Your Kingdom Come #6: EPIC Weekend with Eran Holt

Refresh your screen during the sermon to see Pastor Candace’s notes!

Frustration, in your life, is your friend. It actually pushes you to get outside of your comfort zones, your rhythms, your normal.
Global purpose: Glorifying God and live with Him forever.
Unique purpose in life: unique agitation.
Oftentimes, your agitation will lead you to something you are called to.

Stagnant Sameness.

Stupid Sameness.

Stubborn Sameness. “You do you” is a far cry from what Christ wants to do in you.

Scared Sameness.

Sacred Sameness. A well that never runs dry.

John 15:1-8 (NIV)

If you stay close, then you will bear much fruit.

There are going to be times in your life that He will have to cut back in your life, so that He can produce more.

1. The Kingdom comes through the monotonous before the miraculous. 

Just showing up one more time…just reading the Word one more time…

If you resist the monotonous in your life, you might not experience the miraculous in your life

Everything that you want in your future, will be developed by faithfulness in your present.

2. The Kingdom comes through cut backs before set ups. 

The most cruel thing that our Savior could do is to say, “you do you.” The most compassionate thing He can do is to say, “I’m gonna prune you.” So that we will bear MORE fruit!

God must be getting ready to do something in my life!

The branches need to be able to handle the WEIGHT of what’s coming. I only cut you back as a SET UP for what I’m getting ready to do in your life.

“When I realized that every experience in life, is meant to make me more like Christ, it helps relieve a great deal of my anxiety.” A.W. Tozer

It’s not enough for you to like Christ, we have to be Christ like.

The pain that you’re experiencing in your life, is often what God will use in your life. He will work it FOR my good.

One of the best things you can do in your life is self-pruning. “Narrow your interests.” Where’s the better “yes” at?

Sometimes God uses pruning in your life, to refocus you, and set your priorities on track.

Sometimes I don’t want JESUS, as much as I want Jesus to do something for me. I’m only remaining close enough to get Jesus to do something for me.

Do you want Jesus? Or do you just want Jesus to answer something for you?

When your life produces fruit, who is the fruit for? EVERYONE ELSE. It’s not FOR you.

3. The Kingdom comes through remaining before reaching.  

You’ll never arrive unless you abide.

Our culture says, “Fame! Fame! Fame!” Jesus says, “Faithfulness! Faithfulness! Faithfulness!”

We want to be the kind of people that just keep showing up. Because that’s who JESUS is.

Your Kingdom Come #5: We Want To See

Matthew 20:29-34

1. They only shouted louder.

Don’t stop asking for healing. Don’t stop asking God for what you need in this life. 
Don't stop. Shout louder.

2. They knew who He was.

(we often pray to other things...we put our hope in other things…. These men were not confused about who he was. It was prophesied that the Messiah would come from the line of David. He would be a SON of David. They knew what they were saying.)

3. They asked for mercy.

These guys asking the RIGHT person for mercy, because they didn’t know. Asking for mercy isn’t necessarily an admission of guilt of some kind. It’s also sometimes just asking for undeserved kindness. We don’t DESERVE healing from God. BUT HE GIVES IT.

Mark 1:40-42

Your Kingdom Come #4: A Better Way

FIND JESUS - MOVE FORWARD - DO SOMETHING

Luke 10:25-37

When reading the Bible, the correct question, is “what did this mean to THEM?” What was Jesus saying in this parable, to this expert in religion? What would it have meant to him THEN? Once we understand that, we can know what it would say to us today.

1. The samaritan stopped and he LOOKED.

   1. The man was asking, “who is my neighbor?” as in…”who is my responsibility?”, and instead, Jesus tells him how to BE a good neighbor.

2. He took responsibility.

   1. Martin Luther King Jr. famously said: “On the parable of the Good Samaritan: “I imagine that the first question the priest and Levite asked was: ‘If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?’ But by the very nature of his concern, the good Samaritan reversed the question: ‘If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?”

3. He didn’t expect anything in return.

So who are you in this story?

