Sermon Notes
August 20 &21, 2011
Sermon: What To Do When Satan Has His Bulls Eye on You (Dodge Ball with the Devil): An Unlikely Deliverance
Sermon Text: Luke 22: 31-34 (NKJV)
31And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” 34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”
Context:
Jesus is hours from trial. The Lord’s Supper has been given. Jesus is now teaching them what they would need to know after He’s gone. He tells Peter that Satan wanting to sift him like wheat and then tells him that He will pray for him. Have you ever felt like Satan was out to get you? Jesus has a process for making or breaking you and Satan has a part in that plan. When you play dodge ball with the devil, he intends to take you out. Satan may have it out for you, but remember this is a part of God’s plan for your life. God intends to use this as a way of refining you. It’s time you learn to play dodge ball with the devil…and win.
Point 1: Denial is Not Your Dead End (vs 34)
We must remember that just because we are denied something doesn’t mean it is the end. What is said to you can catapult you or stop you in your tracks. When we hear what Jesus says to Peter we believe this may be the end of Peter’s career with Jesus. However, peter’s faith is not shaken just because Jesus gave him a hard word. Remember, Jesus isn’t always going to tell you what you want to hear. He isn’t a lottery machine. Every now and then He will have a hard word for you. What may seem like a hard word to you may be the very thing to get you out of your situation. Peter pressed through, so should you.
Point 2: Delay is Not Your Demise (vs 34)
Just because you didn’t get what you wanted right now does not mean it will be the demise of you. When Jesus tells Peter he will deny him three times Peter’s aspirations are delayed. He now knows delays are a part of the journey. Because we live in a fast-paced society we have issues with waiting; we want things when we want them. We get tired of the journey. This is when you make bad decisions and the enemy comes in. Here are reasons you should not get tired:
1. Being tired is a sign that you are almost there. (Rev 3:11)
2. Tired means you have stopped doing things in your own strength and you are now relying on God. (Eph 3:20)
Point 3: Disaster is Your Delivery (vs 34)
Sometimes we mistake disaster for the end when it is your deliverance in a disguise. Peter had a disastrous mouth. The mouth that was once used to create disasters was transformed and began to preach the gospel.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
What To Do When Satan Has His Bulls Eye on You (Sifted for Service)
Sermon: What To Do When Satan Has His Bulls Eye on You (Sifted for Service)
Sermon Text: Luke 22: 31-34 (NKJV)
Sermon Notes
August 24, 2011
31And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” 34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”
Satan always wants to take out the person with the most faith, the person trying to grow their faith, or the person using their faith to live by. He comes with every weapon to sift the Lord’s people.
Jesus was praying that Peter didn’t lose his faith. We always pray that we don’t lose things, such as a job, car, or a house. However, we should be praying that we don’t lose our faith. Your faith must HOLD up, GROW up, or TAKE YOU up.
Point 1: Sifting Signifies (vs 29)
Jesus did not pray that Peter didn’t get sifted. The devil decided to sift Peter to put him to the test after he received a promise from Jesus.
Usually when you’re sifted, its right after you’ve received great revelation, or God is at great work in your life, or you’re desiring to do more in life. We always claim that we want to be great, but we don’t want to be sifted. You must be on your guard when you get spiritual revelation.
If Satan is after you, it means that you have potential to do great harm to his kingdom. When we make a decision to follow God, an alarm goes off in hell. Satan wants to take you out so that everyone connected to you will go down too. He wants to sift you because he knows what’s coming in your future. What is it that God has in your future that you don’t even know about? Often times we get caught up in the sifting and not the signal.
Point 2: Sifting Separates (vs 33)
Peter expressed that he was ready to go with Jesus to both prison and death.
Don’t ever become too “puffed up”, or in other words, too overconfident in your spirituality. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 10:12 “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
Sifting-to be turned upside down, shaken, and separated so that all the dirt can come out.
