Victory Life KY

• Here we are, turning the page on another year, and as I was waiting on the Lord’s leading, here’s something I began to entertain;
• Although we find ourselves consumed with time, truth be told, even though confined to humanity, we are, right now eternal people.

• Which means we should probably maintain a little more of an eternal perspective. And the only way that happens is by allowing the eternal book to inspire, challenge, motivate, to direct us toward the realities contained within it’s pages.

• The psalmist tells us, God’s word is what enlightens our path, renews our soul to His world, literally showing us the difference between the two worlds.

• And because we are His born again, new creations, we have to be able to see, to comprehend what He’s saying. “You see what I’m saying?”

• Something Jesus told His disciples on more than one occasion is there are those who have eyes to see but they can’t.
• Seriously, eyes but can’t see. What’s that remind you of?

• 2 Corinthians 4:18,NKJV- While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.
• For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

• Lets be real for a second, we’ve all found ourselves at times not being able to see what the Lord is saying.
• Usually because our focus is some where else.

• The entrance to God’s eternal world is through His word. It is the lens a human, born of the spirits uses to see the thing that’s not seen. You see what I’m saying?

• And this talk is to remind all of us, God has a success plan for every one willing to follow Him. To take His promises, to trust Him and do what He says.

• Joshua 6:1-2,NKJV- Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in.
• And the LORD said to Joshua: See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor.

• 1 Corinthians 10:11,AMP- Now these things happened to them as an example and warning to us; they were written for our instruction, to admonish and equip us, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

• Here’s the thing, all God’s word is true and forever settled. So if Paul is telling us the things they did in rebellion are examples, make no mistake the things they did in obedience are also examples.

• Joshua 6, “See! I have given Jericho into your hand”

• Faith sees from God’s perspective.

• Remember, these OT examples are left here for us, to learn the faith lessons from them. And Joshua is a perfect example, God not only gave him his assignment, but a detailed plan in implementing it.

• It’s important we remember that before God told Joshua to take this major step of faith, He had already given him the key in his success.

• Joshua 1:8,NKJV- This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

• Remember, the key to us seeing what He’s saying will be through the lens if His word. Seriously is absolutely our key to a successful life in Him.

• Think about it, “day and night” A LIFESTYLE. And here’s a quality we will always find in successful people, they do consistently what others will only do occasionally.

• I’m talking all aspects of life; spiritually, relationally, professionally, financially, etc…

• Galatians 6:9,NLT- “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

• Something we’ve got to stay open to is that when we start following our ancestors through the scriptures, we better stay open to the fact that a life with God is made for the supernatural, the impossible.

• Seriously, would God lead you into a situation you can’t accomplish without Him? Into a situation that in the natural makes absolutely no sense?

• 1 Corinthians 1:27-29,NKJV- God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;
• and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.

• Here’s the deal, as long as we allow our senses, emotions, intelligence to determine reality, we leave no room for faith.

• And a big part of the life of faith starts with us seeing ourselves the way God sees us, in His class, made in His image, heirs to His Kingdom. Not a religious image but an in Christ image. You see what I’m saying?

• All He has, He’s already given. All His promises in Christ are yes, and in Him amen. His life, His nature, His wisdom and provision. Remember, God, our Father wants to be the El Shaddai of our lives.

• When a Christian can get to the place where what God says is more real than circumstance and experience, that person’s faith will become the dominant force in our lives.

• The challenge for most of us is that we identity more with our natural world than our spiritual world.

• Remember Paul’s instructions to us, we live our lives in a manner consistent with our CONFIDENT BELIEF IN GOD’S PROMISES.

• This is why Paul wrote his Holy Spirit inspired prayer in Ephesians, “Lord, open my eyes spiritually so I can comprehend what You’ve already done for me.”
• You see what I’m saying?

• I bring this up because being in God's family, He gives all of us Holy Spirit inspired dreams, plans, ideas, assignments, purposes.
• He’s going to give each of us Holy Spirit inspired lives.

• Sometimes we simply need to be able to see what He’s saying. Tho be open to maybe a fresh approach toward those Holy Spirt inspired dreams, our God given purposes, those ideas that might seem a little out there.

• “See! I have given Jericho into your hand”

• Maybe we could all use a talk like this to challenge us to role up our sleeves and get out there and experience some of God's promises.

• It's about daring to believe that God is exactly who He says He is. That He'll do exactly what He said He'll do.

• That being said, don’t think for a second the life God has designed for you won't take you out of your comfort zone.

• One thing we should know about God given dreams and assignments is that they always challenge our faith, our vision, because He will take us from faith to faith.

• Remember Paul’s encouraging words, the things written in the scriptures were written for our instruction and admonition.

• And the wonderful thing about our NT is that it will take us from glory to glory. If we’ll let it. I means listen to what John tells us, you are of God, and He who is in you is greater than anything in this world.

• One thing we can definitely take away from Joshua is that no one ever reaches their dreams, fulfills their assignment, staying safely tucked away in their comfortable, risk free, unbelieving life.

• Sometimes that means choosing to trust what He tells us enough to be willing to take what at the moment may look like a crazy huge risk.

• Getting to this place is what empowers us to rise above the fears, failures, disappointments, excuses, and become the person God already knows we are.

• But here's the deal, the kicker, the one thing we all struggle with;

• To become this person, to discover our dreams, to step our assignment, to take ownership of our God life, we have to be open to CHANGE!!!!!

• Something I've discovered over the years is that way too many times, the only person stopping us, is us.

• Remember what John told us, you are of God, and He who is in you is greater than anything in this world.

• Wherever your dreams are, whatever your next assignment is, make today the day you take ownership of it.

• God wants nothing more than for you to discover this life. A life He's already seen you having.

• “See! I have given Jericho into your hand” You see what I’m saying!

• As we continue our journey with Luke, obviously honoring the birth of our King. But our focus is actually on Jesus’ mom, her faith inspiring each of us to live our own life of faith.

• Remember Luke’s bold intro to his writing, “I’m writing this so that you may know beyond a shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you’ve been taught.”

• Luke highlights many wonderful truths from the Holy Spirit, starting with Jesus’ introduction to humanity.
• Think about Joseph and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem, to find themselves giving birth to the Savior of the world in a barn.

• And as we looked at last week, God told shepherds their sign would be they would find Him lying in a manger. And they showed up.

