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2 Corinthians 5:17 

“if any man be IN CHRIST he is A NEW CREATION. The old has passed away, behold the new has come! 

1. Real change starts with a new life. 

○ 2 Corinthians 5:17 

2. Change is a process - not a destination. 

○ Phil 1:6 

3. Change involves letting go and grabbing hold. ○ Ephesians 4:20-24 

○ Romans 12:2

John 10:27-30 NKJV

Premise 

⁃ When in God the only way you can be snatched out of the hand of God is when you jump out of it. Otherwise nothing or no one can take you out of the will, security, and protection of God. This assurance is born out of our ability to listen and obey the voice that guides, leads, and protects. 

1. Sheep have no sense of direction (Jesus leads us!)  

Psalms 23:1-2 NKJV 

2. Sheep are defenseless (Jesus protects us) 

John 10:11 NKJV 

3. Sheep cant get up without Help (Jesus lifts us) 

Psalms 3:3 NKJV 

4. Sheep are emotional and recognize their shepherds voice (Jesus sympathizes with us) 

Hebrews 4:15 NKJV 

5. Sheep don’t carry burdens well (Jesus carries our burdens)  

Psalms 55:22 NKJV 

Matthew 11:28 NIV 

6. Sheep settle for less (Jesus gives us abundant life) 

John 10:10 NKJV

7. Sheep are valuable (Jesus reminds of our worth) 

Psalms 139:14 NKJV 

8. Sheep cannot care for themselves when wounded (Jesus heals us)  

Psalms 147:3 NKJV 

9. Sheep are innocent (Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross made us righteous)  

II Corinthians 5:21 NKJV 

Proverbs 4:6 NLT 

Isaiah 54:17 NKJV 

Prophetic insight 

1. An indication that you are apart of the sheep and family of God is the ability to recognize (hear), understand (know), and obey (follow) the voice of God without hesitation, delay, or resistance. This is key to abundant life and true communion with Christ Jesus. 

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” 

John 10:27 NKJV 

2. Once eternal life is established by way of believing in Jesus there is nothing and/or no one who has the power, authority, or right to snatch us out of His hand nor would they be able to even if they tried. 

“And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” 

John 10:28 NKJV

3. The reason we have this confidence of remaining in the will, hand, and protection of God is because there is none greater than Him. He is more powerful than any other being and therefore declares war with the result ending in victory on anyone who decides to fight! Why? Because God stands on business about His own! 

“My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” 

John 10:29 NKJV

”Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”“ Luke 9:57-62 NKJV 

Premise 

⁃ It is one thing to start the work, it’s another to finish the work. It is no secret that following Jesus requires a level of sacrifice but the mystery question is, how much? 

Scriptural Insight 

1. An expectation of Jesus is that when one follows HIM that they will follow THROUGH. Truly following Jesus means to follow Him where he goes and not only where we want to end up. Understanding that all security is abandoned because of faith in Him. 

”Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”“ 

Luke 9:57-58 NKJV 

2. When following Jesus authority shifts and rules change. Lack of understanding concerning this way of thinking causes many to assume Jesus is harsh when in reality He means business. 

”Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”“ 

Luke 9:59-60 NKJV 

3. Being fit for the kingdom is determined by the standards of The Lord, living up to those standards is the responsibility of the disciple. When choosing to follow we forfeit our option to debate and trade it in for surrender. 

”And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”“ 

Luke 9:61-62 NKJV

Daniel 3:1-30 NIV 

Premise 

⁃ Choosing to stand or remain faithful to God in the midst of difficult, uncomfortable, and challenging situations is predicated upon the belief or notion that your faith in God dictates your decision making because of believing that His sovereignty guarantees that no matter where you end up He will be there. Know this, in the kingdom of God, it takes more to stand than it does to retreat. Whose business do you stand on? 

Fundamental truths 

1. God tries you with fire because He knows where you are headed and what it takes. 

Job 23:10 NKJV 

2. Fire test us in order to glorify Jesus through our faith in Him no matter what.  

I Peter 1:6-8 NKJV 

I Peter 4:12-13 NKJV 

3. The Lord uses fire to test our hearts as a furnace test gold and silver. 

Proverbs 17:3 TPT  

Psalms 66:10 NKJV 

Prophetic Insight 

1. No matter the threat, choosing not to bow to what is acceptable, common, and even easy is what determines if your faith is really anchored in God. Standing ON faith could lead to standing IN fire.  

Daniel 3:13-14 NIV 

2. When faced with demonic dilemmas, satanic situations, and evil entities mockery will be the choice weapon only leading to their failure as our God chooses to mock our mockers! 

Daniel 3:15 NIV 

3. Defending self leaves no room for our advocate to take His rightful place! Therefore, Whether God chooses to rescue, deliver, or save He is still God! Our loyalty to God should be grounded in who He is rather than what He can do! 

Daniel 3:16-18 NIV 

4. When the fire turns up it is not a sign to retreat instead it is an opportunity for God to use what the enemy planned for you to be used against Him!

Daniel 3:19-23 NIV 

5. When Jesus shows up in the fire with you, all will be amazed by not only the demonstration of power but the authority of God that defies all the odds that were stacked against you!  

Daniel 3:24-25 NIV 

6. When you come out of the fire and don’t smell like smoke and look like what you been through, those who mocked you will celebrate you and praise your God because He has glorified Himself through your life! Why? Because history proves no other God can save this way!  

