Impact Church London

Series — Welcome Home  Sermon —  I Gather On Our!

Matthew 16:18 “I will build My church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”

Ephesians 1:22-23 “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

Ephesians 3:10-11 “…to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ  Jesus our Lord,”

Romans 16:3-5 “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house”

Church (Ekklesia):— an assembly of people called out.

Two ways churches used:

1. Universal Church

2. Local Church

1 Corinthians 12:18, 20 “But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased … But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.”

Acts 20:7 “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.”

Hebrews 10:25  (Message) “Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.”.

MASLOW”S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS — Chart in PPT

PICTURE OF SHIRT LABEL — Mom was an avon lady … got these personalized iron on labels

My Luggage bags have tags … Belongs to and belong where and has purposeful stuff to unpack!!

I Gather For Three Reasons:

1. I Belong To God    2. I Belong At Impact Church    3. I Belong On Purpose

1.I Belong To God   — Careful how you treat other folks stuff … right!!!

John 15:16-19 (NIV) You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other. 18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

Isaiah 56:2-5 (Message)

Make sure no outsider who now follows God ever has occasion to say, ‘God put me in second-class.

    I don’t really belong. And make sure no physically mutilated person

    is ever made to think, ‘I’m damaged goods.I don’t really belong.’” 

For God says: “To the mutilated who keep my Sabbaths

    and choose what delights me  and keep a firm grip on my covenant,

I’ll provide them an honored place  in my family and within my city,

    even more honored than that of sons and daughters.

I’ll confer permanent honors on them  that will never be revoked.

2. I Belong At Impact  — No Perfect Church … But Perfect Father

Psalm 92:13-14 Those who are planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing,”

Floating around it is hard to grow and belong. God plants you … its okay

Ephesians 2:19-20 (Message) “That’s plain enough, isn’t it? You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building.”

1 Corinthians 12:18, 20 “But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased … But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.”

We waste when we wander, what could have been built through belonging. 

If you’re wandering you are wasting.  Withering

If you’re belonging you are building.  Blossoming

3. I Belong On Purpose

1 Peter 4:10 “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

Romans 12:6 “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them:…”

Belonging On Purpose Means:

1. I’m Known    2. I’m Unpacked    3. I Contribute    4. I’m Responsible    5. I Speak The Language

Acts 20:28  “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders.”

Galatians 6:9-10 “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

The House of God where you belong is not to contain you or constrict you but it is to strengthen you protect you and to give you value. 

To bring out the best in you and serve your specific purpose. 

To support your success. 

Put yourself in the middle of God’s house.

Sermon Notes: The Way

Recap: Where is There? 

“There” is arrived at by us being his witnesses. 

Acts 1:8

Need to know where there is, but  also have to know the way to get there. 

Intro: The Way 

Psalms 103:7

Isaiah 55:8-9

God’s ways can seem strange, counterintuitive, and even directly opposed to our ways of doing things and getting places. 

Proverbs 14:12

Isaiah 53:6 ESV

Old Testament the people of God knew something was off. 

Psalm 86:11

Way: derek ( דֶּרֶךְ ): way, road, distance, journey, manner (and method) to get somewhere. 

Sermon: The Way

The early Church became known as those who were followers of “The Way.” 

Acts 9:1-2

In Paul we see the conflict of one view of Gods ways, verses God’s actual ways. Paul was not alone in this conflict. 

Acts 19:9

What was at stake here? The answer to the questions, what are God’s ways? How does he do what he does? What is the way that he wants us to live? What is the way in which he accomplishes his purpose in our lives? 

Acts 24:14

Israel had tradition, heritage, law, a system of worship given to them by God. They thought that what they had represented the fullness of God’s ways for them, not realizing they only saw in part.

John 1:17

Deuteronomy 31:9

1 Corinthians 9:9

Matthew 19:8

Jesus seems to say that at the very least, some of what was written in the law came from what Moses allowed or permitted, not necessarily God.

Matthew 5:21-22

Matthew 5:27-28

Jesus changed the law, said it was inadequate, and let them know that something else was going on.

