Vintage Christmas series “God has a plan” by: Pastor Tracy

Vintage Christmas: God has a Plan

Sunday, December 9, 2012 Pastor Tracy

Intro:

During the Christmas season it seems that things that bother us or have hurt us seem to be heightened (all kinds of negative underlying stuff seems to come to the surface). More suicides occur between thanks giving and new years then all 11 months combined.

The season brings about reflection and many times we are disappointed at what we see…. Loneliness…….. dreams unfulfilled.

This is the reason why we feel we’ve been inspired to share, through this next series, regarding purpose and really that God has a plan for your life because when we truly believe God has a plan for our lives it helps us to weather through the bumps in our lives.

Unless we tap into the purpose of God and we see our selves apart of something bigger than ourselves, we remain in a state of unrest. Ex. Boston

God has a unique plan for your life. We’re going to be sharing on prophecy and how it relates to the plan of God in our lives. We see through the many prophecies that have come to pass in the Bible, the exactness of God for-telling events and them happening. God always performs His Word.

As God has an over all plan for Humanity, so God has unique plan for everyone who comes to Him.

Through this series we believe you will be inspired to see yourself in His story and the unique plan God has for your life.

God Lets us know what’s coming-prophecy- it brings hope

• Over all, prophecy is divinely inspired for-telling of things to come.
• On a smaller scale every promise in the Bible for-tells what can be in our lives.

Prophecy includes all kinds of stuff:

• In the book of Daniel it was prophesied the coming of the Medo-Persian, Greek, and Roman empires, Alexander the Great, and the details of many military battles.
• The neutron bomb is even in there.
• Day of Atonement
• Birth of Christ

Although there are prophecies regarding tragic furture events, most of the time prophecy produces HOPE:

Lets look at the very first prophecy it’s a reflection of hope

Genesis 3:15

I will put hatred between you and the woman. Your children and her children will be enemies. Her son will crush your head. And you will crush his heel.”

• This prophecy reveals that God had a unique plan to get us out of the mess humanity was in. God is always trying to get us out of the messes we are in. GRACE. This gave hope in the middle of a tragedy!

• The point is this: this prophecy as many others came to pass.  As sure as prophecy has come to pass is as sure as God wants to be in your life.

Prophecy also shows us how intricately God is involved in our human history. Most of all prophecy solidifies the authority of God’s Word.

Just to show you how profound, orderly, can’t figure God out is we want to share this example.

Law of probability:  to illustrate the probability of 8 prophecies coming to pass imagine covering the whole state of Texas with silver dollars to a level of two feet deep. Now, choose just one of those silver dollars, mark it and drop it from a airplane. Thoroughly stir all the silver dollars all over the state. When this has been done, blindfold one man. Tell him he can travel wherever he wishes in the state of Texas. Tell him that somewhere along he way, he must stop and reach down into the two feet of silver dollars and try to pull up the one specific silver dollar that has been marked what do you think his chances are?

There were around 69 prophecies regarding events surrounding the life and death of Christ alone

What does this say? If God has brought about all these prophecies which were apart of pushing His plan forward which in the human realm is absolutely impossible, He can bring about His plan for your life.

As sure as prophecy is, is as sure as God wants to be in our life.

God has a unique plan for our lives:

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

• God is reaching out in the middle of His story inviting us to be apart of His plan for our life.

• Example: many of us if we could we would love to be in company with those who have experience knowledge regarding economic trends (Bloomberg) or global weather trends, or geographical trends so that we could prepare and take advantage of that knowledge

• God invites us to spend time with Him so He can lead us in the plan He has for us

• Unless we understand our significance, we lack the drive to strategically go forward with our lives. Instead we seek things to fill up our time. We can find ourselves in His story

Finding our selves in His Story

• My Hall mark moment: the Christmas prophecies are not just part of a story. The prophecies were to instill hope and faith when read, that as God brought about the improbable unique plan for His son, he can do the same for us!  He is not a respecter of persons, He loves us the same, He needs our cooperation.

