BLANKS - 20190414 - EP02
BLANKS
Do you have self-imposed contingencies to really believe God? Do you first require a scientific understanding, a profound experience, an undeniable miracle, to feel a certain way, to enjoy a series of unobstructed successes, or _______ ? Whatever you require to be put in the BLANK as the precursor to your faith elevates the BLANK as a supreme idol. These stipulated BLANKS will disrupt the depths of your heart, torment the narratives of your mind and create chaos in your closeness to God. Because trust is never about the BLANK first; it’s about the choice to believe first. God cares about BLANKS, but only after He sits alone on the throne of your heart. History is filled with the stories of people who were stuck as slaves to BLANKS; that is until they broke allegiance to the BLANK to trust God completely. Then real encounters with God, and even miracles happened! If you are stuck, or know someone who is, join us for a powerful, insightful and encouraging series called BLANKS.
TODAY’S EPISODE
BIG QUESTION
What are the BLANKS
You REQUIRE
BEFORE you BELIEVE?
BIG IDEA
Whatever you REQUIRE FIRST
– the BLANK –
Reveals where your REAL DEVOTION LIES!
WHAT/WHO IS ON THE THRONE?
The REAL AUTHORITY over your life
is whatever lies in your BLANK!
JOHN 20:24-29 NKJV The other disciples therefore said to Thomas, "We have seen the Lord." So he [Thomas] said to them, "UNLESS I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I WILL NOT BELIEVE." …27 Then Jesus said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand [here], and put [it] into My side. DO NOT BE UNBELIEVING, BUT BELIEVING."
FIRST?
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO…
SEE FIRST
UNDERSTAND FIRST
VERIFY SCIENCE FIRST
HAVE THE AFFIRMATION OF YOUR GROUP FIRST
CHOOSE GOD FIRST!
2 CORINTHIANS 12:1-2, 4, 7 NKJV [Paul said] … I will come to VISIONS and REVELATIONS of the Lord: 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago--whether IN THE BODY I do not know, or whether OUT OF THE BODY I do not know, God knows--such a one was caught up TO THE THIRD HEAVEN. ... 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard INEXPRESSIBLE WORDS, which it is NOT LAWFUL FOR A MAN TO UTTER. ... 7 And lest I should be EXALTED ABOVE MEASURE by the ABUNDANCE OF THE REVELATIONS, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be EXALTED ABOVE MEASURE.
EPHESIANS 3:17-19 AMP [Paul prayed] … that Christ may dwell in your hearts THROUGH your FAITH. And may you, having been [deeply] rooted and [securely] grounded in love, 18 be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints (God’s people) the width and length and height and depth of His love [fully EXPERIENCING that amazing, endless love]; 19 and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal EXPERIENCE] the LOVE OF CHRIST which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without EXPERIENCE]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the FULLNESS OF GOD [may have the RICHEST MEASURE of the DIVINE PRESENCE, and become A BODY WHOLLY filled and flooded with GOD HIMSELF]!
EXPERIENCE IS
The INVOLVEMENT IN what is happening, rather than abstract reflection on an event.
The CONSCIOUS AWARENESS of time, space, thought, imagination, emotion, sensation, environment, relationships, memories and purpose.
1 CORINTHIANS 2:7, 9-10, 13-14 NKJV [Paul said] But we speak the WISDOM OF GOD in a mystery, the hidden [wisdom] which God ordained before the ages for our glory, ... 9 But as it is written: "EYE has not seen, nor EAR heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." 10 But GOD HAS REVEALED [them] to us through His SPIRIT. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. ... 13 These things we also speak, not in words which MAN'S WISDOM teaches but which the HOLY SPIRIT TEACHES, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the NATURAL MAN does not RECEIVE the things of the Spirit of God, for they are FOOLISHNESS to him; NOR CAN HE KNOW [THEM], because they are SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED.
KNOWLEDGE???
Apologetics, Christian philosophy
and the sciences give comfort,
BUT CANNOT GIVE FAITH!
ROMANS 10:17 NKJV So then FAITH [comes] by HEARING, and HEARING by the WORD OF GOD.
SIMPLE CHOICE
FAITH is activated by a CHOICE,
and EVERYONE has the ABILITY
to FREELY CHOOSE!
HEBREWS 4:1-2, 6 NKJV Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the GOSPEL WAS PREACHED to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, NOT BEING MIXED WITH FAITH in those who heard [it]. ... 6 Since therefore it remains that some [must] enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of DISOBEDIENCE (UNBELIEF – KJV)…
CALL TO ACTION
Out of everything we talked about today,
what is your ONE NEXT STEP that you need to take?
Pull out your phone and email it to yourself right now. NAME THEM!
ASSESS WHAT ARE YOUR PRESENT BLANKS
CHOOSE TO RE-SURRENDER TO GOD FIRST
PUT GOD’S WORD AS YOUR FIRST AND FINAL