He-BREWS part 2

https://vimeo.com/188600921

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ²looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 (nkjv)

For the last two weeks we are diving into the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews is believed to have been written between 63 and 64 A.D.

Hebrews has a total of 13 Chapters, 303 verses and approximately 6,900 words.

Written to the Hebrews were the Christian Jews who resided in Jerusalem at the time.

Author is unknown – scholars think it could have been written possibly by Paul, Barnabas, Luke, Clement of Rome and Apollos or even “Priscilla” could have authored the book. She was a teacher and was the wife of Aquila.

SIN is meeting a LEGITIMATE NEED in an ILLEGITIMATE WAY.

https://theaterchurch.com/media/tempted/7-keys-to-overcoming-temptations

You never outgrow temptation, but you can overcome it.

to think of yourself as anything less than WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE is FALSE HUMILITY

The real test of life is not how you START but how you FINISH.

FOUR WAYS TO FINISH THE RACE YOU FACE:

INSPIRATION

INSTRUCTION

IMITATION

INCENTIVE

Larry Fitzgerald’s mantra motto –

FAITH, FOCUS, FINISH

#1. THE INSPIRATION FOR YOUR RACE

vs. 1 – Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

The race of life and faith is “set before us.”

We are apart of this amazing tribe called the “HUMAN RACE”.

Hebrews says we have surrounding us a “great cloud of witness’s

The message bible puts it this way;

“pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on”

#2 THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOUR RACE

It’s gonna be all about ELIMINATION and ENDURANCE.

vs. 1

ELIMINATION

“let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us.”

ENDURANCE

“and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

Run the race at your pace!

Lions or Gazelles?

“Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up, it knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn’t matter whether you’re the lion or a gazelle-when the sun comes up, you’d better be running.”

#3 THE IMITATION FOR THE RACE.

Vs. 2 “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”

Two questions we need to ask ourselves.

WHAT ARE YOU FOCUSING ON?

WHAT IS YOUR FAITH IN?

a. The right focus for your race.

vs 2 “let us fix our eyes on Jesus”.

b. The right faith for your race.

vs. 2 “the author and finisher of your faith.”

When we look to Jesus…..faith is born.

When we gaze on Jesus ….faith is matured.

When we keep our eyes on Jesus ….faith finishes with a win.

“If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed.

If you look within, you’ll be depressed.

If you look at God you’ll be at rest.”

You can rest in your race when your faith is focused on him .

#4 THE INCENTIVES FOR YOUR RACE

Vs. 2 – “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Discovery Church

HE-Brews Part 1

OUTLINE:

THE WORD OF GOD IS A GOOD BREW!

#1. IT WILL SUSTAIN YOU. 1:3

#2. IT WILL PROFIT YOU. 4:2

#3. IT WILL HELP YOU DISCOVER YOU 4:12

Lets enjoy this amazing brew today ….let’s get into his word and join me in some He-BREWS.

#1. God’s Word will SUSTAIN YOU.

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ²but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. ³The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. Hebrews 1:1-3 (NIV)

You can rest in this, because he holds all things together by his powerful word…. he can hold you together today!

If you find a bible that is falling apart at the seams….it most likely belongs to someone whose life isnt.

if you feel like you are drowning in the circumstances of your life, remember Jesus is the life guard that can walk on water.

“all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:16,17 (NIV)

#2. God’s Word will PROFIT YOU…..If.

the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them,not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. Hebrews 4:2 (NKJV)

Let’s talk about “PROFIT”.

What is profit? – Profit is what you have left when the transaction is over.

It’s not what you HAVE……It’s what you have left!

prof·it

ˈpräfət/

noun – It’s the gain, its the difference between the amount earned and the amount spent.

* If you broke even you were not profitable…..if you went in the red you were not profitable.

* You are only profitable after you deduct all of your liabilities /overhead and expenses.

So, how can you profit from God’s word?

Hear it? Read it? listen to a sermon? – No! that will not profit you unless you do something with it.