Zeal, volume, will power, conviction, none of these alone are evidence that you are walking God’s path. You can be seriously committed to error!

Romans 7:12,14

1 Timothy 1:8

John 5:46

Matthew 11:13

Luke 24:44

John 5:39-40

The law, the prophets, the writings, and all that they prescribed and represented, were not God’s ways, not his path to get us to his destination for our lives. They were humanity’s religious path. 

Amos 5:21-24

God’s not into the very things the law prescribes, not just in ritual, in sacrifice, in worship, all ceremonial laws as well as social and moral laws, but also in personal conduct.  No aspect of the law represented his way. 

Even if you do good according to the keeping of the moral law, you are still self-righteous, you are still acting out of the knowledge of good and evil, and your good deeds are originating in your flesh, your self, not his indwelling Spirit.  The law is applied by effort and personal willpower and strength. The life of the Spirit, and all its morality, is walked out by faith. 

Galatians 3:21-25

JESUS ALONE IS GOD’S  WAY, NOT THE LAW!

That means not the moral law, the civil law of our governments, the ritualistic laws, the ceremonial law. None of it can produce God’s righteousness. 

John 14:6

Isaiah 64:6

Galatians 3:3

Acts 13:38-41

Jesus, God’s path…

Lets’ repent, let’s think again about the path we are on and how to get to God’s best. 

Ezekiel 18:30 ESV

Isaiah 55:7 ESV

We are called to forsake our ways characterized by trying to earn God’s best, his blessing, his salvation, answers to prayers, and by trying to walk our own path our own way. Its a call to see that Jesus is God’s way! 

This is what they missed in Isaiah! This is what they didn’t see about God’s ways being higher than our ways:

Isaiah 55:1

Romans 9:16

2 Corinthians 1:20

1 Corinthians 1:30

God has placed us in Him, and in Him the promises are yes and amen! 

Final word about the Way… we have arrived! 

Psalms 84:5-6

Summary:

Are we there yet? Jesus is God’s path, he is God’s way, so yes, we are there! Are we on a journey in life that will take us to new places like 1200 Commissioners? Yes! But we are on a journey of dispensing blessings not earning them. 

Colossians 2:10

Isaiah 55:1-3,8

Sermon Notes – The Way PDF

Sermon: Witnesses

Recap: Have to know where there is.

Hab. 2:14

Isaiah 40:5

Eph. 3:9-10

This is God’s eternal purpose: to bring forth, through a relationship of union with his church, an expression of himself that all of creation can see, feel, understand, by and through grace.

Intro: We are called to be his witnesses.

Acts 1:8

Sermon: Witness

We are called to be his witnesses, but what does that look like in the 21st century, Post-Covid era? We truly are in those days described in Judges

Judges 21:25

Great opportunity in the market place of ideas and life philosophies. People want to hear something new, not from experts, but from everyday life and peoples stories.

1 John 1:1-4

What they themselves experienced, and for the sake of others joy, not to be successful at the Christian project of church growth or “winning souls.”

When Jesus said be my witnesses, I think there is an obligation to tailor our approach to actually meet the people of our day where they are.

Hebrews 1:1-3

God wanted to speak clearly so he became the message, the word made flesh.

Barna Reviving Evangelism in Canada

Living not just speaking – Half of Christian Gen Z (47%) say “letting your actions speak, rather than using words to explain your faith” is an act of evangelism

Relational not propositional – Four in five (79%) agree that having a conversation about faith is most effective when you have already established a significant relationship with that person.

Process not an event – Faith-sharing is more than a one-time event for Canadian teens. Spiritual conversations typically involve some kind of follow- up. Afterward, Christian teens feel more confident in their faith (73%) and eager to share their faith again (52%).

Conversation not Conversion – Not conversion based, but Teens feel the best outcome of a spiritual conversation would be to better understand one another. On the other hand, many Christian Gen Z (44%) agree “it is wrong to share one’s personal belief with someone of a different faith in hopes that they will one day share the same faith.”

The changing context we live in requires changing methods. IT TAKES A COMMUNITY TO REACH A COMMUNITY!

Matthew 9:36-38 The Message (MSG)

He saw his culture and nation as a giant harvest field because he knew he could be their shepherd by embracing them with love.

