Title: The "UN" factor

Unconventional: not conforming to what is generally done. Unorthodox, irregular, uncommon

Conventional: based on what is generally done or accepted. Normal, typical, tradition and common

"UN" means NOT.

What makes up an "UN" conventional follower of Jesus?

#1: Someone who is UNABLE

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness because they will be filled.

They recognize their inability to satisfy the spiritual hunger that God has placed inside of them, in and of their own doings.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, there is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who seeks God.

#2: Someone who is an UNHINDERED worshiper

John 4:23-24 But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

An UNHINDERED worshiper enters the presence of God, by faith, and there praises and worships Him.

1 Timothy 2:8 "I want every man in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument."

When a holy heart tells your holy hands to lift during UNHINDERED worship, it means that you are surrendering your will to God's ways. You are declaring that you are UNABLE!!

Holy hands lifted means that you are embracing the assistance in which you are requesting.

What hinders our worship?
-unconfessed sin
-having a problem with another brother or sister
-worrying about who is watching you or what others might say

#3: Someone who has an UNDEFILED heart

How do you have an undefiled heart?
-Repent of your sins
-Ask God to change your heart, soften your heart, cleanse your heart

Psalm 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your Word.

Romans 12:2- Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

John 15- Jesus says to remain in Me....

#4: Someone who is UNWAVERING in their walk.

1 Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord's work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

Galatians 5:1 "Christ has liberated us into Freedom. Therefore, stand firm and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."

Philippians 3:12 “Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus.”
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#1: A quick GLIMPSE of 2016

Verse 3- Boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh.

Verse 10- My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings.

"Goals are always ahead of you, not what has been left behind you. "

In other words- Your past holds no goals for you.

Our goal is NOT:
-in what used to be
-or in how we did it last year
-or having a sense of being arrived
-or a sense of perfection
-or getting used to the way things are

Verse 13: Paul says, "forgetting what's behind and REACHING forward to what is ahead."

Ask: What do you need to forget about from 2016?

"Your past is your greatest HINDRANCE for you to rewrite HISTORY!"

Stop letting your past play the lead role for your future. It's time you replace the star!!!!

Psalm 150 “Hallelujah! Praise God in His sanctuary. Praise Him in His mighty heavens. Praise Him for His powerful acts; praise Him for His abundant greatness. Praise Him with trumpet blast; praise Him with harp and lyre. Praise Him with tambourine and dance; praise Him with flute and strings. Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with clashing cymbals. Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Hallelujah!”
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When you only take a GLIMPSE of your past, it will propel you to praise God for your future.

#2: Take a GAZE into 2017

Our goal as a church and for your life, lies:
-in front of us
-in what will be
-in the expectancy of a move of God
-in the continued begging, and seeking and asking and remaining in a position of unable on our own strength
-in recognizing that tons of lives are at stake
-time is running out

Verse 14- "I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus."

Isaiah 43:18-19 “Do not remember the past events, pay no attention to things of old. Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.”
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Philippians 3:12-16. "I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.

So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it.”

The KEEPER of the Inn

Luke 2:1-12 NKJV
“And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.””
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#1: STOP giving God your left-overs

"Left overs seem to be what we serve God on a regular basis!"

Hosea 6:6 “For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”
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God wants:
-Love that lasts, not more religion!-

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
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If you are constantly giving God your left overs, soon there will be none LEFT OVER to give!

#2: Make Room

How do we make room in our INNS for Jesus?

A-Kill the Excuses
*too busy?
*too prideful?
*too comfortable/complacent?
*too miserable?
*too down on yourself?

B-Regain control of the gate

C-Make OURSELVES smaller
John 3:30 I must decrease and He must INCREASE.

#3: No More left overs plus Making Room=
NEW BIRTH

"Because of one person's obedience, it changed the entire course of history for everyone else."

Title: YOU'VE SLEPT LONG ENOUGH

Matthew 1:18-25
“The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.” When Joseph got up from sleeping, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her but did not know her intimately until she gave birth to a son. And he named Him Jesus.”
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#1- Joseph didn't Compromise his Character (He did the right thing)

V. 19-21 “So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.””
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Joseph was full of God and he was full of Grace

When you do the right thing, even when you're all alone, truth needs not to be defended. Just like a lion needs no defender.


#2: Joseph Remained Obedient

V. 24-25
"When Joseph got up from sleeping, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her but did not know her intimately until she gave birth to a son. And he named Him Jesus.”
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"He RSVP'd to God's invitation!"

John 14:23 “Jesus answered, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”
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"Our obedience to Jesus is not optional"

#3: Joseph Trusted the Messenger

V. 24- When Joseph "got up", awakened, from sleeping, he did as the Lord angel had commanded him.

V. 20- the Message: "But as he was trying to figure a way out".

God will never ask anything of you, unless He has already prepared the way for you!!! You can trust the messenger.

