GETTING PAST PERSONAL FAILURE

My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear. Psalm 38:4

…for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again. 

Proverbs 24:16

You made a short-sighted decision based on a short-term situation 

and ended up with long-term consequences and long-term misery. 

1. YOUR BIGGEST SINS ARE NOT TOO BIG FOR GOD’S GRACE.

If we confess our sins, (God) is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. Jeremiah 31:34

2. YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.  YOU ARE WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE.

…anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

3. YOU CAN’T CHANGE YOUR PAST, BUT CHRIST CAN CHANGE YOUR FUTURE!

I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:12-15 NLT

…for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again. 

Proverbs 24:16

Loving Lord God,
I am made complete in the One who is completely God. I am possessed and embraced by the One in whose nature is fullness of life and hope and peace. In You, Christ Jesus, Holy One, I am now holy. In You, Christ Jesus, Peacemaker, I am now reconciled to God. In You, Christ Jesus, Mystery of God, I am now hidden. Only in You is found this truth beyond imagination, this love beyond reason, this grace beyond measure: God is not ashamed of me! What rest, what joy, what unspeakable wonder is mine to know that because I am in You, Lord Jesus, God is proud to call Himself my Father. Amen.
Love you, my son.

RESTORE: Righting Relationship Wrongs - 03.17.19

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:23-24

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9

• PEACEKEEPERS OFTEN AVOID CONFRONTATION TO KEEP PEACE.

• PEACEMAKERS EMBRACE CONFRONTATION TO MAKE PEACE. 

PEACEMAKING POINTS

• THE GREATEST ENEMY TO PEACEMAKING IS PRIDE.

• THE GREATEST FRIEND TO PEACEMAKING IS HUMILITY.

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2

HOW TO APOLOGIZE WITH INTEGRITY

1. ADMIT TO SPECIFIC ACTIONS AND ATTITUDES.
2. DON’T MAKE EXCUSES.
3. ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES.
4. CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIOR.
5. ASK FOR FORGIVENESS.
6. ACCEPT THE REACTION WITHOUT EXPECTATION.

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:23-24

FORGIVENESS 
“Giving Up Hope For A Better Past!”  
Matthew. 18:21-35

21Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my 
brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, 
but up to seventy times seven.”
23“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24“When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents 
(1T = 75lbs.= $1,463,195.3) (10K = 14,631,953,000) was brought to him. 25“But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. 26“So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ 27“And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. 
 
28“But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; ($5,000) and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ 29“So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ 30“But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. 
 
31“So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. 32“Then summoning him, his lord said to him, 
‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33‘Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ 34“And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. 35“My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”

HOW DO I FORGIVE?

1. MAKE A DECISION TO FORGIVE.
   21Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my       brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
 
START BY SAYING THE WORDS, AT LEAST TO YOURSELF.

2. FORGIVE REPEATEDLY.  
                    22Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, 
        but up to seventy times seven.”

UNTIL THEY STOP HURTING YOU, 
OR UNTIL IT NO LONGER HURTS.



3. FORGIVE COMPLETELY.
                    27“And the lord of that slave felt compassion 
        and released him and forgave him the debt.

FORGIVENESS MUST BE GRANTED, 
IT CAN NEVER BE EARNED.



4. FORGIVING DOESN’T MEAN TRUSTING.

                    28“But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves     
        who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and 
       began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ 
 


5. FORGIVING DOESN’T MEAN FORGETTING.
                  32“Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave,    
        I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.



6. FORGIVING SETS YOU FREE.
                   
                    34“And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the  
        torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. 
        &nb

LABELS
WHAT NEGATIVE LABEL FOLLOWS YOUR NAME? (Your name) __________________ the  (Label) ____________________.                                   

A NEW GOD-CENTERED VIEW OF YOU
…Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT


GOD WILL GIVE YOU A NEW NAME.

…You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow. Isaiah 62:2

GOD WILL GIVE YOU A NEW PURPOSE.

Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
Matthew 16:17-18

GOD WILL GIVE YOU NEW FUTURE.

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

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

HOW TO GET YOUR MATE TO LISTEN
The Anointed Marriage Series, Part 4

The Anointing Of Communication
"The burden shall be taken off your shoulders,
and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing." 
Isaiah 10:27

“When wise people speak, they make knowledge attractive.”   Proverbs 15:2 (GN)

1.      Choose the Right Time.
“There is a right time and a right way to do everything…”Ecclesiastes 8:6 (GN)

2.      Plan your Presentation.
“Intelligent people think before they speak.  What they say is then more
persuasive.” Proverbs 16:23 (GN)

3.      Begin with the other person’s Needs.
“Speak only what is helpful for building others up, according to their (needs), that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29

4.      You listen First.
“…be quick to listen and slow to speak.” James 1:19

5.      Say it Positively.       
“A mature person is known for his understanding. 
The more pleasant his words, the more persuasive he is.” Proverbs 16:21 

6.      Clarify your Conclusion. 
“…Agree with each other in the Lord.”  Philippians 4:2b

7.      End with Encouragement.
“A word of encouragement does wonders!”  Proverbs 12:25 (LB)

Guest Speaker Mike Albritton shares a raw message about chasing after the one that got away.

The Sexually Confident Marriage  02.10.19 Family Pastor Casey Valencia. Anointed Marriage Series

Genesis 2:23-25  The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman,

Because she was taken out of Man.” For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Revelation 19:7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 (NASB)

For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.  So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

Personalize 3 Biblical Concepts:

1. Sanctification
2. Possess
3. Vessel

1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification. 

