Access Church

2024 can be your best year, if it’s your best year spiritually!

Genesis 1:1  //  In the beginning God…

Prayer should be our first response, not our last resort.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  //  Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

2 Chronicles 7:13-14  //  When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Luke 11:1  //  One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When He finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray...’”

Matthew 6:9-13  //  “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.”

1. Connect with God relationally.

“Our Father in heaven”

Romans 8:15 (NLT)  //  You have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”

2. Worship His Name.

“Hallowed be Your Name”

Proverbs 18:10 (MSG)  //  God’s name is a place of protection—the righteous can run there and be safe.

Righteousness

Healer

Shepherd

Provider

Sanctifier

Banner of Victory

Peace

There

3. Pray His agenda first.

“Your Kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”

Matthew 6:33  //  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Luke 12:31 (TLB)  //  He will always give you all you need from day to day if you will make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.

4. Depend on Him for everything.

“Give us this day our daily bread”

Psalm 121:1-2 (NLT)  //  I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

5. Get your heart right with God and people.

“Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”

1 John 1:9  //  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

6. Win the war in the spiritual

“And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one”

Ephesians 6:12  //  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

7. Express faith in God’s ability.

“For yours is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever.”

Jeremiah 32:17  //  “Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.”

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Luke 2:10  //  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”

All the people

2 Corinthians 5:15  //  He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ

Colossians 1:15-18 (MSG)  //  We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible — everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment.

Invite Jesus to take His rightful place.

Involve Him in every area of your life.

Ignite a fresh passion to know Him more.

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God tricked me

Why does God do it for other people, but not me?

I gave up asking God

I know God can, but He doesn’t seem to care

What do you do with your hurt, frustration, and disappointment with God?

1 Samuel 1:6-7 (NLT)  //  So Peninnah would taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the LORD had kept her from having children. 7 Year after year it was the same—Peninnah would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle. Each time, Hannah would be reduced to tears and would not even eat.

1 Samuel 1:8 (NLT)  //  “Why are you crying, Hannah?” Elkanah would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me—isn’t that better than having ten sons?”

1 Samuel 1:9-10 (NLT)  //  Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle. 10Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the LORD.

1 Samuel 1:19 (NLT)  //  The entire family got up early the next morning and went to worship the LORD once more. …

A waiting season isn’t a wasted season.

1 Samuel 1:19-20 (NLT)  //  Then they returned home to Ramah. When Elkanah slept with Hannah, the LORD remembered her plea, 20 and in due time she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I asked the LORD for him.”

God’s delays are not necessarily God’s denials.

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Forgiving Others

Forgiving Me

Forgiving God

I’ll never forgive myself.

There’s no way that God could forgive me.

I’m haunted by what I’ve done.

Haunted

Wraith

Wreath

Isaiah 1:18 (NLT)  //  “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. If you will only obey me...”

What do we do with our shame?

If our thoughts can be twisted, they can be untwisted.

We can bury it.

Proverbs 28:13  //  He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but

Whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

We beat ourselves up

Psalm 38:4, 8 (GNT)  //  I am drowning in the flood of my sins, they are a burden too heavy to bear. Because I have been foolish, I’m utterly worn out and crushed, my heart is troubled.

We can blame others.

Genesis 3:13  //  The serpent deceived me, and I ate.

We can believe God.

2 Corinthians 5:17  //  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

1 Timothy 1:13-15  //  Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.

How do I get past my past?

1. Stop trying to earn forgiveness.

Ephesians 2:8-9  //  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.

Matthew 10:8  //  ...Freely you have received, freely give.

2. Defeat every lie with the truth.

John 8:44  //  When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

1 Corinthians 1:30 (NLT)  //  Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.

God doesn’t forget, he remembers no more.

Isaiah 43:25  //  I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”

3. Allow God to turn it around for good.

Romans 8:28  //  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Genesis 50:20  //  You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Forgiveness won’t change the past, but it can change your future.

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Forgiving Others

Forgiving Myself

Forgiving God

Isaiah 1:18 NLT  //  “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. If you will only obey me...”

Luke 17:1, 3-5  //  Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come ... 3 So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4 Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” 5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

How do you forgive when you don’t feel like forgiving?

Ephesians 4:32  //  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Matthew 6:14-15  //  “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

FORGIVENESS IS NOT:

Forgetting

 Holding on keeps us from moving on.

A Feeling

 Choices lead. Feelings follow.

Fair

Psalm 103:10-12  //  He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Reconciliation

Forgiveness is a one player game.

