WHAT DOES GOD NEED TO RESTORE IN YOU?Spiritual Consistency Spiritually incon, doubts, givn up 

Spiritual Strength Tired, exhausted, overwhelmed 

Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. Col 3:10 NLT 

renew: anakainoō; (a-na’kie-no-oh)—to make like new, to give 

new strength, to refresh, to renovate, to rejuvenate, 

What’s interesting, we see renewal all through life 

Root word for “put on” enduo (en-doo’-o); to sink into clothing, clothe oneself. 

Favorite piece of “Wear it at home clothes? “ Sink into home comfort when you put this on.

Sink into: Fire fighter, football, nurse, police… something happens when put on… confidence, authority, inner strength. 

Renewal occurs when we connect with the life source. 

John 15:5

I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches. As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from me you are powerless.

WHATEVER YOU NEED RESTORED HERE IS WHAT GOD RENEWS IN YOU WHEN YOU SINK INTO HIM:

1) GOD WILL RENEW YOUR SPIRIT. 

If you have been spiritually inconsistent. Sink into the consistency of Christ—and he will renew your spirit! 

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 

2) GOD WILL RENEW YOUR STRENGTH.We think vacation… work out…time off – doesn’t last 

but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 

Hope: means to wait, look for, and linger. 

When you know God is the source and you stay connected your strength is renewed 

Chick-fil-A; generates more business per sq ft. in 6 days. “I feel it’s the best business decision I ever made.” says Cathy. 

Enemy wants to distract you, looking away… good things, success… family… busy… debt…Connect our identity to success, kids well- dressed… good mum, 

Are you disconnected? Come back… 

Matt 11:28 AMP 

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] 

Come back, reconnect, recommit, and RENEW.

Stand Up Stand Out

Unordinary Perspective

Our unordinary perspective comes from our unordinary faith.

A FAITH THAT’S TESTED IS A FAITH THAT CAN BE TRUSTED. 

Unordinary faith is the moment you decide to go beyond your current expression of obedience to God’s unseen promises. 

The resurrection of Jesus opened another realm to our thinking.

We were no longer limited to the realm of probabilities and possibilities. We could have a different perspective.

The realm of the supernatural was opened, but only our unordinary faith will have us operating in it.

1 Peter 1:7 NLT 

These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold–though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.

So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 

Having an Unordinary Faith Perspective

The Story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

Daniel 3:4-6 NLT

When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue. Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”  

Everyone was bowing low, but the three boys were standing tall. They had a different perspective. A perspective of a supernatural God, where death does not destroy, oppression does not conquer, and obedience to God is the default response.

Their perspective gave them a reason to be obedient.

OUR FAITH PERSPECTIVE HAS US OBEYING GOD INSTEAD OF FOLLOWING MAN. 

Daniel 3:16 NIV

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  

The Natural Perspective – Rationalize a different plan:

Fake it—bow but won’t really worship the idol in our hearts! The fingers crossed approach.

The amazing grace approach – We’ll worship just this once and ask for forgiveness – Grace has got it covered. God will understand.

The rationalized approach – “Besides—if we die—who’s going to help these people?” “In the greater scheme of things, it’s not such a big deal.”

A FAITH PERSPECTIVE HELPS US SEE BEYOND WHAT WE CAN SEE

Daniel 3:17 NLT 

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 

No matter what I see—my faith perspective rests on the God who has supernaturally demonstrated the realized power of His Word and promises.

See a bad medical report—my God is willing and able to heal!See a broken relationship—my God is willing and able to restore it!See a dangerously low bank account—my God is willing and able to provide! 

My faith perspective helps me believe in spite of what I see!But what if God doesn’t do what I’m believing for him to do? 

FAITHFUL OBEDIENCE IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY. THE OUTCOME IS GOD’S. 

Daniel 3:18 NLT 

But even if [God] doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

We do what’s right before God and trust him with the results!

Daniel 3:24-25 NKJV 

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” 

God reveals his power in many places but you’ll know his presence best in the fire! 

Daniel 3:27b NIV

They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. 

DECLARATIONS OF OUR UNORDINARY PERSPECTIVE

God cares about me more than I can

LIFE COLLEGE WEEK 22 – GRACE – SESSION 5 

GRACE TO GET IT DONE

 EPHESIANS CHAPTER FOUR, VERSES SEVEN AND EIGHT

DISEMPOWERED

Jesus re-established what was lost to us in Eden. When we were created, God created a physical world and designed it in such a way as to be a SUPPORT to the supernatural trajectory He wanted us to have. He breathed that supernatural trajectory into the form (support device), and His supernatural gifts gave Adam life. While Adam and Eve operated in the Spiritual Circulatory System (relationship with God), their physical world was simply an expression of spiritual wonder.

