BLANKS - 20190505
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!
FIRST?
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO…
SEE FIRST
UNDERSTAND FIRST
VERIFY SCIENCE FIRST
HAVE THE AFFIRMATION OF YOUR GROUP FIRST
YOU CAN SIMPLY CHOOSE GOD FIRST!
A BIG BLANK
“I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH FAITH,
THEREFORE I CAN’T BELIEVE
GOD’S PROMISE!”
ROMANS 12:3 NKJV [Paul said] For I say… to everyone who is among you… GOD HAS DEALT to EACH ONE a MEASURE OF FAITH.
ACTS 10:34 KJV [Peter said] Of a truth I perceive that GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS.
THE FAITH ADVANTAGE – IF HE RESPECTS PEOPLE
WISDOM: JAMES 1:5-8 NKJV If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 [he is] a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
VICTORY: 1 JOHN 5:4 NKJV For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.
MOVE MOUNTAINS: MARK 11:22-23 NKJV So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. 23 "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
ANSWERED PRAYER: MARK 11:22-24 NKJV So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. … 24 "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive [them], and you will have [them].
PEACE: ISAIAH 26:3 NKJV You will keep [him] in perfect peace, [Whose] mind [is] stayed [on You], Because he trusts in You.
PHYSICAL HEALING: Mark 5:25-34 NKJV 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?" … 34 And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."
SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY: 1 PETER 5:8-9 NKJV Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, …
WORD OF GOD - POWER: Hebrews 4:2 NKJV 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].
DEEP REST: HEBREWS 4:3 NKJV For we who have believed do enter that rest…
HAPPINESS: PROVERBS 16:20 NKJV He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the LORD, happy [is] he.
RICH PRESENCE OF GOD: JOHN 11:40 NKJV Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?"
PLEASE GOD: HEBREWS 11:6 NKJV But without faith [it is] impossible to please [Him], for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and [that] He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
MARK 9:21-27 NLT "How long has this been happening?" Jesus asked the boy's father. He replied, "Since he was a little boy. 22 The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, IF YOU CAN." 23 "WHAT DO YOU MEAN, 'IF I CAN'?" Jesus asked. "Anything is possible if a person believes." 24 The father instantly cried out, "I do believe, but help me overcome my UNBELIEF!” 25 When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit.
HEBREWS 4:1-2, 6 NKJV - 1 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)…
2 KINDS OF UNBELIEF
BASED ON IGNORANCE
A REBELLIOUS ATTITUDE
ROMANS 10:17 NKJV So then faith [comes] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
If you have God’s Word for something…you have faith for it!
SIMPLE CHOICE
Faith is activated by a choice,
and everyone has the ability to freely choose!
CALL TO ACTION
Out of everything we talked about today,
what is your ONE NEXT STEP that you need to take?
ASSESS WHAT ARE YOUR BLANKS
CHOOSE TO RE-SURRENDER TO GOD FIRST
PUT GOD’S WORD AS YOUR FIRST AND FINAL