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Mind Monsters Sermon Notes | Week 3
Mind Monsters | WEEK THREE
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Last Week Pastor Will gave us the P48 Test. If we want to be freed from Mind Monsters, run your thoughts through the P48 test.
WHAT WAS THE P48 Test?
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Another translation says: “Keep putting into practice all you learned from me” You have to practice what you learn from the bible. That is what discipleship is all about. Discipleship is a process.
Hebrews 12:11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Discipline is tough! Did you get spankings as a youth? We didn’t have ‘time out’. Instead ‘time to knock you out’. “I was spanked as a child and now I suffer from a thing called respect.”
If you yield to disciple, it will reap a harvest of peace and righteousness in your life. There is a logical progression when you learn math. You start with addition and then subtraction before you can get to multiplication.
Here is how discipleship works: God gives us things to add and subtract in our lives before we can receive his divine multiplication. OH we love the idea of God’s divine multiplication of our health, finances, energy, health, etc!
BUT when God tells us to ADD prayer ADD fasting ADD scripture ADD serving others SUBTRACT time thieves SUBTRACT bad influences SUBTRACT unhealthy choices… All the sudden we find excuses to short cut or circumvent God’s process and discipline. The truth is that God wants us to LIVE in his Divine Multiplication and will give you a path to follow. Go for it! He will not leave you or abandon you along the way. Stick with the process. Trust the process.
WE CAN TRUST GOD when we are out of control. HE IS IN CONTROL!
There was a man that really wanted healing from Jesus. He was a blind, beggar named Bartimaeus. One day when Jesus was walking by…
“he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. (mind monsters) But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” (oh…NOW you want to be encouraging…church people smh)
And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.
In this one story, we see the path for multiplication or divine healing from Jesus.
- RECOGNIZE Mind Monsters (rebuked and told to be silent)
- REJECT Mind Monsters (but he cried out all the more)
- REPLACE Mind Monsters (let me recover my sight!)
Let’s go back through that little story and find those points: Mark 10:46
- You have to recognize Mind Monsters
Turn to your neighbor and say: “You betta RECOGNIZE!” The people surrounding him represent the mind monsters. They were reemphasizing them to him. “…And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.”
Do you know it’s easier to recognize someone else’s mind monsters than your own? It’s hard to recognize your own mind monsters. You need positive people in your life. Other people’s monsters are easy to recognize and seem so dumb. Our own seem huge. Other people’s seem crazy. Why are you scared of that? (Ex- Will last week preaching)
When it’s OUR life, it’s hard to recognize it because it’s wrapped up in our thoughts One of the most difficult tasks you have is to see your current situation for what it is, not what you think it might be. If you are struggling to RECOGNIZE the MM then get people in your life to help you. Allow them in.
Next:
REJECT the Mind Monster
There is a saying that is old-school Pentecostal. Not sure if you are familiar in those circles, but when it comes to Mind Monsters, old school Pentecostal churches were a good place to find some freedom! They would say, “the devil is a liar!” (with attitude)
Something would come to mind that is not according to God’s will: “the devil is a liar!” When your told that you will not be successful at school: “The devil is a Liar!” You have a year to live: “the devil is a liar!” You will not be hired by that company: “the devil is a liar!” Your car is out of gas: “the devil is a liar!”
When Blind Bart was told… “You don’t deserve to talk to God…” “God is not interested in you…”
I LOVE what the scripture says, “But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” ……And Jesus stopped”
Once you recognize that the words coming to your mind are not the promise of God but are instead the lie of the enemy, you need to stand up to them and reject the word of darkness! “Son of David, have mercy on me!!”
Then, you REPLACE the Monster!
Joel 3:10 Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears;
let the weak say, “I am a warrior.” Joel 3:10 – take what you already have. What I have already have given you. You already have what you need. If if if if…. Then then then… NO you already have what you need.
