Week 1: The Power of Influence

Influence = The ability to have an effect

Your spouse

Your kids

Your extended family

Your co-workers

Your neighbors

Yourself

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

- Matthew 5:17-20

Key Point: If you do the same thing as everyone else, you will get the same results as everyone else.

You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment…Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift….

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. - Matthew 5:17-28

2_COME TOGETHER

WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER WHEN 2 OR MORE COME INTO AGREEMENT.

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?

The Tower of Babel… Gen 11:1 - Now the whole world had one language and a common speech – (nothing they propose to do would be withheld)

1 Corinthians 1:10 I urge you, my brothers and sisters, for the sake of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree to live in unity with one another and put to rest any division that attempts to tear you apart. Be restored as one united body living in perfect harmony 

2 AREAS: 

YOUR MARRIAGE (RELATIONSHIPS )

YOUR GOD

1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, you in turn must treat your wives with tenderness, viewing them as feminine partners who deserve to be honored, for they are co-heirs with you of the “divine grace of life,” so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Matt 18:19-20 - “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.

SUMPHONEO - Sym = “together with” 

Phoneo = “sound, voice” 

VOICING THE SAME OPINION;  

another word: LIKE-MINDED

WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER WHEN 2 OR MORE COME INTO AGREEMENT

Another Definition:

fall into the line of the footprints in front of you?

YOUR WALK WITH GOD 

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?

BIGGEST GAP BETWEEN US AND GOD 

– MIND GAP & MOUTH GAP

EPH 5:1 - Be imitators of God, 

BEING A COPY CAT  

YOU AND I ARE A PRODUCT OF THE GOD-PICTURE THAT WE HAVE ON THE INSIDE OF US!

1 COR 2:12-13 …No one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak,

TAKE HOME:

TAKE A PICTURE AND JOURNAL YOUR ANSWERS THIS WEEK: 

IN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS

– Where do we need to come into AGREEMENT? 

 IN YOUR WALK WITH GOD

– In what area am I in DISAGREEMENT w/ God and how can I resolve this? 

Title: STRONGER TOGETHER

Genesis – god told adam – “its not good to be alone!

Ecc.4:9 – two are better than one, they have a good reward for their labor

Prov 27:17 – iron sharpens iron; and one man sharpens another

Matt 18:20 – where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, I am there!

Hebrews 10:25 - and let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near

ECC 4:10 - WOE to him who is ALONE when he falls and has no one to lift them up 

Prov 18:1 - Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all sound judgment. 

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. - ECC. 4:12 

GALILEE - 3 friends

GARDEN - Jesus and disciples

 GRAVE OF LAZARUS - his friends, family 

LAZARUS

And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. – JN 11:44

 Jesus looks at his family and friends and says, “Unwrap him and let him go!”

1. STAY IN ALIGNMENT

2. SUPPORT EACH OTHER IN TOUGH TIMES

3. TAKE TURNS LEADING 

4. THEY CHEER EACH OTHER ON

5. THEY ARE LOYAL TO THEIR PURPOSE

Ezekiel 37:1-10

The LORD took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the LORD to a valley filled with bones. He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?” “O Sovereign LORD,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.”

Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

So I spoke this message, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons. Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them.

Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’”

So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet\

—a great army.

IF YOU FIND YOURSELF ISOLATED:

1. EXERCISE / MOVE / SWEAT

2. CONNECT

3. FIGHT

IMITATE GOD

Amos 3:3 - How can two walk together unless they agree?

You are a by-product not only of “nature” and “nurture”. You are a by-product of the God-Picture you have inside your heart.  

Key Point: It’s not what happens to us that makes the impact. It’s how we interpret what happens to us.

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.

And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.

1 Corinthians 15:19

If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied….Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

Key Point: You can change your interpretation in light of the promise: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28

Isaiah 49:23

Anger

Anxiety

Denial

Checking out

and station myself on the ramparts;

I will look to see what he will say to me,

and what answer I am to give to this complaint.

2 Then the Lord replied:

“Write down the revelation

and make it plain on tablets

so that a herald may run with it.

3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time;

it speaks of the end

and will not prove false.

Though it linger, wait for it;

it will certainly come

and will not delay.

Get Out of God’s Way

Week 5 – Don’t Waste Your Worst Moment

Luke 22:54-62

And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.”  But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Psalm 103:13-14

Get Out of God’s Way

Week 4 – Embrace the Mystery

Key Point: 

Something that works, that you don’t understand, is far superior to something you understand,

that isn’t working.

Luke 9:2-8

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only. 

If you never have doubts about God and his ways, you have either:

Chosen to ignore anything you don’t understand (ignoring reality) OR

Created God in your image

1 Peter 5:6-7

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Psalm 131

O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul…

Get Out Of God’s Way

Week 3 – Conquering Two Worlds

Matthew 16:13-23

21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Key Point: What we see and don’t see are always connected.