SLIDE REGARDING THESE SPECIFIC PROPHECIES:

• Born of a virgin: We are born out of the purity of God. God sees us sinless when we accept Him. He said as far as the east is from the west I have removed your sin. Does that mean we will never sin? No. It means that when we do sin we don’t have to pay the penalty for sin which separation/death because of sin. We may experience consequences, but God can turn things around for our good.
• Born in Bethlehem: God formed us in the womb:

Psalm 139:13-16(NIV)

For you created my inmost being;you knit me together in my mother’s womb.¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,I know that full well. ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven togetherin the depths of the earth. ¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

• With a radius of influence where we are

• Shephards and kings saw His light: We are the light of the World

Matthew 5:14(NIV)
“You are the light of the world.

• Kings presented Gifts: God supplys all our need for His purpose in our life

Philippians 4:19

 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

• Flight to Egypt: God has a plan of escape and protection as we follow His plan

Psalms 91:14-16(NIV)

Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

As God so intricately guided the plan for Jesus, He wants to do for us!

We say well that was Jesus and don’t see ourselves in His story. His story was to produce hope and faith for our individual stories!

Let’s not just read the Christmas story but find ourselves in it!  If God caused all this to happen for Jesus, He will do it for us. Key is we have to believe.

Prophecy has to be believed; God has a plan, He needs our cooperation which results when we believe

• God inspires people write His ways, future events and even the individual blessing available for us.
• Then someone has to believe and go in that direction.
  • There was a remnant that had studied the scriptures out and truly believed that Christ would come through a virgin. Mary was apart of that group awaiting the coming of the messiah.
  • Simon and Anna had been praying for the coming of Jesus and recognized Him when they saw him
  • The prophecy regarding my future

How do we find our purpose

1. Be available: Unknowingly, when we are in His presence he is equipping, changing and leading us in His plan: Example of the Prayer class
2. Apply what you hear:  Matt. parable of building on sand building on the Rock

Things that prevent us from purpose

1. Disqualification
2. Lack of knowledge
3. We take the path of least resistance

Student Christmas blessing

Our student ministries at Life Christian Church pooled their resources and bought presents for Grace Place and helped organize and wrap over the weekend.  What a blessing it is to serve alongside so many amazing students with a heart to serve and give this Christmas season!

Blessings to Grace Place for what they do for this community!  Thanks to all of the support from the Youth Ministry at Life Christian Church for your heart to help!

Stir up your spirit

I think it is so important to encourage our pastors and would like to share that I am so appreciative of the ministry at Life Christian Church (LCC).   I find myself telling people about the church and what we are taught at church.  In Life Bible Institute, we are told that our lives are going to change and I am finding this to be true.  I recently shared with this guy (a Christian) and started telling him about the church and how we are taught that our world is framed by our words.  I told him how good God is and that He is not standing on the sidelines waiting for us to mess up so He can Judge us.  I shared with him about how we as God’s Children have authority over the enemy and we have power over the enemy.  Today, upon arriving to work, I was feeling kind of down but, I immediately pulled up the past Feardom messages and started listening to them and, my Spirit was stirred up.  I no longer have that down feeling.  In fact, I am listening to it as I write this.   I haven’t arrived and know there is always room for improvement but, with the teaching I have been receiving at LCC, I am encouraged because I realize that no matter how others see me, God sees good in me, he does not see my flaws.  Therefore, I don’t have to feel condemned or guilty when I mess up, I just repent and keep it moving and try not to get off into iniquity by repeating the same sin over and over.  I can go on and on but I won’t.  Just know that I am so very grateful to Life Christian Church and the Leadership Team.  I feel so blessed to be part of this ministry.  Thank You So Much for all the knowledge you have equipped me with and God Bless All of You!

Mind Games “Know Who You Are” by: Pastors Dan and Sarah (notes/video)

 KNOW WHO YOU ARE

Pastor Sarah & Dan Gardner – December 2, 2012

Intro: Today we are concluding our series on the subject of MINDGAMES. It’s time to stop listening to the devil’s lies. As Pastor Sarah says, “He is a bad devil, but God is a good God”. So, today we declare, “GAME OVER!”

Each day, we have many, many thoughts; 12k minimum up to 50-60k thoughts a day. For many people, 70-80% of those thoughts are negative. What do you think happens to a person that thinks 48,000 negative thoughts a day?