HE doesn’t say ‘you are strong.’ He says, “let the weak say I am strong.” He calls you weak, but wants you to say that you are strong. I failed, I made mistakes, YEAH but he is strong. In your weakness he is MADE strong
I will SAY that I am strong!
HERE ARE 9 PROMISES TO REPLACE MIND MONSTERS
1.) When I am anxious about some risky new venture or meeting, I battle unbelief with the promise: Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed for I am your God; I will help you, I will strengthen you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand”
2.) When I am anxious about being useless and empty, I fight unbelief with the promise, Isaiah 55:11 “So shall my word that goes forth from my mouth; it will not come back to me empty but accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it”
3.) When I am anxious about being too weak to do my work, I battle unbelief with the promise of Christ, 2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness”
4.) When I am anxious about decisions I have to make about the future, I battle unbelief with the promise, Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you”
5.) When I am anxious about facing opponents, I battle unbelief with the promise, Romans 8:31 “If God is for us who can be against us!”
6.) When I am anxious about being sick, I battle unbelief with the promise in Romans 5:3–5 “tribulation works patience, and patience approved-ness, and approved-ness hope, and hope does not make us ashamed”
7.) When I am anxious about getting old, I battle unbelief with the promise, Isaiah 46:4 “Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save”
8.) When I am anxious about dying, I battle unbelief with the promise Romans 14:8–9 “none of us lives to himself and none of us dies to himself; if we live we live to the Lord and if we die we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose again: that he might be Lord both of the dead and the living”
9.) When I am anxious that I may make shipwreck of faith and fall away from God, I battle unbelief with the promise, 1 Thessalonians 5:23 “He who began a good work in you will complete it unto the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:6). “He who calls you is faithful. He will do it”
Want more content on this topic? Get Kevin Gerald’s book: Mind Monsters!
No Show Sunday 2016
NO SHOW SUNDAY
Today, Worship is a lot different from a normal Sunday.
If you are a guest today, normally, you would have had:
- people helping you in the parking lot
- folks meeting you at the door and helping you find a seat.
- The grass would have been mowed.
- The Student Center would have been unlocked! Teachers would have been over there to welcome your family, check in the kids and teach them about Jesus!
- Loving Volunteers in the Nursery that have passed an extensive background check would have been loving on your babies and changing their dirty diapers while you worshipped over here.
- There would have been a band and singers up here!
- There would have been words on the screen when we tried to learn that new song.
- There would have been some lights turned on
WHAT HAPPENED?? Jesus came back and raptured all the real Christians! We are the only ones left.
Actually, TODAY IS CALLED NO SHOW SUNDAY. WE ASKED ALL THE VOLUNTEERS TO NOT SERVE TODAY! Our goal is to have the worst worship experience of PromiseLand San Marcos.
If your kids get a little antsy, we understand. We provided some colors and a piece of paper for them to do some artwork. AT THE END OF SERVICE, EVERYONE GETS ICE CREAM THAT LISTENS INTENTLY.
If you are a guest, we invite you back next week. It will be awesome!
Two objectives today!
- The current volunteers will hear our heartfelt thanks! We could do it without you, but it would really stink.
- That we will recruit the potential of some of you.
Let me show you this in the Bible:
John 2:1 The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. 3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.”
Honor was everything in their culture. In our culture, profit or success or achievement is everything. In their culture, you were supposed to honor each other and when you ran out of wine you had failed to honor your guests.
TODAY, we had no wine for you. We did not honor you or God today. This happens a lot in churches in America. Churches fail to honor God and guests.
We have always made it a priority at PSM to honor our guests and make them feel welcomed in our home. When it doesn’t happen, we do everything in our power to make it better. Guests are a big deal at PSM.
Over the last 13 years, we have had 9467+ of people walk through our doors! Our Question is: Will we have wine at the party? Will we honor our guests. When they get here we need to be able to give them the very best!
When we honor guests, we honor God!
We have some big weddings in our day and time. (bridezillas) Weddings in Jesus’ day were HUGE. They could last up to a week. This was an opportunity for a wedding, but also for gift giving. For us to not have order, excellence, joy is a disgrace, dishonor. We are the church of God. We are serving the bread of life.
