dysfunction - Desire, Devise, Doing, Despair

4. Love Listens - Lust Looks Away

5. Love Lasts - Lust Leaves

6. Love Learns - Lust Lies

Between Two Gardens: Part 1

Genesis 2:15-17

Genesis 3:1-7

• Eyes Opened

  • WHY WOULD A GOOD GOD, PUT THAT TREE THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE?!

    • 1. Love can’t exist without a choice.

    • 2. Perfection doesn’t help us!

  • Why is this evil in my life?!

    • 1. You may have brought it onto yourself at some point, by wanting your eyes to be opened.

    • 2. Other people’s eyes being opened, bring evil into the world.  

  • Shame comes from within...it’s not covered up easily.

Genesis 3:8-13

• Mouths Opened

  • The power of confession

    • 1. Secrecy doesn’t work anyway

    • 2. There’s mercy in confession.

Genesis 3:14-24

• Promise Unlocked

  • The Gospel is patterned, promised, or present all throughout scripture.

  • They weren’t truly lost from God in the garden.  And neither are we.

  • Promises FOR YOU from God:

    • DIRECTION: Proverbs 3:5-6

    • REST: Matthew 11:28-30

    • THE IMPOSSIBLE: Luke 18:27

    • ETERNAL LIFE: John 3:16

    • NO CONDEMNATION: Romans 8:1

    • GOOD FROM BAD: Romans 8:28

    • FREEDOM, PURITY, HOLINESS: 1 Corinthians 1:30

    • PROVISION: 2 Corinthians 9:8, Philippians 4:19

    • POWER THROUGH WEAKNESS: 2 Corinthians 12:9

    • STRENGTH: Philippians 4:13

    • CONTENTMENT: Hebrews 13:5

    • POWER, LOVE, SELF-DISCIPLINE: 2 Timothy 1:7

Join the conversation! Use #FVChurch and #BetweenTwoGardens hashtags with quotes, pictures, and notes from the message this weekend! And don’t forget to tag Freedom Valley Church!

Use this phone background to remind yourself all week of God’s promises!

EPIC Weekend with Tim Bennett

Comment below and tell us what you’ve learned this weekend!

Saturday - 6:15pm - May 18

2 Samuel 9:1-13 NLT

The lovingkindness of God will:

1. Search for you

2. Sustain you

3. Supply for you

4. Seat you

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Sunday - 9:15am - May 19

Luke 2:21-35

1. Stick with it.

2. See in it.

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Sunday - 11:15am - May 19

Mark 10:46-52

What to Expect When You’re Expecting:

1. The Closeness of Jesus

2. The Censure of the World

3. The Call

4. The Cure

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Join the conversation! Use #FVChurch and #EPICWeekend, and tag Freedom Valley Church!

Mamapalooza: Children of the Light

1 Thessalonians 5 TPT

1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 TPT, “For you are all children of the light and children of the day. We don’t belong to the night nor to darkness. 6 This is why we must not fall asleep, as the rest do, but keep wide awake and clearheaded.”

1. AWAKE AND CLEARHEADED

   1. “Some of us will never move forward spiritually before we’ve broken secrecy with ourselves…”

   2. “We’re called to be WARRIORS, not sleepers.  Put your ARMOR on, not your pajamas.“

   3. To do that, we have to remain awake and clearheaded.

      1. We win battles in the spiritual.

      2. We see things through the spiritual

         1. Not the emotional, not the physical.

         2. FASTING helps us to see through the physical and the emotional.

2. BE SKILLED. BE FAITHFUL. BE QUICK.

   1. Thinking you know everything, is a really quick way to fall asleep.

      1. There is something unique about the Christian experience, that is asks us to CONSTANTLY and self-sacrificially CHALLENGE ourselves...just like HE did.

      2. Your skill-building isn’t about YOU...

   2. You can’t fall asleep standing up!

   3. The spiritually AWAKE, give their time generously to people.

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Be what God has called YOU to be.  Some of us are mothers, some are evangelists.  Some are prophetess’, some are business-women. Some are homemakers, some are church elders!  Be the YOU, that God has called you to be, and STAY AWAKE. You can fall asleep at ANY age, any stage of growth. Don’t.

For you are all children of the light and children of the day. We don’t belong to the night nor to darkness.

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Join the conversation! Use the hashtags #FVChurch to post quotes, scripture, and pictures from today’s message!