• And as Joseph and Mary go to fulfill the requirements of the law concerning a first born, Luke highlights another fulfillment of God’s word. In this particular case Simeon prophesies and confirms the written word becoming the living word.

• John 1:1-2,NLT- In the beginning the Word already existed.
• The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
• He existed in the beginning with God.

• Something else I love about God’s word is how He will highlight seemingly small incidents of everyday life for us; the Holy Spirit told Simeon he would get to see the Lord’s Christ before his death.

• Luke 2:29-32,NKJV- Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word;
• For my eyes have seen Your salvation
• Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
• A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.

• Matthew lets us know that once again an angel helps them, telling them to move to Egypt for a season— then returning they stop in Nazareth, once again to fulfill what was spoken, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

• Luke 2:40,52,NKJV- The Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
• And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

• This is His humanity yielding to His Spirit, His God nature.

• Here’s the thing, the realities of our Savior becoming King of kings hinged on this young girls crazy, radical faith, “be it unto to me.”

• One of our big take always from this talk is the fact that there will be times that our next step of faith my seem a little crazy, but just maybe, like Mary, God’s looking for a little crazy.

• Remember, all the days of your life were written in the book before your first day. The thing God has put on your heart, that dream, that crazy idea, the passionate desire, just remember who gave it to you.

• And just like our Master grew in every aspect of His reality, because everything about God’s Kingdom functions as if a man sows a seed, so will our faith journey, regardless of how crazy it might seem.

• Isaiah 55:8-11,NKJV- For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, says the LORD.
• 9, For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
• 10, For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater,
• 11, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

• God simply wants us to believe in Him as much as He believes in us.

• 2 Corinthians 5:7,AMP- We walk by faith, not by sight, living our lives in a manner consistent with our CONFIDENT BELIEF IN GOD’S PROMISES.

• You see, living by faith, not senses, not emotions, not intelligence or experiences, will require divinely inspired trust.

• Because God has designed us to live by faith, we’ve got to get to the place where we allow what He says to shape and strengthen what we actually believe. How we actually live.

• Mary’s act of faith was going to change everything about her life.

• Like we said last week, it all started with her humble, submissive, yet courageous heart of faith. “Behold, the maidservant of the Lord! Be it unto me according to your word.”

• Can we be real for a second, everyone of us operate within the boundaries of our current beliefs. And I’m convinced God saw something in Mary’s heart long before He sent Gabriel to her.

• As a matter of fact, as we begin following Jesus, how many times did He tell people, “according to you faith, let it be so?”

• I can’t help but wonder how many of us would be as bold as Mary?

• Think about it, how often have you found yourself, not intending to, but none the less, find yourself in unbelief concerning something Jesus says simply because it makes no sense.

• Mark 6:3-6,NKJV- “Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.
• But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.”
• Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.
• And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.”

• Heres the thing, Jesus faced unbelief every where He went, even with those that walked the closest to Him. Repeatedly He asked things like, "How is it that you have no faith?"

• At the end of the day, faith is simply a decision, not based on intelligence or emotion, but 100% on what God’s says.

• Proverbs 3:5-6,MSG- Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
• Listen for GOD’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track.
• Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to GOD!

• Faith sees from God’s perspective. In Joshua 6, He tells Joshua, “SEE! I have given Jericho into your hands.”

• This is why Paul wrote his Holy Spirit inspired prayer in Ephesians, “Lord, open my eyes spiritually that I can comprehend what You’ve already done for me.”

• Think about it, if He is the Great I AM, the Word from all existence, the Beginning and End, could it be that real faith is simply enforcing a reality from His world into this one?

• This is why Jesus makes radical statements like, “If you can believe, all things are possible.”

• This is the eternal reality Mary is acknowledging when she makes her bold faith statement, be it unto me.

• I can’t help but wonder if Jesus’ mom would talk to us like a mom today and she would tell us the same thing.

• A reality that continually stands out from Mary’s bold faith is that God didn’t give any of us these new lives in Him just to do our own thing until we go to heaven.

• Seriously, we’re made for the supernatural, the impossible. Think about it, like Mary, would God lead you into a situation you cannot accomplish without Him?

• 1 Corinthians 1:27-29,NKJV- But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;
• and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.

• Here’s the deal, as long as we allow our senses, emotions, intelligence to determine reality, we leave no room for faith.

• This is why Paul instructs us that we are to live our lives in a manner consistent with our CONFIDENT BELIEF IN GOD’S PROMISES. Or in the words of Jesus, “According to your faith let it be to you.”

• A big part of the life of faith starts with us seeing ourselves the way God sees us, in His class, made in His image, heirs to His Kingdom. Not a religious image but an in Christ image.

• I know I quote this scripture all the time, but we need this revelation.

• Galatians 2:20,NKJV- I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

• All He has, He has already given. All His promises in Christ are yes, and in Him amen. His life, His nature, His wisdom and provision. Remember, God, our Father wants to be the El Shaddai of our lives.

• When a Christian can get to the place where what God says is more real than circumstance and experience, that person’s faith will become the dominant force in our lives.

• The challenge for most of us is that we identity more with our natural world than our spiritual world.

• When we follow the life of Jesus, we’ve got to understand, He was on a short assignment from the Father. Listen to what He said, “I came down from Heaven to do the will of My Father who sent Me.”

• 1 Hebrews 13:8,NKJV- Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

• We live by believing and not by seeing.
• We live our lives in a manner consistent with our CONFIDENT BELIEF IN GOD’S PROMISES.

• This Christmas, as we celebrate and honor our Savior and King, as we enjoy the gift of Salvation, let Mary’s faith inspire us to take a closer look at our own life of faith, and follow her lead, “be it unto to me”

• Luke 2:8-11,NKJV- Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
• And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
• 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.
• For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

• I love Luke’s inspiring revelation God gave him about the birth of our King.

• And as Luke introduces his revelation, he makes this statement, “I’m writing this so that you may know beyond a shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you’ve been taught.”

• You can tell by the boldness of his introduction that he has a fixed confidence in his revelation of the accounts of Jesus.

• Here’s the thing, what Luke, what the Holy Spirit wants all of us to understand is that what we know today as the Bible is 100% the complete, accurate word of the Almighty. It is absolutely God speaking to you today.

• And as we make ourselves available to it, revelation from it transforms our thinking which transforms our lives. Its a spiritual reality sent to us directly from God.