God is great and greatly to be praised!
Our culture here at PSM is one that honors God and serves His people!
- Every member is a minister (everyone represents God to others)
- Every task is important
- Everybody is a 10 at something.
Some today might say, I like this environment, it is quieter, we don’t need the lights and loud music. If God wants to save them, then he can save them. If you are leaning that way, make sure you aren’t using God’s sovereignty to hide your apathy. Just because he can doesn’t mean he will. HE CREATED YOU FOR A PURPOSE. Get in the game!
Mary had just hinted that Jesus should do something about the wine problem.
4 “…woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”
KIDS, this is the one time you can not do what Jesus does. Do not use this verse. You can’t use this passage as WWJD. – “Son, do your homework…woman, my time has not come.”
Jesus says that this has nothing to do with him. He could have every right to say that about all of earth including our sin. “I’m pure, spotless. They are unholy. What does this have to do with me?” Instead, he empties himself for us. Jesus is about to turn water into wine. It seems like is a bit out of place. Making wine at wedding?
Some might think that they are over qualified to serve. Look at Jesus. Do you think that you are better than Jesus? Jesus was doing quite well separated from humanity but instead lowered himself to become like us and then to die a gruesome death in our place.
In a few minutes, I will give you all the opportunity to jump into serving here at PSM and we will all have to face One of the biggest barriers to serving: PRIDE.
Shaking hands, smiling at people, parking cars, picking up trash, serving coffee.
YOU ARE OVERQUALIFIED FOR ALL OF THESE TASKS.
Jesus was way over qualified to take your sins on his back and carry them to the cross. He was way over qualified to turn water into wine.
You are never more like Jesus than when you are serving (giving).
Even Jesus, had to be prompted to act!
5 But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.”…
Jesus takes something very ordinary and puts ordinary water in them. See God make something supernatural with it.
This happens every week at PSM: I want to CELEBRATE our volunteers for a moment! We have 180 volunteer positions on each Sunday. That encompasses: 360 hours per Sunday, 1512 hours per month, 18,144 hours a year! At minimum wage that is a value of: $3000/week and $156,000/year! Many are doubling up multiple jobs and many are working both services.
And these are not minimum wage jobs! We have
- business owners that are open doors and park cars.
- ‘stay at moms’/professional moms that sing and prepare Sunday School lessons
- IT guys that work all week at the office and then get here and make this place look amazing!
- We have single parents that get here at 7:00am on their day off with all their kids dressed well and get ready to serve you. (Parking in top lot)
7… When the jars had been filled, 8 he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions. 9 When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over.
All the guests at the wedding had no idea of what happened to make the miracle happen. But the servants knew!
Every week Jesus is turning water into wine for people at PSM!
You may not see it, but every week we get responses from people who have gone through divorce and yet God has given them peace.
- Jenny diagnosed with stage 3 cancer and then a turnaround where there is no treatment needed.
- Paul on the edge of a breakdown and God turns around his situation, emotions, marriage.
- 2 weeks ago 82 people were baptized! What about the dozen volunteers who were at the church at 6am getting speakers loaded in trucks?!
- Last week, 115 School Backpacks given out! What about the volunteers who gave, went shopping, stuffed the pack, handed out the packs!?
- Over 200 have attended the Growth Track this year. Who served the food, put up the tables, sat down for 1-on-1 counseling?!
Everyone gets to taste it. But only those that serve get to see the transformation.
PromiseLand has some fine tasting wine! In order for God to produce the wine, he is working through a lot of servants who are faithfully taking ordinary clay pots and filling them with ordinary water.
God is doing some amazing things around our house and those that are serving are participating in the miracle!
STARTING TO SERVE IS SIMPLE:
- Take the piece of paper in the seat in front of you and circle ONE box.
- Another way is to go on the CITY this afternoon and all of the specific spots available will be listed.