Yes, there is God’s part but then there is your part….God’s part is sending his good word to you and your part is mixing faith with it.

You have to add your faith to his word – You part in the mix is to mix God’s word with faith.

PROTEIN SHAKE – SHAKE WELL

Everything you need is in it but if you don’t MIX IT UP….

but the word which they heard did not profit them,not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. Hebrews 4:2 (NKJV)

faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

By Faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. – Hebrews 11:2

By Faith By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. – Hebrews 11:29

By Faith By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. – Hebrews 11:30

without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. – Hebrews 11:6

What is your response ……when the word of God get around you?

What is your response …. when the word of God gets in you?

Does it move you to action?

Does it call you to a higher purpose?

Does it stir you do something about something?

Faith without works is dead – James 2:17

MIX IT UP!

#3. IT WILL HELP YOU DISCOVER YOU 4:12

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” (James 1:22-25 NIV)

James calls God’s Word a mirror. The mirror helps us evaluate ourselves. Once you look at a mirror, you can decide if you need to make any changes before you leave for the day. The Bible helps us do that, too.

You can look at the Bible in one of two ways. You can glance at the mirror or gaze into it. On the old TV show “Happy Days,” the Fonz would glance at the mirror. He’d walk past the mirror, stop, look into it, and say, “Hey!” He didn’t have to do anything else. He was pure perfection. He just needed a glance.

That’s not the way you look into God’s Word. You don’t just glance at the Word of God in a rushed, hurried manner and then leave. Glancing at God’s Word won’t change your life.

Do you want a life that God blesses? It all starts with gazing into God’s Word. James 1:22-25 gives you the blueprint for how to study God’s Word in a way that he blesses.

Read your Bible. “… whoever looks intently …”
Review the Bible. “… and continues in it …”
Remember the Bible. “… not forgetting what they have heard …”
Respond to the Bible. “… but doing it …”

THE WORD OF GOD IS A GOOD BREW!

#1. IT WILL SUSTAIN YOU. 1:3

#2. IT WILL PROFIT YOU. 4:2

#3. IT WILL HELP YOU DISCOVER YOU 4:12

Discovery Church

Titus part 3 – MORE THAN TRAIL MAINTENANCE

https://vimeo.com/187685932

Titus 3:8 “be careful to maintain good”

This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. Titus 3:8

And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful. – Titus 3:14

WE ALL GO THROUGH SEASONS OF FAILING, SURVIVING, THRIVING.

We are all survivors of something!

The fact that you are surviving is proof that you have been through something!

How can you survive ?

God’s Word.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105

Speak to yourself.

David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. – 1 Samuel 30:6

Keep going through what your going through.

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you! When you pass through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned up; it will NOT consume you!” Isaiah 43:2

The only way out is through.

God uses the hardest parts of our life to prepare us for the best parts of our life.

God uses uncertainty to chase us out in the open where we can find him all over again.

“BUT WE KNOW that in all things God works for the GOOD of those who love him, and have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

1. MORE THAN MAINTENANCE.

Proverbs 4:23 ” Guard your heart above all else,

for it determines the course of your life.”

2. FROM MAINTENANCE TO MINISTRY

“God did not save us from the world but for the world.” – Erwin McManus

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” – Edmund Burke

3. KEEP LOOKING FOR AND FOLLOWING THE SIGN POST.

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. – Hebrews 13:2

TRUST THE HOLY SPIRIT

TRUST GOD’S WORD

TRUST THE SKILLS YOU HAVE LEARNED

KEEP MOVING AND ENJOY THE JOURNEY.

Don’t let what you’re afraid of keep you from what your made for.

“God wants you to get where God wants you to go more than you want to get where God wants you to go.” – Mark Batterson

Discovery Church

MORE THAN TRAIL MIX – TITUS PART 2

For the next three weeks we going to dive into the shortest of the Pastoral letters call Titus.