Daniel 3:26-29 NIV

7. Promotion is the reward of those who choose to STAND. Without the testing of fire the authenticity of your makeup can never be determined therefore the fire was only the test not the end! 

Daniel 3:30 NIV

Psalms 73:1-28 NLT 

Focus Verse 

”I was so foolish and ignorant— I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand.“ 

Psalms 73:22-23 NLT 

Premise 

⁃ Understanding the reality of our humanity gives us the opportunity to stand on certain truths that are sometimes hard to believe but are necessary to grasp pertaining to our posture in relation to God. Know this, your HUMANITY never threatens His DIVINITY. 

Scriptural Insight

1. It is only when you come to the realization of the truth concerning YOU that the REAL you can be revealed and addressed. God choosing to remain and not abandon considering the truth of our humanity proves He stood on business before we had business to stand on. 

”Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant— I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.“ 

Psalms 73:21-22 NLT 

2. Truth is after all the mistakes, falls, hiccups, and intentional sin….You STILL belong to HIM. Implying that your efforts cannot reel God in as much as you your efforts can push God away. This is solely a decision based on the authenticity of love. 

”Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.“ 

Psalms 73:23-24 NLT 

3. Risking it all the for the love of God and the security of your future/destiny in God is what it truly means to stand on business. Besides, He should be our desire, strength, and forevermore no matter what. 

”Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.“ Psalms 73:25-26 NLT

Heaven Heard Me 

Daniel 10:1-21 NLT 

Premise 

⁃ Just because the ANSWER hasn’t been received doesn’t mean that the PRAYER wasn’t HEARD and the answer wasn’t sent. The question isn’t if God hears your prayer but has the answer been resisted? 

Prophetic Insight

1. The corrupt illusion and/or false facade that promotes the notion that God’s anger and punishment are the reasons you haven’t received certain answers and manifestation is extremely limited and sadly more ignorant than truthful. The truth is you are precious in the sight of God and you are right where The Lord needs you to be in order to comprehend the magnitude of the manifestation you are about to receive. 

”And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling.“ 

Daniel 10:11 NLT 

2. God hears the prayers of His people when we learn to pray according to His will, therefore the truth is that a lot of answers are held captive in the realm of the spirit and requires warfare to dismantle any resistance that hinders the forward progression of your breakthrough! 

”Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.“ 

Daniel 10:12-13 NLT 

3. The strength to remain faithful through seasons of waiting on God for answers are wrapped up in the words of God that brings strength to the hearer. 

”Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning. “Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my Lord, for you have strengthened me.”“ 

Daniel 10:18-19 NLT

”Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah from Bozkath. He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right.“ 

2 Kings 22:1-2 NLT 

Premise: 

In a world where we are encouraged to only care about ourselves, we have the opportunity and responsibility as disciples to please our God. We must decide within ourselves despite what those around us are doing that we will be the one to do what is right! 

Scriptural insights: 

1. When it comes to pleasing God, your age, background, family history and status do not matter. 

“Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah from Bozkath.” 

True lovers of God are filled with longings for what is pleasing and good, but the wicked can only expect doom.“ 

Proverbs 11:23 TPT 

And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.”“ 

John 8:29 NLT 

2. When pleasing God is your desire, you can learn from anyone’s example before you. Even those who were known for their mistakes 

“He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. “ 

Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh. Manasseh was the father of Amon. Amon was the father of Josiah. Josiah was the father of Jehoiachin and his brothers (born at the time of the exile to Babylon).“ 

Matthew 1:10-11 NLT 

With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.“ Ephesians 4:17-19 NLT

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.“ 

Romans 8:5 NLT 

3. It is possible to choose to do what is right in a time and a world when everyone is more concerned with pleasing themselves over God 

“He did not turn away from doing what was right.“ 

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.“ 

Ephesians 3:16-17 NLT 

Conclusion: 

But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.“ Ephesians 4:20-24 NLT

The Benefits of Pleasing God 

”So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.“ 

2 Corinthians 5:9-10 NLT 

Premise 

⁃ Though our motive when desiring to satisfy the heart of God should never be centered around and/or grounded in ONLY obtaining promises, the truth remains that there are benefits released and distributed from the father to us when our lives are postured to please The Lord. 

Our goal in pleasing God should be done from love, in love, and through love. We love Him because He first loved us. 

How do we obtain and maintain sanctification and consecration?…. 

”Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.“ Psalms 139:23-24 NLT 

1. Ask the Lord to search you, then sanctify you. 

”Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.“ I Thessalonians 5:23 NKJV 

2. Understand that God knows your heart (secrets, intents, motives, truth) 

”But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”“ 

Jeremiah 17:10 NLT 

3. Without resistance give the Holy Spirit access to test you. 

”Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;“ 

Psalms 26:2 NIV 

4. Relinquish control and cast your anxious thoughts on him. 

”Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.“ 

1 Peter 5:7 TPT 

5. Ask the Lord to reveal what offends Him. And then do the work.

”And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.“ Ephesians 4:30 NLT 

6. Follow Him as He guides you into everlasting life. 

”He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.“ Psalms 23:3 NLT 

Benefits of pleasing God 

1. Divine Protection 

”When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Proverbs 16:7 NKJV 

2. Divine Provision 

”But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.“ 

Matthew 6:33 NKJV 

3. Divine Honor 

”“Therefore, the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I promised that your branch of the tribe of Levi would always be my priests. But I will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me.“ 

1 Samuel 2:30 NLT 

4. Divine Supply 

”And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.“ 

1 John 3:22 NLT