SOMETHING ABOUT ONE THING - My One Word Series

One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life. Psalm 27:4 

Bottom Line: Do SOMETHING About One Thing, Instead Of NOTHING About Everything.

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS: 

• They Are Too Vague: 

“I want to be in better shape!”   | Does this mean touching your toes or running a marathon?

• They Are Too Shallow: 

“I want to be a better person!”   | Better than who?    
Looking Around = Comparison           Looking Inside = Character!

• There Are Too Many: 

“The one who aims at everything hits nothing.”

1 Samuel 3:1-11, 19

1Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD before Eli. And word from the LORD was rare in those days, visions were infrequent. 2And it happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well), 3and the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was, 4that the LORD called Samuel; and he said, “Here I am.” 5Then he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, lie down again.” So he went and lay down. 6And the LORD called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he answered, “I did not call, my son, lie down again.” 7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him. 8So the LORD called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli discerned that the LORD was calling the boy. 9And Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Thy servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Thy servant is listening.” 11And the LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle  19Thus Samuel grew and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fail. 20And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD.

FINDING YOUR WORD: 

• Get Specific: 
  • What kind of person do you hope to be by the end of 2021?  
  • Describe the characteristics of that person and the condition of their heart!  Write every word down.  Group and order them.
• Resist Regret:

This year’s resolutions are often last year’s regrets. | Don’t promise not to be what you’ve always been.

• Stay Future Focused:
  • There is no need to rush.  21 Days.  Altar Day.
  • Stay focused on the vision of the person you believe God is calling you to be.

A One Word Prophetic Confession Spoken In Agreement With God About My Life!

Gaining Momentum For The New Year

2 Kings 4

1Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD; and the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” 2Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” 

People who are stuck in life tend to focus on two things: 

1. What They Have Lost
2. Negative Things They Think Are Coming

She Spoke Out Of Her Unresolved Disappointment And Fear. 

Elisha Didn’t... 

Give Her Money, Get A Financial Planner, Take A Class, Rebuke The Devil, Get A New Husband, Even Pray.

He Brought Her A Long-Term Solution Through Revelation.  

One More Thing Keeps People Stuck:  They Also Are Likely To Devalue What They Already Have.

When We Encounter A Prophetic Culture: 

Who We Are... What We Have... Our Potential… God’s Promises…  

“Taking our eyes off what we think we don't have causes us to see what we already do have.”

“You already have something which is the key to breakthrough and momentum in your life.”

Gifting idea skill relationship. ~ Say, “ I already have it.” ~ Widow: “What do you have?”

3Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few. 4“And you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour out into all these vessels, and you shall set aside what is full.” 5So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they were bringing the vessels to her and she poured. 6When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not one vessel more.” And the oil stopped. 7Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”

Word From God:

Her Eyes were taken off what she thought didn’t have, disadvantage, inferior about.  ….. Eyes to the oil.

Vs. 3 - borrow, shut door behind you, pour into all vessels.  

Breakthrough happens when we start putting our faith in what we have... and what we can do.  

Do not despise the day of small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin. Zechariah 4:10

Become the Elisha in People’s lives.

Elisha Sees The Gold In People ~ Already are ~ Already have ~ Open Heaven.  Until We See For Ourselves.  

Some people say:
“I want to do something great”   Instead, Do what you are doing now with great faith and it will become great. 

Faithfulness is not just showing up, it’s how you think when you show up.  

Declarations put faith in what you already have. 

Exodus 14  “My forward movement causes red seas to part”    “The red sea is opening up under my feet.”  

John 4:35  “I see the fields white unto harvest.”  

What do I have to believe in order to have hope in 2021?

In 2021 I will experience the greatest joys, greatest victories, and greatest accomplishments of my life.  

THE GOSPEL

Romans 1:16, 17 (NASB)

3 Ways To Live:

I. Irreligious: Be Your Own Savior 
Avoiding God by living as you want and disregarding God’s Laws.

II. Religious: Be Your Own Saviour
Avoiding God by working very hard to be good and obey God’s Laws so He will give you a good life.  