- If you are ready to make a move, then follow through. If you are feeling guilty here today and sign up and then we try to reach you and you won’t ever call or email us back, then don’t waste the time filling out the card.
If you have been here a while and have been drinking the wine and you are ready to start carrying a jar then, we need you to start carrying a jar!
We have spots available with kids, in social areas, in private areas, cooking meals, shaking hands, cutting grass, working in the dirt!
Carry a jar! There are some servants that are carrying your dead weight. If you are only wanting to social sip at the PSM spiritual wedding, then it’s time to move along! Either move spiritually deeper or move to a church were sitting around is acceptable.
I’m hoping that we will never take for granted what happens here at PSM. We need to treat everyone like a VIP.
Let’s do John 2:5- God is going to continue to turn water into wine! Will you be a part?
- What happens at PSM changes lives forever. This is not a social club or a religious death trap.
- Faithful people humbly make a difference every week. Some every week, some biweekly. Some once a month.
- It takes a little jolt or ‘ask’ from someone else to motivate.
At the Movies: Secret Lives of Pets | Sermon Notes
Sermon notes for the final message in the “At the Movies” series.
Who here is a pet person? Do we have any cat ladies in here?
We have 2 dogs. Weiner dog and a Yorkie. I love dogs until I smell them. Then, it is over. That is a challenge in our house. When we got our Yorkie, we were trying to name her as a pup and my brother-in-law said, “You should name her ‘poops and pees a lot’.”
“The Secret Lives of Pets” is all about a dog named Max who is in love with his owner, but is struggling with this identity. He is struggling with her acceptance of him. He is tempted to believe that another dog would steal her affection away from him. When Duke shows up it reveals his secret turmoil (that is subconscious) and drives him in to a secret plot of sin. He does all sorts of things when his owner isn’t looking.
Have you ever wondered what your pet is doing when you’re away? Ever know of someone who sat up a “pet cam” to see what’s going on?
Surveillance is big business today. Everybody from the military to the corporate world launches satellites so sensitive they can read words on a golf ball sitting in your front yard. Security cameras capture your every move in the mall, the grocery store, the school. We even have security cameras here on our church property.
But nobody sees everything you do, do they? It just so happens that one person does.
One of the characteristics of God is that he is omniscient, which is a big way of saying “He knows everything”,
Psalm 139:1-3 O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.
God knows the amount of Hairs of your head, Your past, your future, those things no one else knows. (Might make you feel uncomfortable),
He sees not just what’s going on outside, but what’s going on in your heart and your head, the motives and attitudes and feelings nobody else sees.
He sees the insecurities and identity problems you have (as MAX) when DUKE shows up!
Few of us do very little wrong (I hope) on Sunday morning at church, because we know everybody’s watching. But what about when we’re away from church, when we’re at home, at work, or alone? Do we have a SECRET LIFE Mon-Sat?
Not necessarily something that happens everyday or every week, but thoughts, attitudes, events that happen from time to time that no one else knows about. That we would hate for others to find out?
WHAT DO WE DO WITH THESE TIMES? WHAT DO WE DO WITH THESE THOUGHTS…THESE HABITS?
If ever there was a person who fell into a secret life, it was King David. David wasn’t caught on tape, but records of what he did are in the Bible. David was a Great warrior. A Great leader. One of the greatest kings of all time. Loved and respected by many. God (his Owner) loved him so much.
2 Samuel 11:1 In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.
2 Samuel 11:2-4: Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath 3 He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her.
David was in a place he where he should not have been and as a result found himself tempted in an intoxicating way. If David had his attention where God wanted it, he would never put it where God didn’t want it. David begins a chain of secret events that leads to murder.
Here are 3 important facts about Secret Lives:
-
Secret Lives Hinder Purpose
David’s sin was not in seeing Bathsheba. His sin was not trusting that God would provide satisfaction for him. He believed the lie of the devil that said, “Bathsheba will provide you the satisfaction you need”.