Jesus message was “come to me, connect with me, you belong with me.”

Matthew 11:28

John 7:37

We have become excellent at being present with people in that space between where they are in their beliefs and values and behaviours and were Jesus alone can take them.

Jesus’ first priority was not to get people to believe in Him, or even do what he said. His first priority was “come to me, come be with me, follow me.”

Mark 2:14

Mark 16:15

Acts 1:8

They went, and we have gone. But then he said “preach.”

Jesus’ priority and message is “come to me,” before it is even “believe in me.” When it comes to being witnesses, I believe we have been labouring under an erroneous set of assumptions. We believe that sin is the issue. I would argue that’s not biblical.

2 Corinthians 5:19

Objections:

Universalism? Does sound doctrine matter?

Acts 4:33

Truth is a person.We need to trust that Holy Spirit is able to make Jesus known in the heart of people, to the people themselves.

1 John 2:27

We have to be able to be ok with being present in that space with people between where they are and where God will eventually take them, without judgement or expectation.

Distinction: Called out Ones?

What makes us different from an unbeliever? Our beliefs, our thoughts, our behaviour? Or, is it the power and presence of God’s Spirit inside of us?

Acts 1:8

Acts 15:13-19

Let’s not make witnessing weird where people have to learn our language, dress with our clothes, confirm to our customs, look like us and talk like us. Let’s not put up barriers to inclusion into God’s people — lets not make it hard!

This is a new way to witness, but with the same message of Jesus, Come!

Summary:

Some points to consider and work out in getting ready to witness.

Christ in you and You in Christ

Sermon Notes – Witnesses (Pdf)

Happy Family Day

Ephesians 3:14-15 “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,…”

John 13:3-5 “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, … He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet,…”

Proverbs 18:19 “A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle.”

Luke 7:20-23  “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’ … ‘blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.’”

Skandalizo:— stumble and stone; to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall, metaph. to offend

From the word Skandalon:—the movable stick or trigger of a trap

Matthew 5:41  “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.”

Jews would step off the 1,000 paces — marker to marker one inch more.

Jesus says go further … serve your problem … love your enemy.

Be a second mile person!!!

1 Corinthians 3:3 “…for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?”

Philippians 4:2-7   “I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also,  and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Pathway to supernatural Peace

1. Engage One Another

“I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.”

2. Encourage One Another

“And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me…”

3. Enjoy One Another

“…Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”

4. Refocus One Another

“Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.”

5. Release One Another 

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;…”

Here comes supernatural peace!!!

“… and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Series “Are We There Yet?”  — Sermon #2 “Wait”

THERE    WHERE

Habakkuk 2:14 “For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, As the waters cover the sea.”

Ephesians 3:9-10 “…and to make all see …fellowship of the mystery, to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,…”

A man of purpose focuses on his destination, not his situation. Don’t let your situation mislead you!    T. B. Joshua

You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks.     Winston Churchill

Loading … Please WAIT   (GRAPHIC)

Acts 1:4-5  “He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;… …for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 

Acts 2:1-4  “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit  gave them utterance.”

John 14:16 (AMP) “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever.”

Another:– allos not heteros

John 16:7, 13  “It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. … However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth;…”    GRAPHIC:  BEETLE OR FERRARI … YOU CHOOSE

“Comforter” (Parakletos):– called to one’s side  

Para:– along side of, a close intimate relationship. {Parasite}

Kletos:– pleading with, speaking to, called to discharge an office. 

I am the Holy Spirit’s personal calling. He is to come along side me as my personal coach.

John Crowder “The only interaction you have ever had with God has been through the agency of the Holy Spirit.”

Ephesians 2:18 “For through Him (JESUS) we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.”

Kenneth Hagin   “They thought they got an experience. They kept trying to get another experience like that one … it was Someone – a Divine Personality – who came to live in them. He is a Heavenly Being: the Holy Spirit”

Prepositions indicate relationships between other words; direction, time, place, location, spatial relationships.     With or Together:      Meta — Para — Sun

Para:— alongside, in the immediate vacinity, or proximity.