Week 1 MORE THAN A TRAIL MAP

Titus 1:2 “The God that cannot lie.”

Week 2 MORE THAN TRAIL MIX

Titus 2 – “it takes a good mix to make a good ministry.”

Week 3 MORE THAN TRAIL MAINTENANCE

Titus 3:8 “be careful to maintain”

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO HAVE A GOOD MIX FOR MINISTRY?

Discovery’s growth track.

Titus 2

You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. ²Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith,in love and in endurance.

³Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. ⁴Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, ⁵to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

⁶Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. ⁷In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness⁸and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

⁹Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, ¹⁰and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

¹¹For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. ¹²It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ¹³while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, ¹⁴who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.¹⁵These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

The word “teach” is used seven times in 15 verses

1. OLD DOGS – NEW TRICKS.

vs. 2,3 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith,in love and in endurance.³Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. ⁴Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, ⁵to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands.

“if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, the new has come into being.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

So Paul tells Titus ( a young man to teach the older men and women how to relearn life.)

2. GOOD LIVES = GOOD ADVERTISING.

vs. 5 so that no one will malign the word of God.

vs. 8 so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

vs. 10 so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

3. Healthy DOCTRINE – Healthy DISCIPLES.

Doctrine (from Latin: doctrina) is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, a set of ideas or beliefs that are taught or believed to be true.

Discovery Church

Titus part 1 – Trail Map

MORE THAN A TRAIL MAP – TITUS PART 1

For the next three weeks we going to dive into the shortest of the Pastoral letters call Titus.

Week 1 MORE THAN A TRAIL MAP Titus 1:2 “The God that cannot lie.”

Week 2 MORE THAN TRAIL MIX – Titus 2 – “it takes a good mix to make a good ministry.”

Week 3 MORE THAN TRAIL MAINTENANCE – Titus 3:8 “be care to maintain”

Discovery’s growth track.

TITUS – PART 1 – Titus is the shortest of the the three pastoral letters.

The first chapter is to Titus and the last two are to the church at Crete.

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— ²in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,³and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,⁴To Titus, my true son in our common faith:

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. – Titus 1:1-4

A TRAIL MAP FOR YOUR LIFE AND PURPOSE.

GOD’S WRITTEN WORD.

The most reliable trail map you can get for your life: The SCRIPTURES .

If you have been trying to navigate life without this trail map, you are at risk!

You know, it really doesn’t matter if you are religious or not, you have to admit that the Bible is the most unique in all of history.

One estimate suggests there are about 50 Bibles are sold every minute.

That’s a popular trail map. I wonder why?

It has been translated into 2,018 languages.

It’s authorship: The OT consists of 39 books, -the work of at least 30 authors writing over a period of a 1000 years plus. Writers were historians, lawyers, poets, philosophers and prophets.

The NT consists of 27 books; the work of 8 authors, 5 of which were eyewitness Apostles of Jesus and 3 were associates of those Apostles.

Some really great minds

Yet, despite being written over a combined period of 1600 years, over 40 authors from different backgrounds, cultures, personalities and abilities, there is striking continuity between the OT and NT ….ONE MAIN STREAM OF THOUGHT IS THIS:

GOD LOVES US, SUPPORTS US, WANTS TO DEVELOP US WANTS A RELATIONSHIP WITH US!

You can trust God’s Trail map because:

1. HE DOES NOT AND CANNOT LIE.

vs. 2 “in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.”

2. YOU WON’T GET LOST WITH HIM.

Jesus speaks to us about three kinds of “lostness” in Luke 15

The Parable of the Lost Sheep. – (gradual)

The Parable of the Lost Coin. – (neglectful)

The Parable of the Lost Son. – (intentional)

John 9:25 “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

3. THE VIEW IS SPECTACULAR.

God uses uncertainty to chase us out into the open where we can find Him all over again.

Romans 12:1-2 – Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

2 Timothy 4:1,2 – in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: ²Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season;

Romans 8:31 – In view of all this, what can we say? If God is for us, who can be against us?

