Genesis 28:10-19
meaning of bethel - a holy place.
1. Resting With God
Matthew 11:30
Genesis 32:22- 30
2. Wrestle with God
3. When to … Wrestle or Rest
1. Jesus is the demonstration of God's character & compassion
2. The Holy Spirit guides us into the heart of Jesus
3. The Holy Spirit receives from Jesus and makes it known to us.
4. The Holy Spirit brings revelation to our minds & hearts.
ACTION: Read. Ask. Go.
Philippians 2:3-13
”Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
Thinking of others as better
“faux-fierce”: A fake, phony, outward imitation of being fierce or living fiercely.
Equality with God
The results of your salvation
MY FAITH ISN’T JUST ABOUT ME.
Philippians 1:20-30 20
”For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. 21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. 25 Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. 26 And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me. Live as Citizens of Heaven 27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. 28 Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. 29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. 30 We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.”
Full surrender
A manner worthy of the Good News about Christ
What is the Good News about Christ?
One spirit & one purpose fighting together
Philippians 1:12-14
“And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. 13 For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. 14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.”
Philippians 3:5-16
”I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. 6 I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. 7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! Pressing toward the Goal 12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. 15 Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. 16 But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.”
I have been defining FIERCE this past 2 weeks by the following definition:
Menacingly wild in our evangelism.
Savage in our love & forgiveness
Hostile toward the religious spirits that oppose the Gospel.
Furiously eager to see new souls saved
Religion & pride are WORTHLESS.
BELIEF + OBEDIENCE = FAITH. So, you can’t have faith that is ONLY a belief. And you can’t have faith that is ONLY action.
Focus on ONE THING. Fierce Fast
“Stop allowing your past mistakes, regrets, and failures--or worse, someone else’s!--keep you bound, when Jesus went through SO MUCH to see you free!“
Bragging Rights - Gods Plans
Problem of Politics
Give to Caesar
Stop Looking for Loopholes
Give to God
1. Ears to hear.
2. Don’t charge them.
3. Wherever they went.
FIERCE:
Menacingly wild in our evangelism.
Savage in our love & forgiveness
Hostile toward the religious spirits that oppose the Gospel.
Furiously eager to see new souls saved
God is real, God is good, and He loves you so much.
Luke 22:31-38
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.” 34 But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out to preach the Good News and you did not have money, a traveler’s bag, or an extra pair of sandals, did you need anything?” “No,” they replied. 36 “But now,” he said, “take your money and a traveler’s bag. And if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one! 37 For the time has come for this prophecy about me to be fulfilled: ‘He was counted among the rebels.’ Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true.” 38 “Look, Lord,” they replied, “we have two swords among us.” “That’s enough,” he said.”
Luke 22:47-51
”But even as Jesus said this, a crowd approached, led by Judas, one of the twelve disciples. Judas walked over to Jesus to greet him with a kiss. 48 But Jesus said, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 When the other disciples saw what was about to happen, they exclaimed, “Lord, should we fight? We brought the swords!” 50 And one of them struck at the high priest’s slave, slashing off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, “No more of this.” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.”
He asked for Jesus input, but didn’t wait for the answer. (He let panic win)
1 Peter 2:16, “For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.”
Galatians 5:13, “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.”
1 Corinthians 10:23, “You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial.”
He hadn’t been listening in the good times. (to Jesus’ many predictions & prophecies about what needed to happen)
1 Corinthians 13:12, “Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now.”
He was still in an us vs. them mentality.
Matthew 26:50-54
“Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.” Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. 51 But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear. 52 “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword. 53 Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? 54 But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”
Jesus didn’t ask him to STAND & FIGHT. He asked him to LAY DOWN & DIE.
Read the story of Paul starting the Corinthian church, in Acts 18, here.
2 Corinthians 11:23-27
“Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.”
1 Peter 4:12-17
”Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.
14 If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. 15 If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. 16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! 17 For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News?”
Don’t be surprised.
1 Peter 2:13-17, “13 For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, 14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right. 15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. 16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. 17 Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.”