• But our focus with this talk is Mary, what do ya say this Christmas we let Jesus’ mom inspire us to be a little bolder in our faith.

• In Luke 1 remember what Mary tells the angel Gabriel, “Be it unto me according to your word.”

• This Christmas, as we celebrate and honor our Savior and King, as we enjoy the gift of Salvation, my prayer this Christmas is that Mary’s faith inspires each of us to take a closer look at our own life of faith, and follow her lead, “be it unto to me”

• What everyone of us has to come to terms with is that as spiritual, as supernatural as Christ’s birth is, it still demands our participation.

• Like we said last week, Mary’s faith gives us a completely new perspective to giving our life to Jesus. Seriously, she’s having a conversation with one of God’s elect angles.

• Can you imagine what was going through Mary’s mind?

• All we have to do, like Mary is simply believe and participate. “Be it unto me according to your words.”

• And I realize that there will be times that our next step of faith my seem a little crazy, but just maybe, like Mary, God’s looking for a little crazy.

• Each of us has to come to the realization that this one simple truth is exactly how Jesus expects us to live these lives He came that we could have.

• Ok Lord, it seems a little crazy, but, be it unto me!!

• Think about what Jesus did for us, The King of all eternity exchanged His royalty for humanity. He willing stepped out eternity for the sole purpose of making a way for His creation to become eternity.

• Remember what Jesus told us in John 10, “I came that you may have and enjoy an abundant, excessive, extraordinary life.”

• So, if nothing is impossible for those who believe what God tells us, then why wouldn’t we follow Mary’s example? C’mon Lord, be it unto me according to your word.

• I left this thought with you last week from the apostle Paul, he told us to pursue a righteous life, a life of wonder, faith, and love. Take hold of eternal life, the one God called you to.

• What do ya say, we make this Christmas a turning point in our lives? Like Mary, right in the face of fear, uncertainty, ridicule, we embrace her faith attitude, according to your word Lord.

• Remember what Gabriel told her, rejoice, highly favored of the Lord, you are blessed among women.

• Well, guess what, now God’s word, just like He told Gabriel to tell Mary, today tells us in Galatians, we are the favored of the Lord, blessed according to the promise of Abraham.

• So, according to Jesus, if nothing is impossible for those of us who believe what God tells us, then why wouldn’t we follow Mary’s example? Be it unto me Lord!!

• Now a very important reality we might overlook is Mary’s humility, before she makes her bold faith statement she says this, “behold the maidservant of the Lord.”

• MSG, “Yes, I see it all now, I am the Lord’s maid, ready to serve.”
• Then she makes her faith declaration; “be it unto me according to your word.”

• Unfortunately there's a lot of Christians that won't even acknowledge they need help with their faith. I cannot over emphasize the significance of humility when it comes to a life of faith.

• Regardless of our success God has given us, like Abraham, in our hearts God always wants us living in a tent.

• Remember, God gives grace to the humble, He exalts the humble.
• I’ve heard people say, well I don’t have the faith you have. But truth is, every child of God has faith, sometimes its just undeveloped.

• Faith actually starts as a conviction in the human soul, established by the unveiling of the truth in God’s word, to the degree that you have this fixed expectation from what God has told you.

• I like to think of it as divinely inspired trust.

• 2 Corinthians 5:7,AMP- We walk by faith, not by sight, living our lives in a manner consistent with our CONFIDENT BELIEF IN GOD’S PROMISES.

• You see, living by faith, not senses, not emotions, not intelligence or experiences, will require divinely inspired trust.

• Living this way starts with our thinking. There’s no way our believing can be right until our thinking is right. Then James takes things a step further by driving the point home that our tongue is the rudder of our lives.
• RIGHT THINKING = RIGHT BELIEVING = RIGHT TALKING

• When Jesus told the disciples to have faith in God, He instructed them to speak faith to their situations, to their mountains.

• But he started the lesson with this statement, “If you’ll not doubt in your heart but believe what you say” In other words, we’ve got to line our words up with our faith.

• Jesus is very clear in the fact that speaking faith from our hearts, effects change in our world, from His.

• This is why, according to Jesus Himself, speaking divinely inspired words over our situation is exactly the kind of corresponding action James is talking about.

• Why do you think Jesus told us to put the Kingdom of God first? Because just like our natural lives here demand focus, intentionality, development, make no mistake, so does our new lives.

• Because God has designed us to live by faith, we’ve got to get to the place where we allow what He says to shape and strengthen what we actually believe. How we actually live.

• Mary’s act of faith was going to change everything about her life.

• The thing that repeatedly stands out is her humble, submissive, yet courageous heart of faith. “Behold, the maidservant of the Lord! Be it unto me according to your word.”

• Can we be real for a second, everyone of us operate within the boundaries of our current beliefs. And I’m convinced God saw something in Mary’s heart long before He sent Gabriel to her.

• And I’m just as convinced today that Jesus is looking for hearts of faith just like Mary’s.

• As a matter of fact, as we begin following Jesus; you know, Mary’s son, how many times did Jesus tell people, “according to you faith, let it be so?”

• I can’t help but wonder how many of us would be as bold as Mary?

• Think about it, how often have you found yourself, not intending to, but none the less, find yourself in unbelief concerning something Jesus says simply because it makes no sense.

• Heres the thing, don’t get tore up, Jesus faced the same unbelief with His disciples. Repeatedly He asked things like, "How is it that you have no faith?"

• At the end of the day, faith is simply a decision, not based on intelligence or emotion, but 100% on what God’s says.

• This is the point of Jesus’ mom’s statement, be it unto me. I can’t help but wonder if Jesus’ mom would talk to us like a mom today and tell us the same thing.

• This Christmas, as we celebrate and honor our Savior and King, as we enjoy the gift of Salvation, let Mary’s faith inspires each of us to take a closer look at our own life of faith, and follow her lead, “be it unto to me”

• John 16:7 (NKJV) “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”

• John 14:26 (AMP) But the Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name, in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf, He will teach you all things. And He will remind you of everything I have told you.

• Think about what Jesus is telling us, the Holy Spirit, His Spirit, is now living in every born again believer.

• I really don’t think we comprehend all that’s in His statement. After all, He told His first disciples, “I have many things to tell you but you’re not ready, you can’t handle them right now.”

• I can’t help but wonder how often we fall into this same category. And this is why we can’t over state the importance of believing. It is the navigation system of the Kingdom of Heaven.

