For the next several Sundays we are going to be looking at the mission and the vision of The Heights Baptist Church. Now that excites me, but I can respect, recognize the reality that when some hear that they kind of groan and think, 'That’s not what I needed today'. Or maybe even, 'I don’t care'. Why should you care? And with all you have going on, why should this mean something to you today?

Today’s sermon is about tools you can trust, tools that work: one tool that knows everything about us, all our information, but uses that for us, never against us. Look with me at Acts 9:10-20. We’ve been talking about changes and using the life of Paul as a backdrop looking at the changes God made in his life. In this story we see two things God uses, I referred to them as tools, but that might not be entirely appropriate because these two things are the Church and the Holy Spirit.

Today’s sermon is about tools you can trust, tools that work: one tool that knows everything about us, all our information, but uses that for us, never against us. Look with me at Acts 9:10-20. We’ve been talking about changes and using the life of Paul as a backdrop looking at the changes God made in his life. In this story we see two things God uses, I referred to them as tools, but that might not be entirely appropriate because these two things are the Church and the Holy Spirit.

We have been looking at the life of Paul and how God makes changes in our life or helps us make the changes we want. So far we have talked about life in Christ as the first step to change, then the confidence we have in change, the purpose we have in change; and today I want to talk about God’s purpose for us in change. What is God doing when we are trying to lose weight, read our Bible more, learn to play an instrument, make this a better relationship? When we are trying to change things; what is God doing? That’s an important question because we want to make sure we are lining up with what God is doing, lest we find ourselves, like Paul, fighting what God is doing.

We have been looking at the life of Paul and how God makes changes in our life or helps us make the changes we want. So far we have talked about life in Christ as the first step to change, then the confidence we have in change, the purpose we have in change; and today I want to talk about God’s purpose for us in change. What is God doing when we are trying to lose weight, read our Bible more, learn to play an instrument, make this a better relationship? When we are trying to change things; what is God doing? That’s an important question because we want to make sure we are lining up with what God is doing, lest we find ourselves, like Paul, fighting what God is doing.

Today we conclude our 21 days of fasting and prayer. Of course, we never actually conclude fasting and prayer. It is an ongoing opportunity, responsibility, privilege to have access to God. We have access to the living God, the One with all knowledge and power, the Sovereign over space and time. Who am I? Who are you, to have an audience with God? And not just once, and not just on certain things; but always, on everything.

Today we conclude our 21 days of fasting and prayer. Of course, we never actually conclude fasting and prayer. It is an ongoing opportunity, responsibility, privilege to have access to God. We have access to the living God, the One with all knowledge and power, the Sovereign over space and time. Who am I? Who are you, to have an audience with God? And not just once, and not just on certain things; but always, on everything.

Very few seem to feel they know or have a purpose to life. That is tragic. Purpose provides meaning, strength, endurance, direction. Purpose touches who we are and why. Purpose tells us why hard things are worth it. As a follower of Christ, we don’t have to go on a long philosophical journey looking for purpose. We look to Jesus. Jesus says the purpose of life is to know God and His Son.

Very few seem to feel they know or have a purpose to life. That is tragic. Purpose provides meaning, strength, endurance, direction. Purpose touches who we are and why. Purpose tells us why hard things are worth it. As a follower of Christ, we don’t have to go on a long philosophical journey looking for purpose. We look to Jesus. Jesus says the purpose of life is to know God and His Son.

This morning I want to look at where does this confidence come from that Paul has that he goes on and he turns the world upside down for the gospel, planting churches all over the known region. Where does that confidence come from for him?