Meta:—with, in close association, companionship.

Sun:— Union, united together, inseparable from.

John 14:16-17  (NKJV) “…another Helper, that He may abide with (meta) you forever …

for He dwells with (para) you and will be in you.”

Ephesians 2:4-9 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together (SUN) with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together,(SUN) and made us sit together (SUN) in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 

Romans 8:26-27  “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. … but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Supernatural Partnership

Intercession:– “Huperentugchano” to make intercession for one.

huper:– on behalf    en:– in, with    tugchano:– to hit the mark, to meet

Groanings :– “Stenagmos”  to aspirate, to vent deep feelings. 

The Holy Spirit comes in and blows his top.  Words can’t express the passion.

His zeal begins to rub off on you.

Searching:– “Ereunao” to search a matter out.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 “…for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” 

Eureka “I found it!”  The Spirit brings into manifestation what is lacking.

Helps (Sunantilambanomai):– to lay hold along with, to strive to obtain with others, help in obtaining to take hold with another. {compound word} 

sun:– united together, inseparable   anti:– against, filled with rage  lambano:– to take to oneself, remove 

1 Corinthians 6:17   “But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”  

Illustration:—  3 item on same table — close together —  In the blender  UNION!!!

Loading … Please WAIT

Series “Are We There Yet?”  — Sermon #1 “Where”

Can’t clearly know if your are THERE if don’t first know WHERE it is.

I drove the family to Disney. Saw the sign … We made it!!!

Went to Las Vegas … went all the way through death valley to get there.

If you don’t start somewhere, you’re gonna go nowhere.   Bob Marley

A man of purpose focuses on his destination, not his situation. Don’t let your situation mislead you!  

              T. B. Joshua

Acts 1:1-8 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which [a]He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many [b]infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be [c]witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

John Calvin — “There are as many errors in this question as words.”

They didn’t grasp the scope of the mission they were being recruited to realize.

National instead of Global    —   Temporal instead of Eternal

You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks. Winston Churchill

Where Is CHURCH Going?

Acts 26:19  “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,…”    

Paul was given a clear mandate.

1 Corinthians 9:26 (NLT) “So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches.”

Romans 16:25-26 “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest,…”

Psalm 110:1-3 “The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion  (CHURCH).”…

… Rule in the midst of Your enemies! Your people shall be volunteers In the day of Your power; In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the 

dew of Your youth.”

Isaiah 2:2   “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.”

Cosmological   Eph 1:9-10    “He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a  view to an administration…

(oikonomia:– household management) … suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him.” 

Ecclesiological   Eph 3:9-10    “…and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things;…

…so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.”

John 13:12-17  “So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, … For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, … 

Where Is IMPACT Going?

Started a Grosvenor 1990. —  220 Adelaide St. N. 1995-2021  —  All Saints  —  High School —

1200 Commissioners … and beyond!!!

IMPACT — A called out, transformed, authentic, generational, multicultural, community of believers consumed with the  mission of God’s Glory filling the earth.

John 13:34 “… love one another; as I have loved you, …”

1. Love Unconditionally    2. Accept Completely    3. Forgive On Purpose    4. Honour Everyone

Where Are YOU Going?

1Corinthians 12:18  “But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.”

Ephesians 4:16 (NIV)  “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

Only happens together!

1 Peter 4:10   “As each one has received a gift, (SHAPE) minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 

Realize Your SHAPE!

Joshua 14:12  (NIV)     “Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me … I will drive them out just as he said.”

ARE WE THERE YET?   Where … clearly defined is so important. God has a where for you. You find it as you give yourself to community.

Sermon: Bootcamp Sermon Series: Destiny

Recap: On a journey of preparing to possess the promise, fundamentally looking to answer this question, “Are there things we can do now to prepare for the future?” (We have a future and a hope!) 

Intro: Near the end of book of Joshua he recaps for Israel their own story, reminding them of who they, where they came from, and what God has done for them.

Joshua 24:2

Genesis 17:8

That’s where we start, with a promise, a generational promise that didn’t start or end with them or us.                     (everlasting possession). 