David’s purpose in life (like you and me) is to honor God and live for him! It is that simple. We make life so much more complicated.
When David started down the secret path of life, he started deviated from the original purpose in which God created him.
Your life will have so many details: occupation, marriage, finances, school, hobbies, fun stuff, hard stuff. Because we are so busy with all those categories of life, we can forget the original purpose and plan back at the garden of eden. Worship God. Be a good steward over the earth.
We get distracted just like Max. We get distracted just like David. We start doubting our worth. We start desiring immediate satisfaction. We doubt our impact on others. We are afraid of not having enough money. We start thinking about ourselves TOO MUCH.
Thinking about yourself too much is PRIDE.
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.
This proverb is your warning sign today! Your God-given purpose in life is going to be stalled, distracted and ultimately destroyed by your selfish perspective.
That leads us right into fact #2:
-
Secret Lives Have Consequences
2 Samuel 11:5 Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent David a message, saying, “I’m pregnant.”
David attempts to hide his sin so that it is not exposed. Sins leads simply to more sin.
David brings Uriah home to give him a report on the war, Throws him a party, Gets him drunk, and hopes that he will sleep with Bathsheba. Offering a cover-up for her pregnancy.
The lies, manipulation, and impact on the armed forces who remain in battle without one of their leaders is obvious. Plan fails. Uriah is loyal to his men who are at battle with the enemy
Then, David puts Uriah on the front line so that he will be killed in the intensity of battle. The disregard for human life in order to keep his sin hidden is again obvious.
David is willing to pursue anything that will keep his sin from being exposed. It takes all of his energies, and the one sin multiplies itself into more sin.
Sin always promises something it cannot deliver.
When we hear these promises, we are tempted to give in, to accept the deception and justify our action. David must have done that.
We delete texts. We make up stories. We erase internet history. We have others cover for us. We lie to ourselves. We say that it really doesn’t matter to anyone else. We say that our kids will grow up and not be affected.
The whole concept of hiding our sin is deceptive. Our sin is never hidden before God and only hidden with difficulty from our conscience. Our hidden sin hinders our fellowship with God and others and is a barrier to spiritual life and power.
The good news is that NO ONE is too far gone for God!
That takes us to Fact #3 about Secret Lives:
-
Secret Lives Can Receive Forgiveness
The first verse of chapter 12 introduces us to Nathan,
One of the bravest and boldest men in all the Bible. Nathan told David a parable-type story of a very rich man who killed the only sheep of a poor man.
Story that revealed David as if he were looking in a mirror. So that David can “get a good look at himself.” David had a sense of right and wrong.
When he heard Nathan’s story, he probably sprang to his feet and demanded, “Where is this man? We will arrest him. We will execute him!”
It is interesting how easily we can see the sin in somebody else, but we cannot see it in your own life. That was David’s problem.
Can you imagine the look on David’s face when Nathan says, “It is YOU!”. David has done the things that God said, “Thou shalt not do.” Is he going to get by with it?
We all need a “Nathan” around us who will tell us the truth about ourselves and help us stay humble before the Lord.
Through Nathan’s boldness, David had a different attitude. His heart had changed once the “cover up” was revealed.
He didn’t excuse himself or justify his sin, but freely owns it:
2 Samuel 12:13 …I have sinned against the Lord,
He submitted to the conviction. He owns his guilt
Psalm 51:2-3 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.
Psalm 51:12: Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
In spite of what we do God still loves us!
None of us are too far gone…Quite possibly God has sent me today to warn you of some things going on in your life right now. If you have felt the uncomfortable tension of conviction, then listen to the Spirit today.
Mark 2:17… “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
1 Corinthians 4:4 My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide. 5 So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.
Let’s give everything to God today. Maybe you are locked in some habits or addictions. Maybe you have struggled with your identity or your acceptance from others.
Receive the Good News today that God accepts you and loves you. He wants to make your life shaped in his plan and will.
God wants to forgive you and heal you today through the power of Jesus Christ!