1. Sanctification

1 Thessalonians 4:4

That each of you know how to possess his own vessel…

2. Possess- Not Repress

List of Lies:

Sex is Dirty

Sex is for Men

If a man feels tempted it’s your fault

1 Thessalonians 4:4

Young’s Literal Translation

Learn your vessel to possess in sanctification and honor

1 Corinthians 7:5

Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

1 Thessalonians 4:4

That each of you know how to possess his own vessel…

3. Vessel

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves

Sexual Confidence in a Married Couple

3 Factors:

1. Vulnerability
2. Honor
3. Fun

1. Vulnerability

Sex is a spiritual act by which God glues together two selfish people to accomplish His will in the world. -Belah Rose

2. Honor

Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. 

Proverbs 5:18-19 Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice in the wife of your youth. As a loving hind and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; Be exhilarated always with her love.

I blame my mother for my poor sex life. All she told me was the man goes on top and the woman goes underneath. For three years my husband and I slept on bunk beds. - Joan Rivers.

3. FUN.  

1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

Practical Take-Aways: 

1. Pray about your Sex Life. 
2. Then talk. 
3. Learn your weaknesses. Pray. 
4. Find a safe person. Talk. 
5. Parents, Talk to Kids. 

THE ANOINTED MARRIAGE SERIES

"The burden shall be taken off your shoulders, 

and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing."  

Isaiah 10:27

GOD'S ORIGINAL DESIGN

Genesis 2

21So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. 22Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.  23The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man." 24For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. Genesis 2:21-24 (NIV).                            

“and shall cleave unto his wife” v. 24 (NKJV) 

GOD'S ORIGINAL DESIGN:  Leaving + Cleaving = Total Intimacy

PART I – LEAVING YOUR PAST BEHIND

4 THINGS FROM YOUR PAST YOU MUST LET GO

1.  LET GO OF PARENTS

2.  LET GO OF PEOPLE

3.  LET GO OF PLACES

4.  LET GO OF PROBLEMS

 Most people are unaware of the baggage from their past that they bring into marriage.

 3 kinds of problems that can fill your marriage “Baggage”

 * Grudges 

 * Grief

 * Guilt

PART II – CLEAVE TO YOUR MATE – “being united with, being one with”

Ephesians 5:29-33 (NIV)

29After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30for we are members of his body. 31"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Our Mission is to Transform Lives Into the Likeness of Jesus Christ!    ...Through Believing, Belonging, Becoming!

BELIEVE IN THE PERSON OF JESUS

5Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 
6who, although He existed in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 

BELONG TO THE PEOPLE OF JESUS

7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant,
and being made in the likeness of men.

What Does Real Spiritual Belonging Look Like?
2make my joy complete by being of the same mind,
maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
3Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility
of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
4do not merely look out for your own personal interests,
but also for the interests of others.
BECOME FOR THE PURPOSE OF JESUS

8Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by
becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

What Does Christ’s Purpose Look Like?
9For this reason also, God highly exalted Him,
and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
10so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW,
of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN JESUS!
NOW, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH HIM?

WHAT’S YOUR NEXT LEVEL WITH JESUS?
- Is it Believing, Belonging, or Becoming?
HOPE CULTURE
1. There Is Always A Solution. Mat. 7:7-8
2. I Will Always Know What To Do. James. 1:5-8,12
3. I will Thrive No Matter What Happens. Phil. 4:11-13
4. I Will Always Have The Resources I Need To Do What Needs To Be Done. Phil.  4:19
5. My Mistakes Will Always Be Turned To Good. Rom. 8:28

WHAT DOES OUR BELONGING ENVIRONMENT LOOK LIKE? 
Elevate Rescuing Lives 
Becoming Like Christ 
Create Spiritual Promotions BELIEVE BELONG BECOME Weekend Worship God Matters ♦ Matt. 25 — Tell The Story! ♦ Story Insight and Life Experience 
Home Teams People Matter Most People Less People Find Friendship Home Teaching Application Done with You Group Dynamic Part of a Group Reward Participation Ministry Mentoring You Matter Least People Find Faith Find Fulfillment ♦ THERE IS NO FAITH WITHOUT RISK! ♦ IT TAKES RISKS OF FAITH... TO BECOME LIKE CHRIST. Heart’s Treasure Inspiration Done For You Leadership Dynamic Hard Training Perspiration You Do Lifestyle Dynamic Part of a Whole Part of a Team Belong to a Team of Friends 
14 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. 
Reward Attendance 
Reward Results 
Engage Your Gifts for the Master 
YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN A RISKY MISSION TO FULFILL. NOW, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? “It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again. Because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusi- asms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." - T.R. Roosevelt 
IF YOU'RE NOT RISKING ANYTHING, YOU'RE NOT GROWING IN CHRISTLIKENESS! “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone! And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence au- tomatically liberates others.” - Nelson Mandella WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE TO RISK TO ACHIEVE THE NEXT LEVEL OF CHRISTLIKENESS? 15 He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. 16”The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. 17 The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. 
21 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsi- bilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ 28 “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. 
Openly Cel- ebrate Godly Joy 
Make Your Spiritual Character a Top Priority 
23 “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful serv- ant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ 
26 “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, 27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank?