The Comfort Zone #1: Take Your Positions

Picture a child, who has grown up never having heard the word “no”.  A child who doesn’t have any limitations on his life, like a lack of money, or time, or struggle of any kind.  No discipline whatsoever, just handed everything he wants in life from the time he is born.  

Is that a child you want to be around?

And YET, most of us, we would rather go through life as that child.

Today, we’re going to learn a play from the book of 2 Chronicles. ACTUALLY–this one is more of a preparation technique.  BECAUSE–if you can learn this one, you may not even have to play. 

2 Chronicles 20

1. Take your positions.

2. He prayed and worshipped

Worship is often just declaring WHO God is!

Provider, Deliverer, Comforter, Healer

1. It’s me quoting the names of God back to him. 

2. Jehovah Jireh - The Lord will provide

3. Jehovah Nissi- The Lord is our banner (deliverer)

4. Jehovah Shalom - The Lord sends peace (comfort)

5. Jehovah Rapha - The God who heals

1. The Way, The Truth, The Light, The Life

   1. Jehovah Ra’ah - The Lord is the Way, my shepherd

   2. Jehovah Tsidkenu (Sid-ken-ew)- The Lord is our righteousness

   3. Jehovah Shammah - The Lord is our light, ever present

2. “Wonderful counselor, mighty god, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” Isaiah 9:6

3. He acknowledged his own limitations

2 Corinthians 12:9-11

Jehoshaphat didn’t have a big enough army and he didn’t need one–he had a big enough God!

Situation:

1. Hard pressed

2. Perplexed

3. Persecuted

4. Struck down

1. Revelation:

   1. Not crushed

   2. Not in despair

   3. Not abandoned

   4. Not destroyed

When we get our eyes OFF the revelation, all we’re left with is the reality. And yeah, that’s scary.  That’s hard. That’s not enough.  But fortunately, God has given us MORE. He sees MORE.

4. He obeyed, and marched.

5. Do not be afraid.

Psalm 108:1-6

6. The Lord is with you

Unqualified #4: 3 Reasons Why

1 Samuel 8:1-9:2

God set it up so that Israel wasn’t actually one “nation” in the political sense. They were much more of a family, than a nation. Tribes, family units, not states. They had religious laws, not legal ones. A GOD, not a king.

1. Mistreating your family will disqualify you. AND/OR them.

It’s why the way we treat our family is SO important to the heart of God.  It’s why there are so many requirements on church leaders in the word about their FAMILIES. And the way they treat them. IT’S IMPORTANT.

The bible says to TRAIN your kids, not just raise them.  TRAIN them up in the way they should go, and when they are old they will not depart from it. 

2. Lack of gratitude will disqualify you.

When you remain ungrateful, you miss A LOT. You become PRIDEFUL.  Begin thinking that everything is owed to you.  Then you start to misuse and abuse others, because after all, they exist to please YOU.  You begin to think your function in life is to BE served, not TO serve. 

3. Shallow thinking will disqualify you.

Unqualified #3: Come and See

John 4:1-18

1. He showed her her own need.

2. He was causing her to wonder.

John 4:19-30

3. He showed her that God still seeks people like her.

4. Through her, he showed the entire town who He was.

Unqualified #2: Do It Afraid

Judges 6-7

1. It doesn't always take the fear away.

2. If you're waiting for a sign, will you even see it when it comes?

3. Faithful people look for signs after obedience.

4. God used Gideon's fear.

5. Do It Afraid

Unqualified #1.5: The Fruit Inspector

The Fruit Inspector

Matthew 21:18-22

Mark 11:1-25

Remember, the beauty of the Bible is in the details. And here’s another hint: The Bible explains the Bible...

Throughout the Old Testament, Israel is described as God’s vineyard, tree, or planting (6 passages: Judges 9:8–15; Isaiah 3:14; 5:1–7; Jeremiah 12:10; Ezekiel 17:2–10; 19:10–14)

The fig tree is a foundational metaphor for Israel!

• And her spiritual health all throughout the OT.

• The prophet Isaiah says the time had come for God’s people to yield fruit that would bless the world (Isaiah 27:6).

• Several times the prophets (Micah, Jeremiah, Hosea) describe God as inspecting Israel for “early figs,” as a sign of spiritual fruitfulness (Micah 7:1; Jeremiah 8:13; Hosea 9:10–17)—but he finds “no first-ripe fig that my soul desires.”

