Words Matter “Meditate the Word” by: Pastor Tracy Boyd (notes/video)

Words Matter Series: “Meditate the Word”

By: Pastor Tracy

For video click here

For audio click here

Review: continuing our series…..We’ve been sharing on how creative words are. God used words to create the world and gave us the same creative ability. Words have the ability to shape matter. The most powerful word coming our of our moth is the Word of God.

Today are going to talk about the prosperity that comes through meditating the Word.

Psalm 1:1-3 (NKJ)

Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; ² But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.³ He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

• The friends we choose determine at large the extent ones destiny and success in life

Meditate (hagah): imagine, meditate, mourn, mutter, roar, X sore, speak, study, talk, utter.  Say, Study, Think; to mutter to oneself

• Cow chewing the cud: he feeds swallows then brings it up again getting more nutrients out of the food.
• Meditate means to chew on Gods word getting all the supply necessary out of it

Tree planted…. Constantly nourished,

• When we meditate we are constantly staying connected to God’s supply and getting nourished

It brings forth fruit in it’s season; leaf does not wither

• When we meditate it gives us staying power while we wait for fruit!

Whatever he does shall prosper

• When we meditate it leads to prosperity

Prosper: tsalach to advance, prosper, make progress, succeed, be profitable

• Meditation plants you in the soil of God’s supply
• Meditation produces action for we follow our Words
• Examples: “I’m self controlled and alert”

1 Timothy 4:13-15

¹³ Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. ¹⁴ Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. ¹⁵ Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress (KJ version says profiting) (furtherance, advancement, profiting) may be evident to all.

• What we do in secret-meditate- shows up in manifestation for all to see! Our profiting is seen by all!

• Meditating leads to prosperity or meditating leads to changing the matter in our lives

Joshua 1:1-9

³ Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.  (30 kings in 7 years over through)⁴ From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. ⁵ No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. ⁶ Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. ⁷ Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your MOUTH, but you shall meditatein it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Observe: when you meditate it allows you to see; the seeing leads to doing or going tin the direction of success.

Retention: When you

• Hear we retain 10-20%
• Read we retain 20-40%
• Study we retain 40-60%
• Memorize we retain 60-80%
• Meditate we retain 80-100%- our minds get transformed here!!!!!

Bring it all together:

Meditating the words or saying the Word to yourself causes us to access God’s supernatural supply because the Word is living and active.

When we meditate:

• First our minds become transformed and persuaded that what is coming out of our mouth is true,
• We are allowing what we are saying to be created or manifest in this realm
• We are moving matter

Philippians 4:8(NKJ)

 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Mark 11:23-25(NKJ)

²³ For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. ²⁴ Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Jesus said to say to the mountain: saying the word to the mountain causes doubt to flee and belief OR faith to come.

Saying in this scripture is active means you keep saying it.

The results of meditation: Joshua:

Joshua 24:29-31 (NKJ)

²⁹ Now it came to pass after these things that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being one hundred and ten years old. ³⁰ And they buried him within the border of his inheritance at Timnath Serah, which is in the mountains of Ephraim, on the north side of Mount Gaash.

³¹ Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the Lord which He had done for Israel.

• 80 years old still killing giants! Died 110
• He was buried in his land- Timnath Serah- abundant portion
• All Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua’s life

Practice:

Psalm 5:12(NKJ)

For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

Philippians 4:13(NKJ)

 I can do all things through Christwho strengthens me.

Duet. 8:18(NKJ)

And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth

Words Matter “Confess your way to Victory” by: Pastor James (video/notes

Words Matter – “Confession” – week 2

“Confess your way to Victory”

by: Pastor James

Click here for English/Spanish audio on Podcast

Click here for Video

Two types of confession:

• Confessing sin
  • Meant to get your own mind and heart free. It’s not for God, because through Jesus you were set free from sin. It’s for you personally and for others that might need to hear it to be set free also.
  • If we get too caught up in confessing sin, we eradicate the work of Jesus.
  • If we get too caught up, we confess this more than the promise that actually breaks sin in our lives.
• Confessing the Word
  • Meant to get heaven right here on earth in your situation
  • It’s talking like heaven talks.
    • I truly believe that when we get to heaven, we’re going to hear a lot of the Word being spoken. The Word is good, it’s promises, it’s future, it’s hope, it’s good things.
  • Confessing the Word needs no translation:
    • Jesus doesn’t have to translate your request to God when you pray/confess, if you are speaking the Word. He knows the Word, and since it won’t return void…He starts moving on your behalf right away.

