Access Church

3 John 1:2 // “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.”

You are only as healthy as your soul.

The baggage I hold influences the quality of my soul.

Hebrews 12:1 (ESV) // “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…”

Where Can Baggage Come From?

Unfulfilled Expectations

Untreated Pain

Unhealthy View of Self

Unrepentant Sin

How Do I Get Rid Of Baggage?

Look at It

Psalm 32:5 (ESV) // “I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah.”

The only baggage that can’t be dealt with is unacknowledged baggage.

Know You’re Not Alone

Romans 3:23 (ESV) // “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”

Leave it with Jesus

John 3:16 (ESV) // “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Psalm 23:3 (ESV) // “He restores my soul…”

3 John 2 // Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.

You are only as healthy as your soul.

Inner You > Outside You

Deuteronomy 4:9 ESV // Only take care, and keep your soul diligently…

Hebrews 13:17 ESV // Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.

Mark 8:36 // For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

“What is running your life at any given moment is your soul. Not external circumstances, or your thoughts, or your intentions, or even your feelings, bur your soul. The soul is that aspect of your whole being that integrates and enliven everything going on in the various dimensions of the self. It is the life-center of human beings.” – Dallas Willard

Psalm 42:5 // Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?

Psalm 103:1 // Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!

Genesis 2:7 // Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Psalms 150:6 // Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

To learn more about what’s happening at Access this year and how you can get involved, visit access.tv/legacy.

What will you do that will outlive you?

Psalm 112:5-6  //  Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever.

Living & Giving

Am I generous?

John 12:1-8  //  Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

The enemy of generosity is selfishness.

Extravagance - more than you have.

Extravagance - all that I have.

Three levels of giving:

Intentional - Tithes

Sacrificial - Offerings

Extravagant - Extravagant Giving

Hebrews 11:6  //  And 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.

Mark 14:9  //  Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.

Psalm 112:5-6  //  Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken; 6 a righteous man will be remembered forever.

Legacy: Where my life lives on.

What will you do that will outlive you?

Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. - William Shakespeare

Nehemiah 1:2-4  // Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven

Dreamers imagine what could be.

Visionaries picture what should be.

Pray as if it depends on God. Work as if it depends on you.

Waiting time isn’t wasted time when waiting on God.

Frustration is actually a gift from God.

Nehemiah 1:11  // Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”

I was cupbearer to the king.

Nehemiah 6:1-3  // When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates— Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?”

Know God.

Find Freedom.

Discover Purpose.

Make a Difference.

Psalm 112:5-6  //  Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever.

Legacy: Where my life lives on.

What will you do that will outlive you?

Giving to something that will outlive me.

Giving to something that will outlive me.

Living so my life outlives me.

Romans 14:10-12  // You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’ ” So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

What did you do with Jesus?

Revelation 20:11-12  // Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

Matthew 7:21-23  // “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

The right answer: I knew Him personally.

What did you do with what God gave you?

2 Corinthians 5:10  // For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Matthew 16:27  // For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

The right answer: I gave my life away.

Ecclesiastes 3:11  // He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart.

1. I will intentionally give what I have.

2 Corinthians 9:11  // You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Become a Percentage Giver.

2. I will intentionally serve others.

Matthew 20:26-28  // Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

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3. I will intentionally share Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:20 NLT  // We are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us.

Luke 14:23 LB  // Go out into the country...and urge anyone you find to come in, so that My house will be full.

Mark 16:15 NCV  // Jesus said to His followers, “Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone.”

Why?

1 Timothy 6:17-19  // Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

There is more to this life than this life.

What will you do that will outlive you?

Who is the me I want to be 10 years from now?

Courage comes from integrity. We grow in courage by developing integrity.

Courage comes from integrity. Integrity is rooted in humility.

Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is the absence of self.

Esther 2:5-10 // Now there was in the citadel of Susa a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, among those taken captive with Jehoiachin king of Judah. Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.

When the king’s order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king’s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem. She pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem.

Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so.

Esther 4:1 // When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.

Esther 4:4-5 // When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.

Esther 4:9-14 // Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”

When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

My tragedies don't define me.

My location is intentional.

I didn't miss my moment.

When I can't see God, it doesn't mean He's not working.

Luke 17:1 NKJV //  Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come,

Offense is an EVENT.

Offended is a CHOICE.

Holding on to an offense never hurts your OFFENDER. It lets them keep hurting YOU.

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...”

The truth about forgiveness

It’s not MINIMIZING the seriousness of the offense.

It’s not RECONCILIATION.

It’s not FORGETTING what happened.

We don’t think it’s FAIR.

We don't think we CAN DO IT.

Matthew 18:21-35  //  Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. 29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ 30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Philippians 4:13  // I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

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.

What will you do that will __________ you?

Psalm 112:5-6  //  Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever.

Living

Giving

Am I generous?

John 12:1-8  //  Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

The enemy of generosity is selfishness.

Mine

Extravagance - more than you have.

Extravagance - all that I have.

Giving should be INTENTIONAL.

Giving should be SACRIFICIAL.

Giving should be EXTRAVAGANT.

Three levels of giving:

INTENTIONAL - Tithes

SACRIFICIAL - Offerings

EXTRAVAGANT - Extravagant Giving

Hebrews 11:6  //  And 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.

Mark 14:9  //  Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.