He reminded the Israelites that they had a tough road to get where they were, but on more than one occasion God brought them through the impossible and the impassable.

Josua 24:4-7

There was a deliverance, a type of our baptism. The waters have crashed over on the enemy that was pursuing us. We will fight battles ahead but it is now a fight of acquisition, not one of looking over our shoulders being chased by the past.

They came out to a wilderness of transition.

Joshua 24:7

James 1:4

Hebrews 6:12

We have learned some things in the transition: Declutter, Determine, Derive, Discover, Disembark, Declare, Discern, Distinguish, Descry, Debut, Debacle, and Deliver! 

One of the great lessons is that what happens happens by faith. Remember the Debut, the walls of Jericho fell, by faith! (Hebrews 11:30)  

Faith is what got them out of the wilderness, faithlessness is what caused them to stay in the wilderness. Faith is how they won their debut battle and faith was to carry them through. We fight the good fight OF faith!

Joshua 24:11

God blessed them and gave them the promised land.

Joshua 24:13

Sounds a lot like grace! We too inherit what we did not build, by grace! 

But, not every one entered in.

Hebrews 3:16-19

They didn’t get in because they didn’t believe. But, there were two who made it out of Egypt and into the Promised land; Joshua, and a man named Caleb. 

Only Joshua and Caleb came back to Moses with a faith-filled report.

Joshua and Caleb had to wait years and years to get into the promised land, they were the only two who believed. Finally after many battles:

Joshua 14:6-12

So Joshua blesses him and says yes, it is yours and Caleb gets Hebron as his inheritance. They cross over, they fight for the land, they conquer it, and then the land was divided up into allotted inheritances. 

A few things we can learn from Caleb and the division of the land into inheritances that will help us to see our promised land and walk into it. 

Destiny – Possessing the Promise of Full Inheritance

1. It is determined by God

Joshua 14:5

God has decreed a thing for you, your inheritance is set.

Salvation – sozo

Hebrews 1:14

Salvation includes: healing, wholeness, prosperity, deliverance, health, peace and the forgiveness of sins. 

Purpose and Calling: Something unique for each of us. 

Ephesians 2:10

Relationship and a Place in his family:

1 Corinthians 12:18

Holy Spirit has been given to us to help us explore, discover and unpack our promised land that is Jesus.

1 Corinthians 2:12

2. You Are Qualified! 

Disqualifying facts about Caleb: 

Joshua 14:6

Joshua was a Kenezite. The Kenezites were actually part of the people group who Israel was supposed to kick out of the land.  (See Genesis 15:18-19)

There is away to translate his name in such a way that it means “dog.” In Hebrew culture dogs were vomit eating, unworthy, dirty animals who ate unclean things. Disqualified on every level! 

Colossians 1:12

3. You have to fight the fight of FAITH! 

Joshua 14:11

He’s just as strong now as he was then. Strength was not and still is not the issue. He hasn’t gotten stronger, he is as he was before.  Its about faith! 

You do have to know your strengths, you need to understand who you are, but can you say, “when I am weak then I am strong?” Have you seen that it is not by horses or chariots, it’s not by strength or might or power, but in your weakness that he is made strong?

2 Corinthians 12:9

The power of God rests, does not strive. It finds a restful expression through those who are comfortable with their weakness and know that their strength is not the issue. 

So Caleb full of faith says:

Joshua 14:1

The Lord is with me and I will drive them out AS HE SAID. We fight the good fight, by his word, a proceeding word that brings faith and has the authority of faith so that  by a word, we can cast out those evil things that try to intimate us from claiming what is ours. “Give me my mountain.” 

4. You have to define and own your mountain. 

Joshua 14:12

In Scriptures mountains, hills, high places speak of places of worship and places of authority. You must personalize it, and you must see it. 

Another guy who took a hill: Jesus at Golgotha!

If you’re looking to see what is your mountain, who do you love? Let’s see our inheritance, our joy and our crown as others, them being blessed, advanced, and the walking out God’s best for them. 

Philippians 4:1

1 Thessalonians 2:19

Summary

What are you doing now to prepare for that is next? 