Then they made the physical realm more important than the supernatural one and prioritized the physical realm. Their eyes, which had been blind to the flesh, got distracted by physical desires and needs, and they could not keep their eyes on, their focus fixed on, the supernatural realm. They lost their identity and, in doing, lost the power of having a supernatural source and a supernatural destination.

Supernatural power (authority) comes from the three primary elements of our supernatural makeup:

Identity (relation to the Father) – “Make man in our image…”

Blessing (realization of the supernatural truth of the Father’s promises) – “And He blessed them…”

Purpose (given the ability to accomplish beyond what our flesh could achieve) – “Go fill the earth…”

BY GRACE

The full restoration of our supernatural power comes from realizing the fullness of Jesus’ death (realigned), resurrection (revival), and ascension (reestablishment). That realization only comes when we make it our personal death, burial, and resurrection.

Our IDENTITY is established when we die to the flesh and realize our flesh is not the image in which we were made. We die to the sin that keeps us from our relationship with God.

We understand the BLESSING of God’s promises when through the resurrection evidence of our own lives (Testimony), we present the truth about Him making us strong when we are weak, bringing us into light when we are in darkness, and giving us life when we are dead.

We realize that we are established in Christ when the gifts of operating in the supernatural life are given to us. Our authority is restored, which enables us to accomplish our SUPERNATURALPURPOSE of filling the earth with the worship of God. Our worship is achieved in two ways, being empowered to see the supernatural for ourselves and helping others break the flesh chains.

EMPOWERED

Jesus restores our identity by removing the barriers to our relationship with God on the cross. He releases the blessing of the truth of His promises at the resurrection and empowers us by introducing the Holy Spirit after His ascension. 

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.  John 16:7 ESV

In turn, the Holy Spirit empowers us to supernaturally walk out our identity, blessing, and purpose by giving us special gifts to hold us to the wonder of the realm of life and not flesh.   

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high, he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” Ephesians 4:7-8 ESV 

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 ESV

SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE GRACE GIFTS

“About spiritual gifts … I do not want you to be ignorant,” were Paul’s words to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 12:1). 

There are several principal passages that deal with gifts: Romans 12:1-8, 1 Corinthians 12-14, Ephesians 4:7-16, and 1 Peter 4:7-11. 

The Bible’s favorite word for a spiritual gift is not “spiritual gift” (pneumatikos) but “grace gift” (charisma). Unfortunately, most Bible translations do not make this distinction. Further, a spiritual gift, besides being an expression of God

The Resurrected Life 2

UnOrdinary Faith

The resurrected life calls us to a different kind of faith, perspective, values, and purpose.

Unordinary Faith – Different faith, even from the one you have.

You have had faith to listen to Jesus and to see Jesus die for you. You believe in Him, know Him, are informed of Him, and have changed your practices because of Him, but has the transformation stopped?

Is there a part of your life that you’ve stopped believing could get better? Can you imagine what it would be like if you began to dream again? It’s time to believe more is possible. It’s time to unlock unordinary faith!

WHAT IS SO DIFFERENT FROM THE FAITH I HAVE NOW?

1 Peter 1:6-7 NIV

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine.

If there is a “genuine faith,” there’s also a “false faith” or an “ordinary faith”.

Genuine parts last longer.

Ordinary Faith

We can not expect to live the resurrected supernatural life by applying ordinary faith to life.

Ordinary faith ends when we feel like we are losing control.

Ordinary faith is based on probabilities and understanding.

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Ordinary faith makes excuses and rules and tries to explain and reason. Ordinary faith is a belief structure created on what has already been experienced or explained. Ordinary faith says that seeing is believing.

Faith that the chair will hold me is not the same kind of faith that the resurrection of Jesus stirs.

Pilot and the plane, the postal worker, and the envelope.

Ordinary faith presses us towards security and not destiny.

Everyone has ordinary faith – and we are not everyone!

1 Peter 2:9 NKJV

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

THE THREE ORDINARY FAITHS

Inherited faith

(My Dad was a Methodist, mom a Baptist, baptized as a baby)

Shallow faith

(Sower sows seed—Takes root—worries of life, deceitfulness, wealth, desire things choke the word)

Conditional faith

(I will believe as long as things go my way! Struggling financially—how can I believe God?)