Things to remember:
A.)Sifting silences Satan
B.)Your sifting helps to develop sifting for others
C.)Sifting increases your dependence on God. John 15:5-“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
Passive denial
D.)When we’re too busy to pray, we deny that God is the center of our life
E.)When we neglect his word, we deny that he’s competent enough to guide us
F.)When we worry, we deny that he’s the Lord of every circumstance
Point 3: Sifting Gives a Second Chance (vs 32)
Jesus said Peter would still return and decided that Peter was worth saving. Jesus also knew that Satan desired Peter, but Jesus desired him more.
Let us warn others that are going through difficult times that we’re praying for them. Let us also tell them that when they are restored, God will use them.
Sermon Text: Luke 22: 31-34 (NKJV)
Sermon Notes
August 24, 2011
31And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” 34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”
Satan always wants to take out the person with the most faith, the person trying to grow their faith, or the person using their faith to live by. He comes with every weapon to sift the Lord’s people.
Jesus was praying that Peter didn’t lose his faith. We always pray that we don’t lose things, such as a job, car, or a house. However, we should be praying that we don’t lose our faith. Your faith must HOLD up, GROW up, or TAKE YOU up.
Point 1: Sifting Signifies (vs 29)
Jesus did not pray that Peter didn’t get sifted. The devil decided to sift Peter to put him to the test after he received a promise from Jesus.
Usually when you’re sifted, its right after you’ve received great revelation, or God is at great work in your life, or you’re desiring to do more in life. We always claim that we want to be great, but we don’t want to be sifted. You must be on your guard when you get spiritual revelation.
If Satan is after you, it means that you have potential to do great harm to his kingdom. When we make a decision to follow God, an alarm goes off in hell. Satan wants to take you out so that everyone connected to you will go down too. He wants to sift you because he knows what’s coming in your future. What is it that God has in your future that you don’t even know about? Often times we get caught up in the sifting and not the signal.
Point 2: Sifting Separates (vs 33)
Peter expressed that he was ready to go with Jesus to both prison and death.
Don’t ever become too “puffed up”, or in other words, too overconfident in your spirituality. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 10:12 “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
Sifting-to be turned upside down, shaken, and separated so that all the dirt can come out.
Things to remember:
A.)Sifting silences Satan
B.)Your sifting helps to develop sifting for others
C.)Sifting increases your dependence on God. John 15:5-“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
Passive denial
D.)When we’re too busy to pray, we deny that God is the center of our life
E.)When we neglect his word, we deny that he’s competent enough to guide us
F.)When we worry, we deny that he’s the Lord of every circumstance
Point 3: Sifting Gives a Second Chance (vs 32)
Jesus said Peter would still return and decided that Peter was worth saving. Jesus also knew that Satan desired Peter, but Jesus desired him more.
Let us warn others that are going through difficult times that we’re praying for them. Let us also tell them that when they are restored, God will use them.
Friday, August 19, 2011
What To Do When Satan Has His Bulls Eye on You (Dodge Ball with the Devil)
Sermon Notes
August 10, 2011
Sermon: What To Do When Satan Has His Bulls Eye on You (Dodge Ball with the Devil)
Sermon Text: Luke 22: 31-34 (NKJV)
31And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” 34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”
Context:
Jesus is hours from trial. The Lord’s Supper has been given. Jesus is now teaching them what they would need to know after He’s gone. He tells Peter that Satan wanting to sift him like wheat and then tells him that He will pray for him. Have you ever felt like Satan was out to get you? Jesus has a process for making or breaking you and Satan has a part in that plan. When you play dodge ball with the devil, he intends to take you out. Satan may have it out for you, but remember this is a part of God’s plan for your life. God intends to use this as a way of refining you. It’s time you learn to play dodge ball with the devil…and win.
Point 1: You Are Not The Only One (vs 31)
Satan likes to plant in your head that you are the only one going through right now. However, in this text the word “you” is plural. Satan is after all of us.
Remember:
a. You are not in this alone- you can collaborate with others, learn from them,and then draw your own conclusions.
b. You can partner with others- you can share in agreement; win or lose.
c. You can team up- the same as partnering only with more people.
Point 2: Raise Your Hand (vs 32)
If Jesus was talking to everyone why did Peter raise his hand?