III. The Gospel: Looking to God Alone For Your Salvation. 

I. Irreligious: “I don’t really have to obey anyone but myself.”

II. Religious:  “I obey, therefore I am accepted by God.”

III. The Gospel: “I’m accepted by God at infinite cost to Jesus Christ, therefore I obey.”

The Parable Of The Prodigal Son - Luke Chapter 15:20-32

• The older brother is furious... and reveals he’s just like the younger brother.  
• How? He wants the Father’s things and not the Father.  
• One is more in love with his prostitutes than the Father.  
• The other is more in love with his own morality than the Father. Both of these are, in fact, love of self!
• One, is the way of self-discovery and self-indulgence.  The other, is the way of moral conformity and moral performance.  
• Both of their hearts want the father’s things, not the Father!  
• Both of their hearts generated strategies to get what they wanted. 
• The Result: Both alienated from the Father.  
• One was spiritually lost away from home. The other was spiritually lost at home.
• In the dramatic end of the story, the younger son comes to the Father’s feast and repents.  
• Just like the two sons, there are two ways to be your own Saviour and Lord!  

There Is A 3rd Way To Live.

He sought to bring both of them in!   

We need to learn to repent, not only of our bad things, but for the reason we did our good things.  

• The older brother’s reason for not coming into the Father’s feast: “I’ve never disobeyed”  Vs. 29 
• It’s not his bad deeds that are keeping him away from his Father’s feast.  
• It’s his good works and his love of his own righteousness that isolate Him from his Father.  

We need to see what it cost the Father to bring us home.  

• Remember, all the Father had was already given to the older brother.  
• The Father could bring the younger brother home, but it wasn’t free.  
• It was free to the younger son, but not to the family.  
• The Father cannot bring the repentant prodigal home, except at the expense of the older brother.  

A Good Elder Brother Would Have Agreed. He would have celebrated!

The Younger Son Did Not Have A Good Elder Brother.  But We Do!  Romans 8:29

Jesus Christ on the Cross was stripped naked, so that we could receive the Father’s robe of righteousness.
Jesus Christ on the Cross was cast out, so that we could be brought in to God’s family by grace.
Jesus Christ on the Cross paid our penalty, so that we don’t have to pay that penalty and we can be brought home. 

The Gospel is not Religion or Irreligion.
The Gospel is not Morality or Immorality. 
The Gospel is not something halfway between the two.  It’s something else altogether.  It’s a third way!

Are you being transformed by the power of the Gospel into the image of our true elder brother, Jesus Christ!

Luke 15:20-32

FOLLOW - Joy To My World Series

JOY is: “the settled assurance that God is in control of every detail in my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything will be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things.”  --From CHOOSE JOY by Kay Warren

THREE CHOICES THAT WILL CREATE JOY IN YOUR LIFE:

1ST DESTROYER OF JOY: ANXIETY
1ST CHOICE: ACCEPT GOD’S PLAN 
FIRST CHOICE THAT CREATES JOY IN YOUR LIFE:  WHEN MARY WAS AFRAID SHE CHOSE TO TRUST GOD & ACCEPT HIS PLAN   

2ND DESTROYER OF JOY: RESENTMENT OVER A HURT       
2ND CHOICE THAT CREATES JOY: LET GO       
WHEN JOSEPH WAS HURT HE CHOSE TO OFFER GRACE & LET IT GO

3RD DESTROYER OF JOY: CONFUSION

• 1st Christmas Everybody’s Confused Except The Angels.
• WISE MEN Own Confusion.

WHEN THE WISE MEN WERE CONFUSED THEY CHOSE TO FOLLOW GOD’S LIGHT 1 STEP AT A TIME

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, some wise men from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and we have followed it here, seeking to find and worship him.’ Now Herod was deeply upset and bothered by their search, and so was most of Jerusalem as well!”  Matthew 2:1-3

Wise Men: Seekers …   Headed out in Faith with the light they were given!    

• 7BC Jupiter and Saturn 3X ///  3BC Jupiter and Venus. 
• On the morning of August 12 in 3 B.C., Jupiter and Venus would’ve sat just 1/10th a degree apart in the dawn sky.
• In the year when Jesus was born, there was violence, chaos, political and social unrest. It was dark. Jesus Stepped In Peace 
  • Fast forward 2020 

“Then King Herod sent them to Bethlehem with these instructions, ‘Go and diligently search to find this the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I may go worship him too.’”  Matthew 2:8

Jealous, Scoundrel, Habit Killing Off Own Relatives...