2 Peter 1:5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises.

4. MORE THAN A MAP.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrew 4:12

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path – Psalm 119:105

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” Isaiah 40:8

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…… And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:1&14

Discovery Church

LEARNNG YOUR SACRED DANCE

LEARNING YOUR SACRED DANCE

Genesis 2:15 ” And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to work it and to keep it.

So, Ive been working for about 43 years now….

Steve’s Jobs over the past 43 Years
Quad City Ice Co. $1.00 per hour 1973
Scott County Gun Club 1.25 per hour – 1973
Eagle food store – Produce Department 2.15 per hour 1974

Giefman Foods – Produce Department 2.25 per hour 1975

County Seat – Jean Store in the Quad City Mall 2.75 per hour 1975

Oscar Meyer – Davenport plant 11.50 per hour (1975 )
Ditch Witch phone trenching 9.75 and hour ( 1977 )
HB’s Nickel plating Springfield Mo. 11.75 per hour (1978 )
CentralBible Springfield Missouri Dish crew 2.00 per hour
Springfield Natural Bakery on Glenstone ( free bread and bagels)
Oscar Meyer – Davenport Iowa plant 22.00 an hour
Youth Pastor – Westside Assembly 1980 – 1983
Youth Pastor Grass Valley California 1983 1/2
Youth Pastor – First Assembly Indianola Iowa 1983 1/2 -1985
Youth Pastor – Tri County Assembly Fairfield Ohio 1985-1990
Associate pastor – Saint Charles, Mo. First Assembly 1991
Church Planter LakeCrest Church Lake Saint Loius Mo.1991-2003
& UPS Saint Louis – 13.00 per hour
& Turfmaster’s Erosion Control Co. – 13.00 – 28.00 per hour
Lead Pastor – Prescott First Assembly Prescott Az. 2003 – 2013
& Sexton Pest Control
Church replanted of Discovery Church &Prescott Peaks Thumb Butte Realty 2013 –

WOW What a journey

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, ⁴⁶who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” – Matthew 13:45,46

God created us to connect with Him and to not just WORK in the garden but WALK with Him in it.

Genesis 3:8 God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

Were pretty good at creating the CONTAINER but don’t get to the CONTENTS in the container.

“People may spend their whole lives climbing the ladder of success only … they reach the top, that the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall. – Thomas Merton

Stephen R. Covey — ‘If the ladder is not leaning against the right wall, every step we take just gets us to the wrong place faster.’

#1. SEEK IT.

“the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls”. vs. 45

The pearl of great price ….that is always hidden inside this lovely but passing shell.

Sure, the shell is important … we need to construct the container …but God made us to be more than an empty shell.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:33

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” – Mark 1:5

“people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.” Luke 17:21

” seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

” Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” Isaiah 55:6

#2. FIND IT.

” when he had found one pearl of great price”. – vs. 46

Good or God?

God is seeking those who hear His call to a life of worship. Those who heed are those who will walk in His presence. They will know Him intimately as He will manifest Himself to them.

When eve ate of the ” “when the woman saw that the tree was good” – Genesis 3:6

The good is always the enemy of the best.

#3. BUY IT.

“He went and sold all that he had and bought it.” – vs. 46

” the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, ⁴⁶who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” – Matthew 13:45,46

^“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” – Mark 8:36

“Though it cost all you have,get understanding.” – Proverbs 4:7

Discovery Church

Oregon and the Redwoods 2016

I just wanted to add a an entry to my blog about our recent trip to Oregon this Summer.

Here are many photos and not so many words.

Burlington State Park along the avenue of the giants.

Thanks http://www.southwestrving.com/ for a great RV experience.

Astoria – Fort Stevens Camp ground.

Fort Clatsop and Lewis and Clark’s final destination spot on their Discovery journey.

Astoria and Fort Stevens State Park.