• This is why the Holy Spirit told us through the apostle Paul, “the same way you entered the Kingdom is exactly how you live in the Kingdom.”

• So, back to our original statement, It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you.”

• Jesus went on to tell us that He, the Holy Spirit will guide us in all truth. He will tell us things to come.

• Then He made this radical statement, “All the Father has is mine, and the Holy Spirit will take of what is mine and declare it to you.”
• So, its to your advantage that I go.

• It’s no wonder the enemy does everything possible to keep us distracted with all the things of the world. Sounds like one of his tactics out of the parable of the sower.

• And one of the key lessons of this parable is that the sower sows the word.

• But without God's word as our foundation, the Holy Spirit will be limited to what He can actually reveals to us, bring to our remembrance.

• Without this foundation, the Holy Spirit could be communicating with our spirit and we chalk it up as just another passing thought.

• Bottom line, until the human soul is renewed to the word of God, we will always be at the mercy of human reasoning and senses.

• This is why Romans reminds us that the more spiritual minded we are, the more we'll recognize the Holy Spirit baring witness with our spirit.

• And even though Proverbs tells us it's through our spirit that the Holy Spirit enlightens us to spiritual realities. It’s our soul that processes any revelation.

• This is why it is absolutely vital for the born-again that our minds be renewed to the Word of God.

• According to the book of Hebrews, it's the Word that reveals spiritual realities.

• Here’s the deal, since Jesus told us it is to our advantage that the Holy Spirit came, maybe the question we all have to acknowledge is just how Holy Spirit minded are we on any given day?

• How intentional are we when it comes to spiritual realities? Is it even a reality or some distant, someday concept?

• Paul was so spirit-conscious that it was always at the front of his thinking.

• Listen to his perspective in Philippians, I’m torn between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, which is way better, but it’s more important that I stay for you.

• The unfortunate reality with the overwhelming majority of wonderfully born-again Christians is that the world of the spirit is something far from our everyday living.

• I believe possibly the biggest reason for this is because too many have been deceived into ignoring the fact that we were made like them.

• Genesis 1:26-27 (NLT) Then God said, Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us... So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

• John 4:24 (NLT) “For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

• We are spirits with bodies. But because of the fall of man, our spirits have been separated from God until we are born again.

• And from that moment forward, the only way God sees you is in your new nature.

• Jesus said, "That born of the Spirit is spirit." Paul said, "Old things are gone, behold all things have been made new."

• And this is why are told us in Romans that the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit. We are reconnected with Him. Not our intelligence or our bodies.

• 1 John tells us that anyone who believes in Jesus already has His witness inside. MSG, We have His inward confirmation.

• Romans 8:11 (NKJV) If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

• Think about it, you know you're born again because you have a knowing on the inside. An inward confirmation.

• His Spirit bearing witness with your spirit that you're born again.

• And this is exactly how God leads us in every other area of our new lives in Him.

• Remember what Paul said, when we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.

• 1 Corinthians 2:12 (NLT) We have received God’s Spirit, so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

• Listen to Jesus’ words again, It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you.”

• Jesus went on to tell us that He, the Holy Spirit, (Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby) He will guide us in all truth and tell us things to come.

• Then He made this radical statement, All the Father has is mine, and the Holy Spirit will take of what is mine and declare it to you. So, its to your advantage that I go.

• Something else we have to consider is that our spirit will know things our intelligence won't because the Holy Spirit is in direct contact with our spirit.

• It's the same with God's word, there will be times when our intelligence doesn't comprehend or even agree with something we see in the word, but our spirit recognizes it as truth.

• And this is the power of the word of God, in accordance with the Holy Spirit living in us, it transforms the human soul. Which produces faith, God’s Kingdom system of living.

• The just shall live by faith. It’s impossible to please God without faith. We live by faith, not by sight.

• So the more our soul is aligned with the things of God, the more reliable our conscience will be. You see, the born again’s conscience is the voice of our own spirit.
• But when our conscience is cluttered it’s difficult to recognize Him.

• Here's a big one that throws Christians off, because we’re born of His Spirit, He’s usually not leading through some major spectacular event. Remember, He lives in us, it should be our normal.

• I think way too many times, Christians miss the super-natural because we get distracted looking for the spectacular.

• Here's a perfect example of something very super-natural. As a matter of fact it is the actual word of God in manifestation. But notice just how normal it came to be.

• Luke 1:1-4 (NKJV) “Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us,
• just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us,
• IT SEEMED GOOD to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus,
• that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.”

• "It Seemed Good" is our conscience. When our soul is aligned with the things of God, the more reliable our conscience will be. Remember, our conscience is the voice of our own spirit.

• And this is Jesus’ whole point in saying, It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you.”

• Jesus went on to tell us, “All the Father has is mine, and the Holy Spirit will take of what is mine and declare it to you.”
• So, its to your advantage that I go.

Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV) Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

• As I was thinking and praying about our Christmas series, this miraculous story of Jesus’ birth, that had been prophesied for generations is obviously the focus of our celebration.

• But what really motivated my direction this year is Jesus’ mothers great faith.

• In Luke 1:38, out of the traditional KJV, Mary tells the angel Gabriel, “Be it unto me according to your word.”

• This Christmas, as we celebrate and honor our Savior and King, as we enjoy the gift of Salvation, we’re going to let Mary’s faith inspire us to take a closer look at our own life of faith.

• After all, according to our King, we’ve been created to live a life of faith.

• I love Luke’s perspective on Jesus’ life. On this miraculous event, God laid out before the foundations of the world.

• He wasn’t one of the 12, but I believe associated with some of them, and for certain some of the 70.

• Obviously close with the apostle Paul. He gives us a detailed account of the birth of our Savior.  But more from humanity’s side of things than for example Matthew’s Jewish linage.

• As a matter of fact, Luke refers to Jesus as “Son of man” at least 26 times.

• And as spiritual, as supernatural as Christ’s birth is, it still demanded the created’s participation.

• I love Mary’s bold faith, I’m sure as she trembled in the presence of Gabriel.

• And as the Holy Spirit inspired Luke to write his account, he gives us this very intelligent, simple, clear account of our Savior.

• All we have to do, like Mary is simply believe and participate. “Be it unto me according to your words.”

• Luke 1:1-3 (CEV) Many people have tried to tell the story of what God has done among us.
• They wrote what we had been told by the ones who were there in the beginning and saw what happened.
• So I made a careful study of everything and then decided to write and tell you exactly what took place.