Our patterns of thinking significantly impact our lives. As Christians, learning godly patterns of thinking based on His Word brings about true life change.

Here is a truth we know…

“Whatever we think, that is where we go”.

Jesus 1^st msg.

Matt 4:17 “Repent…” –

Not = change behavior (do’s dont’s)

But… change the way you THINK

Our behavior will change if we change the way we think.

Paul picked up on that in

Romans 12:2 (NLT)

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know (LEARN) what God wants you to do.

Look what it says in the Message Bible…

Romans 12:2 (MSG)

…fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you (LEARN), and quickly respond to it (APPLY).

Important concepts here: LEARN and APPLY; then you GIVE WHAT YOU LEARN TO OTHERS.

Right thinking+ God alive in us = Changed Life

As Christians our goal is to become like Jesus.

LEARNING TAKES TIME and EFFORT ON OUR PART

We move from MINDGAMES to Right Thinking by LEARNING WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST…and keep it before US intentionally.

DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST?

Let’s talk about it.

Cigarette Story -

When I was a teenager, if you didn’t smoke cigarettes, you were looked at as weird. I grew up in a Christian home, and never even had a thought about smoking.

At 16 yrs old, I had a part time job in an office bldg. In it, there was a cigarette vending machine.

I walked by that vending machine many months like it was not even there. Then this one day, this thought popped in my mind…”what would it hurt to try smoking”?

The next couple of weeks were really difficult – I wrestled with this thought. I had serious mind games going on. Then, one day, I finally decided, to give in to that thought.

I went to the vending machine. There they were – the Marlboros. I took my coins and was about ready to put them in…then, a voice rose up inside me and said,

“This isn’t who you are!!” (2x)

I was trying to fit in, wanting to do what everyone else was doing, but God was looking out for me, because now we know even more about how harmful smoking is to us.

So, our question to you today is…

“DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE?”

 I am amazed how much God loves you.

I was going to speak about 1 John 4:17 that says, “As He is, so are we in this world”, but when I woke up on Tuesday morning, God spoke to me right away. He said to speak on 1 Peter 2:9.

You are special people because God went out of His way to give me a special word for you. He wants you to really know who you are in Christ.

1 Peter 2:9 (NLT)

9 …for you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

Let us explain what chosen people means.

It means “whosoever” will receive Jesus, becomes God’s chosen person.

How many of you received Jesus in your heart?

So this is who you are; you are a chosen people.

And if some of you have never made Jesus Lord of your life, this is the time.

ALTAR CALL

My God in Jesus’ name, I come to you, take me as I am. Wash me in the blood of Jesus, that I can become your child.

Give me power to live by your Spirit, with a holy mind, and a healthy body; for your glory. Amen.

So let’s get back into the message.

Now we know we are God’s chosen people by simply receiving Jesus in our hearts.

It is like when James received my daughter Tracy as his wife, immediately he became chosen in the family. Even if he didn’t do things just like the rest of the family, we extended much grace to him.

It is the same way with God. Once we receive Jesus, we become His chosen.

Say – I am a chosen person.

Now, let us explain what royal priesthood means.

Notice that Peter picked up what we find in Exodus 19:5-6 (NLT)…

5 Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the nations of the earth; for all the earth belongs to me. 6 And you will be to me a kingdom of priests (or ministers), my holy nation.’

God’s original plan was for Israel to become a “kingdom of priests”. In the New Testament, God fulfilled his original plan; whosoever receives His Son, becomes a minister.

DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE?

You are a minister. Ministers are not only people with titles. Ministry is part of WHO WE ARE.

Say – I am a minister of God’s.

Now, let us explain what holy nation means

To be holy means to be separated. He called us out of the darkness into his wonderful light. Just like the people of Israel, they were taken out of Egypt (the world) to the Promised Land (God’s kingdom).

The reason why the nation of Israel was separated unto God is that they were to learn from God and give what they were learning to the other nations.

That is why I believe that we are born of God, not just to be saved and go to heaven!

Not just to be healed. Not just to be prosperous. But that we would believe who we are and reveal His righteousness, His heart, His character, His love on earth to others.