Remember:
a. You may as well go first (remember Satan is after everyone).
b. Many times there are benefits in starting and finishing first.
c. You can be the leader instead of the follower and share with others how you made it through. (Deut 28:13) The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
What To Do When Satan Has His Bulls Eye on You (Dodge Ball with the Devil)
Sermon Notes
August 13 and 14 2011
Sermon: What To Do When Satan Has His Bulls Eye on You (Dodge Ball with the Devil)
Sermon Text: Luke 22: 31-34 (NKJV)
31And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” 34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”
Have you ever felt like Satan was on your back? When you play dodge ball with the devil, he intends to take you out. Satan may be on your back, but whatever you’re going through is a part of God’s plan for your life. Jesus has a process for making or breaking you and Satan is in it.
Point 1: Permission (vs 31)
Jesus says Satan ASKED him for permission. The mere fact that Satan had to ask is comforting and encouraging because it tells us that Peter did not belong to Satan. Peter is God’s property. God is in complete control of what Satan does.
Often times we believe more in Satan “getting” us than God “keeping” us. You should say to yourself: “I belong to God. I am God’s property.”
A.) Pawn- Jeremiah 21:4. God is always using Satan as a pawn
B.) Purpose-Job 1: 6-8. Being under attack means that you are under God’s watchful eye. God uses Satan to prove a point and Satan is limited to what he can do. Even in the midst of your situation, God has a purpose.
C.) Plan-1 Samuel 16: 14, 15…Exodus 7: 3. God is sovereign and no one acts independently of his plan. Even evil is subject to God. God is in control of everything. Romans 8: 28
Point 2: Prayed (vs 32)
Jesus has already prayed for him. If he would have been praying, it would imply that the process is still incomplete.
At the same time that he was praying for Peter, he was also praying for us. Jesus has already prayed for you, so there’s no need to be fearful of Satan.
PRAYER INCLUDED:
-That we be one
-That we be righteous
-That we be protected from evil
-That we be purified by the word
-That we remain in him
-That we know God’s love
-That we experience complete joy in Jesus
A.) Jesus is confident about the results and he can get a prayer through
B.) Jesus knows the results and it’s a DONE DEAL
C.) He was so confident in Peter that he didn’t have to tell Peter what was going on until after the fact. John 17: 9, 15, 20
Point 3: Persistence (vs 32)
To ensure that his faith would not fail, Peter had to be persistent. He may have failed but he was still persistent.
God already knows what your end will be but you must be persistent. Persistence is the refusal to quit, not failing along the way. Proverbs 24:16. Satan does not have the final say so. Others should judge you not by how you fall down, but by how you get up. The next time Satan tries to tell you he’s going to do something, tell him “you work for God.”
A.) Have patience with yourself and others
B.) Experience the power from God through prayer
C.) Peer into your possible future
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
What’s My Ministry? Pt. 5: Do It For Jesus
Sermon Notes
Bishop Geoffrey V. Dudley, Sr., D. Min
July 27, 2011
Sermon: What’s My Ministry? Pt. 5: Do It For Jesus
Sermon Text: 2 Corinthians 5: 18-21 (NKJV)
18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation….19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Paul tells the Corinthian church to be reconciled for Christ or in other words: carry out this for the cause of Christ. He’s telling them to be ministers of reconciliation on behalf of Christ. He wants them to have the “if Jesus asks me, I’m in” attitude.
Point 1:
My Ministry: Obedience is Sacrifice (vs 18; John 20:21; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8)
Obedience is better than sacrifice and to win souls requires obedience. Soul will not be saved if you don’t obey GOD’s word. You should know that if you win someone to the Lord, its an eternal mark in the kingdom. Philippians 2:21: “For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.” There comes a time when you have to be willing to do something beyond your own self-interest. Its human to want to be selfish, but be a part of something greater than you. When we don’t witness we are disobedient to a direct command from Jesus. When you’re disobedient, your faith becomes dull and you’re not able to stand on his word. Disobedience also clogs up the pipeline for blessings. Being disobedient also hinders the communication between us and God. Failure to obey is not an option in God’s army.