“So they continued their search, following the star they had seen in the east. It went ahead of them until it stopped exactly over the place where the child was. When the wise men saw where the star stopped, they were FILLED WITH JOY, and REJOICED EXCEEDINGLY!”  Matthew 2:9-10

Little Light… One Step… Big Payoff!  ----  Problem You And Me: WE WANT A MAP! Why Not? 1.  Scare You To Death!  2.  Not Learn Trust!  

“They entered the place and saw the child with his mother Mary. 

Overwhelmed, they fell to their knees and worshiped Jesus. 

Then they opened their treasure boxes and gave Jesus their gifts of gold and incense and myrrh.”  Matthew 2:11

“Lord, restore to me the JOY of your salvation...”  Psalm 51:12

LET GO - Joy To My World Series

HAPPINESS | JOY
based on what “happens” | based on my choices
my external circumstances | my internal character
temporary | long-lasting

JOY is: “the settled assurance that God is in control of every detail in my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything will be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things.” 
-From CHOOSE JOY by Kay Warren

• Joy Depleters - Joy Drain… Ooze… Why End Up Empty… ?  
• Joy Enemies - Sometimes Fight? Because...People & Problems This Christmas… See What WORLD & LIFE - Causes & Drains Joy. SERIES - JOY TO MY WORLD!  FIRST… 3 Greatest 
• Destroyers JOY - BTW All three Christmas Story THEN… 3 Choices MARY - JOSEPH - WISEMEN -- CREATE-RESTORE THREE CHOICES THAT WILL CREATE JOY IN YOUR LIFE:1ST DESTROYER OF JOY: ANXIETY1ST CHOICE: ACCEPT GOD’S PLAN  

FIRST CHOICE THAT CREATES JOY IN YOUR LIFE:  WHEN MARY WAS AFRAID SHE CHOSE TO TRUST GOD & ACCEPT HIS PLAN

2ND DESTROYER OF JOY: RESENTMENT OVER A HURT   
Can’t Resentful & Joyful Come From? Wounded, Wronged, Abused | Sorry, Broken Planet, Not Fair Sin, Rebellion, Hurt Each Other Result All Wounded, Hurt, Betrayed, Rejected, Mistreatment | I Don’t Know? But All Deal Resentment = Bitterness, Bitterness Keeps Billions - JOY SEEN… Entire Life. Let Go Can’t Resentful & Joyful.
Christmas Story Joseph… Betrayed, Cheated, Lied Many Of You...Feelings in Relation | Betrayed…. Betrothed… Old word. More Than... Engaged. Today Break Off.  Legal Contract.   Divorce.  Upset - Every Right.  Did… Everything Right | Everything Right. 
Rom 8:28
2ND CHOICE THAT CREATES JOY: LET GO. WHEN JOSEPH WAS HURT HE CHOSE TO OFFER GRACE & LET IT GO

• What is God Doing Here? Why?  Testing Joseph’s Character. Mary Struggling Fear - Joseph Struggling Anger.
• COUPLES TODAY -  One Fear… Other Anger.   
• Joseph… Hurt & Wounded. Every Reason - Turn Against… Turn Others Against
• DIFFERENT CHOICE - Doesn’t Attack...Offers Her Grace

 Matthew 1:18-19

When You OFFER Grace, You GET Grace. Deal With Hurt.

• First, Who has hurt you more than anyone else? Second, Are you still hanging on to that hurt?   
• GUARANTEE… One Reasons - No JOY.   
• Can’t Resentment & Joy. CHOOSE            
• RESENTMENT - THE MOST WORTHLESS EMOTION.  Miserable, Never Change Past, People - Hoping Better Past
• “You Can’t Have Hope For A Better Future And Hope For A Better Past At The Same Time” PICK ONE!!    
• Joseph Got BETTER, Because He Didn’t Get BITTER.
• As your Pastor…Some of you have been hurt…  Every time you rehearse it, you’re getting hurt all over again. LET IT GO!
• FORGIVENESS ISSUE Hurting Self.  
• After Choosing Let Go--Passed Character test. GOD STEPS IN. Joseph Gets Grace…(Grace Party = FREEDOM)        

Matthew 1:20-21

• Because He didn’t get bitter, God blessed him. Raise Son Of God… 
• God Always Blesses When You Let Go Of Bitterness. The Grace Of God Will Rush In Immediately.  

Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV)

• “Think About How Much Joy You’ll Have When You Finally Let Go.”  That Joy Will Be Your Strength

Joy To My World Series
What is Joy? Why so Important?   
John 15:11 
“JOY” is mentioned 8 times in the Christmas story

• Reason---Merry Christmas,  Not Scary Christmas.
• Celebration, Birthday---Festival, Not Funeral.
• Brings You Joy? Feel Good Emotion…FAR MORE!

                  HAPPINESS                                                                     JOY
    based on what “happens”                                  based on my choices
my external circumstances                                my internal character
                 temporary                                                              long-lasting

JOY is "the settled assurance that God is control of every detail in my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything will be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in all things." Choose Joy by Kay Warren (2012)

• Great If All The Time… no one… Grumpy, Attacking, Judgmental
  • Joy Barriers - If Don’t know…Fall!   
  • Joy Depleters - Joy Drain, Ooze,  Why End Up Empty ?  
• This Christmas… See What WORLD & LIFE - Causes & Drains Joy. 
• SERIES - JOY TO MY WORLD!  
• FIRST… 3 Greatest Destroyers JOY
• THEN… 3 Choices MARY - JOSEPH - WISEMEN--CREATE-RESTORE

 FIRST… 3 Greatest Destroyers JOY - BTW All three Christmas Story THEN…
3 Choices MARY - JOSEPH - WISEMEN--CREATE-RESTORE

3 CHOICES THAT WILL CREATE JOY IN YOUR LIFE:

1ST CHOICE: ACCEPT GOD’S PLAN                                    1ST DESTROYER OF JOY: ANXIETY

Stressed, Tense, Nervous, Scarred, Afraid, Worried

• Can’t be Joyful & Fearful Same Time
• Anxiety Front Door/Joy Back Door 
• Distress Opposite Of Delight

MARY

• 15 - VIRGIN BIRTH?!
• Tell MOM / Who’s Father?
• Single - Little Town
• Gossip / Scandal
• 9th Month…. DONKEY? 
• Water Break
• No HOTEL..

FIRST CHOICE THAT CREATES JOY IN YOUR LIFE: 
WHEN MARY WAS AFRAID SHE CHOSE TO TRUST GOD & ACCEPT HIS PLAN

Luke 1:26-30 

• Minimize...Trauma Event --- Angel, “Don’t Be afraid"
• YOU - Created Fulfill God’s Purpose... Acceptance God’s Purpose & Plan … ANTIDOTE TO ANXIETY! 
• YOU…. BUT, Can Miss It!  MOST People MISS PURPOSE --- Don’t Make MARY  CHOICE!  AFRAID - She Trusted GOD And Accepted His Plan

Luke 1:31-33

Luke 1:34-37

 Luke 1:38

TRUST GOD & ACCEPT GOD’S PLAN… Even Though - Don’t Understand… RESULT   ALWAYS  JOY!
Secret… Mary: “My spirit finds its JOY IN GOD, my Savior!”  Luke 1:47 (GW)

New Habits For Old Fruitcakes.

Luke 2:1-8

Hope Delivered Directly From God. 

10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Luke 2:10

“Hope is believing that the future will be better than the past” | “Your hopelessness about the problem is a bigger problem than the problem”

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans15:13

• Believing is a Door that leads to hope.

Answers Today For My Real Needs.

11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

Jesus + Nothing = Everything | Jesus + Anything = Nothing

Breakthrough Birth From An Unknown, Unexpected, And Unrecognized Source.

12And this shall be a sign unto you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

FOUR KINDS OF PLACES THAT RESTORE SPIRITUAL PASSION:

1.   The Sanctuary:  Psalm 73:16, 17  “When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.”  

2.   The Night Room: Psalm 63:6 - 7 “On my bed I remember You: I think of You through the watches of the night.  Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings.” 

3.   The Protective Wings: Psalm 57:1 “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” 

4.   The Strong Hands: Isaiah 41:10  “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” 

15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord has made known unto us. 16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. Luke 2:15,16

“The opportunity of a lifetime needs to be seized during the lifetime of the opportunity.”― Leonard Ravenhill 

Transformation Takes Time And Takes Off.