5 Functions of the Church: Evangelism, Discipleship/Learning, Fellowship, Service, Worship
Is it more about my comfort, or my heart?
Be very glad.
“Being a partner of Christ has to go much further than the crowds. It has to go to the cross.”
The glorious spirit of God rests upon you.
2 Peter 2:19, “So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.”
Exodus 4:10 1.
Me, Me, Me
Exodus 4:11
Who Makes Mouths?
Exodus 4:12
The Miracle Is In The Movement
Exodus 4:13-17
What's in your hand?
“Some of us are asking God a question RIGHT NOW, and we feel like God isn’t answering. But maybe it’s because we’re asking God a question that either A) he’s already answered for us...OR B) we don’t yet have the faith to BELIEVE the answer when we hear it!
It might be counterproductive for God to answer your question right now, in the way that you’re asking it, and God does not do counterproductive things!
So, instead, He leads you, patiently, through a series of demonstrations, that will answer your question, in a way that you can hear it. ”
What if they don’t listen?
"I will pour out my spirit on all people..." Joel 2:28
“Don’t let anyone think less of you because..." 1 Timothy 4:12
“All SCRIPTURE is inspired by God and is useful to teach us" 2 Timothy 3:16-17
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear"...2 Timothy 1:7-8
“How many signs have I missed from God because I ran when I should have watched?”
He is in control.
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Exodus 4:24-26 : 24 On the way to Egypt, at a place where Moses and his family had stopped for the night, the Lord confronted him and was about to kill him. 25 But Moses’ wife, Zipporah, took a flint knife and circumcised her son. She touched his feet with the foreskin and said, “Now you are a bridegroom of blood to me.” 26 (When she said “a bridegroom of blood,” she was referring to the circumcision.) After that, the Lord left him alone.
1. Leave the past behind.
2. Put God first.
3. Just do it.
Exodus 3:5-12
5 “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.6 I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God. 7 Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. 9 Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. 10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.”
Remember who God is!
Remember that God sees the oppression.
Remember who is WITH you.
Remember God’s signs still require faith.
Exodus 3:1-5
”One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. 3 “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.” 4 When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied. 5 “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. “
There’s a few ingredients to this encounter with God. Moses was:
Alone
Amazed
Drawn in
1. It starts with private preparation
2. Then moves to a public invitation
3. And then the promised demonstration of the Holy Spirit.
As I was planning this series, I knew that we had to change our thinking. And so the very first week we focused on taking our thoughts captive, and forcing them to come under the authority of Jesus Christ.
The second week of this series, we looked at how Queen Esther moved from a victim mindset, to a VICTOR. How she asked for help, fasted and prayed, and used wisdom in her situation to be a solution in her world of problems.
The third week of this series, we looked at how sometimes God asks us to sacrifice...and that even a little bit of obedience, in the hands of God, can be a solution for so many, from the story of Hannah & Samuel.
Last week, we looked at how David, by the power of the Holy Spirit, was able to say, “I’ll Go!” even when everyone else was shaking in their boots. He was a solution for his people--and we have access to that same Holy Spirit.
And although I do feel a stirring in my heart toward our next series, which will start in June, and I’m really excited about--I also just felt like I’m not quite done here…
We’ve been doing a Bible Plan together as a church over the past 40 days...they’ve honestly ALL been super good and helpful, but there was one in particular that I feel like is very relevant for today.
DAY 28 -- “This is a scary time to be living in”
Know your authority. Luke 10:19
Receive peace as a gift! John 14:27
Remember what you have--and what you ”have not”. 2 Timothy 1:7
Take your daily “pre-Scripture” as your new “prescription”. Psalm 91:10
Meditate on good news from Job. Job 5:19
Love conquers all. Romans 8:38-39
In the darkest of times, God presents His most stunning performances. Expect God to show up!
“This IS a scary time to live in, if you’re scared of things. I’ll fear God. And nothing less. “
The enemy is less.
The economy is less.
