Like Never Before -  Week 01 - Persistent Like Never Before

“Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.” - C. S. Lewis

Our experience with God can in large part be determined by what we are willing to pay for!

Matthew 7:7-8 (AMP) “Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened.”

Philippians 3:12 I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

press on - to pursue in a hostile manner

The key to unlocking the “more” God has for you is persistence.

1. ASK

Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you;

James 4:2 you do not have because you do not ask.

John 16:24 Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

2. Seek

Matthew 7:7 seek, and you will find;

Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

3. Knock

Matthew 7:7 knock, and it will be opened to you.

Matthew 17:14-16 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before Him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”

Matthew 17:17-18 “You unbelieving and perversegeneration,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. 

Matthew 17:19-21 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not drive it out?” 20 And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith;  for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. 21 But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.

#1 Prayer connects us to God.

The more time I spend with something or someone worthy of confidence, the more confidence I have in that person or thing. 

#2 Fasting disconnects us from the world.

Through fasting God can disconnect us from the things of this world.

 If we will pursue spiritual things like never before, we will have a life like never before. 

A. Fasting is Expected

Matthew 9:14-15 Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

Acts 13:2-3 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

2 Corinthians 11:27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often,

Matthew 6:16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 

B. Fasting Delivers Rewards

Matthew 6:18 your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 

• Our body connects us to ourselves

 | 1 Corinthians 9:27 But I buffet my body and subdue it.

• Our soul connects us to others

Fasting is the willing abstinence or reduction from some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time.

1 Corinthians 7:5 Abstaining from sex is permissible for a period of time if you both agree to it, and if it's for the purposes of prayer and fasting - but only for such times. Then come back together again. Satan has an ingenious way of tempting us when we least expect it.

• Our Spirit connects us to God

James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will

Because of Jesus, we can experience a Christmas and a life, overwhelmed by our incredible God.

Luke 2:8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 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. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

• 01. God Wants To Overwhelm You With His JOY

Luke 2:10 I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

Because God Loves Us, He Came To Be  With Us And For Us.

a. God Loves Us

Ephesians 3:18-19 Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God! 

John 3:16 God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 

Christmas is God saying “I love you.” 

b. God is with us 

Emmanuel = “God is with us.”

c. God is for us

John 3:17 God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it. 

Romans 8:31 If God is for us, who can be against us?

Isaiah 61:10 I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. 

• 2. God Wants To Overwhelm You With His GRACE.

Luke 2:11 Today, in the city of David a savior has been born to you, and He is Christ the Lord.

Jesus came to bring salvation, to be our savior.

Matthew 1:21 Give Him the name Jesus because He will save His people from their sin. 

Jesus = to deliver; to rescue

Sin = to miss the mark 

2 Corinthians 5:21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Ephesians 2:8-9 It is by grace you have been saved, through faith. And this not from yourselves, it’s the gift of God. Not of works so no one can boast. 

2 Corinthians 9:8 Yes, God is more than ready to overwhelm you with every form of grace, so that you will have more than enough of everything—every moment and in every way. He will make you overflow with abundance in every good thing you do. 

GRACE IS:
God’s 

Riches given to you 

At 

Christ’s 

Expense 

2. God Wants To Overwhel

Legacy - Something handed down from a predecessor. Usually associated with money or property. 

The original assignment God gave Adam and Eve had to do with the family.

Genesis 1:28 

The term, “be fruitful and multiply” goes deeper than just having babies.

We were recreated in Christ and we should bear the fruit of God in our lives!

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) Therefore, if anyone [is] in Christ, [he is] a new creation (A species that has never before existed) ; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

God will never lead you to do so much for Him in ministry that it destroys your marriage and family. 

How to Build a Family Legacy

1. Live Jesus out in front of them

Genesis 12:1-3 (NKJV) Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you.

2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

To bless his family he had to leave his family.

The best way to win your family is to PUT JESUS #1

2. Pray for your family

Stand on God’s promises for your family members.

Acts 16:31 (NKJV) So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."

3. Pass down your history

Psalms 71:17-18 (NKJV) 17 O God, You have taught me from my youth; and to this day I declare Your wondrous works.

18 Now also when I am old and gray headed, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.

Psalms 145:3 (NKJV) Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.

Psalms 145:4 (NKJV) One generation shall praise your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.