Lewis and Clark on Nehalem State Park beack

Crator Lake Oregon

The Deschutes River

Discovery Church, Discovery Prescott

Meghan’s Story: the Spirit of Power, Love and and Self Control

https://vimeo.com/177956628

^“ For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, ⁷for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. ” – 2 Timothy 1:6,7 – (ESV)

Very little can be done under the spirit of fear. ~ Florence Nightingale

Negative minds full of fear and doubt produce negative lives, which can ultimately destroy your life. ~ Joyce Meyer

If you listen to your fears, you will die never knowing what a great person you might have been. ~ Robert H. Schuller

Fear is a self imposed prison that will keep you from becoming what God intends for you to be. You must move against it with the weapons of faith and love. ~ Rick Warren

The greatest mistake we make is living in constant fear that we will make one. ~ John C. Maxwell

The presence of fear does not mean you have no faith. Fear visits everyone. But make your fear a visitor and not a resident. ~ Max Lucado

– 2 Timothy 1:6,7 – (ESV)

Overcoming fear is something we all face when we endeavor to do new things, such as take a new job, fall in love, create a new product line, or start a business. For example, when we consider where to invest money, we must face the fear of failure. In short, there can be no progress in life without taking risks. You cannot succeed in life if you give in to fear

FAN INTO FLAME THE GIFT OF THE POWER TO TRY AGAIN, AFTER FAILURE.

FAN INTO FLAME THE GIFT TO LOVE AGAIN AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN HURT.

FAN INTO FLAME THE GIFT TO RISK AGAIN .

The GIFT to TRY AGAIN,

The power to lead, risk, speak and get things done.

The GIFT to LOVE AGAIN.

The power to love beyond limits.

“We know the love that God has for us, and we trust that love ….

because God’s perfect love drives out fear.” (1 John 4:16a, 18a NCV)

The GIFT to RISK AGAIN.

The power to fly straight in the middle of the storm.

“without faith it is impossible to please God” – (Heb. 11:6).

It is better to risk failure to do what God wants you to do than to do nothing.

FAN INTO FLAME THE GIFT OF BEING THE PERSON YOU WERE MEANT TO BE.

Fear is the end of your story …. perfect love starts the story again…..

Discovery Church, Discovery Prescott

The Gift Of A Good Fight, Some Good Friends and a Good Book

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. – 2 Timothy 4:7

We have all heard the quote; “Life Begins At The End Of Your Comfort Zone.”

Paul must have really lived an adventurous life because he left his comfort zone years before this letter~

List of Paul’s Sufferings

Shipwrecked, attacked by murderous mobs, beaten, starved, imprisoned,

betrayed by friends…

And the hardships he endured? Shipwrecked three times and floated for 24 hours Criticized by other Christians Under arrest for two years without a trial Bitten by a viper

Escaped the mouth of the lion .

all to serve the one thing the Apostle Paul at one time sought to destroy… Christianity.

Persecuted for Jesus Christ, Paul was… Stoned and left for dead Beaten with rods three times Whipped with 39 lashes five times Attacked by an angry mob Many death threats

Paul’s response was, “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…” 2 Timothy 3:12 And the hardships he endured?

And to these things, Paul said, “Endure hardships with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus,” 2 Timothy 2:3

THE GIFT OF A GOOD FIGHT.

Pick a good fight! – Pick something noble, choose to be a world changer, opt for resisting the “status quo” …( which in latin means; “look at the mess were in.”) and guess what…you have just chosen to get yourself in a good fight.

YOU HAVE JUST LEFT YOUR COMFORT ZONE.

In 1st Timothy Paul tells Timothy to: “Fight the good fight of the faith. 1 Timothy 6:12 (niv)

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. – 2 Timothy 4:7

Illuss. Chick trying to get out of the shell. Its the struggle that gives strength.

1. YOU NEED AN ENEMY.

Ephesians 6:10

Number 14:9

2. YOU NEED TO KNOW YOUR ENEMY.

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,

It’s not CHRISTIANS THAT ARE DIFFERENT THAN YOU..