UNORDINARY FAITH

1. UNORDINARY FAITH CARRIES US THROUGH TRIALS

If you are in the middle of a difficult time—ordinary faith would have you say that your faith is being tested, but unordinary faith would have you say that the trial is revealing your faith.

Ordinary faith will have you battling, but unordinary faith will have you victorious.

TRIALS REVEAL YOUR UNORDINARY FAITH.

1 Peter 1:6-7 NIV

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine.

A faith that has been tested is a faith that can be trusted. 

James 1:2-4 NIV

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

TRIALS DRAW YOU CLOSER TO GOD. 

1 Peter 1:8-9 NLT

You love [God] even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

2. UNORDINARY FAITH IS A SUPERNATURAL GIFT FROM GOD

Ordinary faith is what we can conjure up. Unordinary faith is the mesmerizing gift from God that transcends the thinking, behavior, and atmosphere of our flesh world.

Ephesians 2:8 TPT

For by grace you have been saved by faith. Nothing you did could ever earn this salvation, for it was the love gift from God that brought us to Christ!

Proved and relea

PLEASE NOTE – THE BEST VERSION OF THESE NOTES ARE FOUND IN THE PDF DOWNLOAD

LIFE COLLEGE WEEK 21 – GRACE – SESSION 4

GRACE TO GIVE

 FIRST CORINTHIANS CHAPTER ONE, AND VERSES FOUR TO NINE

YOUR LINKED LEARNING OF GRACE 

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called  into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 ESV 

A quick Air Study of 1 Corinthians 1:4-9

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was    given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed    among you— so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing   of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of   our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the    fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good  stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:10-11 ESV

A Quick Air Study of 1 Peter 4:10-11

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good  stewards of   God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God;  whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order   that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong   glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

A LINKED LEARNING

1 CORINTHIANS 1:4-91 PETER 4:10-111The gift of grace is our preparation for an adventure.The adventure is about becoming really good at serving others with what grace makes of us.2The gift is all I need to be impactful.Myt stewardship of the gift matters.3Grace giving creates empowerment and endurance and an ability to identify Jesus in the last days.The nature of God’s grace to us is the model for our grace to others.

1. PREVENIENT GRACE TO GIVE

FROM GOD TO USFROM US TO OTHERS1God’s gift of grace is a power not an excuse.We don’t make excuses to empower others.2Grace from God is the start of an incredible journey.We do not derail relationships based on our own hurts or prejudices.3Grace is God’s ability to respond to our unique situations in the best possible way that demonstrates ALL of who He is in EVERY circumstance.Grace given is our ability to respond to others unique situations in the best possible way that demonstrates ALL of who God is in EVERY circumstance.4Grace establishes boundaries to maintain the life God intends for us.We establish boundaries to promte others not protect ourselves.5Grace positioned God to not be offended even before the offense was made.We walk in a constant posture of asking for and giving forgiveness even before we have been injured or have been cuaght out.6He forgave, trusted and extended love when we were not in a position to receive it.We do not live expecting others to fail but encouraging them to succeed – even if it hurts!

2. JUSTIFYING GRACE TO GIVE

FROM GOD TO USFROM US TO OTHERS1By removing blame, shame and condemnation, the invitation to live by the power of God’s Grace can now be heard loud and clear. By conciously removing our preconceptions, and judement, others will be aligned to the God of grace not our selfish expectations.2Grace is God’s way of saying that He wants to be

The Resurrected Life 1

The Art of Being Unordinary

The resurrected life is one of complete belief in the resurrection of Jesus and all that it means for us.

We have accepted the transformation of the cross (salvation) but have we begun living in the power of the resurrection (liberation).

The Story Of Emmaus

Luke 24:13-16

Later that same day, two of Jesus’ disciples were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus, a journey of about seventeen miles.

They were in the midst of a discussion about all the events of the last few days when Jesus walked up and accompanied them in their journey.They were in the midst of a discussion about all the events of the last few days when Jesus walked up and accompanied them in their journey.

They were unaware that it was actually Jesus walking alongside them, for God prevented them from recognizing him.

Luke 24:17-24

Jesus said to them, “You seem to be in a deep discussion about something. What are you talking about, so sad and gloomy?”

Jesus doesn’t like sadness and gloomyness.