Point 2:
My Method: Fishy Business (vs 19; Matthew 4:19)
Jesus said that he would MAKE us fishers of men. Are you really following Jesus if you have no “fish” following you? Some of you have been in the “business” for years and haven’t had one “fish”. All Jesus wants is for you to win souls. All you have to do is catch the fish, no matter the type. If you can’t make it in this “business”, you’re probably not connected to the franchiser: Jesus.
Point 3:
My Message: Image is Everything (vs 21; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans: 8:29)
The message: you were made in God’s image. If you have sin in your life, your image is distorted. You don’t have to worry about how you look on the outside because God looks at the heart. If someone talks negative about you, that means their talking negative about God because you’re made in his image. God is diverse and he likes each of us just the way he made us, so learn to love yourself.
Bishop Geoffrey V. Dudley, Sr., D. Min
July 27, 2011
Sermon: What’s My Ministry? Pt. 5: Do It For Jesus
Sermon Text: 2 Corinthians 5: 18-21 (NKJV)
18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation….19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Paul tells the Corinthian church to be reconciled for Christ or in other words: carry out this for the cause of Christ. He’s telling them to be ministers of reconciliation on behalf of Christ. He wants them to have the “if Jesus asks me, I’m in” attitude.
Point 1:
My Ministry: Obedience is Sacrifice (vs 18; John 20:21; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8)
Obedience is better than sacrifice and to win souls requires obedience. Soul will not be saved if you don’t obey GOD’s word. You should know that if you win someone to the Lord, its an eternal mark in the kingdom. Philippians 2:21: “For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.” There comes a time when you have to be willing to do something beyond your own self-interest. Its human to want to be selfish, but be a part of something greater than you. When we don’t witness we are disobedient to a direct command from Jesus. When you’re disobedient, your faith becomes dull and you’re not able to stand on his word. Disobedience also clogs up the pipeline for blessings. Being disobedient also hinders the communication between us and God. Failure to obey is not an option in God’s army.
Point 2:
My Method: Fishy Business (vs 19; Matthew 4:19)
Jesus said that he would MAKE us fishers of men. Are you really following Jesus if you have no “fish” following you? Some of you have been in the “business” for years and haven’t had one “fish”. All Jesus wants is for you to win souls. All you have to do is catch the fish, no matter the type. If you can’t make it in this “business”, you’re probably not connected to the franchiser: Jesus.
Point 3:
My Message: Image is Everything (vs 21; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans: 8:29)
The message: you were made in God’s image. If you have sin in your life, your image is distorted. You don’t have to worry about how you look on the outside because God looks at the heart. If someone talks negative about you, that means their talking negative about God because you’re made in his image. God is diverse and he likes each of us just the way he made us, so learn to love yourself.
Friday, July 8, 2011
What’s My Ministry?
Sermon Notes
Bishop Geoffrey V. Dudley, Sr., D. Min
July 2 & 3, 2011
Sermon: What’s My Ministry?
Sermon Text: 2 Corinthians 5: 18-21
18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation….19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Paul reminds the Corinthian church of their primary responsibility as believers. Every believer’s ministry is reconciliation. Sometimes the problems of life can cause us to loose focus on our calling but every Christina must understand reconciliation, as it is the heart of our existence as believers.
Point 1: My Ministry (vs 18)
Sometimes we look at the church to find a ministry instead of looking in the Bible to find our ministry. We are in search for man’s ministry and overlooking the ministry that God gave us, which is reconciliation. We use the faulty approach of “church shopping” to find which place has our ministry where we can “fit in”. With this approach, the options may be limited depending on the church because every church may not have the same ministries. When we don’t see the ministry we want, we tend to criticize that church. We get caught up in the “purpose of our destiny” and begin to confuse accomplishments for ministry.
Things to know about your ministry:
A. God gave it to you
B. God will give you what you need to be successful
C. What God gives you, man can’t take it away
D. What God gives you is more powerful than what comes from man
Point 2: My Method (vs 20)
Paul explains to the Corinthians that they should be ambassadors to a rebellious world. He explains that they must be ambassadors to a rebellious world, urging them to make peace with God and not be at war with God.