Your Kingdom Come #3: The Miracle Makers

Mark 6:30-44

Rest can be productive.

Compassion fatigue is a condition characterized by emotional and physical exhaustion leading to a diminished ability to empathize or feel compassion for others, often described as the negative cost of caring. It is sometimes referred to as secondary traumatic stress.

It’s what happens when you get so many appeals on the behalf of those who are suffering, that you start to develop an indifference.

“Take a day off, or your body will do it for you--at time when it’s least convenient”

God modeled REST for us right from the beginning.  Rest is necessary.  Rest is good.  Rest causes you to be able to continue to care for people! Rest is actually productive!

Jesus took naps. Be like Jesus.

Let Jesus lead you.

It’s hard to hear God, when you’ve already decided what He’s going to say.

We pray the Lord’s Prayer, and we pray “Your kingdom come, your will be done”, as if it’s something outside of our control.   
YOUR KINGDOM COME--that plan--is through you. It’s through people!

They were the miracle makers.

God sees you all not just as a congregation-- not just as attenders, but disciple makers!

Your Kingdom Come #2: The Sheep & The Shepherd

Matthew 9:35-38

The Good News

The world can look at things one way, but us Jesus-followers, we see things differently. Jesus SAW people differently.

Romans 8:28

Sheep Without A Shepherd

I’m a proud sheep.
But I’m not a sheep without a shepherd. There was a time in my life that I was confused and helpless...but not anymore.  I am a sheep WITH a shepherd. Danger might come, but I have my shepherd.  Storms might come, but I have my shepherd.

Psalm 23:1-6
The Lord is my shepherd;

    I have all that I need.

2 He lets me rest in green meadows;

    he leads me beside peaceful streams.

3     He renews my strength.

He guides me along right paths,

    bringing honor to his name.

4 Even when I walk

    through the darkest valley,

I will not be afraid,

    for you are close beside me.

Your rod and your staff

    protect and comfort me.

5 You prepare a feast for me

    in the presence of my enemies.

You honor me by anointing my head with oil.

    My cup overflows with blessings.

6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me

    all the days of my life,

and I will live in the house of the Lord

    forever.

Humans are highly social animals too.  They turn to each other. They turn to culture. They turn to Hollywood. They turn to influencers or their horoscope, or whatever…

They don’t have someone to prepare a feast before them, they don’t have someone to honor them with oil. They don’t have someone to let them rest in green meadows. To restore their souls. 

But they could!

If someone would just tell them.

Are you a worker?

WALK & PRAY!

Your Kingdom Come #1: Missions Sunday with Jeremiah Stoddart

“You are made for more than this.”
Many times in America we intellectualize, because we don’t want to enter into supernatural things.

You’re either a missionary or a mission field.

Two sides:

1. Demonizes people

2. You have to be good to come to Jesus

Both sides have gotten something wrong

Mark 2:15

1. Love

John 3:16

2. He was never too holy to be with sinners.

Philippians 2:8

The only righteousness we have was given to us by Jesus!

If Jesus gave his passion, his time, his energy for people, we can too.

Grace is the way to god. Obedience is the way with God.

So many times we point people to the way they think or speak, but we should be pointing them to the SON!

3. He didn't try to correct every wrong they did.

Mark 2:16-17

Ezekiel 36:26-27

We can’t expect people to live differently until they’ve encountered Jesus, and His Spirit.

4. He wasn't mad at them, his heart broke for them.

Matthew 9:36-38

John 17:15-18

God wants to use you where you are. He wants to use you to love people, to hear their story, share your time with them.
We need to lead people to the person of Jesus.

I <3 My Church

Haggai 1

“The time has not yet come”

• “Delayed obedience, is not obedience.”

• Stop giving God excuses about why you can’t obey Him.

• What are your motives when you do obey? 

  • God cares not only that you DO obey...but why you obeyed.

“Your wages disappear”

• Sin takes 100%...God only asks for 10%.

• When we experience LACK in our lives...we should see it as an opportunity to return to GENUINE worship of God.