They stopped, and the one named Cleopas answered, “Haven’t you heard?

Are you the only one in Jerusalem unaware of the things that have happened over the last few days?” Jesus asked, “What things?”

“The things about Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a mighty prophet of God who performed miracles and wonders.

His words were powerful, and he had great favor with God and the people.

But three days ago, the high priest and the rulers of the people sentenced him to death and had him crucified.

We had all hoped that he was the one who would redeem and rescue Israel.

Early this morning, some of the women informed us of something amazing. They said they went to the tomb and found it empty.

They claimed two angels appeared and told them that Jesus is now alive.

Some of us went to see for ourselves and found the tomb exactly as the women had said. But no one has seen him.”

Their “buts” were too big.

He was powerful, BUT they put him to death.

There was a report of His resurrection, BUT no one has seen Him.

Luke 24:25-26

Jesus said to them, “Why are you so thick-headed?

Why do you find it so hard to believe every word the prophets have spoken?

Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to experience all these sufferings and afterward to enter into his glory?”

It is foolishness to pick and choose what we believe. 

We have to take all of Jesus’ teachings or nothing. (Heaven when we die, prosperity, healing) His suffering is ours, but His glory is ours too. 

Luke 24:27

And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he carefully unveiled to them the revelation of himself throughout the Scriptures. 

The culmination of end times is described in a book in the Bible that is completely dedicated to the revelation of Jesus. 

Luke 24:30-32

Joining them at the table for supper, he took bread and blessed it and broke it, then gave it to them. All at once their eyes were opened and they realized he was Jesus! Then suddenly, in a flash, Jesus vanished from before their eyes! Stunned, they looked at each other and said, “Why didn’t we recognize him? Didn’t our hearts burn with the flames of holy passion while we walked beside him? He unveiled for us such profound revelation from the Scriptures!”

Our blissful belief in our religious practices leaves us empty and realizing how much about Jesus we have missed.

The two disciples go off and tell the others – Too much discussing and not enough believing.

Luke 24:36-39

While they were still discussing all of this, Jesus suddenly appeared right in front of their eyes! Startled and terrified, the disciples were convinced they were seeing a ghost. Standing there among them, he said, “Be at peace. I am the living God. Don’t be afraid. Why are you so frightened? Don’t let doubt enter your hearts. See my pierced hands and feet. See for yourselves, it is I, standing here alive. Touch me and know

LIFE COLLEGE WEEK 20 – GRACE – SESSION 3 

ETERNITY SECURED

 SECOND THESSALONIANS, CHAPTER TWO, AND VERSE THIRTEEN 

ACCEPTED

Grace provides a _______________ to humanity that prevents all from sliding into unredeemable depraved oblivion (prevenient). Then, through our faith, grace also provides a reconnection to the source of who we are and, through forgiveness, reestablishes us as part of God’s family (justifying).  

BUT WAIT THERE IS MORE…

Wesley’s explanation of grace went far beyond forgiveness, our acceptance of this new identity and being beloved children of God. 

We all have a desire to be fulfilled, complete and ____________________ and we all try and bring balance to our lives on our ___________. 

The only real way to find that divine balance is through restoring God’s _______________and characteristics in us and accepting Jesus as the one who presents that image to a broken world. 

God does not want that balance to be here today and gone tomorrow. He desires to bring us to a state of completion once and for all. That desire of God is called grace, and it has three effects on us. 

It heals

It restores

It transforms

But to fully heal, restore, and transform, grace must be allowed (free thought) to bring us to complete balance, wholeness, and peace; otherwise, we lose sight of God’s image and look for our own solutions again (Here today and gone tomorrow). 

GET OFF THE ROLLER COASTER

Without the ______________ of grace, we get caught in the cycle of blame and shame, reacting and responding with out-of-whack feelings and emotions. 

We constantly have spiritual highs, and woe is me lows. We never seem to reach a state of consistency and confidence in who God is in us and the authority we have been given. 

Despite knowing Jesus AND belonging to Him, there is still something missing and we struggle to settle in _______________. We end up constantly trying to reason away our emotional restlessness. The only way God can fully break that cycle and allow our healing and restoration to result in full transformation is to establish a way to bring our complete fulfillment and balance. In the true theme of grace He does that when we can not do that ourselves. 

Doing things your way tends to cause disappointment and disillusionment

He has to save us from our insatiable need to have any god, even one of our own creations, by uniting us again with Himself, the only true God.

