Thrive.Church Weekly Message

[Nehemiah 6:15-16] So on October 2 the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun. [16] When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God. Rebuilding the wall was not ______________.[2 Chronicles 7:14] Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.Turning from our sin comes before God's ______________.[Nehemiah 10:28-29] Then the rest of the people—the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, Temple servants, and all who had separated themselves from the pagan people of the land in order to obey the Law of God, together with their wives, sons, daughters, and all who were old enough to understand— [29] joined their leaders and bound themselves with an oath. They swore a curse on themselves if they failed to obey the Law of God as issued by his servant Moses. They solemnly promised to carefully follow all the commands, regulations, and decrees of the Lord our Lord.If we want God to bless us then we need to make some ______________.Personal ______________ of God’s truth must be the goal of any spiritual change.[Matthew 7:24-27] “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. [25] Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. [26] But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. [27] When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”True commitment to God means ______________.[2 Chronicles 16:9] The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war.The depth of our commitment determines our ___________.

[Luke 19:36-38] As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. [37] When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. [38] "Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the LORD! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!"

Jesus came to ___________ their __________________.

[Luke 19:35] So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on.

[Zechariah 9:9] Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey--riding on a donkey's colt.

It’s possible to lay something down in a moment, and still not _______________________ your life.

[Luke 19:41-44] But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. [42] "How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. [43] Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. [44] They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not accept your opportunity for salvation."

Jesus came to bring __________________ with God.

Jesus didn’t come to meet our ________________________, He came to save our __________________.

[Romans 5:1] Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

God doesn't do what we __________________, he does what is __________________.

[Hebrews 12:6] For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child."

Just because you don’t ______________________ what God is doing doesn’t mean He isn’t __________________.

[Nehemiah 2:19] But when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab heard of our plan, they scoffed contemptuously. “What are you doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” they asked. 20 I replied, “The God of heaven will help us succeed. We, his servants, will start rebuilding this wall. But you have no share, legal right, or historic claim in Jerusalem.”

[Luke 19:1-5] Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. [2] There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. [3] He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. [4] So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. [5] When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. "Zacchaeus!" he said. "Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today."

______________ knows you by ______________.

Jesus knows ___________ before you know ___________.

[Luke 19:6] Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.

Jesus doesn’t expect us to _________________, before we ______________ Him in.

[Luke 19:7] But the people were displeased. "He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner," they grumbled.

Your __________________ doesn’t ______________ Jesus.

Grace may seem ______________, but the Good News is it’s ___________________ to all of us.

[Romans 2:4] Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

[Luke 19:8] Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”

When Jesus moves _____, priorities move ______________.

[Luke 19:9-10] Jesus responded, "Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. [10] For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost."

[Romans 5:6-11] When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. [7] Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. [8] But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. [9] And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation. [10] For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. [11] So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Jesus comes to us as a ______________ not a __________.

You can accomplish great things when your faith is greater than your fear.

[Mark 10:46-47] Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. [47] When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

Our ________________ can often sense what our ________________ cannot.

[2 Samuel 7:16] Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.'"

Sometimes ________________ produces spiritual ________________.

[Mark 10:48] "Be quiet!" many of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

When ________________ is within reach, ______________ is not an option.

[Mark 10:49] When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, "Tell him to come here." So they called the blind man. "Cheer up," they said. "Come on, he's calling you!"

Jesus is still ________________ for those who ___________ out to Him.

[Psalm 34:18 NIV] The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

God is ________________ far away.

[Mark 10:50] Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.

Faith often requires letting go before the ________________ is guaranteed.

[Mark 10:51-52] "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked. "My rabbi," the blind man said, "I want to see!" [52] And Jesus said to him, "Go, for your faith has healed you." Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.

[2 Corinthians 5:17] This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

When you encounter Jesus, your ________________ changes.

[Nehemiah 2:1-4] Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence. [2] So the king asked me, “Why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.” Then I was terrified, [3] but I replied, “Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.” [4] The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?” With a prayer to the God of heaven,

[Hebrews 13:8] Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Jesus is _________________.

[Judges 13:1-3] Again the Israelites did evil in the LORD's sight, so the LORD handed them over to the Philistines, who oppressed them for forty years. [2] In those days a man named Manoah from the tribe of Dan lived in the town of Zorah. His wife was unable to become pregnant, and they had no children. [3] The angel of the LORD appeared to Manoah's wife and said, "Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son.

God does His best work in _________________ people.

[Judges 13:4-5] So be careful; you must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food. [5] You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines."

God sets you _________________ before He _________________ you.

[1 Peter 1:15-16] But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. [16] For the Scriptures say, "You must be holy because I am holy."

Jesus is the _________________ deliverer.

[1 Timothy 2:5] For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity--the man Christ Jesus.

Because of _________________ you are set apart.

[1 Peter 2:9 NIV] But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

God has called us to be _________________ to Him.

God is _________________ working in your life.

[Nehemiah 1:1-4] These are the memoirs of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. In late autumn, in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was at the fortress of Susa. [2] Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem. [3] They said to me, “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.” [4] When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.

[Genesis 22:1-2] Some time later, God tested Abraham's faith. "Abraham!" God called. "Yes," he replied. "Here I am." [2] "Take your son, your only son--yes, Isaac, whom you love so much--and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you."

God doesn't ask for the ______________ that's ______________ to give.

[Genesis 22:3-4] The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about. [4] On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. [5] "Stay here with the donkey," Abraham told the servants. "The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back."

God doesn't always ______________ what He is doing

[Hebrews 11:19] Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.

God ______________ keeps His ______________.

[Genesis 22:6] So Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac's shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them walked on together,

[John 19:17] Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, [Golgotha]).

The mountain of _________________ is always moving toward the mountain of ___________________.

[Genesis 22:7] Isaac turned to Abraham and said, "Father?" "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied. "We have the fire and the wood," the boy said, "but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?"

[Genesis 22:8 ESV] Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them together.

Faith does not require knowing _________; it requires trusting _________.

[Genesis 22:9-10] When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. [10] And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice.

Faith is forged in the ______________ before God intervenes.

[Genesis 22:11-12] At that moment the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Yes," Abraham replied. "Here I am!" [12] "Don't lay a hand on the boy!" the angel said. "Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son."

[Romans 8:32 NLT] Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't he also give us everything else?

[Genesis 22:13-14] Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. [14] Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means "the LORD will provide"). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."

God tests to ______________, not to ______________.

[John 1:29] The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!