As 1 Peter 2:9 says, we “show others the goodness of God”. That is our part.

God has done his part by providing His Son so we can receive Him and become people of God.

So this is who you are in Christ; you are a holy people.

Say – We are holy people.

We LEARN, we APPLY, we GIVE WHAT WE LEARN TO OTHERS.

Let us explain what it means to be His possession.

We are bought with a price…the blood of Jesus. He chose us and made us His own. We belong to Jesus.

We are fully accepted in the beloved.

The more we change our thinking, believing we belong to him, and not ourselves, the less and less selfish we become, and the more and more like Jesus we become. Our lives get better and it’s easier to represent Christ to others.

So this is who you are in Christ; you are His possession, His very own

Say – I belong to Jesus and Jesus belongs to me.

I will LEARN this, APPLY what I am learning, and GIVE to others what I have learned.

We move from MINDGAMES to Right Thinking by LEARNING WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST and keep it before US intentionally.

Let’s declare one more time that that we win over MINDGAMES. Say it – “GAME OVER!”

Homework for Thursday –

Read 2 Peter, the 1^st Chapter and we will learn together.

Lay hands on the sick – student testimony

They (students) shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. ~ Mark 16:18

Mind Games “Safe Guards” by: Pastor Tracy

Mind Games: Safe Guards to Mind Games
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Pastor Tracy Boyd

Synopsis: Many times when people pray to receive Christ, we often mention that there is a benefit package that goes along with receiving Christ. Receiving Christ is quite easy but getting our minds in a place to enjoy God’s benefits is another whole story! There are all kinds of squirrely, negative and limiting thoughts running through are brain that are contrary to the winning life God has for us. Through this series we are going to unravel some of the destructive mind games that are going on in our thought life that is preventing us from releasing our potential.

Review: Know the tactics of accusation, condemnation and separation. Locate a lack mentality. These are mind games that prevent us from walking in the purpose and prosperity we’ve been created to walk in.

This week: unpack three key things that are safe guards to mind games.

Psalm 45: 3-4(NKJ)
Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One, With Your glory and Your majesty.
And in Your majesty ride prosperously because of truth, humility, and righteousness;

Truth
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJ) For we walk by faith, not by sight.
• It means we walk by faith in the truth of God’s Word and not by our senses/ sensory knowledge (the original language it means senses).
o What does walking by faith look like?
• You don’t deny the facts that it looks as if you won’t make your bills (senses); you side in with the Word that according to Phil 4:19 my God shall supply all! We deny the right for lack to exist.
o Environments of the Word are key
• Senses are great for helping us to understand our boundaries: smell bad don’t eat, hot don’t touch, we actually think better in serene surroundings; our senses provide data for our mind
• Senses are not to be guides; however, they will guide unless we have the Word being our guide.
• When our senses are contrary to the Word we follow the Word
• The sense realm came out of the Spirit realm; so the spirit realm was designed to lead.
• WE WILL NEVER HAVE A PROSPEROUS LIFE FILLED WITH PURPOSE IF WE ARE SENSE/EMOTIONALLY DRIVEN
• WE WILL BY DEFAULT BE LED BY SENSES/EMOTIONS/WANTS IF WE DON’T HAVE THE WORD COMING IN.
• When our senses lead we find ourselves cooperating with laws that govern destruction.
o God set laws of life in motion at creation: look at seedtime and harvest. He is not adding additional laws. If we cooperate with those laws, those laws bless us. It works in the opposite as well.
o The written word is connected to a spiritual law. When we cooperate with the written word we release the blessing of that law.
Humility: a modest opinion or estimate of ones own importance or rank.

