Hope Unlimited Church

Ephesians 4:1-3

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

Key #1 - YOUR SWEET SPOT CONSISTS OF WHAT YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT

Key #2 - YOUR SWEET SPOT CONSISTS OF WIHAT YOU ARE GOOD AT

Key #3 - YOUR SWEET SPOT WILL PEAK WHEN YOU ALIGN WHAT YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND WHAT YOU ARE GOOD AT FOR THE LOCAL CHURCH

Key #4 - YOUR SWEET SPOT REQUIRES YOU TO LIVE AS A LIFE WORTHY OF IT'S CALLING

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Prosper: an ongoing state of success that touches every area of our lives

Key #1 - Search your Soul

3 John 1:2 NKJV

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

Key #2 - Follow Instructions

Proverbs 16:20

Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.

Key #3 - Seek Wisdom

Proverbs 19:8

To acquire wisdom is to love yourself; people who cherish understanding will prosper.

1 Kings 10:23

King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth.

James 1:5

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Key #4 - Be Generous

Proverbs 11:25

A generous person will prosper;

Proverbs 11:25 JLS

A Generous person will HAVE success that touches every area of their life

Key #5 - The Plan Provides Protection

Isaiah 54:17

No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.

1 Kings 19:11-13

“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Question #1 - What is the loudest voice in your life?

James 1:19

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

Question #2 - When, where and how do you listen?

Proverbs 18:13

To answer before listening—that is folly and shame

Romans 12:8

if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully

Question #3 - Do you believe God will speak?

Isaiah 41:13

I am yahweh, your mighty God! I grip your right hand and won’t let you go! I whisper to you: don’t be afraid; I am here to help you!

Key Scripture

LUKE 10: 38-42 (NLT)

38 As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. 40 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Clutter: Any unnecessary, disorganized, or unused objects, thoughts, or beliefs that occupy physical, emotional, or spiritual spaces in our lives.

Point #1 - DECLUTTER YOUR DIET

1 CORINTHIANS 6:12 (TLB)

I can do anything I want to if Christ has not said no, but some of these things aren’t good for me. Even if I am allowed to do them, I’ll refuse to if I think they might get such a grip on me that I can’t easily stop when I want to.

1 CORINTHIANS 7:35 (NLT)

I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.

Point #2 - DECLUTTER YOUR SPACE

HEBREWS 12:1 (NLT)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

ECCLESIASTES 3:6 (NLT)

A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away.

Point #3 - DECLUTTER YOUR FINANCES

JUDGES 6:14-16 (NLT)

14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!” 15 “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!” 16 The Lord said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.”

JUDGES 7:2 (NLT)

The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength.

JUDGES 7:4 (NLT)

But the Lord told Gideon, “There are still too many! Bring them down to the spring, and I will test them to determine who will go with you and who will not.”

JUDGES7:7 (NLT)

But the Lord told Gideon, “There are still too many! Bring them down to the spring, and I will test them to determine who will go with you and who will not.”

Point #4 - DECLUTTER YOUR CALENDAR

Point #5 - DECLUTTER YOUR PAST

PHILIPPIANS 3:13b-14 (NLT)

I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Key #1 - What is Jesus asking?

John 1:35-38 NLV

The next day John the Baptist was standing with two of his own followers. 36 Jesus walked by. John looked at Him and said, “See! The Lamb of God.” 37 John’s two followers heard him say this and followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned around and saw them following. He said to them, “What are you looking for?”

Key #2 - Ask With the Right Motives

James 4:2-3

You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

Key #3 - Make room for the answer

Luke 10:25-29 NLT

One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”

27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”

29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

James 2:17 says “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

A wall Called “Barely Getting by” (Gideon)

Judges 6:11 NLT

Then the angel of the LORD came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites.

Judges 6:12 NLT

When the ANGEL of the LORD appeared to Gideon the angel said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."  