• Sometimes we get addicted to the blessings of God...rather than the God who gave us the blessings.

“So the Lord sparked the enthusiasm”

God’s not after your money...He’s after your heart.

DIFFERENT #6: Breaking Secrecy

Genesis 3:1-21

Satan will often have you questioning God, before he outright defies God.

Questions aren’t wrong. Just make sure you’re ACTUALLY asking them!!

Selfishness convinces us that we’re missing out.  That God is withholding something from us...when the reality is God WANTS to withhold something from you.  For Adam & Eve, and all of humanity, he WANTED to withhold the knowledge of EVIL from us! He didn’t want us to know the difference between good and evil.  

Sin unlocks knowledge, but it’s knowledge you never needed. Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.

John 10:10 says that the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy, but JESUS has come that we may have life, and have it to the FULL!

SPIRITUAL MATURITY IS TAKING RESPONSIBILITY.

Spiritual maturity is taking responsibility for not only your own actions--but others too!!

“You’re only as sick as your secrets.”

Honesty isn’t a fruit of the spirit--it’s CHOICE, and it’s a DISCIPLINE. 

Holiness is not only given, it is chosen. It starts with your thoughts actually.  Philippians 4:8. “Think about whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

LOVE takes responsibility for OTHERS. How can we possibly love others WELL, when we can’t take responsibility for ourselves?! Love pays the price for OTHERS. Love is self-sacrificial!!!

And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.

But. God. covers. It.

THE LORD covered their sin.
THE LORD covered their shame.
THE LORD went looking for them.
THE LORD called them out of hiding. 
THE LORD gave them their dignity back!!!

EVEN THOUGH IT WASN’T HIS TO COVER!

God covers it. That’s GRACE. 

Grace is being given what you don’t deserve.

Mercy is NOT being given what you DO deserve.

DIFFERENT #5: Children of the Light

Jesus took the sin and selfishness.  The things that disqualify us from being with God..he took it.  And all we have to do is truly believe in Him. Jesus GAVE US His Holiness. 

But, Holiness is not only something Jesus has done for you--it must also be chosen. 

That is, Jesus did the hard work.  But you still must choose to claim it, and walk in it. 

1 Thessalonians 5:5-6, “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.”

Awake and Clearheaded.

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

We win battles in the spiritual.

We see things through the spiritual

The problem with this is that we’re putting ourselves to sleep again...little by little. Just like sugar inhibits our bodies abilities to be healthy, sin inhibits our ability to stay spiritually awake.

RADICAL HONESTY: Not letting yourself get away with excuses.

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

BE SKILLED. BE FAITHFUL. BE QUICK.

Easy ways to fall asleep, spiritually:

1. Stop seeing church as a place to serve.  BE SKILLED. Stop seeing the world as a mission field. 

2. Compromise. BE FAITHFUL.

3. Let pride win. BE QUICK
   

DIFFERENT #4: Even If He Doesn't

Daniel 3

They understood that obedience is obedience regardless of the outcome.
Because God is GOD regardless of the outcome.

I think it would have been easier for Paul to give up in that ditch.

It would have been easier for Jesus to accept the kingship of Israel and rule for that time and era, rather than die on the cross.

It would have been EASIER for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to bow down.

It would have been easier for Peter to stay in that boat during the storm.

But they ALL knew something we don’t.

They ALL knew that that ditch didn’t define them. That grave didn’t define them. That king didn’t get to define them. That prison cell didn’t define them. That label, that identity, that addiction, that fear, that doubt, that ANGER--it didn’t define them!

THE GOSPEL DEFINES US.

Faith is not manipulation of God...it’s not twisting His arm to do what you want.

God isn’t raising spoiled little church mice up..

God is raising up WARRIORS. Obedient to their commanding officer even unto DEATH.
THAT is the example we follow.
THAT is the Jesus we serve.

He is raising up you and me to be the only ones in the crowd to be DIFFERENT. obedient.