• What does humility look like
o Draw attention to great traits in others
o Preferring to build others not just yourself
o Not needing to be seen or heard
o Concerned for the greater cause and not just your part
o It is other oriented or has a mind set toward others
o Strife is the result of someone putting themselves forward and not considering the effects on others
o Humility puts others forward because it trusts God to promote
o Humility recognizes the need for God and abandons oneself to it

Phil 2:1-9 (NKJ)
Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

Selfish ambition (kjv-strife): earliest definition self-seeking pursuit of political office by unfair means. Paul was saying we should not put self forward of be selfish for this breaks harmony and unity

Conceit: an excessively favorable opinion of one’s own ability, importance

4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (let this kind of mind be in you which was also in Christ)
6 who, being in the form of God, (not in physical shape but in divine essence) did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

Christ shared in the glories and exclusive rights and privileges of deity, but He did not regard the circumstances of His existence as something to be jealously retained or grasped for or cling to. Rather He willingly relinquished His glory when He came to earth, though retaining His deity.

7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

He emptied himself of His privileges,

Bondservant: slave or servant- often the service involved is VOLUNTARY, in which a person willingly offers obedience, devotion and loyalty to another, subordinating his will to him

8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 1

Verse 8 is key: being obedient to death is not doing what our flesh really wants to because it’s not good for us; it’s contrary to word or promotes strife.

Obedient to the point of death:
• The word says don’t let the sun go down on your anger, in other words deal with it! It is easier to give a cold shoulder and make them pay
• It’s easier to retaliate than hold our tongue and pray.
• It’s easier to stuff and hide instead of exposing our issues to light.
• It’s easier to compromise to fit in instead of obeying God’s ways to stand out and make a difference
• It’s easier to hold an offense than to forgive.

Therefore: because it wasn’t about what Christ wanted (who wants to die on a cross) God exalted him.

When we cooperate with the laws of life they in due time exalt us- it is like an antibiotic that eventually works it’s way through our system and produces healing

Righteousness
• There is a righteousness that we possess then there is a righteousness that we pursue.
o We are given as a free gift right standing with God that we can boldly go before Him, which is based on the merits of Jesus. This right standing has to be meditated on for it is the main mind game played out in our mind. The mistakes we make cause us to question our right standing with God. When we make a mistake our right standing with God does not change however we may experiences consequences from those mistakes. As we continually see ourselves righteous we will live right before God.
o The righteousness we pursue is choosing God’s ways over ours; how he thinks and would act.

Airport Text Testimony

Mind Games “Overcoming Lack” by: Pastor James (video & notes)

Mind games – “Overcoming Lack”

by: Pastor James

Today, we’ll be talking about Overcoming Lack.

Lack definition – the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable (unreachable)

-       You see, just in the very definition of the word “lack” there is a mind game being played.  Let’s look at these two words that define “lack”.

• Absent: Perhaps it is absent from you right now in physical form.  So, it’s a true statement, but it’s not a truth statement.
  • True here, but not truth from heaven.
• Unavailable: Perhaps this is where the mind game starts.  It seems unavailable at the present time. Unreachable(I can’t reach it).
  • Example:Amazon.com – “this item is unavailable at the present time.”
    • It’s unavailable on Amazon, but it’s not “unavailable.”
    • Then, I go to Google, and I find that it’s available.  It just wasn’t available the place that I looked first.
    • Sometimes we’re looking in the wrong place for availability.  So, our “lack” persists. 
  • We get very caught up in our present lack which keeps us in it.
    • It might not be in front of you, but that doesn’t mean it’s unavailable.
• A believer is connected to a higher source. If the believer doesn’t see it this way, they aren’t living to their full potential and lack will have its way.

-       Perspective Matters

• My perspective needs to be…”but truth says I can.”

-       The Mind Game of true, or truth

• Sometimes we’re required to look past “true” and look unto “truth”.
• Philippians 4:19 NKJV – And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in gloryby Christ Jesus.
  • We (believers) will have need…but God will supply.
  • Easy to say “Amen” in church, but what happens when things don’t change Monday morning?
  • We need to control our lives with the Word of God.
    • Example of friend in Troy with STD
      • Took God at his Word. Declaring the Word. Got some folks around him to believe with him. Didn’t change overnight, but it did change.
      • There’s no lack in God’s glory.
      • Sometimes we need to grab hold of truth, until it becomes true.
        • I’m not going to let go until truth takes over fact.
  • We need to keep truth in front of us, instead of just what’s currently true.

