The Church of Eleven22

DO YOU NEED A MIRACLE? Do not fear; only believe, fight through the crowd and pray. Do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

THERE IS NO SHAME IN YOUR PAST. In Christ, your past pain is a platform for God’s Glory. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. – Saul of Tarsus (aka the Apostle Paul)

“I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:24 “Humanity falls into two equal and opposite errors concerning the devil. Either they take him altogether too seriously or they do not take him seriously enough.” – C.S. LEWIS “You cannot cast out the flesh and you cannot disciple a demon.” – Robert Morris

One of the best ways to DEEPEN your relationship with Jesus is to help others DISCOVER theirs.

The Purpose of Jesus’ Miracle isn’t necessarily to show His RAW POWER but to point to His REDEMPTIVE PURPOSE.

Do you believe?

Will you build your life of the Rock of surrender to Jesus or the shifting sands of Self? Final Thought: “Give me all of you!!! I don’t want so much of your time, so much of your talents and money, and so much of your work. I want YOU!!! ALL OF YOU!! I have not come to torment or frustrate the natural man or woman, but to KILL IT! No half measures will do. I don’t want to only prune a branch here and a branch there; rather I want the whole tree out! Hand it over to me, the whole outfit, all of your desires, all of your wants and wishes and dreams. Turn them ALL over to me, give yourself to me and I will make of you a new self---in my image. Give me yourself and in exchange I will give you Myself. My will, shall become your will. My heart, shall become your heart.” CS Lewis, Mere Christianity

A TRUE friend is in the business of getting into your business. Do you have a friend like that? Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. Proverbs 27:6

God is who He says He is and He always keeps his promises. Rest in this truth. God’s Ultimate promise: 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32

In His MERCY God created refuge for ALL PEOPLE before we even knew we needed it. In His GRACE God provided the salvation we could never achieve on our own. God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive MERCY and find GRACE to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

When you believe in a Sovereign Lord you pray BIG BOLD prayers. (Acts 4:23-31) “Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:13-16

How would you describe your financial situation? FAITHFUL, FEARFUL, or FALSE SECURITY 24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:24-25, 33

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 1 Corinthians 1:25

God did not save you to make much of you, but the gospel frees you to make much of Him. “It is about the greatness of God, not the significance of man. God made man small and the universe big to say something about himself.” ― John Piper, Don't Waste Your Life

“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” –Joshua 3:5

RAHAB's REALITY 1. She knew that she was in trouble; judgment was coming. 2. She knew that she could not save herself. 3. She knew that her only hope was the grace and mercy of God.

Strength and Courage are not found within YOU but in knowing that God is With You. Now What? – 1. What step of faith is God calling you to take? 2. Why aren’t you taking it? What are you afraid of? 3. How will you lean into Jesus? 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:4-10

The ordinance of communion is a gift from God for his children by which they can begin to understand and experience the reality that they are: 1. Under a new covenant. 2. Part of a new community. 3. Purposed as a new creation.

Jesus came to knock down all of the roadblocks for us to come to know God. The Church’s job is to knock down all the roadblocks for others to meet Jesus. Final Thought: “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.” Acts 15:19 (NIV)

The Good News of Christmas is that Jesus came on a rescue mission for ALL people. THAT INCLUDES YOU. “Once in our world,a Stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world.”– C.S. Lewis

Jesus came to seek and save the lost. We will find ourselves in line with this mission or in the way of this mission.

"Christmas is the end of thinking you are better than someone else, because Christmas is telling you that you could never get to heaven on your own. God had to come to you." – Tim Keller Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[b] being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8

The reason to put your HOPE in Jesus is because HE is full of GRACE and TRUTH: The TRUTH to change your life and the GRACE to sustain your life. “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”- Jesus (Matthew 7:24-27)

Christmas is not about a helpless baby accidentally born in a stable. Christmas is about the majesty of the fully divine humbling Himself to come and rescue that which is His!

Jesus says that we will continue the work that He started and even do greater things. What has He called YOU to do? Have no fear, but step out in faith. “What in the world could we do that would be better than building a church.” - Rodney McLauchlan

God has blessed you to be a blessing. What greater blessing could we be than to invest in God’s expanding kingdom? “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” – Jim Elliot

The cul-de-sac of stupidity leads us to a place where the things we own begin to own us. Materialism promises safety, security and happiness but is unable to keep its promise. “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.” – John Piper

God has entrusted you with Time, Talent and Treasure. What you do with them declares what you believe about God. “Everything I do is either going to bring reward or regret.” – Francis Chan

We BRING to God our FIRST and BEST because God FIRST loved us by giving HIS BEST. "And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister." Colossians 1: 21-23

May God's blessings in our lives be vehicles for Praising God not obstacles to it. Action Steps: How do I cultivate an attitude of Gratitude? 1. Count your blessings: literally. Homework: write out 1 blessing for every year of your life. 2. Talk about your blessings vs. complaining. 1 week challenge 3. Preach the Gospel to yourself. (Deut 6:20ff) Final Thought: Deuteronomy 6- 20 “When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the Lord our God has commanded you?’ 21 then you shall say to your son, ‘We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt. And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 And the Lord showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes.23 And he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us the land that he swore to give to our fathers. 24 And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day. 25 And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us.’

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9

As we understand the depths of our own depravity in light of the height of God’s love and mercy toward us it SHOULD stir a deep sense of worship. “And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” Galatians 4:6-7

The Almighty, Ever-Present, All-Knowing, Never-Changing God of the Universe wants YOU to Discover and Deepen a Relationship with Him through Jesus. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20 God is Infinitely Powerful and Intensely Personal – Matt Chandler

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!! Prayer is not about information. It is about intimacy with the Father. Prayer is the means by which our Sovereign God accomplishes “on Earth as it is in Heaven”.

"Lord, let me make a difference for you that is utterly disproportionate to who I am."– David Platt

We are all snake bitten. You can either continue to DENY it and cover it, or DIAGNOSE it and be Cured. The Hope found in Jesus is Greater than your Despair. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God". John 3:14-18

"Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil." Ephesians 4:26-27 "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." James 1:19-20 "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:31-32

The opposite of Faith is FEAR (not doubt). Fear paralyzes. Faith produces. Without Faith it is impossible to please God. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:17-20

Complaining is rooted in putting our hope in ever changing circumstances. Contentment is found in putting our hope in the never changing Christ.

There is one certainty for all humanity. We each will have to atone for the guilt of our sins. Each of us has two options; either we self-atone or we surrender to Christ’s atoning work on the cross.

The Point: Where sin runs deep, grace runs deeper.

The Point: Get off of the merry go round of normality and LIVE the Life that Jesus has for you. Final Thought: "If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." – CS Lewis "If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world." – CS Lewis

Big Idea: Victory does not start with bold actions or rigorous obedience but with intimate faith in Jesus Christ. We overcome the world because He overcame the world!

Love is revealed in Freedom and Forgiveness while FEAR is rooted in control and condemnation. Perfect Love (Jesus) casts out fear. Final Thought: And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Matthew 8:23-26 "So, we know and believe as a settled reality in our souls that the God who is love indeed loves us. Furthermore, as we abide in the love of God, the God of love abides in us! Thus we see faith and love and knowledge working together to assure our hearts that this God of love is our God and Father" – Daniel Akin

God is Love. If God lives in us then we should Love. Final Thought: “For the essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man. Man asserts himself against God and puts himself where only God deserves to be; God sacrifices himself for man and puts himself where only man deserves to be.” – John Stott