• If we want heaven on earth, we need to talk like heaven instead of earth.
  • Fold back the clouds with your confession of heaven here.
  • We need to start saying how the situation really is (heaven on earth), instead of how it seems.
  • Two ears one mouth ratio…flip that. Use your mouth to defeat the enemy with the answer.

• Story about Portland driver accident
  • “I hope that guy gets in a wreck”
  • You called it…
  • Iran story
    • Psalm 118:17 NKJV – I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the Lord.
    • The bomb that went off wasn’t part of his confession, so it couldn’t touch him.

What are we calling into existence?

We are to confess our way to victory.

Proverbs 18:21 NKJV – Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

• Power – yad-
  • Tenons on the acacia beams of the tabernacle
  • Acaciawas hard wood that was very durable
    • Known as God’s sacred wood (pillar)
    • You are God’s sacred people
  • These tenonswould be made of harder wood than the acacia, so as better to stand the strain of wind and weather.
    • Tenons held it all together and kept the acacia standing with high winds and strain
  • Your tongue is meant to keep you safe. It is meant to be your stabilizer from the wind and circumstances. It is meant to remind you of your righteousness before God.
  • Your tongue is the most powerful weapon you own, because it’s the only thing that can shoot the Word at the enemy.
    • Questions: Is a gun very dangerous without bullets?
      • Is a shark very dangerous without teeth?
      • Can a baseball player hit a home run without a bat?
      • Can a pole vaulter win gold without his pole?

Our ammunition is the Word, but we have to use it or we’re not going to win.

We confess our way to victory.

Story about Job

Loss of a job, a deadly diseases, a terrorist attack and many other things can make us question and fall into fear. When these things come against us, we tend to start talking about them and taking on the fear hidden within them.

Job 1:5 – “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.”

• It also says in this portion of scripture that Job did this “regularly.”
• Job was counted on as “the most righteous man” of his time. However, he fell into this sin consciousness as we do many times.

Job 3:25 – For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me.

• So Job was basically all tied up in his sin consciousness and fear took him over. When fear takes you over, the enemy has his way with you.
• What we fear usually comes out of our mouths more than the answer.
• What we fear usually stays on our mind more than the promise.
• To eliminate fear, confess the Word.

Job 1:9–12 –

• The hedge of protection that was around Job was broken down due to his own sin consciousness. The enemy will plant thoughts that you are not good enough for saving and that you can’t possibly get free.
• He does this because if he can talk you into that, you won’t confess the righteousness that you are, you’ll confess the sin and stay there instead of moving forward with what Jesus already handled.

Job was confessing the wrong stuff.

Your confession was meant to heave you into victory.

Ephesians 1:7 NKJV – In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

• If this is the case, you can stop beating yourself up and celebrate in the victory that He accomplished even for you!

Instead, say, “Jesus, You are my righteousness and protection. Surely You shall deliver me from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence!” (Psalm 91:3)

• When God saves you from something in your life, it makes Him happy. It is another representation of your righteousness through His Son and not through your own merits.
• It not only pleases God, but it shuts the door on the enemy!

The walls of Jericho (what happens when you confess the Word):

• Joshua 6:5 NKJV – It shall come to pass, when they make a long  blast  with the rams horn,  and  when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him.
  • The walls came down at a shout
  • First shout was “ruwa”
    • A human shout of joy and victory
    • Joy and victory before the walls actually fell was the sign of faith.
    • The wall is up, but God said its not up. I believe what God said instead of what I see right in front of me.
  • Second shout was “teruwah”
    • The alarm of war; great means that of God Himself
    • Teruwah was the transition between us (ruwa) and Him (teruwah).
• When we “ruwa” (confess) as God says, He shows up in “teruwah” (great shout).
• Faith in what God said came out of their mouth…faith in what God said mixed with their voice and created a “great shout”, which was God moving on their behalf.
  • When we say what God says, it is like He is saying it Himself. When God speaks, the world changes on your behalf.
  • We can let God speak, by opening our mouth and letting His Words come out.