A HOLY PEOPLE

In a historic moment in their walk with God, the Israelites were camped at the foot of Mount Sinai. Moses was about to receive the hand-written tablets from God. He had been away from the camp for some time and the people had grown restless.  

When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. “Come on,” they said, “make us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.” Exodus 32:1 NLT 

Moses was their link to God. When He was around, their _____________ was firm and fixed on ______________ their Divine Liberator. But when Moses disappeared for a time, so did their resolve. They grew impatient and restless, and so they created their own form of worship and their own god to fill the void they felt.  

Knowing about God’s desire to redeem us in our broken state or having a general appreciation for His forgiveness is not enough to reach divine consistency in our fickle human spirit. Another effect of grace is needed. 

SANCTIFYING GRACE

If prevenient grace is the porch of a house and justifying grace is the doorway, sanctifying grace represents the rooms in the expansive dwelling of God’s constant presence. In those rooms are God’s extensive _______________ and __________________ for humanity, both globally and individually. 

Sanctify means “to set a person apart for holiness” or “to make holy.” The final layer of grace is for God to declare us

Easter 2023

The Day That God Made Everything OK!

1. Hope has been Restored!

2. Sin has been Destroyed!

3. Death has been Defeated!

4. He Is Risen

The deepest love poured out of the greatest sacrifice in history. A love that heals. A love that forgives. A love that welcomes. 

This Easter we celebrate the power of Christ’s resurrection! 

Almost no one debates Jesus’ existence.

Detractors acknowledge He is real.

Those who love his teaching have allowed Him to transform their lives. They help the poor, love the outcast, bless the lowly, serve whoever they can, forgive outrageously.

John 14:6  NIV

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus didn’t come to start a religion.

He came to minister, He came to amaze, and He came to bring and eternal message.

CONSIDER THE MINISTRY OF JESUS. 

Mark 2:16-17 NIV

When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw [Jesus] eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” 

Those whom others despised, Jesus loved and accepted!

He opened blind eyes, healed deaf ears, mute to speak, touched lepers, turned water to wine, walked on water, and raised dead.

Critics didn’t question validity of his miracles, they just wanted him to stop!

CONSIDER THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS.

Acts 3:15 NIV

You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. (Peter)

The cross demonstrated how much Jesus loathed the effects of sin.

But the resurrection demonstrated His eternal desire to see us living lives of faith and wonder.

His resurrection made sense of our hopes, purpose and faith:

1 Corinthians 15:14,20 NLT

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

———————————————————————————-

CONSIDER THE ETERNAL MESSAGE OF JESUS.

Romans 3:22 NLT

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. 

Christ + nothing = everything

Through his ministry, his resurrection and His eternal message Jesus can turn nothing into something!

It is done and not you must do!

Do – makes it about us. Makes us believe that if I obey God will love me!

Done – makes it all about Jesus! Because He loves me I can obey!

IT IS DONE 5

The Way Prepared

When traveling…

How many of you like a detailed plan on where you are going, how you are going to get there and what you will do when you get there?

How many of you like a basic plan but allow for spontaneity along the way, you kinda know what you will do when you get there but will see what happens and how you feel on the day to see what you will do?

Maybe you are a little bit of both …

Isn’t this true of how we travel through life … especially for us as Christians … it doesn’t matter whether we are planners or wanders … are we leaving room for the plans God has for our lives?

Proverbs 16:9 TPT

Within your heart you can make plans for your future, but the Lord chooses the steps you take to get there.

What It is Done series has meant for me…

God has done all He needs to do in preparing the way for us.

Ephesians 1:3-8 TPT

“Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm has already been lavished upon us as a love gift from our wonderful heavenly Father, the Father of our Lord Jesus—all because he sees us wrapped into Christ. This is why we celebrate him with all our hearts! And in love he chose us before he laid the foundation of the universe! Because of his great love, he ordained us, so that we would be seen as holy in his eyes with an unstained innocence. For it was always in his perfect plan to adopt us as his delightful children, through our union with Jesus, the Anointed One, so that his tremendous love that cascades over us would glorify his grace —for the same love he has for the Beloved, Jesus, he has for us. And this unfolding plan brings him great pleasure! Since we are now joined to Christ, we have been given the treasures of redemption by his blood—the total cancellation of our sins—all because of the cascading riches of his grace. This superabundant grace is already powerfully working in us, releasing all forms of wisdom and practical understanding.”