• So in two exiles (Assyrian and Babylonian), God pours out the curse of barrenness (Hosea 9:16), and Israel becomes a rotten fig (Jeremiah 29:17).

• But all is not lost. God promises to one day replant Israel and produce healthy figs from her again (Joel 2:22; Amos 9:14; Micah 4:4; Zechariah 8:12; Ezekiel 36:8).

Jesus was…

1. displaying his power and authority over all creation.

2. demonstrating the consequences of fruitlessness.

3. setting the parameters for his church.

Unqualified #1: Get Fired Up!

Many of our heroes throughout the Bible were “unqualified” for the jobs that God called them to.  They felt unqualified for the task that someone had to step up and do. Are the callings of God just about completing impossible tasks?  Are they always a series of predestined victories? Does failure mean you weren’t called to it? What does being “called” to something even really mean?

I have a long list of Bible heroes that we could talk about during this series.  

People like: 

• Noah…who trusted God even when literally NO ONE else did, and got to live when literally NO ONE else did.

• Abraham…who trusted God with someone absolutely impossible, for an IMPOSSIBLY long time. And got to have a legacy no one else did.

• Jacob…who made decisions that no one else would have. And eventually got to make decision that no one else could have.

• Moses…who was set up for success by other people, and eventually got to set up an entire people for success, when they hadn’t had any of that in a really long time.

• David…who prepared himself unnoticed and unseen, caring only about the opinion of the One who mattered…and got to eventually be the ONLY opinion in the NATION that mattered.

• Woman at the well…who got to be the first one to experience the GRACE and undeserved purpose of God, being called into ministry for the purposes of OTHERS, believed in, when no one else believed. 

There are SO MANY others we could talk about during this series, because God calls the unqualified.  And He can use you too.  But what does it mean to be used by God?  

The first 3 stories of Israel’s judges..Othniel, Ehud, and Deborah, and pretty good judges.  They are loyal to God and bring about victory over the nations around them. 

Gideon falls into the “okay” category. First of all, he’s sort of a coward from the beginning, and his story gets good, and then bad, again.  We often tend to overlook the bad parts of his story, and just focus on the good ones…but we can learn and UNlearn from all the pieces of the Bible, good and bad. 

Judges 6:11-16

Ancient Winepress:

YOU don’t have to have it altogether, because I do. You just have to be willing. Go, with the strength you have.

Sometimes, God just needs someone with the bare minimum amount of faith. The faith of a mustard seed.  Just a LITTLE. Just give me what you have…because God is a multiplying God. He doesn’t add, he MULTIPLIES. He takes whatever is in our hand, whatever we’re willing to give, and he multiplies it! 

I am sending YOU.

In fact, I think that some of us, don’t get angry enough. We don’t get angry enough to fix anything. To see it as OUR problem.  If it’s someone else’s problem, then someone else has to fix it. 
But God said I am sending YOU. Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?  

How can I rescue anyone? I’m the least talented.  I’m the least able. I’m the least qualified. 

But maybe I’m just the right amount of qualified for God to use.

The ONLY difference God promises here is perspective.

If HE is with you–who can be against you?

If HE is with you–do you need to be “qualified”?

In my view:

God saw Gideon not as strong, or powerful, or qualified.

God saw Gideon as hard-working, determined, servant-hearted, and just angry enough to fix a problem.

God saw a person He could use. Not a person who had earned a title.

A person he could teach.  Not a person who knew it all.

A person who had the right heart position.  Not someone angry at all the wrong things. 

And He called Him to fix it. 

In my view, God calls us to BE someone…way more often than he calls us to DO something.

The Lion of Judah #3: How Do You See You?

Luke 2:8-20

1. They ran to Jesus.

2. They worshipped Jesus.

3. They told everyone.

The Lion of Judah #2: How Does He See You?

“Stories make us feel as though we are apart of something bigger” 

God’s story of redemption.

• Jesus 1st Coming- Break satan's authority by Christ’s life, death, and resurrection

• Period of Grace- Jesus Mission continues through the church 

• Jesus 2nd Coming- Christ coming in full glory completely destroy Satan’s kingdom

  JESUS SEES YOU AS A PART OF THE STORY
  

Revelation 7:9-10 esv

Mark 16:15-20 esv

 Acts 1:8-11 esv

JESUS SEES YOU AS A PART OF THE STORY!