Examples of how to confess:

• A doctor’s exam details
  • It wasn’t meant to be your new confession, but many times we use it that way.
  • It was meant to define your specific biblical confession
    • Let your diagnosis be your direction to find a confession that will combat it
  • 1 Peter 2:24 NKJV – who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness by whose stripes I am healed.
• Your job
  • The boss isn’t giving you your new confession about how bad you are, he’s defining to you where you need to go in scripture to combat it.
  • You’re too timid in meetings or you’re too shy to apply for a new position
    • 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV – For God has not given me a spirit of timidity, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
  • You’re going to lose your job for this…
    • Philippians 4:19 NKJV – And my God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
  • You’re looking at a demotion
    • Deuteronomy 28:13 NKJV – And the Lord will make me the head and not the tail; I shall be above only, and not be beneath…
• Husband and wife issues
  • 1 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV – I do not behave rudely, do not seek my own, am not provoked, think no evil;
  • Ephesians 5:25 NKJV – I, love my wife, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
• Addiction
  • John 8:36 NKJV – Therefore if the Son makes me free, I shall be free indeed.

God’s righteousness needs an outlet:

Also, by making you righteous, God is showing Himself righteous

• Romans 3:26 NKJV – “to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus”.

You need your faith for one thing in life: to believe that you are the righteousness of God in Christ!

Mark 9:23 NKJV says, “Jesus said to him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

• How do we “believe”? We get in the habit of speaking Gods Word every time we get the chance. We practice it day in and day out. Then, when the wind blows, it will come shooting out and hold us up.

Confession is your way to victory!

Prayer/Salvation

Jobs opening up

I had lost my full time job after the first week of 2012 due to a layoff. Within 24 hrs. I was blessed with a part time job . I was grateful for it but it just wasn’t enough to support my family on. Due to the fact that I was taught “Tithers rights”, my wife’s business was tremendously blessed with more income and new customers. My wife had a divine connection through Facebook to a high school friend, she has a career with a billion dollar world wide corporation. I was given the contact information and timing was perfect in Christ. Within a week I was working as a temporary laborer for this major corporation. I showed up in faith at 4:30 a.m. to show my diligence and desire to prove myself. God’s favor was with me for 12 weeks I worked solid. I even had an interview to be hired on as a full time employee with the corporation and was not chosen for the job. I really wanted this so bad I could taste it, I told the interviewer this.  The benefits, retirement, perks, bonuses, and raises with this corporation are endless. Keep in mind, I was working for approximately half of what my salary was before I was laid off before the new year. During the course of the 12 weeks my faith was tested, character built up. I don’t know why, how, or what had happened whereas I wasn’t chosen for the job. Since everything had God’s peace to it . In the 12th week, I and all the other temporary helpers where laid off but one. Not me. I had God’s peace , this happened at 2 pm in the afternoon. I made a phone call to one landscaping company in which I had worked for about a year ago. Within one hour, I was given the call to be hired. The increase hourly was $6 more per hour than what I was. I was told by the supervisor that he would give me a second chance. He said he is hiring me back because”He likes me and the kind of character of a person that I am.”  I have completed 1 week at this job and I am grateful. I still believe that God is not finished with me yet, but I am so very excited about what God is doing!

Words Matter series “Words are Creative” by: Pastor Tracy (notes/video)

Words Matter series: “Words are Creative ”

Sunday August 5, 2012            Pastor Tracy

Audio Podcast click here.

Video Post click here.

Intro: Our girls followed their own word of “Yes Mom”. We follow our words.

There is a creative force in words

• Hebrews 11:3 (NKJ)

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.

Worlds (aion): for ever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity; to breath/blow, that which causes life, vital force

Framed: to mend (what has been broken or rent), to repair, to complete to fit out, equip, put in order, arrange, adjust

The visible came from invisible; just because it’s not seen does not mean it does not exist.