Great advice for preparation:

Hebrews 3:15

Let’s hear and see what he is showing us, and let all of our so called “maturity” and development recapitulate into “I only do what I see and hear the Father doing.” If we can do that, which we can, we will successfully prepare to possess the promise!

Series: “Preparing To Posses The Promises”  Sermon #12 “Deliver”

Are there things we can do NOW to prepare for what’s NEXT.

You don’t achieve victory you receive victory.

HIS REST:— I enter into the finished work of the cross. All the promises are YES in Christ and we say AMEN!!!

2 Corinthians 1:20 (NLT)  “For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding ‘Yes!’ And through Christ, our ‘Amen’ (which means ‘Yes’) ascends to God for his glory.”

2 Corinthians 2:14 “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”

(DEBACLE)    LESSONS:

After a great victory don’t live independently of God.

Don’t modify God’s direction to suit yourself.

Your defeat isn’t His defeat.

Talk to Him! He’s is committed to you.

I rest and receive, I defend and protect, what I possess by the FAITH OF CHRIST!

Deliver:— to follow through with your commitment.

Joshua 9:14-15 “…but they did not ask counsel of the Lord. So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live;”

Elements Of Covenant:

1. Preamble  2.  Historical prologue   3. Stipulations    4.  Sanctions     5. Dynastic disposition 

Expression Of Covenant:

1. Sacrifice      2. Vows    3. Witnesses    4. Exchange      5. Sign       6. Meal

Exercise Of Covenant:

1. My enemies are yours  2. My needs are yours  3. My problems are yours   4. My resources are yours

Joshua 9:24-25    “So they answered Joshua and said, ‘Because your servants were clearly told that the Lord your God commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of …

… the land from before you; therefore we were very much afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing. And now, here we are, in your hands; do with us as it seems good and right to do to us.” 

“Without forgiveness there is no future.”  Desmond Tutu

“Forgiveness is always a form of voluntary suffering that brings about a greater good.” Tim Keller

Joshua 10:6-8 “…Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, saying, ‘Do not forsake your servants; come up to us quickly, save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the mountains have gathered together against us.’ 

So Joshua ascended … and all the mighty men of valor. And the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you’”

Two Primary Lessons:

1. Don’t do anything without a fresh encounter with God.

2. If you will honour your covenants, God will honour you.

Joshua 10:12-14  “Sun, stand still over Gibeon; … And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the Lord heeded the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel.”

Sun stand still over my promise!

Job 22:28 (AMPC) “You shall also decide and decree a thing, and it shall be established for you; and the light [of God’s favor] shall shine upon your ways.”

Joshua 10:42-43 “All these kings and their land Joshua took at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel. Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.”

Honouring the covenant led to displacing 5 kingdoms: 

1. King Of Jerusalem PEACE

2. King Of Hebron      UNION

3. King Of Jarmoth    AUTHORITY

4. King Of Eglon        ANOINTING

5. King Of Lachish     INVICIBLE

Joshua 10:24-25  “Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings.”…“Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage, for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.” 

Isaiah 26:12-14 “They [the former tyrant masters] are dead, they shall not live and reappear; they are powerless ghosts, they shall not rise and come back. … …Therefore You have visited and made an end of them and caused every memory of them [every trace of their supremacy] to perish.”

When you honour who you are in Christ, even when mistreated, you most manifest your true identity.

You are most like God when you forgive!!!

Colossians 2:13-15 (Message)  “When you were stuck in your old sin-dead life, you were incapable of responding to God. God brought you alive—right along with Christ! Think of it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, …  …that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ’s cross. He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets.”

Series: “Preparing To Posses The Promises”  Sermon #11 “Debacle”

Are there things we can do NOW to prepare for what’s NEXT.

Hebrews 11:30 “By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days”     Prayer is receiving the victory.  Worship is celebrating the victory!

Matthew 4:4  (Message) “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.”     Public victories flow out of the practice of private visitation.

2 Corinthians 1:20 (NLT)  “For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding ‘Yes!’ And through Christ, our ‘Amen’ (which means ‘Yes’) ascends to God for his glory.”

2 Corinthians 2:14 “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”

You don’t achieve victory you receive victory.