As ambassadors of Christ, we have an embassy, which is the church. The church is a place of safety and security and it is where you come to get your instruction on your ministry. Some of us are in a foreign land (enemy territory) because we don’t have instructions since we haven’t come to the embassy. How can you represent the Master without getting his message? The world is still at war with God and in order for the world to be reconciled with God, they must make peace with God. The enemy is rebelling against the authority that sent you. If you’re not declaring peace, you must be with the enemy. Never forget: we are representing God and not ourselves.
Point 3: My Message (vs 19, 21)
The sin mankind committed in the garden of Eden separated us from GOD but He imputed our sins onto Jesus. Although God knows you didn’t earn salvation, He deposited grace and mercy into your account. All you have to do is access it by faith. God had to work around his holiness so he had to reconcile the relationship with us: the answer was Jesus. He saved us from ALL our sins: from yesterday, today, and tomorrow. When we accept salvation, we’re released from the penalty of sin. We are not telling a message about how we saved ourselves, but rather how we were saved through Jesus Christ. We must realize that we don’t have to be guilty with our sin because we’ve already been reconciled through Christ. We’re always trying to tell our story, but we need to tell his story.
Bishop Geoffrey V. Dudley, Sr., D. Min
July 2 & 3, 2011
Sermon: What’s My Ministry?
Sermon Text: 2 Corinthians 5: 18-21
18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation….19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Paul reminds the Corinthian church of their primary responsibility as believers. Every believer’s ministry is reconciliation. Sometimes the problems of life can cause us to loose focus on our calling but every Christina must understand reconciliation, as it is the heart of our existence as believers.
Point 1: My Ministry (vs 18)
Sometimes we look at the church to find a ministry instead of looking in the Bible to find our ministry. We are in search for man’s ministry and overlooking the ministry that God gave us, which is reconciliation. We use the faulty approach of “church shopping” to find which place has our ministry where we can “fit in”. With this approach, the options may be limited depending on the church because every church may not have the same ministries. When we don’t see the ministry we want, we tend to criticize that church. We get caught up in the “purpose of our destiny” and begin to confuse accomplishments for ministry.
Things to know about your ministry:
A. God gave it to you
B. God will give you what you need to be successful
C. What God gives you, man can’t take it away
D. What God gives you is more powerful than what comes from man
Point 2: My Method (vs 20)
Paul explains to the Corinthians that they should be ambassadors to a rebellious world. He explains that they must be ambassadors to a rebellious world, urging them to make peace with God and not be at war with God.
As ambassadors of Christ, we have an embassy, which is the church. The church is a place of safety and security and it is where you come to get your instruction on your ministry. Some of us are in a foreign land (enemy territory) because we don’t have instructions since we haven’t come to the embassy. How can you represent the Master without getting his message? The world is still at war with God and in order for the world to be reconciled with God, they must make peace with God. The enemy is rebelling against the authority that sent you. If you’re not declaring peace, you must be with the enemy. Never forget: we are representing God and not ourselves.
Point 3: My Message (vs 19, 21)
The sin mankind committed in the garden of Eden separated us from GOD but He imputed our sins onto Jesus. Although God knows you didn’t earn salvation, He deposited grace and mercy into your account. All you have to do is access it by faith. God had to work around his holiness so he had to reconcile the relationship with us: the answer was Jesus. He saved us from ALL our sins: from yesterday, today, and tomorrow. When we accept salvation, we’re released from the penalty of sin. We are not telling a message about how we saved ourselves, but rather how we were saved through Jesus Christ. We must realize that we don’t have to be guilty with our sin because we’ve already been reconciled through Christ. We’re always trying to tell our story, but we need to tell his story.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Now What: God Is Up to Something! He’s Making My Dreams Come True
Sermon Notes
Wednesday, June 15 2011
Sermon: Now What: God Is Up to Something! He’s Making My Dreams Come True
Sermon Text: Genesis 45: 4-11; 50:20 (NKJV)
And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.” “But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.” “For these two year the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.” “And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.” “Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, “Thus says your son Joseph: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry.” “You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have.” “There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine.”