The virus is less.
The government is less.
Homelessness is less.
Unemployment...starvation...rejection...failure...isolation...it’s ALL less.
This IS a scary time to live in, if you’re scared of things. I’ll fear God and nothing less, because I’m called to be a solution in my world. I’m called to make a difference in the world I’m living in! because….
Psalm 91:1-16
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes,
and see how the wicked are punished.
9 If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.
11 For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”
1 Samuel 16:6-13
Two things to take from that:
Your looks don’t qualify you. Your birth order doesn’t qualify you. Your training and background aren’t the things that qualify you. Your age doesn’t qualify you. Your gender doesn’t qualify you. THE LORD qualifies you.
And THE LORD doesn’t look at the outward appearance, THE LORD looks at the heart.
When THE LORD qualifies you, he also equips you.
He gave David HIS SPIRIT. Powerfully, the text says.
But we don’t have to wonder what the spirit empowered David to do...we have SO MUCH information about David’s life to learn from. Most people think that the Holy Spirit dwelling within us is just a NT thing...but we see it all over the OT too. It’s not readily accessible to just everyone, like it is today because of Jesus, but we get glimpses and examples like David’s that we can learn from too.
1 Samuel 17:1-51
A little more gruesome than you remember that Sunday School story as a kid??
Were there some other surprises too?
How we think faith works:
We think of something impossible, that would be nice to do...and just because we’ve thought of it, God must have given it to us as an assignment, and he’s asking us to pull it off. And it’s a little scary, but also would make us look good, so it must be God! Let’s start getting people on board, and see what happens.
How faith actually works:
You are placed in an impossible situation (like David’s bear and lion), and you have 2 options: run, or whisper a prayer...and fight.
And if you didn’t run, make it through that fight, then they’ll be another one. And again, you could run, or whisper a prayer...and fight.
And before you know it, you’ve made it through 2 fights...and now you’re thanking God, but you’ve also proved to yourself just how much you can accomplish, when you put your mind to it, and you whisper that prayer….
Now, because you got through those two fights...you have the faith for the 3rd.
Faith is BUILT--not just mustered.
David was able to step up to Goliath and save his nation because of two things:
He had built his faith over time.
The Holy Spirit was with him.
The Holy Spirit and real faith was how a young boy stepped up and became the solution for his scared friends, family, and nation.
1 Samuel 1:10, “Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. 11 And she made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you.”
If you look upon my sorrow….
If you look upon my sorrow...AND ANSWER MY PRAYER
If you look upon my sorrow, and answer my prayer...AND GIVE ME A SON
If you look upon my sorrow, and answer my prayer, and give me a son….I WILL GIVE HIM BACK TO YOU.
You can trust God with your honesty--He will listen.
You can trust God with your prayers--He will answer.
You can trust God with your sacrifice--they are not wasted in His hand.
Esther 4:7-16
She has PASSION FOR HIS PURPOSES. Not her own.
SACRIFICIAL SELFLESSNESS. God is looking for people who are willing to say, use me!
In Esther’s case, she not only had passion for God’s purposes and sacrificial selflessness, but she also had a FOUNDATION OF FAITH and so, when faced with something difficult, that she knew she had to do, she asked for help.
RESOLUTE RESOLVE. If you know that God has called you to something, don’t look back. Don’t second guess. Don’t self-doubt.
NLT: 2 Corinthians 10:5, “We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.”
DESTROY PROUD OBSTACLES
TPT: 2 Corinthians 10:5, “We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One.”
INSIST ON OBEDIENCE
MSG: 2 Corinthians 10:5, “We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.”
STRUCTURE THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS
NIV: 2 Corinthians 10:5, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
DEMOLISH ASSUMPTIONS
Bible heroes who had to renew their mind:
Moses - “I’m not a leader”
Israelites - slave mentality..they were trained to complain because they were powerless to do anything else.
Cain - “the bare minimum”
Rahab - “Everyone is doing it--it must be right”
Gideon - “There’s power in numbers”