He is raising up you and me TO BE THROWN INTO THE FIRE….because when we are at our worst...He is at His best. When we are weak, THEN His is strong through us, His grace is sufficient for you today, believer. His power is made PERFECT in your weakness!!

God did not save them FROM that fire.  God saved them IN that fire.

“Even if He doesn’t faith” is when...

• Your belief isn’t selfish.  

• Your obedience isn’t conditional.

• Your trial doesn’t produce “smoke”

And here was my big revelation this week---->  if He’s in it WITH you--where else would you honestly rather be?!

WHERE ELSE WOULD YOU HONESTLY RATHER BE?!

IF JESUS IS IN THAT FIRE--I WANNA BE IN THAT FIRE. BECAUSE AM I REALLY EVEN MORE SAFE OUTSIDE OF IT? IF HE’S IN IT...
IF JESUS IS IN THE STORM--AM I REALLY MORE SAFE IN THE BOAT?!
IF JESUS IN THAT PRISON--AM I REALLY MORE FREE OUTSIDE OF IT?!

What if His plan is bigger than just saving you?

What if His plan is bigger than just saving you?

DIFFERENT #3: Built Different

Matthew 14:22-33

At this point, at least 19 miracles have taken place by the point.
When you’re living through a difficult situation, be really careful to interpret where Jesus is in the situation.

3 things that set Peter apart:

1. Built to believe different.
There’s only one guy in the boat that thinks differently about himself. Peter was the only one that said, “If Jesus can do it, maybe I can do it too.”

There should be something very different about what we believe, even about ourselves

We’ve allowed the labels of others, to put limitations on ourselves.
The Bible never describes us as normal. We are CHOSEN.
You and I will always behave in a way that’s consistent with what you believe about yourself.
Some of you have held on far too long to the labels that others have placed on you. We have to choose to resist the loyalty to those labels.

2. Built to behave different.
When Jesus says “come” to you—is that enough?

Is His “come” enough for you?

Jesus gave Peter more information in the beginning of their relationship, but not now.
It should be more about WHO said “come”, rather than WHAT was said.
One step out of the boat can have a ripple effect!

3. Built to behold different.

If the devil can’t destroy your faith, he’ll distract it.
The same faith it took you to get out of the boat, is the same faith that it will take to sustain you.

Eyes on Jesus, FVChurch!! You’ll make it through the storm!

DIFFERENT #2: Who Are You?

The most important question you can be asked in the Kingdom of God isn’t what can you do for Him….but who are you?

Acts 19:11-16

Paul was different because he was willing to be developed, not just discovered.

We’re all lost without Him.
The difference is that some of us know it, and some of us don’t.

Paul was different because he knew who he was.

It wasn’t Paul the spirits were afraid of, it was the JESUS in Paul.

DIFFERENT #1: He Got Up

THE DIFFERENCE wasn’t on the outside. It was on the inside.

Jesus was still the son of God before he was baptized in the HS. 
BUT HIS MINISTRY STARTED WHEN HE WAS BAPTIZED WITH THE Holy Spirit AND FIRE. 

Acts 14:8-20

Today you’re in the House of the Lord--you’re in an environment of FAITH, surrounded by believers.

The amazing thing about a community of faith, is that sometimes you’re the one beat up...and sometimes you’re the one praying.

Sunday Is Not Enough #6: Change The World

What actually IS an apostle? “apostle” is a New Testament word meaning “one sent out”
Would Jesus have been the world-changer that He was….if not for the apostles?

The Gospels:

Matthew - the excellent side of things...regal, respectable, powerful...attention to detail, nothing out of order. He quoted the OT the most..he was the accountant, the detail guy.

Mark - all about the servanthood of Jesus. No genealogy because who would want to know the pedigree of a servant? We put others first.

Luke - trying to show Jesus as a man. His human, relationship side.

John - trying to show us that Jesus was GOD...his sovereign side.

Acts 1:6-11

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

World Changers have to go back down the mountain.

To do that...sometimes we need a few things: 

WHY did they get to see Jesus ascend?

• They needed closure.

• They needed a commissioning.