-       3 things important

• Know the Word
• Go to a church that believes this way
• Connect with people that believe this way (Dream Teams and Small Groups)
  • Our Growth Track will get you started

Focus on things ahead instead of things directly in front

-       Storm directly in front

• Mark 4:35 NKJV – Jesus says,  ”Let us cross over to the other side”
  • This was a future statement to hold onto. They were in the middle of the sea, so the statement wasn’t in fulfillment yet.
  • It may have seemed small and insignificant, but its what got them there.
• Matt 8:23-27 NKJV- the men were thinking about the storm instead of the miracle that was in the bottom of the boat. Thinking about the difficulty instead of the answer…over thinking always produces thoughts of human lack. Faith produces answers.
  • Examples:
    • My bills aren’t getting paid this month.
    • He or she is never going to change.
      • Arguments start in our homes, because we’re frustrated with lack.
      • There’s no way I’m going to find a job.
        • Unreachable and absent (lack) Mind Game
  • Is your promise (truth) in the bottom of the boat?  We need to bring it out from the bottom and put it out in front.
    • Testimony (leasing house): talked to a couple that attends here frequently. Trying to sell house up north. The renter stole from them, and wasn’t doing his end of the agreement but he wouldn’t leave. Big issue. Time to complain or time to press toward the truth?
      • Some testimonies take time to take place. But they sound like they happened overnight. It’s persistence in truth that wins.

-       Positive mind game (12-year hemorrhage):

• Matthew 9:21 NASB – for she was saying to herself, “If I only touch His garment, I will get well.”
  • Fringe (hem) of garment – said to herself if I can only touch it
  • Even if I can’t get His attention or touch Him, if I can just touch the hem of His garment…truth will prevail.
  • She put something different than her issue in front of her. She put truth.
    • She spoke the answer all the way to her healing!
• What we put in front of us is what we end up getting.
  • Some of us need to start speaking those things all the way out of lack.

Sometimes what holds us back is our past. We all think smaller about ourselves than God does.

-       God created you human, and He’s excited about working with you.

• Philippians 3:13 NKJV- …forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.
  • What God thinks about you is more important than what you think about you.
• In order to do this, we need to take the Word seriously. We need to get to know how God feels about us.
  • There is too much out there that will tell you differently.
    • First timer, start with the book of John
    • Old timer, get back into the Word frequently

3 things believers have that will get them through:

• Believers have the Word of Truth:
  • The greatest resource in the world
    • Example: Pastor Sarah with computer – she’s got one, but can’t use it
    • How to use:
      • Start with a 5 minute devotional every morning
        • Or even just Philippians 4:19every morning. Memorize, repeat it.
          • Convince yourself
  • Philippians 4:19 NKJV – And my God shall supply all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
• Pray that God would enlighten your mind to His thoughts

-       Believers have each other

• But we stay quiet, because we don’t want to be exposed…but, we’re hurting ourselves
• Connect to a Dream Team or Small Group
  • When you start to get to know people, you’ll start to get comfortable with walking out your faith together.
  • You’re going to need other believers, it’s just a fact.
  • The guy in Michigan would still have an STD without other believers around him.

-       Believers have the Holy Spirit

• The Holy Spirit will guide us, through others and trough the Word.
• He’s always guiding, but we’re rarely listening over the chaos.
• When we get in the Word, and get around other believers, it tones negativity down and allows for our acceptance of the truth.
• He helps us break free from lack, but it happens in our mind first.

We are getting the results of what we’ve been doing. To get different results, we need to do something different.

• Apply it:
  • Purpose in your heart some time to get in the Word
  • Purpose in your heart some space to get involved with other believers
  • Purpose in your heart to hold on to truth, no matter what looks true right in front of you.

It’s in God’s hands testimony

Praise report!

On Sunday, September 9th, Pastor James delivered a strong message about things, people and/or circumstances in life that make us feel “Overwhelmed” and what we could or should do about them. During that message we were to write the things that make us feel overwhelmed on a piece of paper. After doing so, at the end of the service we were to rip it up and throw it away on our way out, representing that it is God’s battle not ours. So, I did as was instructed. Letting go and leaving it in God’s hands.

This is when the good stuff started happening!