• Then Luke makes this statement, “I’m writing this so that you may know beyond a shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you’ve been taught.”

• I can’t help but wonder if maybe Luke got to hear the story straight from Mary.
• You can tell by the boldness of his introduction that he has a fixed confidence in his revelation of the accounts of Jesus.

• But what I love and respect about his letter is that his revelation came to him just like it comes to us.

• And he boldly writes, I want you to know beyond a shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you’ve been taught.

• As I’m putting this talk together, Mary’s statement stands out in my thoughts; “be it unto me”

• Each of us has to come to the realization that this one simple truth is exactly how Jesus expect us to live these lives He came that we could have.

• John 10, “...I came that you may have and enjoy an abundant, excessive, extraordinary life.” Then be it unto to me Lord.

• And here’s the eternal reality for God’s created, today in the middle of the 21st century, He’s still pointing people to Jesus.

• Jesus still stands as the central focus of hope and redemption for humanity.

• “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

• God with us! Think about it from His perspective. Leaving His world, laying aside His deity, taking on free will, yielding Himself to humanity for the sole purpose of making passage for humanity to come back, not only to eternity, but into a divine relationship with our Creator.

• Philippians 2, When the time came, Jesus set aside the privileges of deity and became human! Having become human, He stayed human.
• He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, He lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death.
• Because of His obedience, God lifted Him high and honored Him far beyond anyone or anything,
• so that all created beings in heaven and on earth will bow in worship before Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that He is the Lord of all.

• The Anointed One, the Creator became the created. (Son of man)
• The King of all existence exchanged His royalty for humanity.
• The Author eternity stepped out of it, for the sole purpose of bringing us back to eternity.

• And I realize the world, over the years has developed a variety of traditions  celebrating Christmas, but for those of us that have embraced God’s gift to His creation, it’s one of our greatest days we get to celebrate!

• So, as the world around us drifts further away from the realities of why we celebrate Christmas, let’s remind them. Lets take a page of of Mary’s play book, “be it unto to me Lord”

• Now it goes without saying, it will always be, Merry Christmas, not happy whatever. But with this in mind, don’t be one of those religious, Christian correctors.

• Remember, God didn't send Jesus into the world to condemn it, but to save it.

• Luke 1:26-38 (NKJV) Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
• 27, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
• 28, And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
• 29, But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.
• 30, Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
• 31, And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.
• 32, He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
• 33, And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
• 34, Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
• 35, And the angel answered and said to her, “ The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
• 36, Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.
• 37, For with God nothing will be impossible.”
• 38, Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

• For all of us that follow Jesus, my prayer with these simple talks during Christmas is to stir up a little God nature in all of us. And it starts with Jesus’ mom’s faith, “be it unto me.”

• Seriously, can you imagine what was going through Mary’s mind?

• She gives a whole new meaning too giving your life to Jesus.

• This Christmas, lets ask ourselves this, what’s Jesus asking us to accept according to His word?

• And according to Jesus, nothing is impossible for those of us who honestly believe what He tells us. So exactly what are you believing for, specifically?

• What do you thing Jesus meant when He said things like: “According to your faith, let it be done.”

• Remember what Jesus told us in John 10, “I came that you may have and enjoy an abundant, excessive, extraordinary life.”

• But something a lot of christians never consider is that one of Jesus’ primary objectives was to reintroduce us to God’s creation. He came to this planet to show us how the people of God are to live.

• And if nothing is impossible for those who believe what God tells us, then why wouldn’t we want to be like Mary? C’mon Lord, be it unto me according to your word.

• Listen to Paul’s expectations of the young Timothy, man of God, pursue a righteous life, a life of wonder, faith, and love. Take hold of eternal life, the life God called you to.

• This Christmas, let the people you come in contact with experience Christ in you. Why not, like Mary, accept what God is telling you, be it unto me lord!

• What do ya say, we make this Christmas a turning point in our lives? Like Mary, right in the face of fear, uncertainty, ridicule… according to your word Lord.

• Remember what Gabriel told her, rejoice, highly favored of the Lord, you are blessed among women.

• So, according to Jesus, if nothing is impossible for those of us who believe what God tells us, then why wouldn’t we follow Mary’s example? Be it unto me Lord!!

Daryl will closeout service

Announcements

1. Impact Youth Christmas Party

Sunday, December 12

2. Christmas Eve Service

Friday December 24 at 6pm

Impact kids will not have service

Tithe

Genesis 12:2 (NKJV) “I will make you a great nation;

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

Romans 4 (MSG)  We call Abraham “father” not because he got God’s attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody. 

Abraham was first named “father” and then became a father because he dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing.

When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn’t do but on what God said he would do.

Psalm 37:3-5 (NKJV) Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

Joshua 1:8 (AMP) This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth,

you shall read, meditate on it day and night,

so that you may be careful to do everything in accordance with all that is written in it;

for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful. (Put your name here)

John 10:10 (AMP) “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it in abundance, to the full, till it overflows.”

And it may sound over simple, but Jesus is asking us the same thing today. Simply Trust, Delight, Commit.

Isaiah 1:19 (NKJV)  “If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land;”

Living inspired starts with with a willing heart.

Deuteronomy 28:13 (NKJV) “And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.”

TRUST IN THE LORD

DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD

COMMIT YOUR WAY TO THE LORD

Joshua 1:8 (AMP) This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth,

you shall read, meditate on it day and night,

so that you may be careful to do everything in accordance with all that is written in it;

for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful.

Romans 4:19 (NKJV) “And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.”

• Hebrews 12:28,NIV- “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”

• Throughout the scriptures one common characteristic associated with thankfulness is humility. You won’t see one without the other.

• Psalm 25, He leads the humble in justice, and teaches them His way.

• There’s a beautiful story in Luke 7 about the alabaster box.

• As we follow Jesus through the chapter, He makes one of His many bold, in your face statements: “The children of this generation are like spoiled children complaining.”
• Then one of the Pharisees invites Jesus to his house. A prostitute shows up to worship Jesus.

• Luke 7,MSG- She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful.
• If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal.

• Maybe this is why Jesus made statements like, I desire mercy, not sacrifice.

• Here’s something else we should consider, the prostitute saw something in Jesus the Pharisee couldn’t see. Could it be a heart issue?
• Remember, He teaches the humble His ways.

