Impact Christian Church

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! …1 John 3:1 NIV

On the other side of the lake the crowds welcomed Jesus, because they had been waiting for him. 41Then a man named Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come home with him. 42His only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying. As Jesus went with him, he was surrounded by the crowds. 43A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure. 44Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped. 45“Who touched me?” Jesus asked. Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.” 46But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.” 47When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed. 48“Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”Luke 8:40-48

The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. Psalm 103:13

… “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Exodus 34:6

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 NLT

HOW DO WE EXPERIENCE THE LOVE OF THE FATHER?

1. He walks with us.

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8

If you’re going to walk with someone, walk with someone who loves you.

2. He stops for us.

3. He talks to us.

The lavish love of your Father labels you as His child.

But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” Luke 8:54

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! … 1 John 3:1

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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. Ephesians 4:1

God calls you to salvation.God calls you to sanctification.God calls you to service.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 1 Corinthians 1:26

 God doesn’t call the prepared.

God prepares the called.

TWO QUALITIES OF CALLING

1.Calling costs.

 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” Acts 9:15-16 

 God often uses our deepest pain to launch our greatest calling.

TWO QUALITIES OF CALLING

2. Calling sustains.

 Paul didn’t finish because he was competent. Paul finished because he was called. …

 Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

 For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.Romans 11:29

… we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. 12We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you …2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 

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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. Ephesians 4:1

Video Jeff shared from Rich Mullins

Greek word for calling

Kaleo—To callKlesis—CallingKletos—CalledParaklete—ComforterEkklesia—Assembly of believers; the Church; called-out ones

Calling is about WHO you are before WHAT you do

For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 2nd Timothy 1:9 NLT

 Calling isn’t about something important you do in the future, it’s about your faithfulness to Jesus today.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17 NIVAs Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. Mark 11:1 “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks, ‘What are you doing?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it and will return it soon.’” Mark 11:2-3

The size of your assignment never determines the significance of your impact.

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. Ephesians 4:1

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“Your eyes are windows into your body.  If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light.”  Matt.  6:22

  “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.”  Eph.  1:18-19 

 1 BECAUSE  OF GRACE GOD SEES ME AS ACCEPTABLE

 “Jesus treated us much better than we deserve.  He made us acceptable to God and gave us the hope of eternal life.”  Titus 3:7 “God saved us – not because we were good enough to be saved but because of His kindness and grace – by washing away our sins …  all because of what Jesus Christ our Savior did, so that He could declare us good in God’s eyes.” Titus 3:5-7“You have been chosen by God Himself.”  1 Pet.  2:9“Even if my mother and father forsake me, the Lord will receive me.”  Ps.  27:10

2. BECAUSE OF GRACE GOD SEES ME AS LOVABLE

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16 (NIV)“The mountains and hills may crumble but My love for you will never end; so says the Lord who loves you.”  Isa.  54:10

3. BECAUSE OF GRACE GOD SEES ME AS FORGIVABLE

“Long ago, even before He made the world, God chose us to be His very own through what Christ would do for us; He decided then to make us holy in His eyes, without a single fault – we who stand before Him covered with His love.”  Eph.  1:4“I am the God who forgives your sins, and I do this because of who I am.  I will not hold your sins against you.”  Isa.  43:25

4. BECAUSE OF GRACE GOD SEES ME AS CAPABLE

“The capacity we have comes from God; it is He who made us capable of serving the new covenant…”   2 Cor. 3:5-6)“Using the Scriptures, the person who serves God will be capable, having all that is needed to do every good work.”  2 Tim. 3:17 (NCV)“I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me – I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me, that is, I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency!”  Phil. 4:13 •

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What we worry about the most often, reveals where we trust God the least.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life … 27Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Matthew 6:25, 27NIV

Is God dependable?

My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. 8Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:7-8 NIV

God has been faithful before

And Moses said to the people, “Remember this day in which you departed from Egypt, from the house of slavery; for by a powerful hand the Lord brought you out from this place. …” Exodus 13:3 NASB

God is faithful today

“Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” Numbers 14:9 NIV 

God will be faithful tomorrow 

The Lord said to Moses, 2“Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.”Numbers 13:1-2 NIV

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”Revelation 21:3-5 NIV

“… I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah 46:4 NIV

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.” John 14:1 NLT

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Hear my prayer, Lord; let my cry for help come to you. 2Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly. 3For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers. 4My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food. Psalm 102:1-4 NIV“In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 26They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. 27 But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”Psalm 102:25-27 NIV

“I the Lord do not change. …”Malachi 3:6 NIV

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 NIV

“God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. …” Numbers 23:19 NLT

So the Lord changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people. Exodus 32:14 NLT

 anthropomorphism:

attributing human characteristics to God

… You do not have because you do not ask God. James 4:2 NIV

 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.1 John 5:14 NIV

Prayer reminds us that we’re not in control, and it keeps us close to the One who is.

1. God’s Word never changes.

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” Isaiah 40:8 NIV

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Matthew 24:35 NIV

2. God’s character never changes.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35, 37-39 NIV

“… I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.” Isaiah 46:9 NIV

3. God’s promises never change.

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. … 2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV

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Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping …Matthew 26:38-40 NIV

The Illusion of Control: 

Your brain’s bias that leads us to believe we have control over the outcome when in reality, we don’t.He [Jesus] went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” Matthew 26:42 NIV  You don’t always have the power to control, but you always have the power to surrender.  God’s will is rarely easy, but it is always good.

What are you trying to control that you need to surrender?

 …“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39 NIV

Real faith starts between the …IF and the …YET.

“If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.” Matthew 10:39 NLT

God can do way more with your surrender than you can do with your control

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Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9… And the God of peace will be with you.Philippians 4:6-9 NIV

 Your life is always moving in the direction of your strongest thoughts.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

Worry is the sin of distrusting the promises and power of God

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. 6So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. Romans 8:5-6 NLT

THIS WEEK      

Do what I can do. Give God what I can’t do. Trust God no matter what

 CONSIDER GIVING  THE SPIRIT CONTROL OF YOUR PEACE

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