I have been unemployed for 1 ½ years…and as in many weeks prior, I sent my resume to employers looking for an assistant, a secretary, a data clerk, anything.  The Tuesday after the sermon, I got a call from a law office looking for someone to assist the Controller in the accounting department. (Many of the tasks I was already familiar with because of my prior experience) But, I was new to the industry. So, taking a “chance” with me they hired me…I started the very next day making more money per hour than I ever have!

There’s more…

On the 5th day on the job I was asked to do something that I wasn’t very sure of. I started to become very “Overwhelmed” my eyes wailed up in tears…I felt the urge to leave and never come back. Those feelings/voices were telling me I had no business there and that I should just leave before they got to know me…they would never miss me if I left right then…Wiping a tear I took a deep breath, I prayed “God, if this is where you want me then I’m gonna need your help! You’re going to have to show me how to do this job.” Wiping another tear, the FIND tab appeared in my vision and I was able to research and complete the task just as it was required of me. Currently, my job is going very well and I am catching on quickly.

But that’s not all!

My daughter called me that week (after we heard the sermon on “God’s going to “Overwhelm” us with his love and blessings IF we do our part). I have always believed in this principle, however, since moving to Naples I have to be honest…I haven’t completely fulfilled my end of the bargain. But on Sunday, I did! I did it with a cheerful heart, with no abandon and with total excitement. I couldn’t wait to pay my tithe to the house that is feeding my soul! AND, look what happened. I hadn’t spoken to my daughter since April. Our relationship has been void for over 2 years…She called me out of the clear, blue sky telling me she was sorry that she has kept our grandson away from us for the past 21 months and that she was working on a way for us to see them. I feel that God is telling me that there is still hope and that he is trying to do a work in her and for me to be patient just a little while longer.

God is a good and faithful God! I will continue to be faithful to his word! I will continue to hold up my end of the bargain! I will continue to believe that God only wants the best for me…and that the Best is Yet to Come!!!!!

Thank you for your obedience in delivering His word.

Mind Games series “Know the Tactics” by: Pastor Tracy (video/notes)

Mind Games: Know the Tactics

by: Pastor Tracy Boyd

Sunday: November 11, 2012

Synopsis: Many times when people pray to receive Christ, we often mention that there is a benefit package that goes along with receiving Christ. Receiving Christ is quite easy but getting our minds in a place to enjoy God’s benefits is another whole story! There are all kinds of squirrely, negative and limiting thoughts running through are brain that are contrary to the winning life God has for us. Through this series we are going to unravel some of the destructive mind games that are going on in our thought life that is preventing us from releasing our potential.

Intro: open with Peanut game

• Until my mind was renewed to the game I kept losing
• We are all playing the game of life: some of us today may feel as if we are winning but many of us are struggling with this game.
• That’s why we called this series mind games because what ever is going on in our thinking determines if we win in the game of life
• The mind is the gateway by which we can enjoy the benefits of God
• Prov. 23:7 (NKJ) As a man thinks in his heart so He is
• Jesus often said, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” In other words unless you turn from the way you’ve been thinking you won’t see His invisible realm.
  • The focus of repentance is to change our way of thinking until the presence of the king fills our consciousness! Then we will make wise choices.
  • If our thinking remains the same, we unknowingly cooperate with the enemy instead of resist him.
• We are designed to win in the game of life especially if we are playing the game of life with God and His ways!

You are a Spirit, you possess a soul, you live in a Physical body

1 Thes. 5:23 (NAS)

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

• Spirit: pneuma- ghost like, spirit, mind, divine part of you that has been regenerated. This is the real you. This is the part of you that God’s Spirit attaches to you.
  • In creation man’s spirit was connected to God. Adam was strengthened and led by his spirit. After he sinned he became self- conscious and led by his senses. OUR SENSES DON’T LEAD US TO SUCCESS; THEY GENERALLY LEAD US TO BE SELFISH.
  • God could not dwell with man because of sin. Jesus blood was the payment to deal with sin and allow us to connect with God again.

Romans: 4:25 (NLT) He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.

NKJ says He died for our offenses and was raised for our justification

Justification: the act of God declaring men free from guilt and acceptable to him. To acquit or make righteous.