CHALLENGE: Step out in faith and be a part of God’s kingdom expanding and this story unfolding. 

Examples: 

• Tell someone about the Gospel

• Pray for someone who is sick

• Tell someone your testimony

• Ask God to open up opportunities to you

Feel like you don’t know how to share the Gospel? Watch this amazing, down-to-earth teaching from MissionSOS founder, Johannes Amritzer.

The Lion Of Judah #1: How Do You See Him?

Here’s just a few more of the ways that Jesus is unique:

1. He’s alive! He rose. No other religion can make this claim about their leaders.

2. He is FULLY divine AND FULLY human.

3. There are over 300 prophecies about Him--fulfilled! The statistical chances of that just happening...OFF THE CHARTS. That doesn’t just HAPPEN. Those prophecies were over hundreds of years by so many different people!

4. He performed many, many miracles. At least 35 specific ones are recorded in the Gospels, there were hundreds more not specifically recorded.  All of the Gospel writers say that.

5. He had power over nature. Walking on water. Commanding the storm. Fish & loaves. No other religious leader could make those claims.

6. His teachings. Not only were they awesome and challenging..I mean, filled the listener with wonder, but they included parables, prophecies, poetry!

7. And they connected Him to people! With leaders, and with common, every day people. He had the ability to speak with both. 

8. His impact. We’ve talked about this many times lately, but the impact of one single, son of carpenter, who only lived to his 30’s, and only ministered publicly for 3 of those years...it’s just been ASTRONOMICAL. Over 2 BILLION people around the world claim to follow Him. He’s changed the WORLD even with things like, hospitals...health care...and caring for the poor. Ancient people didn’t do that. They didn’t see health care as a right like we do today.... JESUS and His followers did that. Hospitals started as additions to CHURCHES. The way we look at children changed because of Him too. Schools and orphanages….you can credit Jesus with EDUCATION! Looking at people with compassion..the fact that we value humility...these things are all easily traceable in HISTORY to one man. Jesus of Nazareth.

JESUS’ STORY ISN’T DONE YET.

Matthew 2:1-12

In Deserts Like These: When Bushes Burn Pt 2

God calls us to PURPOSE in deserts like these.

Until we graduate to heaven, the testing won’t stop...it may change..grow...evolve into new opportunities and challenges, but it’s never going to stop on this side of eternity. 
And if we can’t learn to grow with it, we’re going to get stuck out there in the wilderness.  In the desert--EVEN AFTER GOD HAS ANSWERED OUR PRAYERS.

God calls us to OBEDIENCE in deserts like these.

Exodus 32:1-8

Look, following God isn’t EASIER.  I don’t know who told you following God was EASIER.  In MANY ways, it’s not easier.  But I will tell you--it’s BETTER.  There is promised land on the other side of obedience.  The promises of God are on the other side of obedience!

There is purpose and wholeness and oneness with your maker on the other side of obedience!  Fulfillment and forgiveness.  It’s the difference between living in the light, and living in death.  Depression and joy. Bondage and freedom.  
It’s not easier, but it IS better.

What has He brought you out of?
He’s not done yet.

In Deserts Like These: When Bushes Burn Pt 1

Take notes! Pick a main takeaway.

Moses had his wounds. So do we. They turn into lies when we allow them to fester for too long. Lies that we begin to believe. From that lie, we begin to create a new false belief system. From there, he began to build a stronghold around himself, for protection. He began to vow things to himself.

And we find ourselves out there in the desert. Wasting our potential. Out there in the desert not fully understanding WHO we are, because we’ve lied to ourselves for SO long. Alone, isolated, and doing the bare minimum...out there in the desert.

But...I’ve got good news for you Moses, Bushes burn, in deserts like that.

You are NOT so far gone that God can’t find you.
You are NOT so sinful that Jesus can’t redeem you.
You are NOT so unwanted, unskilled, or unremarkable, that God doesn’t want you on His team.

He has CALLED you.  He has GIFTED you. He has PREPARED you. 

The world is needy. It needs you. We need you.

You don’t have to look very far to see problems in this world. YOU are called to be a solution.

Exodus 3:11, “But Moses protested to God, ‘Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?’”

Exodus 4:1-14

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