Point 1: Your Dreams Will Come True (Gen 42: 6, 43: 26, 28; 44:14)
Joseph said that his brothers would bow down to him. It took a while but his dreams did come true.
Give your dream over to God and he will organize it in perfect timing. The best thing you can do is trust him in the midst of your situation. It’s your choice: you way or God’s way. The only thing that comes between you and your dreams coming true is time. Time separates you from the reality of your dreams. It’s not “if” the opportunity comes, but “when”.
Point 2: Name Your Delay (Gen: 41: 51, 52)
Joseph names his sons which show that he was branding his delay by name. This shows us that his plight was not far from his mind. From this we can see two things: Joseph was saying “I forgot who hurt me” and “I’m fruitful in my struggles.” This is what he names his delays.
God has the power to help you to forget the cause of the problem. A delay is the opportunity to become fruitful. Nothing grows without struggle. If you’re calling your delay a disaster you’re labeling it wrong. When you mislabel your situation, you cause God to stop. We’re always calling our situation “its over.” Be careful how you label your delay: if you’re going through a divorce, you can say “God is going to send me a new man/woman”…if you’re sick, you can say “God is in the process of healing me”….if you’re broke, you can say “my financial blessing is on the way.”
Point 3: God Is Putting the Details In Your Future (Gen: 45:7,8)
God was trying to get Joseph in a position to save thousands of people.
You will never be able to figure out all the details but just let him handle it and know that he’s up to something. Your dreams must be connected to God’s agenda. You can say to your enemies “you thought you were doing something to me, but God is so mighty that he turned it around for my good.” God has to put you in certain situations so he can position you to speak life into someone else’s situation. When you’re comfortable, you start trusting yourself and not God. Its only when he puts you into certain situations that you can be used for his glory. God is always two steps ahead of us.
Wednesday, June 15 2011
Sermon: Now What: God Is Up to Something! He’s Making My Dreams Come True
Sermon Text: Genesis 45: 4-11; 50:20 (NKJV)
And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.” “But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.” “For these two year the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.” “And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.” “Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, “Thus says your son Joseph: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry.” “You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have.” “There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine.”
Point 1: Your Dreams Will Come True (Gen 42: 6, 43: 26, 28; 44:14)
Joseph said that his brothers would bow down to him. It took a while but his dreams did come true.
Give your dream over to God and he will organize it in perfect timing. The best thing you can do is trust him in the midst of your situation. It’s your choice: you way or God’s way. The only thing that comes between you and your dreams coming true is time. Time separates you from the reality of your dreams. It’s not “if” the opportunity comes, but “when”.
Point 2: Name Your Delay (Gen: 41: 51, 52)
Joseph names his sons which show that he was branding his delay by name. This shows us that his plight was not far from his mind. From this we can see two things: Joseph was saying “I forgot who hurt me” and “I’m fruitful in my struggles.” This is what he names his delays.
God has the power to help you to forget the cause of the problem. A delay is the opportunity to become fruitful. Nothing grows without struggle. If you’re calling your delay a disaster you’re labeling it wrong. When you mislabel your situation, you cause God to stop. We’re always calling our situation “its over.” Be careful how you label your delay: if you’re going through a divorce, you can say “God is going to send me a new man/woman”…if you’re sick, you can say “God is in the process of healing me”….if you’re broke, you can say “my financial blessing is on the way.”
Point 3: God Is Putting the Details In Your Future (Gen: 45:7,8)
God was trying to get Joseph in a position to save thousands of people.
You will never be able to figure out all the details but just let him handle it and know that he’s up to something. Your dreams must be connected to God’s agenda. You can say to your enemies “you thought you were doing something to me, but God is so mighty that he turned it around for my good.” God has to put you in certain situations so he can position you to speak life into someone else’s situation. When you’re comfortable, you start trusting yourself and not God. Its only when he puts you into certain situations that you can be used for his glory. God is always two steps ahead of us.
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