• This week as we gather and celebrate our blessed holiday, lets remember, like the young lady worshiping Jesus, what He’s actually done for us.

• Hebrews 12:28,NIV- “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”

• We should also be grateful, that we live in the most blessed place on the planet.

• Living in a nation where we actually have a day set aside to acknowledge, reflect, and honor the God who made us this great people, we should absolutely express our deepest thanks with honor and humility.

• President George Washington made this statement to our nation, “It is our duty as a nation to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God,
• to be humbly grateful for His protection and favor. And to render unto Him our sincere and humble thanks.”

• As we enter another holiday season, for me personally, Thanksgiving is the kick off of the season, but at the heart of thanksgiving, it’s so much more than a holiday, it’s an attitude of our heart. It’s part of the nature of the born again.

• What if Thanksgiving for the born again was a lifestyle?

• What if we lived like the holiday was everyday?

• I can tell you with absolute certainty that a humble, thankful heart is a game changer in our life of faith. Remember, thankfulness and humility are eternally connected.
• God gives grace to the humble and exalts the humble.

• Unfortunately, in todays society we see way too much of the opposite. So much entitlement, complaining, ungratefulness, more focused on self, focused on what we don’t have.

• Thank God for His word, He provides us one of His most inspiring letters to help us not only navigate challenging times, but right in the middle of them, maintain our God imparted nature of thankfulness and joy.

• Paul’s letter to the Philippians is one of encouragement and thankfulness for their generous giving and ministry support.

• That being said, he still takes the opportunity to pastor them concerning some of their current issues.

• And obviously, this letters primary theme is joy, regardless of situations.
• Paul makes it pretty clear that this kind of joy cannot be found in favorable circumstances, but in a growing relationship with Jesus.

• Philippians 4 would be a wonderful devotion and meditation for all of us through the Thanksgiving holiday.

• Philippians 4:4-7,NLKV- Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
• Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
• Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
• and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

• Here’s a key take home for today, a thankful, reverent heart is truly the threshold for the supernatural. This is why so many Hebrew words connected to thankfulness are the same as worship. And a thankful heart of worship connects us on a more authentic level with God’s presence.

• At the end of the day, the closer we grow in our relationship with Jesus, our natural response will be a more authentic worship.

• Psalm 34, “I worship GOD every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise. I live and breathe GOD;

• King David said, “Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore.
• From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.”
• Psalm 95, “Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the LORD is the great God, and the great King above all gods.”

• Psalm 100, “Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.”

• God's word is very clear that His blessing, His breakthrough, His victory, was always preceded by the praise of His people. Because faith already knows what God has promised He will fulfill.

• We have to realize that a humble, thankful heart, offered to God through our worship, is something our Father loves, but knows that ultimately it’s more for us than Him.

• You see, it's in those times that we take a step of faith and offer our sacrifice of worship to God that we experience Him in new light.

• AW Tozer said, "When we worship in those times when we don't feel like it, it's even more treasured."

• This is why one of the very first thing we have to acknowledge is that thankful heart of worship will absolutely connect us on a more authentic level with God’s presence.

• This is why as Christians,  thanksgiving is so much more than a holiday. Thanksgiving should be at the heart of ever believer confessing Jesus as their savior.

• Giving thanks to God is really a declaration of our trust and reliance to the goodness of God no matter the circumstances.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18,NKJV- “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

• And always remember this, a consistent life of thanksgiving is a faith inspired acknowledgement of all God has done for us.

• Cultivating a lifestyle of thanksgiving is the doorway to receiving more from the Lord.

• This righteous response of thanksgiving is truly an exercise of humility, and what’s comforting is that God gives more grace to the humble.

• King David said, “Let’s give thanks at the remembrance of His name.”

• Remember the 10 lepers that Jesus healed, the thing I love about the one that came back, was that he stopped right away and went back to thank Jesus.

• Remember, being thankful is a declaration that God is faithful and good.

• But unthankfulness is directly connected with unbelief. Psalm 78 actually gives us some clear insight into just how destructive ungratefulness can be. “They limited the Holy One of Israel.”

• And this is why I’m convinced that a major key to receiving more from God is simply being more thankful. Acknowledging what He’s already done.

• 1 Corinthians 15:57-58,NKJV-  “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

• A big take away from Paul is that thanksgiving is connected to victory. And giving thanks before we see the victory is faith, and faith is what connects us to God’s grace.

• My prayer today is to remind all,of us that Jesus is leading us in these victorious, over coming lives. We’re just regular people, with humble, thankful hearts, willing to trust Him.

• Hebrews 12:28,NIV- “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”

• The longer I pastor, the more I realize that anyone willing to embrace this humble thankful approach to a life in Jesus will have a recognizable difference in their life.

• It’s humble, thankful believers that recognize even one touch of God’s immeasurable love is bigger than anything we’re going thorough.

• Listen to president Lincoln’s words as he addressed our nation, “We often forget the source from which the blessings of our fruitful years come.
• No human wisdom or mortal hand has devised these things.
• They are the gracious gift from the Most High God,
• I therefore invite my fellow citizens to observe this day of thanksgiving and praise to our Father who dwells in Heaven.”

• Psalm 9:1,AMP- I will give thanks and praise the LORD, with all my heart.

• Isaiah 1:19,NKJV-  “If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land;”
• MSG- If you willingly obey, you’ll feast like a king.

• Living inspired starts with with a willing heart.

• Like we said last week, our Father is waiting for each of us to take the next step in the life He's already seen we could have.

• What if we started each day with the expectation that today’s gonna be one of the days He’s already seen.

• We’ve got to stay open to the reality that there’s something God wants to accomplish through each of His children. 
• And according to Acts 10:34,NLT- Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism.”

• We are a chosen generation of royalty, we are fearfully and wonderfully made. At the end of the day, it simply comes down to those willing and obedient. 

• Remember last week, “I call heaven and earth as witness to the choice you make.”

• This is why Paul tells us to make the most of every opportunity.

• Here’s the deal, living inspired means there will be times we have to step out beyond our own abilities and Trust, Delight, Commit.

• Psalm 37:3-5,NKJV- Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 
• Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 
• Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

• This truth is possibly one of the greatest faith builders God left for us.
• And make no mistake, there’s no other way of discover or living an inspired life outside of faith.

• Maybe the best we I can describe faith is our positive response to what God has already provided for us by grace.

