BLANKS 20190407 - EP01

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!

JOHN 20:24-29 NKJV Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, "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." 26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" 27 Then He 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." 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. BLESSED [are] those who have not seen and [yet] have believed."

  FIRST?

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO…

SEE FIRST

UNDERSTAND FIRST

VERIFY SCIENCE FIRST

HAVE THE AFFIRMATION OF YOUR GROUP FIRST

SIMPLY CHOOSE GOD FIRST!

PROVERBS 3:5 NKJV [Solomon said] TRUST in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING. 

HEBREWS 11:1 AMPC Now FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, [a]the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the PROOF OF THINGS [WE] DO NOT SEE and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is NOT REVEALED TO THE SENSES]. … 3 By FAITH we UNDERSTAND…

FAITH is the

ACCESS POINT

to greater

UNDERSTANDING and WISDOM!

NATURAL UNDERSTANDING

and NATURAL WISDOM

IS NOT

the ACCESS POINT

to GREATER FAITH!

PSALM 111:10 NKJV [The Psalmist said] The FEAR of the LORD [is] the BEGINNING OF WISDOM; a GOOD UNDERSTANDING have all those who DO [His commandments]. 

PROVERBS 9:10 NKJV [Solomon said] The FEAR of the LORD [is] the BEGINNING OF WISDOM, and the KNOWLEDGE of the Holy One [is] UNDERSTANDING.

PSALM 119:104-105 NKJV [The Psalmist said] THROUGH YOUR PRECEPTS I get UNDERSTANDING; … 105 Your word [is] a LAMP to my feet and a LIGHT to my path.

PSALM 119:130 NKJV [The Psalmist said] The entrance of YOUR WORDS gives LIGHT; It gives UNDERSTANDING to the SIMPLE. 

JAMES 3:15 AMP [James said] This [superficial] WISDOM is NOT that which comes down FROM ABOVE, but is EARTHLY (secular), natural (SENSUAL) (unspiritual), even DEMONIC.

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.

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 IS REQUIRED FIRST

RE-SURRENDER TO GOD’S TRUTH

PUT GOD ON THE THRONE OF YOUR HEART