• When we receive Christ, His spirit comes and dwells in our spirit: SEALED-hula hoop
  • Ephesians 1:13, “in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.”
• God sees you through the blood (BOWL ON THE TABLE) and your spirit- he has put his seal that nothing can penetrate. This is the part of you that is sinless and in right standing with God.
• God’s plan was, “I’ll make them righteous on the inside to help them live and go in the right direction.
  • It doesn’t mean perfect in our efforts. He makes us perfect with his efforts- THIS IS GRACE
• Now with God’s spirit we can over come sin that leads to destruction, and any obstacle that comes our way.

Romans 5:10 (AMP)

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more [certain], now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved (daily delivered from sin’s dominion) through His [resurrection] life.

• Soul:psuche- soul, mind, man side, intellect, will and feelings (mind will and emotions).
  • Our spirit, which is designed to lead us, can do nothing with the cooperation of the soul.
  • Our soul needs regeneration because it acquired a process of thinking from a negative world.

Ephesians 4:23 (NKJ). “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind

• Three things: the Word, Prayer and fellowship (growth track/small groups).

• Body: somo- the physical body
• Each has to be fed; depending on what’s fed determines how it grows

God sees us from our Spirit the enemy sees us from our soul and these are his main mind games against us.

(the enemy is not afraid of us getting saved as much as us knowing God’s love and potential in us)

Three main mind games that destroy

Romans 8:31-35

³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect (whom God has chosen)? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

• Accusation- verse 33
  • The Word CHARGE means to come forward as an accuser against
    • Satan is called an accuser in Rev 12:10, he accused humanity before God.
    • After the resurrection Jesus occupies that space!

• He brings up our past- shame guilt: a season of me walking around saying, “No mr. devi,l Jesus paid for that sin.”

• When we sin, we don’t feel worthy of God’s touch- it’s a mind game- that’s why we have to acknowledge when we miss it and ask God to help us overcome/not do it again.

• Justifies means as if you have never sinned
• The Blood of Jesus has forever cleansed us of sin- past, present and future.
• “It doesn’t matter what the accuser says, I see you just as if you have never sinned! God made an over payment through his sons life for the charges against us.
• Condemnation- verse 34
  • Condemnation: to give judgment against, to judge worthy of punishment
  • Once we accept an accusation for either doing the wrong thing or not doing enough of the right thing, we see ourselves worthy of punishment or under condemnation.
    • Example of the paralytic let down through the roof
  • This verse: It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us is reminding us again that His life was my payment and his resurrection is proof I’m loved and forever forgiven.
  • GOD IS NOT THINKING ABOUT MY SIN RATHER HE IS MAKING INTERCESSION- that we would remember He loves us and is ready to help us over come.

Romans 5:17(AMP)

 For if because of one man’s trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive [God’s] overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

We have received abundance of Grace not because we’ve lived right, but in order to live right or go in the right direction. The gift of righteousness is so we could reign through Christ’s power.

• The #1 thing God wants to help us reign over is condemnation, it blocks our ability to receive from God
• The other side:
  • In Romans chapter 6 Paul writes that just because we have been given this unmerited favor and righteousness doesn’t mean we can go out willfully sinning without getting destroyed. If we cooperate with sin or laws that bring death, that’s what we will receive.
    • I want to be “free” to do what I want is actually deceiving- anything selfish is influenced by the enemy
    • Rollercoaster example
    • Where is obedience in all this: I obey simply because I, not to earn or get brownie points! Obedience is a sign of faith in His goodness

• Separation-verse 35
  • Once we accept condemnation feel separated from God
  • Then when we go through tribulation our minds play the game of
    • Anger- why God are you allowing this
    • Guilt-I must have done something
    • Alone- I can’t feel God he must not be there.
    • Isaiah 43:2 (NLT) When you go through deep waters,
      I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty,
      you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

Solution

We are no match in of ourselves with self loathing mind games and the mind games of the enemy. God’s spirit is ready to help; we have to cooperate with him by feeding our mind the right stuff so we don’t give into negative mind games.

• Commit to reading the word: it’s under resources on our webb site
• Go through growth track
• Get involved in a small group