Independence Day: Resurgence | Sermon Notes
Today, we are going launching a new series called, “At the Movies!” Each Sunday we will take a current blockbuster movie and use it as a parable to tell the amazing story of God’s Good News!
This is fourth of July weekend, so obviously we are going with INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE
This movie is a sequel to the original 20 years ago. There was an alien attack on the world in 1996 and a crew led by Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum fought back to reestablish their independence from alien occupation.
Now, in 2016 there has been a resurgence of domination, fear, and possession. The aliens represent an occupation of evil that strips humanity of its dignity, creativity, and most of all our independence.
The aliens are huge, multi-layer, extremely quick and intelligent. Obviously, more power than humans and can maintain complete control over humans. Our guns are big enough. Our money doesn’t matter to them. Our beauty, Athletic skill, education, means NOTHING to them. Aliens are not intimidated at all. When your spaceship lands on the Atlantic ocean (the whole Atlantic ocean) there isn’t much that earthlings can do.
In reality, there IS a force that dominates humanity. There is a force of darkness that descended on the planet many years ago.
The devil has been fighting us for millennia. Breaking up marriages, pitting us against each other, spreading diseases, violence erupting, natural disasters, greed is a contagious power that eats away the soul and spirit of humanity
The good news is that we can be FREE from this grip of the devil. JESUS CHRIST came to the earth to live as one of us and fight the fight. Jesus Christ took on our sins and brokenness and nailed it to the cross.
Colossians 4:13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
When wondering how to apply this VICTORY of JESUS to our life, the story of America’s independence has an amazing parallel. Tomorrow, we will be BBQing, shooting fireworks, hanging out at the River.
Ironically, on July 4, 1776, a battle was not won. A Document was voted on. It wasn’t even signed (it was signed a month later). We celebrate our DAY of Independence, not on a battle day but instead as the day our make-shift congress voted on a document.
BUT It was more than a document. It was a declaration! A Declaration is a statement asserting or protecting a legal right.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown…
- They made it known formally or officially. They revealed or made it manifest.
- They stated emphatically or authoritatively.
- “Not longer will we be dictated, ruled, controlled, by the King of England.”
The king didn’t have their interest in mind.
When you declare something it begins to manifest. IT IS TIME THAT WE DECLARE OR ASSERT OUR LEGAL RIGHT AS GOD’s Kids.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm (profess), for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
Romans 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
What do you need to be independent from? Because Jesus literally lived a sinless life and then willingly gave his life for the sins of all the world, then we have a legal right as God’s kids to live a life of freedom!
We declare to OURSELVES, our PEERS, our ENEMY our independence from:
- OUR SIN
- OUR EMOTIONS
- OUR MINDS
- OUR APATHY
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
WHAT ABOUT WHEN THERE IS A RESURGENCE?
Sometimes, even after the devil has been defeated in your life, he will rear his ugly head and act like it never happened.
What do you do in a resurgence?
John 8:35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.
John 8:44 …He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.
THE DEVIL IS A LIAR.
When temptation comes your way, you need to say, “Oh, Hell NO”!
Do you know John Dickinson or Robert Livingston? They both did not sign because they clung to the idea of reconciliation with Brittan.
Statements that Shape My Life
Statements that Shape My Life
Tuesday, I am headed over the hill. I will turn 40. It has made me become a little introspective. It has made me think about where I am going, where I have been and who has been on the path with me.
I preached my first sermon 20 years ago in 1996. 12 people were there. 8 of them were related to me. Since then, I have preached 1000s of times. I’ve held 4 different pastor positions in 3 different churches in two states. I have ministered in North America, South America, Africa, and Asia. I traveled some in Europe. I have been blessed to serve on boards of non-profit organizations, lead ministers’ associations, help plant 4 different churches. Been married 17 years and have 3 beautiful kids. Our church in San Marcos started in 2003 with 30 people and now (13 years later) averages over 1200 per weekend. I am so blessed.