It’s not BAD PEOPLE. It’s not your SPOUSE It’s not YOU.

It’s not the Democrates or the Republicans.

It’s Satan and his demonic forces.

3. YOU NEED TO BEAT YOUR ENEMY.

2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal

Psalms 144:1 Blessed be the LORD, my rock, Who trains my hands for war,

4. YOU NEED TO REMEMBER YOUR ENEMY.

John 8:44 the devil, is a liar and the father of lies.

THE BATTLE IS THE LORDS.

2 Chronicles 20:17: “You will not have to fight in this battle.”

1 Samuel 17:47 the battle is the LORD’s,

THE GIFT OF A GOOD FRIEND.

Pick some “risk takers for God” – friends. The kind of people that are willing to follow Jesus

When you choose some CRAZY for God friends who are willing to chase their God given dreams….guess what? – You have just left your comfort zone.

When you isolate yourself you limit yourself!

Get here as fast as you can. Demas, chasing fads, went off to Thessalonica and left me here. Crescens is in Galatia province, Titus in Dalmatia. Luke is the only one here with me. Bring Mark with you; he’ll be my right-hand man since I’m sending Tychicus to Ephesus. 2 Timothy 4:9-12

Paul’s problem’s began when he started hanging out with a bunch of CRAZY friends that where CRAZY about a man named Jesus!

If you want to leave your comfort zone….pick some CRAZY friends that are CRAZY about Jesus.

THE GIFT OF A WARM COAT AND A GOOD BOOK.

Bring the winter coat I left in Troas with Carpus; also the books and parchment notebooks. 2 Timothy 4:13 (the message)

Pick out some dangerous books that will change the lethargy right out of your life! – get into some of the minds of the risk takers and the world shakers that made a difference for Jesus on this planet !

This is where you can really go beyond the people you are with everyday – If they choose not to live a life of adventure…..you can saddle up to some amaZING friends.

Go to amazon and buy really crazy friends in the books they have written.

BE CAREFUL, BECAUSE BOOKS BIRTH IDEAS….THE WORDS ARE SEEDS THAT GROW IF WATERED.

MANY OF THE BOOKS I HAVE READ HAVE BEEN CATALYST TO GET ME OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONES.

They birthed thoughts that resulted in getting me where I am today…..SO BE CAREFUL TENDER WARRIOR WHAT YOU READ….IT COULD LEAD YOU TO A LIFE OF ADVENTURE LIKE PAUL

Here he is, at the end of his life IN PRISON FOR THE VERY THING HE USED TO FIGHT AGAINST….JESUS!

And what does he ask for?

Bring the winter coat I left in Troas with Carpus; also the books and parchment notebooks. 2 Timothy 4:13 (the message)

A GOOD OLD COAT THAT REPRESENTS THE COMFORT ZONE HE LEFT YEARS AGO.

THE BOOKS THAT PLANTED THE SEEDS OF ADVENTURE.

THE PARCHMENTS THAT WOULD ALLOW HIM TO WRITE DOWN THE DREAMS AND INSPIRED THOUGHTS THAT WOULD CHANGE THE NEXT GENERATION OF ADVENTURES !

THE GIFT OF A GOOD FIGHT.

YOU HAVE JUST LEFT YOUR COMFORT ZONE.

THE GIFT OF A GOOD FRIEND.

Pick some “risk takers for God” – friends. The kind of people that are willing to follow Jesus

When you choose some CRAZY for God friends who are willing to chase their God given dreams….guess what? – You have just left your comfort zone.

When you isolate yourself you limit yourself!

THE GIFT OF A WARM COAT AND A GOOD BOOK.

This is where you can really go beyond the people you are with everyday – If they choose not to live a life of adventure…..you can saddle up to some amaZING friends.

Go to amazon and buy really crazy friends in the books they have written.