Through His grace, Jesus ensured that a way was made for us to walk unhindered into a glorious relationship with God. His journey, to some, would look inconvenient, but it was intentional and a unique way to give us life.

The journey to “It Is Done,” and all that means for us cost Jesus dearly.

Story of Simon

Today I would like to take you through some of the final events that led up to Jesus’s death.

Jesus had just entered the city riding a donkey, it was, like today, Palm Sunday.

We all know the story, palm branches, cheering, and celebrating the King’s arrival.

Maybe they could get what they had been planning for.

Maybe their comfort would be restored and reestablished as the world’s leading nation again. Maybe their oppressors would be overthrown, and they would be free…

Jesus’ journey was not comfortable or convenient. It was the total opposite of what the people thought it should be.

Just a few days later, the reality of Jesus’ plans being so different than what was expected caused the crowds to turn on Him.

Mark 14:65 NLT

Then some of them began to spit at him, and they blindfolded him and beat him with their fists. “Prophesy to us,” they jeered. And the guards slapped him as they took him away.

Mark 15:15 NLT

So to pacify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.

Mark 15:17, 19 NLT

They dressed him in a purple robe, and they wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head.

And they struck him on the head with a reed stick, spit on him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship.

After all of this, Jesus is still to face death as he is led out to be crucified.

John 19:16-17 NLT

Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified.

So they took Jesus away. Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha).

Jesus has been whipped, repeatedly punched and beaten with

LIFE COLLEGE WEEK 18 – GRACE – SESSION 2 

MADE RIGHT…

 EPHESIANS  CHAPTER ONE, VERSES THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE

PREINSTALLED GRACE

Grace is part of God’s ________________. It is His balance. He installs that in each one of us, believer or not. That preinstalled grace prevents us, if we choose, from getting stuck in __________________ or __________________. It clears aware the noise of blame, shame, and condemnation and makes God available to all despite circumstances, past regrets, life choices, culture, language, or intelligence. 

The invitation to live by the power of His Grace can now be heard loud and clear. 

ADAM AND EVE REFERS

As clearly as Adam and Eve heard God’s __________________ after their rebellion, we can hear it too. With prevenient grace available even to them, despite their past errors, God still extends the balance of the power of grace.  

When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:8-9 NLT

Adam and Eve decided to remain in their mayhem. What will be your choice? Is that bush just too big? Will you want to correct that circumstance, or will there be enough trust for grace to bring divine balance to those unsurpassable problems?

According to John Wesley’s sermons, grace highlights God’s desire to ________________ despite our circumstances (prevenient grace) and His desire to ____________________ and ____________________. To do this, Wesley proposes that grace also has a justifying and sanctifying (next session) effect on us.

ALL GRACE

Before we jump in and study the next effect of grace, our approach to this revelation must be curated. Grace does not operate on a __________________. Don’t think that it’s one holistic effect of grace at a time; when you get to the last effect, you are perfectly holy and complete.  

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 NKJV.

If only one element of grace is operating in your life at a time, it would not be congruent with the balance of God and how He works in the fullness of all that He is all the time.  

Some parts of your life are still operating in prevenience, while there are other areas where you have already made the choices needed to see grace start to work in its fullness. 

We need all elements of grace operating in ___________ areas of our lives, ____________ the  time. 

You will never understand all of what God is doing in your life. Just let Him do what He does! 

Prevenient grace never stops operating in our lives. It is God’s ____________ ___________________ for your ________________  ___________________.

BUT THERE IS MORE…

JUSTIFYING GRACE  

Grace is like an onion; it comes in layers. At its core is our potential, and God ensures that the core is always usable (prevenient-redeemable), whether we step up and grow with Him or not. But then, if we choose, He starts to layer the balance of His desires (the fullness of our salvation – our rebirth by water and spirit) for us onto that core—the next layer: justifying grace.

“Justification,” said Wesley, “is another word for pardon. It is the forgiveness of all our sins and our acceptance ___________________ God.” Justifying grace is the assurance of forgiveness that comes from repentance and turning toward God’s gracious gift of new life. It is being ____________________ and ________________ with God and accepting God’s reconciliation in Jesus Christ.  

Prevenient grace alone is amazingly powerful and dangerous to Satan (if we acknowledge it), as he does not want us to realize that the sorry state we find ourselves in is redeemable. But justifying grace amps up our purpose and direction, sending Satan packing! 

We all live by God’s rules at some l