HIS REST:— I enter into the finished work of the cross. All the promises are YES in Christ and we say AMEN!!!

Anatomy Of A Faith Encounter:

1. Fresh Encounter      2. Heavenly Vision     3. Divine Direction      4. Eliminate Distractions 

5. Just  Do It     6. Clear Decree —  SHOUT     7. Experience Victory

Joshua 7:3 “And they returned to Joshua and said to him, ‘Do not let all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not weary all the people there, for the people of Ai are few.’”

Joshua 7:7  “And Joshua said, ‘Alas, Lord God, why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all—to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Oh, that we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan!’”

Joshua 7:10-11 “So the Lord said to Joshua: ‘Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them.’”

Joshua 7:21 “When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden…” 

Joshua 6:18-19 “… abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the LORD; they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.”

My Paraphrase:  “Cursed (cherem), because of the troubler (Achan), we were chased by ruin (Ai) to our destruction (Shebarim).”

Joshua 8:1  “Now the Lord said to Joshua: ‘Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.’”

LESSONS:

After a great victory don’t live independently of God.

Don’t modify God’s direction to suit yourself.

Your defeat isn’t His defeat.

Talk to Him! He’s is committed to you.

2 Timothy 6:12  “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

(NLT)   “Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.”

Good Fight:   1. It’s Brief      2. I Don’t Get Hurt      3. I Win

“Of”  :— preposition, a function word, relationship between part and whole, ownership

“For”  :— preposition, a function word, relationship to an intended desire or object, purpose

PICTURE OF FLOWER OF OUR GARDEN:

Flowers Of our Garden.     —————    Flowers FOR our Garden.

Of — I possess it NOW       For — I possess it FUTURE

Bible Translations

Direct                                         Dynamic

I—————————————————I

Word For Word                       Paraphrase       

Galatians 2:16 (TPT) “we know that no one receives God’s perfect righteousness as a reward for keeping the law, but only by the faith of Jesus, the Messiah! His faithfulness has saved us, and we have received God’s perfect righteousness. Now we know that God accepts no one by the keeping of religious laws!”

Galatians 2:16 (NIV) “know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.”

Ephesians 3:11-12 (KJV) “According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.”

(NIV)  “according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”

Faith of God concerning any circumstance comes by hearing.

Romans 10:17 (TPT) “Faith, then, is birthed in a heart that responds to God’s anointed utterance of the Anointed One.”

Faith is something that    happens to me   as I am intentionally engaged with the steady stream of word’s from God’s mouth.

Romans 1:17 (TPT)  “This gospel unveils a continual revelation of God’s righteousness—a perfect righteousness given to us when we believe And it moves us from receiving life through faith, to the power of living by faith. This is what the Scripture means when it says: ‘We are right with God through life-giving faith!’”

I rest and receive, I defend and protect, what I possess by the FAITH OF CHRIST!

Series: “Preparing To Posses The Promises” Sermon #9 “Debut”

Are there things we can do NOW to prepare for what’s NEXT.

Debut:— First expression of our promise taking FAITH!!!

PICTURE OF JERICHO:

Hebrews 11:30

Hebrews 11:1 (NET)

Joshua prepares the people: Passover and Circumcision

“ See” (râw-âw):— to envision something: to see far beyond the physical realm of present reality to see as it can, and will be.

African Impala can jump 10’ high and 30’ distance and yet can be held by a 3 foot fence. Won’t jump unless the landing is clear.

Matthew 4:4 (Message)

Joshua 6:3-5

Joshua 6:10

We have to eliminate negative talk.

Numbers 10:1, 9

“When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the Lord your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.”

Leviticus 25:9-10

Colossians 2:15
“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”

2 Corinthians 2:14
“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”

Hebrews 4:1

Hebrews 4:4

You don’t achieve victory you receive victory.

Ephesians 2:5-6

Joshua 6:20

PICTURE OF AN IMPOSSIBLE WALL: Shout … The stones come tumbling down.

Prayer is receiving the victory. Worship is celebrating the victory!!!

DEFENDER: And all I did was praise, ohhh, oh-ooh All I did was worship All I did was bow down, oh All I did was stay still, stay still