CJCLife Church

We go into marriage and relationships expecting to find happiness and life from our spouse. When they don’t deliver, we believe that we married the wrong person.

Be appalled at this, you heavens, and shudder with great horror,”
declares the LORD.
(Jeremiah 2:12 NIV)

“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
(Jeremiah 2:13 NIV)

In everything you do,
put God first,
and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success. (Proverbs 3:6 TLB)

Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” (Matthew 9:3 NIV

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,” (Matthew 9:4 NIV

and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?
(Matthew 9:5 NIV)

After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body.(Ephesians 5:29-30 NIV)

“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” (Ephesians 5:31 NIV)

This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:32 NIV)

However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. (Ephesians 5:33 NIV)

The law of unity
love your wife as yourself
respect your husband

practical steps for unity
1) Husbands and wives should allow their individual qualities and skills to complement one another.

2) Husbands and wives must be loyal to one another

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: (Ecclesiastes 4:9 NIV)

Reflective force
An awareness of the communication acts, contexts and patterns that shape particular episode.

10 Ways to Grow in Unity Within Your Marriage

Talk about the Gospel together, daily.

Go to bed at the same time.

Listen to good sermons online, together, and talk about them.

Spend time together that involves talking, rather than watching TV.

Study the Bible and challenging doctrines of the faith together.

Speak of each other as “we.”

Help one another make time for alone time with God.

Go on a date and talk about each other rather than the kids.

Pray out loud with – and for – each other at bedtime.

Always take inventory of the distance you’ve come, rather than recount the ways you differ.

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.
Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”
So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”
Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”
Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.
And the LORD said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.
“So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites.
“Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.
“Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” Exodus 3:1-10 NKJV

Excuse 1: I’m not good enough
“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” -Exodus 3:11

Excuse 2: I don’t have all the answers
“Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” -Exodus 3:13

Excuse 3: People won’t believe me
“Then Moses answered and said, “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’ ” -Exodus 4:1

Excuse 4: I’m a terrible public speaker
“Then Moses said to the LORD, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” -Exodus 4:10

Excuse 5: I’m not qualified
“But he said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.” -Exodus 4:13

Moses’ final excuse is desperate. “Please, anyone but me!”

Which Direction ?

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emma′us, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem,
14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.
15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.
16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad.
18 Then one of them, named Cle′opas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.
21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened.
22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning
23 and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.
24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see.”
25 And he said to them, “O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
(Luke 24:13-27 RSV)

So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further,but they constrained him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them.And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight.They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?”And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them,who said, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them.
(Luke 24:28-36 RSV)

Sermon Note : WHERE DO YOU GO?

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emma′us, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem,
14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.
15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.
16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad.
18 Then one of them, named Cle′opas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.
21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened.
22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning
23 and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.
24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see.”
25 And he said to them, “O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. (Luke 24:13-27 RSV)

14 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them.
15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him.
16 And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?”
17 Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit.
18 “And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”
19 He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” 20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.
21 So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.
22 “And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe,[fn] all things are possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!”
26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.”
27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.

Luke 4:19

Every year is a year of divine possibilities. Awesome God moments await us.

We are moving into the realm of divine possibilities as we understand, believe, and pray for an outpouring of divine, supernatural, life-changing favor.

We are going to reach into the spiritual realm and speak words of release over our life, family, job, church, and future.

Let us believe that for each person will step into the reality of God’s favor in all its fullness for their life.

Favor is not passive. Favor is a position and it is also the act of activating all that belongs to us in this position.

The waters are being stirred. Step in now and believe the best year is open before you.

INTRODUCTION
A. FAVOR
1. Favor: aligning our life with God’s blessing, grace, and favor that positions us for increased influence, supernatural turnarounds, limitations broken, dreams awakened, missed opportunities redeemed, and wide open new doors of divine possibilities!

2. Year of God’s favor (Luke 4:19)

a. To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
b. To announce the year of the Lord’s favor has begun
c. To announce this is God’s year to act!
d. To proclaim the time of the Lord’s favor has come

B. FAITH FOR FAVOR
You must believe it
You must pray it
You must speak it
You must grab it
You must keep it
You must release it

C. FAVOR IS YOURS, FAVOR IS NOW, FAVOR IS REAL
1. 2 Cor. 5:18, NIGTC This new situation is wholly God’s doing, for He is the one who restore us to His ”Favor” through the work of Christ…

2. 2 Cor. 6:2, GNT Hear what God says: ”When the time came for me to show you favor I heard you; when the day arrived for me to save you, I helped you.” Listen! This is the hour to receive God’s favor; today is the day to be saved!

3. Ps. 90:17, HCSB Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us; establish for us the work of our hands- est …

10 Benefits of Walking in the FAVOR OF GOD
1.FAVOR produces supernatural increase and promotion… Genesis 39:21
2.FAVOR produces restoration of everything that the enemy has stolen from you… Exodus 3:21
3.FAVOR produces honor in the midst of your adversaries… Exodus 11:3
4.FAVOR produces increased assets, especially in the area of real estate… Deuteronomy 33:23
5.FAVOR produces great victories in the midst of great impossibilities… Joshua 11:20
6.FAVOR produces recognition, even when you seem the least likely to receive it… I Samuel 16:22
7.FAVOR produces prominence and preferential treatment… Esther 2:17
8.FAVOR produces petitions granted even by ungodly civil authorities… Esther 5:8
9.FAVOR causes policies, rules, regulations, and law to be changed and reversed to your advantage… Esther 8:5
10.FAVOR produces battles won which you won’t even fight because God will fight them for you… Psalm 44:3

..Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.(Acts 10:34 NKJV)

“But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.(Acts 10:35 NKJV)

“how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about** doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil**, for God was with Him.(Acts 10:38 NKJV)

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.(Acts 10:44 NKJV)

And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.(Acts 10:45 NKJV)

For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God….(Acts 10:46 NKJV)

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort,(Acts 10:1 NIV)

a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.(Acts 10:2 ESV)

About the ninth hour of the day. he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.”(Acts 10:3 ESV)

And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.
(Acts 10:4 ESV)

And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter.
(Acts 10:5 ESV)

And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting [fn]money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums.
(Mark 12:41 NASB)

A poor widow came and put in two [fn]small copper coins, which amount to a cent.
(Mark 12:42 NASB)

Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury;
(Mark 12:43 NASB)

or they all put in out of their [fn]surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, [fn]all she had to live on.”
(Mark 12:44 NASB)

A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.”(2 Kings 4:1 NKJV)

So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”(2 Kings 4:2 NKJV)

Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few.(2 Kings 4:3 NKJV)

“And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.”
(2 Kings 4:4 NKJV)

So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out.(2 Kings 4:5 NKJV)

Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased.(2 Kings 4:6 NKJV)

Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil **and pay your debt; and you and **your sons live on the rest.”(2 Kings 4:7 NKJV)

Your Desperate Cry for Help to God Removes The Cause of Your Distress