Deuteronomy 31:8 “The Lord is the One who will go before you. He will be with you...


"God used a step dad, who decided to step up, and to step in, so that the message of the Good News could continue stepping forward!!! It's time you trust the messenger.

Title: Let It Be

Distressed- To suffer from anxiety.

Anxiety-A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.

"Anxiety creates Distress"

Luke 1:26-38 “In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. Then the angel told her: Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end. Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man? ” The angel replied to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. And consider your relative Elizabeth — even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. For nothing will be impossible with God.” “I am the Lord’s slave,” said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.”
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1-She was in Agreement with her inabilities

2 Corinthians 4:7 “Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.”
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**When we are in agreement with our inabilities, then God is able to remove our distress and replace it with peace and purpose.**


Matthew 11:28-30 ““Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”


2-She Increased her Intimacy with God

Luke 1:46-47 “And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of His slave. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed,”
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She went from DENYING intimacy with God, to DESIRING intimacy with God.

How do we increase our intimacy with God?
A-Love Him Affectionately
B-Remain Consistent
C-Join Him in His work

3-She Embraced her assignment

Luke 1:28b-“And the angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. Then the angel told her: Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His name Jesus.”
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Luke 1:38 ““I am the Lord’s slave,” said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her."
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"LET IT BE done according to your word"

The Power of Praise

"Praise is a powerful weapon, more so than you may ever realize. It has the uncanny ability to bring ENCOURAGEMENT, BREAKTHROUGH, and ENCOUNTERS with the Holy Spirit, simultaneously strengthening us to overcome fear and doubt. "

God is NOT expecting perfection in our praise.
God is NOT impressed with well rehearsed lines
God is NOT worried with our imperfect character

God DESIRES raw, honest, vulnerable and open praise!!


God uses PRAISE as an unconventional weapon!

Judges 6: 11-16
"The Angel of the Lord came, and He sat under the oak that was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash, the Abiezrite. His son Gideon was threshing wheat in the wine vat in order to hide it from the Midianites. Then the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and said: “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” Gideon said to Him, “Please Sir, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened? And where are all His wonders that our fathers told us about? They said, ‘Hasn’t the Lord brought us out of Egypt? ’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian.” The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and deliver Israel from the power of Midian. Am I not sending you? ” He said to Him, “Please, Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Look, my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.” “But I will be with you,” the Lord said to him. “You will strike Midian down as if it were one man.”


2 Chronicles 20:1-3.
"After this, the Moabites and Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites, came to fight against Jehoshaphat. People came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast number from beyond the Dead Sea and from Edom has come to fight against you; they are already in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, En-gedi). Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he resolved to seek the Lord. Then he proclaimed a fast for all Judah,”

Verse 15- “and he said, “Listen carefully, all Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what the Lord says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast number, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
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Joshua 6:1-5
"Now Jericho was strongly fortified because of the Israelites — no one leaving or entering. The Lord said to Joshua, “Look, I have handed Jericho, its king, and its fighting men over to you. March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry seven ram’s-horn trumpets in front of the ark. But on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the trumpets. When there is a prolonged blast of the horn and you hear its sound, have all the people give a mighty shout. Then the city wall will collapse, and the people will advance, each man straight ahead.”

Judges 6:22 “When Gideon’s men blew their 300 trumpets, the Lord set the swords of each man in the army against each other."

2 Chronicles 20:18 “Then Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord to worship Him. Then the Levites from the sons of the Kohathites and the Korahites stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel shouting with a loud voice.”
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Joshua 6:15 “Early on the seventh day, they started at dawn and marched around the city seven times in the same way. That was the only day they marched around the city seven times. After the seventh time, the priests blew the trumpets, and Joshua said to the people, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city.”
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God has somebody marching around a wall of:
1-Doubt.... shout and praise Him
2-Discouragement....shout and praise Him
3-Guilt and Shame....shout and praise Him
4-Hurt and Pain....shout and praise Him
5-Difficulty and sadness..shout and praise Him
6-Cancer and sickness..shout and praise Him
7-Addiction and bondage...shout and praise Him
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Title: Praise Despite your Pain

How we deal with Pain:
-ignore it
-retreat from it
-suppress it
-despise it
-learn from it
-question it
-hide from it
-embrace it

HOW do we PRAISE despite our PAIN?

1 Peter 1:6-9 “You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to struggle in various trials so that the genuineness of your faith — more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire — may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
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#1: Expect a Lesson the Be Learned

We have to remember that when pain comes on us or when we are being tested, that the instructor is always the one administering the test.

We have to praise despite our pain, because through our praise, God reveals the lesson to be learned.