HOW DO I FULLY FORGIVE?

1. Pray for them.

Matthew 5:43-44  //  “You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

2. Bless them.

Luke 6:27-28  //  But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Romans 12:14  //  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

3. Do good to them.

Romans 12:17-21  //  Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

THE FIRST STEP

Ephesians 4:31-32  //  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

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What amazes God?

Luke 7:1-10 (NIV)  //  When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

The Amazing Faith!

We can possess faith that amazes God.

Asks for God’s help without a guarantee of success

Luke 7:3-6a  //  The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” So Jesus went with them…

Amazing faith asks God for help, even though we don’t know the end result.

Asks for God’s help humbly

Luke7:6b-7a // He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you.

Amazing faith asks for God’s help humbly.

Asks God for his authority

Luke 7:7b-10  //  But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it. When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

Faith in God’s authority is all that was needed.

Challenge: Amaze God This Week

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Force Multiplier: Something that dramatically increases one’s impact

Ephesians 3:20 (LB)  //  Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.

Play it safe.

1 Samuel 17:32-33 (NLT)  //  “Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!” 33 “Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.”

Am I Reasonable or Ridiculous?

Acts 3:1-3 (NLT)  //  Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.

Expectation determines experience.

Sometimes it’s easier to exist than to expect.

Acts 3:4-6 (NLT)  //  Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

Acts 4:7-12  //  They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, 9 are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? 10 Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. 11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ 12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

Acts 3:7-10 NLT // Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

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Mark 10:13-16 (ESV)  //  “And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.”

The Gospel of Permission

We aren’t guaranteed outcomes, but we are guaranteed access

Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)  //  “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Permission should inspire persistence

Permission is potential that shouldn’t be wasted

1 Chronicles 4:10 (ESV)  //  “Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!" And God granted what he asked.”

God is able, God is willing

Luke 5:12-13 (ESV)  //  “While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy left him.”

2 Corinthians 1:20 (NLT)  //  “For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.”

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Force Multiplier: Something that dramatically increases one’s impact

Ephesians 3:20 (LB)  //  Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.

Hebrews 11:6  //  Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Romans 1:17  //  For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Faith

Faith is Seeing From God’s Point of View

Faith is not:

Desire

Pretending that something is true

A Feeling

Bargaining with God

Hebrews 11:1  //  Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Faith is a way of seeing.

Ephesians 1:18 (NLT)  //  I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

2 Kings 6:15-17  //  When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked. 16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Fear or Faith

Shammua

Shaphat

Igal

Palti

Gaddiel

Gaddi

Ammiel

Sethur

Nahbi

Geuel

Joshua

Caleb

When see through the eyes of fear:

1. We exaggerate our difficulties.

Numbers 13:27-28, 3127  //  They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.”

2. We underestimate our abilities.

Numbers 13:33 //  “We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

Projection

3. We get discouraged.

Numbers 14:1  //  That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud.

4. We complain

Number 14:2 //  All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness!

5. We blame God

Numbers 14:3 //  Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?”

When I see through the eyes of faith, it:

1. Shrinks my problems

Luke 1:37  //  For nothing will be impossible with God.

2. Opens the door for a miracle

Matthew 13:58  //  And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

3. Moves God to act on my behalf

Matthew 9:29  //  Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”

4. Unlocks the promises of God

2 Corinthians 1:20  //  For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.

5. Faith turns God-given dreams into reality

Ephesians 3:20 (LB)  //  Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.

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Insecurity:Lack of Confidence

Judges 6:1  //  The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites.

Judges 6:6  //  Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help.

Judges 6:11-12  //  The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. 12 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”

Judges 6:15-18  //  “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” 16 The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.” 17 Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. 18 Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.”

Judges 6:21-23  //  Then the angel of the Lord touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the tip of the staff that was in his hand. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the Lord disappeared. 22 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” 23 But the Lord said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.”

Judges 6:36-40  //  Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised—37 look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” 38 And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” 40 That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.

Judges 7:2-4  //  The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’

3 Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. 4 But the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there.”

Judges 7:7  //  The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.”

4:1

12:1

400:1

Judges 7:16  //  Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside.

1.    We fight insecurity with proper identity.

Judges 6:12  //  When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”

Identity —The truest thing about you

In Christ, your identity is given, not earned.

In Christ we are:

 Chosen

Adopted

Redeemed

Marked

Purchased

2.    Confidence from anything temporary is temporary.

Goalpost Syndrome

3.    Confidence comes from obedience.

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