Cobwebs, the things that help us deal with the lies we believe, are not easy to clean up. In fact, it becomes easy to ignore them and get accustomed to them much like we do with the real ones we see in our homes. We may be able to stop our __________ habit (insert drinking, gossiping, binge eating, over-working, social media, people pleasing, etc.) for a time, but unless we get to the root of the behavior, it will continue to entangle us. In order to break free and live out our Christian walk, to run the race that Jesus has marked out for us, we must be able to see the cobwebs for what they are—hindrances and sin

Cobwebs, the things that help us deal with the lies we believe, are not easy to clean up. In fact, it becomes easy to ignore them and get accustomed to them much like we do with the real ones we see in our homes. We may be able to stop our __________ habit (insert drinking, gossiping, binge eating, over-working, social media, people pleasing, etc.) for a time, but unless we get to the root of the behavior, it will continue to entangle us. In order to break free and live out our Christian walk, to run the race that Jesus has marked out for us, we must be able to see the cobwebs for what they are—hindrances and sin

Life as a Christian is not always smooth sailing. The truth is that we are in a spiritual battle with a real enemy who has come to kill, steal, and destroy. And, he does it by feeding us lies and convincing us they are true. Cobwebs and spiders: this is the imagery we will use to describe what happens to us when the enemy deceives us. Spiders are agreements we have made with lies the enemy plants in our minds and hearts. Cobwebs give false comfort to the lies we believe about ourselves or about God. As much as the enemy wants to destroy us, Jesus wants us to live in freedom from all that entangles us even more

Life as a Christian is not always smooth sailing. The truth is that we are in a spiritual battle with a real enemy who has come to kill, steal, and destroy. And, he does it by feeding us lies and convincing us they are true. Cobwebs and spiders: this is the imagery we will use to describe what happens to us when the enemy deceives us. Spiders are agreements we have made with lies the enemy plants in our minds and hearts. Cobwebs give false comfort to the lies we believe about ourselves or about God. As much as the enemy wants to destroy us, Jesus wants us to live in freedom from all that entangles us even more.

As we look towards investing in our spiritual growth and living exponentially for God, there are two questions that we should wrestle with: how would your life change knowing that everything belongs to God and how would your life change knowing you will give an account to God for what you do? When we begin to see ourselves as kingdom investors rather than earthly spenders, it changes us and exponentially grows heaven. Knowing that everything belongs to God and that we are responsible for what we do with all we’ve been given pushes us toward holding nothing back from God. All we have can be used for God’s glory and kingdom growth.

As we look towards investing in our spiritual growth and living exponentially for God, there are two questions that we should wrestle with: how would your life change knowing that everything belongs to God and how would your life change knowing you will give an account to God for what you do? When we begin to see ourselves as kingdom investors rather than earthly spenders, it changes us and exponentially grows heaven. Knowing that everything belongs to God and that we are responsible for what we do with all we’ve been given pushes us toward holding nothing back from God. All we have can be used for God’s glory and kingdom growth.

We all have dreams and hopes for our lives. We start out thinking big and expect great results, and then when things don’t go as expected, we pull back, down-size, settle for less. We often do that with our expectations of God, too. We pray and ask for big things, and then over time when we do not see results, we down-size our expectations. When it comes to faith, we need to remember that just because we don’t see anything doesn’t mean that God isn’t doing something. We tend to think addition. We hope to add something to further the kingdom. We hope that God will bless us—just a little. But God doesn’t think like we do. He thinks multiplication. He takes a small seed planted in faith and multiplies it exponentially.

We all have dreams and hopes for our lives. We start out thinking big and expect great results, and then when things don’t go as expected, we pull back, down-size, settle for less. We often do that with our expectations of God, too. We pray and ask for big things, and then over time when we do not see results, we down-size our expectations. When it comes to faith, we need to remember that just because we don’t see anything doesn’t mean that God isn’t doing something. We tend to think addition. We hope to add something to further the kingdom. We hope that God will bless us—just a little. But God doesn’t think like we do. He thinks multiplication. He takes a small seed planted in faith and multiplies it exponentially.

It is amazing how many things happen as a result of being in the right place at the right time. When our plans fail, it’s the unexpected circumstance or encounter that becomes the catalyst for propelling us into a new and better place. God’s Word tells us that being faster, stronger and wiser does not automatically make you a winner in life. It is actually being at the right place at the right time with the right response that causes you to receive a blessing and to be a blessing. Jesus said that He only does what He sees the Father doing. When you join where the Lord is working, how He is moving and what He is blessing, He puts you in the right place at the right time

As we reflect on what we accomplished as a church in 2018 and make plans for 2019, we need to consider the two-fold mission of the Church: helping people find Jesus and helping followers grow in their faith. All that we do needs to be measured against these two biblical charges. In 2019, we want to do all we can to fan the flames of revival here at Anderson Hills, making ourselves available to God to be used for exponential kingdom growth.