Job 6:10- "At least I can take comfort in this: Despite the pain, I have not denied the words of the Holy One. "

My instructor knows how to test me because He knows how He has instructed me!


#2: God exchanges our Sorrow for a Celebration

V. 7b May be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen, you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.

Genesis 50:19-20 “You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result — the survival of many people.”
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2 Corinthians 6:10 "as sorrowful or painful, yet always giving praise. "

Psalm 30:11-12 “You turned my lament into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, so that I can sing to You and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise You forever.”
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#3: You Receive the Promises if you just Endure the Pain

V.9. You are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

V. 3-4 “Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.”
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What are the promises God gives us?

A- New Birth(John 3:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17)

B- An Abundant Inheritance (Revelation 21:4)

C- Eternal Security (Romans 8:38-39)

THE POTENTIAL OF PRAISE

Potential- Having the capacity to become or develop into something in the future. The possibilities, the prospective.


Psalm 40:1-3 “I waited patiently for the Lord, and He turned to me and heard my cry for help. He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay, and set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.”
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#1: The Potential of your praise should compel you to KEEP Praising.

"Our praise has the potential to produce an innumerable multitude that will see the sufferings of the Lord, the atonement which He provided for them, their shameful condition, and through grace shall trust in the Lord for salvation."

#2: The Potential of your Praise Produces a Fulfilled Future

Daniel 3: 17-25 “If the God we serve exists, then He can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He can rescue us from the power of you, the king. But even if He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times more than was customary, and he commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. So these men, in their trousers, robes, head coverings, and other clothes, were tied up and thrown into the furnace of blazing fire. Since the king’s command was so urgent and the furnace extremely hot, the raging flames killed those men who carried Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego up. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell, bound, into the furnace of blazing fire. Then King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in alarm. He said to his advisers, “Didn’t we throw three men, bound, into the fire? ” “Yes, of course, Your Majesty,” they replied to the king. He exclaimed, “Look! I see four men, not tied, walking around in the fire unharmed; and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.””
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"I believe that God uses our praise to change even the commandments of kings that are contrary to the gospel"


#3: The Potential of your Praise Breaks you out of your Bondage

Acts 16:25-35 “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose. When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Don’t harm yourself, because all of us are here! ” Then the jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? ” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household.” Then they spoke the message of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house. He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized. He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had believed God with his entire household. When daylight came, the chief magistrates sent the police to say, “Release those men! ””
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"Praise does not minimize our struggle, it acknowledges His love, His power and His grace."


#4: The Potential of your Praise Releases Resentment

Luke 15

Title: The PLACE of PRAISE

Psalm 118:1-5, 15 “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let Israel now say, “His mercy endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron now say, “His mercy endures forever.” Let those who fear the LORD now say, “His mercy endures forever.” I called on the LORD in distress; The LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.”
‭‭15-"The voice of rejoicing and salvation Is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.”
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Where is your Place of Praise?

Job 1:21- "The Lord gives; and the Lord takes away. Praise the name of the Lord!"

"ENDURE"

#1: Your place of praise should be engulfed with ENDURANCE

to remain in existence, to continue, and to persist.

Isaiah 53:5-12 “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.”
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"They were enduring in their places of praise because of a promise that had yet to be fulfilled"

#2: Our places of Praise must echo the reasons for our praise. (His mercy, His mercy, His mercy, His mercy)

We can endure the place of our praise because of His mercy.

What is God's mercy?
-His Compassion
-His love
-His lovingkindness

V. 5- I called on the Lord in distress: The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.

(Removed him from a defile of disaster to the basin of blessing)

What if God is waiting for your praise before He answers your prayers?

V. 15- The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the TENTS of the righteous!!

Your Place of Praise should be the tent in which you are dwelling.

Title: HERE to THERE

Matthew 9:37-38 “Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.””
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**WHAT MUST I DO TO REAP SUCH A HARVEST?**

(A picture of the Living Room). Put on screen as I talk about them.

(A picture of Cotten funeral home)

(A picture of Grover C Fields)

(A current picture of Latitude Church)

How do we prepare for THERE as Latitude Church? Jesus is telling us:

1-Here is no longer acceptable.

2-Here prevents us from There

3-Here is just a catalyst to There

4-Here is only a part of the process to There

"THERE is an abundant harvest of people that are far from Me. Ask Me what you should do to reap such a harvest?"

We REACH
We SERVE
We GATHER
We GIVE
We CHANGE

If we remain HERE, our Complacency will lead us to Catastrophe!! I want an ALIVE church instead of an ARRIVED church.

So, what's Latitude's THERE?

1-A Third service.

2-100% of people in small groups.

3-Empower and Engage

4-Develop and Expand our teams

5-Multi-site church


Now that we know our THERE, how do we get THERE??

Acts 1:8- “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.””
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Matthew 28:19- “Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”
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