However, I have lived long enough to know that, I am a man. Every day that I do not die is a great opportunity for me to sin. I am very capable of sinning and falling short of perfect. I could walk into pride, jealousy, selfishness, greed, lust, and loose my focus on Jesus.
Therefore, I CLING to my faith in Jesus and my obedience to His way. I surround myself with other believers that will keep me accountable.
When I look back on my life, I can remember statements that people told me that shaped my life. 40 years is a long time. To remember one sentence that one person said 30 years ago…that is incredible. It had to be a serious situation.
I’m sure everyone in here, if given the time, could remember statements that shaped your life from childhood to the present day. Some were spoken in trauma. Some statements were spoken in party times. Some statements push us. Others challenge us. Some statements make us angry. Some make our hearts skip a beat.
Regardless, of the environment of the statement or even the speaker of the statement, we have a choice of what to do with the statement. We are holders of the statement. We are stewards or guardians of the statement.
Over the course of Peyton Manning’s career (we are the same age), he wrote notes to people in his life. Those people saved the notes and in a tribute to Him in his retirement, Gaterade compiled these notes and sent one back to Peyton.
Words are enormous. They paint pictures. They express emotion, commitment, concern, disapproval.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29
Throughout the Bible we see some powerful statements!
“Sarah, You will give birth to a son.”
Joseph told his brothers, “I had a dream last night that you all would bow down to me.”
“Moses, What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.”
“Naomi, where you go, I will go. Where you stay, I will stay. Your God is my God.”
“Ruth, go to Boaz’s house and make your intentions known to him.”
“Samuel, go back to bed, but listen for God’s voice.”
Elijah said to the widow, “I know that you don’t have hardly any food left, but cook me a meal first.”
Here are some statements that shaped my life. These may not be for you…they were for me.
Starting in around 1980 my dad repeated a certain phrase to me…
- “Your word is your bond.” – Dad
In 1989, my parents had found some materials in my room that were not becoming of a future pastor. Music with explicit lyrics and notes from a girl at school…
- “I’m not going to punish you. You need to pray until you hear from God and then come talk to me.” – Dad
The next statement was from someone that I don’t even remember her name, but she said something so kind. She was a mom in my boy scout troop. This was probably not too much after my dad’s last statement. I was elevated to Senior Patrol Leader at like 13yrs old, which was the highest level of leader as a scout in the troop. I was in over my head. She said to me at one of the meetings:
- “You are wise. You don’t speak much but in that silence, you speak volumes.” – Boy Scout Mom
Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. Proverbs 17:28
- “You are good enough to play on the A team but I need you to play on the B team.” – Coach Long Dahlstrom 8th grade football team
I was so mad!
Then, 2 years later, I made the varsity soccer team at Hays as a freshman and had a great year as a player. The next year, we got a new coach that had never played or coached soccer in his life. He looked at my height and said,
“You are going to play on JV.” – Coach Mathys
Both those statements were GREAT opportunities for me to be angry, quit, be bitter. I was quite mad. I scored 2 goals that first soccer game I was so mad. I eventually was moved back up to Varsity and made 1st team all district.
- “You are the best Spanish Club president that we have ever had.” – Mrs Clayton
- “You have nothing to prove to anyone” – Tudor Bismark
- “I do” Erica Steele
- “The parents understand that there is no chance of their daughter having a meaningful life.”
- “I want you to run sound in San Marcos.” – Kenneth Phillips
- “You should read Timothy Keller’s: The Reason for God” – Jason Bollinger
Here are 4 Things I Suggest:
- Put your family in the environment to hear these types of statements.
- Allow statements to drive you to Jesus. Allow him to process them with you.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1
- Allow them to push and challenge you to go farther, bigger, and better.
Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Proverbs 19:20
- You should Say things to people. Don’t afraid to be a mentor. Don’t be afraid to speak the truth in love. If God is leading you to say something, say it! They might remember it on their 40th bday.
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Colossians 4:6
Robin Steele 