• They needed to get to work.

• They needed a helper.

Sunday Is Not Enough #5: Selfless Disciples

Acts 6:1-7

The apostles’ solution was to: Step up and serve, rather than BE served.

Ephesians 4:11-12

The apostles’ solution was to: Get organized.

Acts 7:54-60

Sunday Is Not Enough #4: EPIC WEEKEND with Tim Bennett

Joshua 3:1-17

The will of God is not for us to stay where we are.

“In this world you WILL have trouble.” -Jesus

We tell God exactly how HE has to work and then we wonder why we have to wander through the desert for 40 years.

Our level of obedience will determine our level of blessing.

Our faith and our hope has been rooted in the wrong place!

If we really want to stop wandering, and start seeing the wonders of God we have to:

1. Let Go of the Past

“Normal” got us into the mess we’re in now.

The Jordan River was at a flood stage, so it made zero sense to cross at that time. But when God days go, you go. The city of Adam is where the water starts piling up. It became 200 miles wide, 120 feet deep, and 20 miles long. Making this miracle much bigger than the miracle of the Red Sea being parted.

Weak faith says, “you can do it!” No, WE can’t, but HE can.

2. Look Up in the Pursuit

We look up in recognition of who He is and where we are.

Why would David have to pray about what He’s already been told?

We are way too casual about the presence of God, and then wonder why there’s so much death in our lives.

His will is not for us to be followers of His presence, but CARRIERS of His presence.

Let’s stop being under the influence, and let’s start BEING the influence.

3. Launch Forward in the Promise

I wish we’d stop listening to the majority and the popular opinion of this world. The promise is there, it’s your job to possess it.

Sunday Is Not Enough #3: Passionate Disciples

Acts 9:1-20

Passionate Disciples are Disciplemakers.

Passionate disciples are obedient.

Passionate Disciples are willing to pay the cost.

Sunday Is Not Enough #2: Vibrant Disciples

Acts 10:1-48

VIBRANT DISCIPLES PRAY.

The Holy Spirit will meet us when we pray.

The Holy Spirit will challenge us to be bold.

The Holy Spirit will challenge us to take the Gospel outside our comfort zones.

1 Corinthians 14:32-33

The Holy Spirit will challenge us into a life-worship (not a Sunday-only worship).

The Holy Spirit will challenge anything that gets in the way.

Sunday Is Not Enough #1: The Believers

Acts 2:41-47
41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

The Believers Form a Community

42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper[a]), and to prayer.

43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity[b]— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

1. Our Emotions
Matthew 5:21-22

2. Our Bodies
Matthew 5:27

3. Our Words
Matthew 5:33

4. Our Religion
Matthew 6:6

5. Our Money
Matthew 6:22

6. Our Judgements
Matthew 7:1

7. Our Behavior

WILD #6: Win Them Back

Matthew 6:7-15

Common misconceptions about forgiveness among Christians:

1. You don’t have to do anything to receive God’s forgiveness. Not true, it must be accepted.

2. Forgiveness must be earned. Not true, it can only be given.

3. Trust should be given, alongside forgiveness. Not true, trust & forgiveness are two different things.

   1. Matthew 18:15-17

      15 “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.

4. Forgiveness is a feeling. Not true, forgiveness is a choice.

5. Forgiveness is the belief that they won’t mess up again. Again, not true. Forgiveness is the belief that they probably will mess up again, but choosing love anyway.

   1. In fact, if I could add another one of these in retrospect--the 6th misconception would be that forgiveness is for THEM. It’s not. It’s for me. They may mess up again...your unforgiveness wouldn’t stop that. But unforgiveness isn’t for them--it’s for YOU

Romans 12:17-21

Justice Misconceptions:

1. We know vengeance best. Nope, only God does.

2. We’re being asked to forgive too much. No, we’ve been forgiven of so much.

3. If I forgive, they won’t change. Actually, forgiveness is a much more effective change agent.

4. An eye for an eye is the only way to conquer evil. No, you conquer evil by doing good.