• There is absolutely nothing that can replace time in God’s word, it’s where we discover our new lives He’s designed for each of us.

• And hands down the Joshua 1:8 principle is the key component in our success in an inspired life.

• Joshua 1:8,AMP- This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, 
• you shall read, meditate on it day and night, 
• so that you may be careful to do everything in accordance with all that is written in it; 
• for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful.

• And since we are these chosen people, fearfully and wonderfully made, the seed of Abraham and heirs according to the promise. God plans is to use each of our lives to be a testimony of His blessing.

• Genesis 12:2-3,NKJV- “I will make you a great nation; 
• I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. 
• 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.”

• You gotta love how God prophesied Abraham’s life to him.

• Galatians 3, You must know that only those who are in Christ are sons of Abraham. Christ redeemedus so that the blessing of Abraham might come on us, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

• And it all started with God giving Abraham one simple step of faith, “go where I’m telling you.”

• And it may sound over simple, but Jesus is asking us the same thing today. Simply Trust, Delight, Commit.

• Go where I’m telling you, do what I’m asking you, one step at a time, one day at a time, one inspired life at a time.

• Remember, I will bless you and make you great so that you will be a blessing!
• This is why our faith is so important.

• Jude 20, Beloved, build yourselves up on the foundation of your most holy faith, continually progressing, rising higher and higher.

• Ultimately, because of who God has made us, we have to take our God ordained lives and exercise our influence. And here’s the deal, according to the apostle Paul, “its according to the power that works in us.”

• I believe this is Isaiah’s point, If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land

• Ephesians 3:20,NKJV- Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

• As I’m putting this talk together, meditating on these revelations from God’s Spirit, I can’t help but wonder how many of us find ourselves following logic instead of God?

• Kinda like baptism, think about it, being dunked in some water, in the natural… come on. But spiritually, according to Jesus it’s an eternal statement for every believer.

• God knows each of us, exactly where we are, what we’re going through, and He’s still got great plans for everyone of us.

• But, as long as we’re okay living without more of God in our lives, we will.

• But the moment we start talking steps of faith toward God, the more inspired our lives become.

• Listen to Paul’s prayer for us out of Ephesians;
• That we embrace the Spirit of wisdom and revelation 
• That we know the hope of His calling
• That we walk in the greatness of His power 

• Remember, living inspired starts with a willing heart.

• Living inspired means there will be times we have to step out beyond our own abilities and trust, delight and commit our way to Him.

• This is why God told us He would bless us and make us great, so we will be a blessing!

• He doesn’t show favoritism or partiality to anyone.

• The Joshua principle isn’t some religious, legalistic suggestion, it’s spiritual law.

• Joshua 1:8,AMP- This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, 
• you shall read, meditate on it day and night, 
• so that you may be careful to do everything in accordance with all that is written in it; 
• for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful.

• Deuteronomy 28:13,NKJV- “And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.”

• Since God has called each of us, according to Joshua and Deuteronomy, He hasn’t called any of us to failure.
• The inspired life is a success life. 

• John 10:10,AMP- “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it in abundance, to the full, till it overflows.”
• So,  TRUST IN THE LORD
• DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD
• COMMIT YOUR WAY TO THE LORD

• Hebrews 4:12,AMP- For the word of God is living and active and full of power, making it operative, energizing, and effective.
• It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit, the completeness of a person, 
• and of both joints and marrow ,the deepest parts of our nature, exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.

• A very important lesson every believer has to come to terms with is the reality that God’s word is living, spiritual reality.

• Jesus told us His words are Spirit and life.

• Here’s the deal, there are 2 Greek words translated word in the NT

• Logos- the written word of God. Our bible.
• Rhema- the revealed, spoken word of God. Individual revelation.

• It’s when the written becomes the revealed that it produces change in humanity.

• This is when Hebrew 4 becomes effective, showing the difference between soul and spirit.

• As well as exposing the thoughts and intents of the heart.

• Something to keep in mind, spiritual truth and natural truth don’t always agree. And this is where faith comes in.

• Accepting, believing, and acting are the fruits of faith.

• Romans 10:17,NKJV- So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
• CEV- No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ.

• We have to understand, the written becoming the revealed only happens through faith.

• And I cannot over emphasize the importance of speaking the rhema of God into our situation, into our physical world.

• Now when it comes to confession, it’s not simply about saying something we’ve heard or memorized. It has to be a revelation to us.

• This is why Jesus made statements like, “according to your faith…”
• The spoken word is how spiritual realities are transferred into our physical reality.

• Unfortunately, the majority doesn’t really believe this truth. Primarily because we’ve tried it and didn’t see immediate results.

• 2 Corinthians 4:13,NKJV- And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak.

• Understand, Paul is writing this right in the middle of some of his most challenging situations. He’s actually quoting the Psalmist who went through difficulties praising and walking out God’s victory.

• Something else to keep in mind about this passage, this “same spirit of faith” according to Romans is the same Spirit that brought Jesus back from the dead.

• Remember, according to our key text, God’s word is the only source exposing the difference between these two worlds we are currently living in.

• This is why the Holy Spirit, just a few verses later in the same chapter in 2 Corinthians makes this radical statement.

• 2 Corinthians 4:18,NKJV- While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

• Think about it, because we have the same spirit of faith, we choose to not look at things that are seen, and according to what is written, we believe and we speak.

• Is it possible that when believers exercise the rhema word of God, we’re actually bringing the unseen into the seen?

• One of my favorite examples of this is in 2 Kings 6, Elisha and his assistant.

• Elisha told him, there are more with us than with them.
• Then he asked the Lord to open his eyes.

• Today, what you and I have to acknowledge, actually accept, is the reality that God’s word is the doorway into Paul’s unseen, the world of the spirit, the eternal.

• Seriously, what do you think the Holy Spirit meant when He told us to walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh?

• I think He’s actually waiting on His people, heirs to start exercising our spiritual senses.

• Remember, Elisha asked God to open the eyes of his assistant. What…

• Think about this, how many times did Jesus say things like, “ he who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

• The harsh reality is, until the born again make room for transformation in our soul, we have no option but our natural senses.

• SPIRIT- Kingdom of God, made like Him, dominion, authority, faith
• SOUL- Free will
• BODY- intelligence, carnality, emotions, senses, unbelief

• And this is why faith is the absolute in the unseen world of God’s Kingdom. Why would Jesus tell us things like, “all things are possible to him who believes.”