17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. Luke 2:17, 20

Making Known Makes Glory.   | , Be a Linus - https://youtu.be/OJ8qjdxxzzE  Peanuts Christmas.  -DROP YOUR BLANKET! 

THE GIFT OF GRATITUDE
GRATITUDE IS A GIFT FROM GOD.

James 1:16, 17

1. GRATITUDE IS A GIFT FROM GOD TO YOU.

Romans 8:28

Gratitude Makes Everything In Life Look Better. | It’s Not About Saying Thank You.  | Gratitude Is Experiencing A Different Life Because You Have A Different Perspective.  

It’s not joy that makes us grateful, it’s gratitude that makes us joyful - Brene Brown

I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness - it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude. - Brene Brown

1. GRATITUDE IS A GIFT YOU GIVE AWAY.  

GRACE + TRUTH + TIME 

Luke 13:6-9 (NIV)

GRACE   8‘leave it alone for one more year,                       ←

Noah was an alcoholic ~ Abraham was too old ~ Isaac was a daydreamer ~ Jacob was a liar ~ Leah was an idolator ~ Moses had a stuttering problem ~ Rahab was a prostitute ~ Gideon was afraid ~ Sampson was a womanizer ~ Ruth was a pagan ~ Jeremiah and Timothy were too young ~ David had affair and was a murderer ~ Elijah was suicidal ~ Jonah ran from God ~ Job went bankrupt ~ The Disciples fell asleep while praying ~ Martha worried about everything ~ The Samaritan woman had five broken marriages ~ Zaccheus was a swindler ~ Thomas was a doubter ~ Peter denied Christ ~ Paul was too religious ~ Timothy was too timid ~ AND Lazarus, well, Lazarus was dead (and God used Him!)    

God can use everyone. Everyone is worthy of Grace!    

WHAT IS GRACE? (John 8 - Woman Caught In Adultery)      

TRUTH  “and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.    The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable. - James Garfield

TIME      9If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”  

You can tell how valuable something is, by how long you are willing to wait for it.

2 Peter 3:9

Gratitude Is A Solution. Just Imagine Less. | Stop Waiting For What You Want And Start Working With What You Have. | Pray For It, Then...See It - Say It - Seize It

THE GIFT OF GRATITUDE
GRATITUDE IS A GIFT FROM GOD.

James 1:16, 17

1. GRATITUDE IS A GIFT FROM GOD TO YOU.

 Romans 8:28

Gratitude Makes Everything In Life Look Better. | It’s Not About Saying Thank You. | Gratitude Is Experiencing A Different Life Because You Have A Different Perspective.  

It’s not joy that makes us grateful, it’s gratitude that makes us joyful - Brene Brown

I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness - it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude. - Brene Brown

1. GRATITUDE IS A GIFT YOU GIVE AWAY.  

GRACE + TRUTH + TIME 

 Luke 13:6-9 (NIV)

GRACE   8‘leave it alone for one more year,                       ←

Noah was an alcoholic ~ Abraham was too old ~ Isaac was a daydreamer ~ Jacob was a liar ~ Leah was an idolator ~ Moses had a stuttering problem ~ Rahab was a prostitute ~ Gideon was afraid ~ Sampson was a womanizer ~ Ruth was a pagan ~ Jeremiah and Timothy were too young ~ David had affair and was a murderer ~ Elijah was suicidal ~ Jonah ran from God ~ Job went bankrupt ~ The Disciples fell asleep while praying ~ Martha worried about everything ~ The Samaritan woman had five broken marriages ~ Zaccheus was a swindler ~ Thomas was a doubter ~ Peter denied Christ ~ Paul was too religious ~ Timothy was too timid ~ AND Lazarus, well, Lazarus was dead (and God used Him!)    

WHAT IS GRACE? (John 8 - Woman Caught In Adultery)      

TRUTH  “and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.    The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable. - James Garfield

TIME      9If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”  

You can tell how valuable something is, by how long you are willing to wait for it.

2 Peter 3:9

Gratitude Is A Solution.  Just Imagine Less. | Stop Waiting For What You Want And Start Working With What You Have. | Pray For It, Then...See It - Say It - Seize It

Protect My Heart
Hebrews 11:1
Psalm 25:5
Luke 15:20b
1 Corinthians 13:11