1. THE QUESTION OF IDENTITY
And He said, "WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOU WERE NAKED? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?"
(Genesis 3:11 - NKJV)
Who told you that you were stupid or ugly or less than? Who told you that you were inferior? Who told you that God doesn't accept you as you are, or that He's angry with you because of something you said or did? Who in your life has that kind of power over you?
2. THE QUESTION OF INTENTION
Elijah came near to all the people and said, HOW LONG WILL YOU HALT AND LIMP BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS?
(I Kings 18:21 - AMP)
How long are you going to limp along the journey...never really standing for anything...never really getting involved with your best life...just because you can't make a decision and commit to being faithful to it? How long are you going to continue to second-guess the decisions you've already made? How long are you going to refuse to walk in self-confidence?
God grabbed me. God's Spirit took me up and set me down in the middle of an open plain strewn with bones. He led me around and among them—a lot of bones! There were bones all over the plain—dry bones, bleached by the sun. He said to me, "Son of man, CAN THESE BONES LIVE?"
(Ezekiel 37:1-3 - The Message)
Do you believe in the possibility of your own restoration? Do you believe that your latter can and will be better than your former, regardless of how long your season of loss has been? Do you believe that the God who breathed life into Adam can also breathe life into your "hopeless" situation?
4. THE QUESTION OF INSIGHT
"But what about you?" he asked. "WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?"
(Matthew 16:15 - TNIV)
Who do you "say" that God is to you? Is He your provider? Your healer? Your helper? Your friend?
5. THE QUESTION OF IMPOSSIBILITIES
"You don't have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?"
(John 11:25, 26 - The Message)
Can you believe in the promise of God concerning your situation, even after it appears that the window of time for the thing to work out has closed. Do you believe that it's never too late for a miracle?
6. THE QUESTION OF IMAGE
But who are you, a mere man, to criticize and contradict and answer back to God? WILL WHAT IS FORMED SAY TO HIM THAT FORMED IT, WHY HAVE YOU MADE ME THUS?
(Romans 9:20 - AMP)
How long are you going to continue to question God's design? Do you not understand that you're His masterpiece? Do you not understand that there's no one like you...that you are completely an original...and that the only thing that needs to happen in the area of your personal improvement is that you should become the best possible version of YOU?!
7. THE QUESTION OF INFLUENCE
You were running superbly! WHO CUT IN ON YOU, DEFLECTING YOU FROM THE TRUE COURSE OF OBEDIENCE?
(Galatians 5:7 - The Message)
Who have you allowed to hi-jack your dreams? ...your life? Who has gotten inside your head and wreaked such havoc? Who has held you back from maximizing your potential?
If your are touched or intrigued by these questions, log onto www.churchinthenow.org (sermon archives) to hear the entire message (FACING THE BIG QUESTIONS - JULY 29, 2012
CLICK HERE TO SEE IMAGES FROM THE WHOLE SERVICE AT CITNE, CITNO, and CITNM
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.501451869869242.127871.100000132993860&type=3
Bishop, the recent talks about Ishmael brought some things to mind.
ReplyDelete--
Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
In regard to faith, roots of the Abrahamic religions, and these three subset religions of Abraham, these Abrahamics, are one family. Ishmael and Isaac were blessed to produce great cultures as Abraham was blessed. All cultures and religious traditions have been as blessed by God, all equally valid, and of course God is I Am……….
Focusing on The Abrahamic traditions and that manifestation of I Am, it is one family, one spiritual and human foundation. All three subgroups sharing the same individuals and blessings in their foundations, from each perspective, recognizing the authority in Abraham. The bickering between the three subgroups is standard human behavior, citing cultural laws or traditions, that as always God speaks over and makes pointless. Like children bickering over issues their parents simply ignore. That invisible line the other offspring crossed, and the parents are so far beyond the youngins, no such line is imagined. Like God is with the Abrahamic youngins.
Eventually Abrahamics will mature and understand the value each sibling is. In the meantime, they probably will keep their penchant for killing themselves and each other. Maybe Abrahamics can reach a point to honor their elders, eldest, Abraham and love each other fully and embrace, actually live up to the family good name.
Abraham began the Abrahamic paradigm by walking out, trusting God when he had no idea where he was going, when he walked out from 'under the tent' of his limited thought, and looked beyond it. From that, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam developed their traditions and beliefs from that initial paradigm and Abraham's world view. Abrahamics are of the same human, spiritual, and world view foundations. Equally blessed, equally with God, as they perceive Ja. The immaturity of (We are more like Abraham,we are more blessed, Elohim loves us more, or we know God better than you do) does fall away, when Abrahamics mature.
Bishop, thank you for the teachings. I haven't been on a blog in ages, but glad I'm here now.
ReplyDelete...and Erik, I really enjoyed reading your comment...and agree. All the youngins need to just hurry up and get to the dinner table now...it's time to eat!