Discovery Church, Discovery Prescott

Seasons

Here is the sermon and brief notes for the message called seasons out of 2nd Timothy.

We have all kinds of seasons don’t we?

Football season – baseball season – hoodie season – flip flop season monsoon season – vacation season – a season to be jolly. Hunting season, fishing season.

Summer – Fall – Winter and Spring.

2 Timothy talks about seasons.

“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. – 2 Timothy 4:2

OUTLINE :

BE INSTANT IN YOUR SEASON.

BE PRESENT IN YOUR SEASON.

BE PERSISTENT IN YOUR SEASON.

BE EXPECTANT IN YOUR SEASON.*

Be ready – Be prepared – Instant IN season and OUT of season.

When it is popular and unpopular.

When is fun and not so fun.

When it is politically correct and when its not.

2 – BE PRESENT IN YOUR SEASON.

3 – BE PERSISTENT IN YOUR SEASON.

Proverbs 6:6-8 Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
⁷It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
⁸yet it stores its provisions in summer

and gathers its food at harvest.

4 – BE EXPECTANT IN YOUR SEASON.

Psalm 5:3 Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

Especially if you are in a winter season!

Everybody will go through seasons they would rather skip –

but there is strength for every season if we know how to weather it

Don’t go into the new season holding a grudge from last season. Leave the hurts and disappointments behind.

Nothing in life has happened to you. It’s happened for you. Every disappointment. Every wrong. Even every closed door has helped make you into who you are.

I believe if you keep your faith, you keep your trust, you keep the right attitude, if you’re grateful, you’ll see God open up new doors to your new season.

The question is not, ‘are you having a hard season?’ The question is, ‘Does the hard season have you?’

We can’t choose our circumstance, but we can choose our response

Some seasons are hard because of a decision you made (i.e., not every season is God’s decision). So if you’re in a season of debt, that season will require obedience/doing some things differently. But we don’t always know the reason for the seasons that God lets us go through.

3 Things God Will Do in a Winter Season of your Life

1 – Prepare you for something

(or prepare something for you)

In the winter, you can’t see what’s happening in the ground to prepare for spring.

Winter makes way for spring; it’s a preparation process

God is the gardener; He understands the process.

o If you’re going to walk this thing out – really live for God and grow to be the person God wants you to be (even when it doesn’t feel good)

In winter, the ground gets to rest; nutrients are rejuvenated in the soil

I’m the kind of Christian that shows up in the cold, because I know that God is doing something in the cold months to prepare me for what’s ahead.

Fare weather faith doesn’t cut it.

2 – Prune something from you.

If you don’t stay connected to God and bear fruit, or you get cut off and thrown away

If you stay connected to God, you get cut back Either way you get cut – but I’d rather be cut back than cut off; I’d rather stay connected to Him than walk through the season without Him

Pruning isn’t pleasant but at least it has a purpose.

Some seasons are so hard that survival itself is success.

IT IS NOT ALWAYS ABOUT WINNING – BUT MANY TIMES ITS ABOUT NOT LOSING.

Just remain. Hold.

Don’t leave. And if you don’t leave, you can’t lose.

If you leave in the winter, you’re going to miss when things start blossoming in the spring.

3 – Prove something through you

God looks for people that He can use to prove to the world that His faithfulness goes beyond feelings or circumstances.

God has a point to prove….that light can shine bright in the darkness. And he uses you and I to prove that point!

Especially when we are going through our darkest nights – our darkest times and our darkest moments!

You may not know why you’re going through a particular situation. But when you allow God to prepare you and prune you, He gets to prove through you that He is glorious in you. You get to bear fruit (reveal the glory of God), showing the world what real peace and joy look like.

Prepare receive

Prune remain

Prove reveal

BE INSTANT IN YOUR SEASON.

BE PRESENT IN YOUR SEASON.

BE PERSISTENT IN YOUR SEASON.

BE EXPECTANT IN YOUR SEASON.

stevelummer.com

Category Archives: Discovery Church

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Seasons