"In the world’s EYES you have to SEE something before you can BE something" - Ps. Rob Spina

2 Corinthians 5:7

“for we walk by faith, not by sight.”

"You May Be In a Small Place - Just Don't Allow the Small Place to Be In You!" - Ps. Rob Spina

A Wall called “Those who Oppose” (Daniel)

Daniel 6:10 NLT

But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. 

Daniel 6:22 ESV

But My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths,

"The mouths of those who oppose him want the mouths of the Lions to dispose of him" - Ps. Rob Spina

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

A wall called "Insurmountable" (The Israelites ) 

“God's greater” than our "insurmountable" - Ps. Rob Spina

Isaiah 43:15 NLT

I am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator and King.

Isaiah 43:16 NLT

I am the Lord, who opened a way through the water making a dry path through the sea.

Isaiah 43:17 NLT

I called forth the mighty army of Egypt with all its chariots and horses. I drew them beneath the waves, and they drowned, their lives snuffed out like a smoldering candlewick.

Isaiah 43:18 NLT

“But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.

Isaiah 43:19 NLT

For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Key #1 - Assignments are for everyone

Jeremiah 1:5

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

Key #2 - Assignments are not negotiable

Jeremiah 1:6-7

“O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” 7 The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.

Jonah 1:1-3

The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

Jonah 1:10

This terrified them and they asked, "what have you done?" (they knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so.)

Jonah 1:17

but the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.

Key #3 - Assignments are seasonal

2 Timothy 2:15

Work hard so God can say to you, “Well done.”

Proverbs 18:16

A person’s gift will make room for them

Key #4 - Assignments Solve Problems

Ephesians 5:14-16

Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Key #1 - To Wake Up

Proverbs 6:9 NLT

But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up?

Mark 13:36

Always be ready. Otherwise he might come back suddenly and find you sleeping.

Key #2 - TO BE CAREFUL HOW YOU LIVE

James 1:5

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Ephesians 5:1

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

Key #3 - TO MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY 

1 Peter 4:7-8 MSG

Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything.

2 Peter 1:12 NLT

Therefore, I will always remind you about these things—even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth you have been taught.

Key #1 - Remember YOUR WHY

Nehemiah 9:17 NASB

They refused to listen, And did not remember Your wondrous deeds which You had performed among them; So they became stubborn and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But You are a God of forgiveness, Gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness; And You did not forsake them.

Romans 3:22-24 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.

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

Key #2 - Remember to let Go

2 Corinthians 5:17

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Key #3 - Remember to Go Deeper

Luke 5:4-6

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.

Ephesians 3:18 NLT

And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

Friends FORGIVE YOU

Gen 27:40

“You will live by your sword, and you will serve your brother. But when you decide to break free, you will shake his yoke from your neck.”

Friends REFRESH YOU

Proverbs 11:25 NIV

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Generous = One who blesses God, as an act of adoration… 

Prosper = One anointed to satisfy & take away the ashes

Refreshes = Hydrates others

Refreshed = Will be refreshed like the rain falling down 

Proverbs 11:25 PRMS

the one who blesses & adores our God, has an anointing to satisfy the thirsty, when he gives a cupful to a friend, God gives him a downpour.

Friends INSPIRE & ENCOURAGE YOU

Friends NOURISH YOU

Psalm 34:8 KJV

“Oh taste and see that the lord is good”

John 4:31 NLT

Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, “Rabbi, eat something.”

John 4:32 NLT

But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about.”

John 4:33 NLT

“Did someone bring him food while we were gone?” the disciples asked each other.

John 4:34 NLT

Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.

Friends DEFEND YOU 

Psalm 3:3 KJV

But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

Proverbs 17:17 NIV

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

Friends SHAPE YOU

Romans 12:2 ICBa

Do not be shaped by this world. Instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you.

Proverbs 18:24 AMP 

The man of too many friends — chosen indiscriminately will be broken in pieces and come to ruin, but there is a true, loving friend who is reliable and sticks closer than a brother.