• Think about our story in 2 Kings, Elisha took the entire Syrian army captive by exercising the spiritual world.

• Hebrews 11:3,NKJV- By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

• You getting this, things seen didn’t come from this visible world.

• Here’s the deal, at some point we’ve got to stop assuming things of that world will just manifest in this one simply because we’ve processed it intellectually, or even memorized a scripture. We have to have revelation from Him. We’ve got to see it.

• Why? Because just like in this natural world we have to develop our sense, our abilities. It’s exactly the same in the spirit world.

• Hebrews 4:12,AMP- For the word of God is living and active and full of power, making it operative, energizing, and effective.
• It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit, the completeness of a person, 
• and of both joints and marrow ,the deepest parts of our nature, exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.

• Truth is, most of the time it’s not asking God to do something, it’s us transforming to the place where we begin accesses His world.

• Jeremiah 29:13,NKJV- You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

• With all your heart is 100% spiritual. Other dimensional.
• Think about it, God’s not hiding from us.

• 1 Corinthians 15:44-45,NIV- If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
• So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.

• Colossians 1:15-16,NLT- Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.

• I think we should be able to have conversations about the unseen world of God, the Kingdom of Heaven without making it weird.

• Jesus constantly talked about it.

• At the same time, we've got to understand that as one of His born again, He sees, expects, and addresses each us us as heirs, in our new life, not our humanity.

• We have to understand, God will not violate the freedom He gave us.

• But without revelation from the Holy Spirit, embracing a completely new way of living will remain a mystery.

• Notice the first thing Jesus tells them is repent. In other words, change what you're thinking and doing.

• Romans 12:2,NKJV- Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

• Hebrews 4, The word of God is living, active and full of power, exposing the difference of the soul and spirit, exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.

• This is why Jesus said, My words are spirit and life.

• Psalm 37:3-5,NKJV- Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 
• Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 
• Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

• This is why Paul reminds us, “Don’t focus on things that are seen, but on things that are unseen. Because things that are seen are temporary, but things in the unseen are eternal.”

• The reason time in God’s word is so important for the born again is because in our new lives we’re built to live different.

• Seriously, don’t focus on things that are seen… but things that are unseen???

• This is where Trust, Delight, Commitment come into play.

• Think about it, according to the apostle Peter, we’re a chosen generation of royalty.

• We are the seed of Abraham and heirs according to the promise. What promise?

• Genesis 12:2-3,NKJV- “I will make you a great nation; 
• I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. 
• 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.”

• As the seed of Abraham, we are the people of God. That being said, we cannot overlook the reality that Jesus told us; everything about the Kingdom works according to seedtime. Here’s a perfect example, 

• Psalm 139:16,NLT- You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

• This is whyTrust, Delight, Commitment are absolutes.

• Consider this, according to Psalm 139, He saw this day, just as clear as the day He formed us. Which means, He’s got a life laid out for each of us. This is that Romans 8, predestined life.

• Is it possible that our Heavenly Father is patiently waiting for each of us to take the next step in the life He's already seen we could have.

• Here’s a couple of my favorite scriptures that help me process this inspired life Jesus died for.

• Ephesians 1:4-5,NLT- Long before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. 

• Ephesians 1:11,MSG- It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, He had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose He is working out in everything and everyone. 

• A Here’s the deal, none of us will ever discover this new life, this inspired living, passively waiting for the Lord to perform one of His miracles, while we continue doing life the way we've always done it.

• It may sound over simple, but it all comes down to this one truth, Jesus said, follow Me and I’ll make you…

• Y’all have heard me say this for years, watching Jesus while we do our own thing isn't following Him.

• And without a doubt, following Jesus requires Trust, Delight, Commitment.

• Remember, As the seed of Abraham, heirs of God, He’s got a life waiting to be discovered. So live inspired.

• Genesis 12, “I will make you a great nation; 
• I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.”

• You gotta love how God prophesied Abraham’s life to him.

• And it all started with God giving Abraham one simple step of faith, “go where I’m telling you.”

• One step at a time, one day at a time, one inspired life at a time.

• Here’s what’s crazy, He’s already seen our lives, and He's still asking you to follow Him.

• As a matter of fact, Jesus tells us, "You did not choose Me, I chose you that you should go and bare fruit."
• Mark 3:13-14,NKJV- And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. Then He appointed twelve, 
• 1. that they might be with Him 
• 2. that He might send them out to preach

• Remember what Paul told us in Ephesians, "It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we're living for."

• God gave us three simple principles for success in the "In Christ" Trust, Delight, Commit.

• Make today one of those days you discover something He saw in you the day He formed you.

• The Apostle Paul said, " Be wise and make the most of every opportunity."

• God knew we wouldn’t be able to control every circumstance, but we can control our commitment.

• Coach John Wooden would always say, "You've got to apply yourself every day to be better, it won't just happen."

• We all need to leave here today with this reality, our Father is patiently waiting for each of us to take the next step in the life He's already seen we could have?

• And the greatest part is, He’s given us His Spirit to inspire, direct, empower.

• Romans 8:11,NLT- The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

• What if today is the day God takes you out of your routine, by simply asking you to take a step of faith towards a life He laid out before we took our first breath.

• But by design, He gave you the power of choice.

• Deuteronomy 30:19,NLT- “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!"

• Today's question is; Have you grown comfortable in your routine, in the securities of your day-to-day, not even considering that the God might be waiting on you to take your next step of faith.

• So what if today is the day God is gonna send someone your way to change the course of your life? Or He sends you to do the same to someone? Live Inspired.

• One of my favorite stories is Elijah and Elisha. Elisha was a regular guy going through his same old routine, with no idea Elijah is about to show up in his life.

• Living inspired means staying open, refusing to settle in behind the plow where our view of what we see everyday gets in our way of seeing something new.

• So sometimes God will send one of His faithful into you life to give you a little nudge.

• One reason I love this story so much is, Elisha shows is what God can accomplish through everyday people, willing to take a step of faith. Willing to live inspired.

• What’s crazy is Elisha went so far as to burn everything that could hold him back for his God opportunity.

• Maybe a little plow burning is exactly what some fo us might need. Think about it, what are you gonna do when Jesus shows up and drops His mantle on you?

• Psalm 37:3-5,NKJV- Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 
• Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 
• Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.