• Genesis 1:1-3 (AMP)

The earth was without form and an empty waste, and darkness was upon the face of the very great deep. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters.

And God said, Let there be light; and there was light.

• That which existed in the invisible became visible as God spoke
• Quark: smallest particle is the quark- sound waves. Sound waves turn into the material world

We are made in the image of God having a spirit as well with the creative ability in us.

• Genesis 1:26-28 (NKJ)

²⁶ Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” ²⁷ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. ²⁸ Then God BLESSED them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Dominion: to rule dominate- A king has dominion

Subdue: more of an action- to subject, force keep under or bring into bondage

Through words Adam subdued! Through words we subdue

My testimony of healing from infection

• Proverbs 18:20-21(NKJ)

A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Science proves what God has been saying all along

Paul Cho’s book describes a lunch he had with a leading nuero surgeon who explained that the central nervous system is connected to our speak. As we speak it triggers the nervous system to act.

• Retired, dying young, the mom calling her son a doctor

Our words create negative or positive

• James 3:2-5(NKJ)

We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

• The enemy recognizes the power of our words

• Proverbs 6:2
  You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth.
  • Riley example:  negative things were coming at me and choosing to keep my mouth shut and resist my emotions- emotions saying one thing my mouth saying another- example riley

Words are coming from our Soul: it’s important what we put in!

• Matt 12:34

For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks

• We generally speak what we are thinking and feeling!
• Example of Dino coming home from ORU

The most creative words spoken is the Word coming out of our mouth:

• John 6:63(NKJ)

The words I speak are spirit and life

• Hebrews 4:12 (NKJ)

 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.

God is watching over His Word to perform it.

• Jeremiah 1:12 (AMP)

Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.

God provides

Our lease on the Apartment is over at the beginning of next month, we have been offered a couple great deals on rental and we were looking to move to a place that is more spacious. We are just not in the position to buy a house yet. However, all of that has changed when recently we were given $20,000 towards a down payment for a house. Now we were able to agree upon a 6 month lease where we live and now we are looking for our house. I’m still just in awe of God and His love for me, and it’s all about faith, cause I believe He can do it and I believe He will do it and He is doing it!

the prayer fix

I have a testimony for you:

My computer got a virus and was acting very funny, like a human being when the prince of darkness invades his soul, mind and heart. Nothing was working. Obviously, I felt frustrated because I depend on it to work every day. All my files and clients information was on there and I couldn’t retrieve it. My first thought was to call a computer person to clean up the virus but then I thought: Since I have learned at Life Christian Church how important it is to put God first in every challenge that we face, what if instead of calling a computer tech, I pray so God will take care of it.

Several days have passed and my computer continued dancing with the forces of darkness while I continued praising and praying to God so He would release His powers…Then, this morning when I turned it on, BINGO, my computer was working perfectly. PRAISE HIM because he listens to us when we pray in faith, even if it seems like a small request.

Our faithful God

I just have to give my God a little glory here. I was just entering all of my business info this week as I usually do, and thought I would see how we were doing in comparison to last year at this time. Before I tell you how awesome we are doing, I just want you to know that we have always been faithful tithers for the most part. Once we became Lifer’s, we increased our faithfulness to tithing and also began giving an offering most weeks.

We have been speaking prosperity and fruitfulness over our lives and confessing the following scriptures: Proverbs 8:18 With me (God) are riches, honor, enduring wealth and prosperity and Psalm 35:27 Let the Lord be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

Well I’m magnifying Him today as much as I can, because He is definitely doing his part so now I’m doing mine! So the facts are this; just this month alone my business increased 73%!!!! Holy cow! We only gave 10% plus an offering, and He totally out gave us!! So my curiosity drove me to see how much we increased for the year thus far…. 58.6%!! Yes that’s right He increased us more than 5x’s the percentage that we gave. The word works, and I cannot wait for the end of the year to see the complete work! I have to also add that my work is extremely seasonal and we made more this month which is usually a very, very slow month than we did in December which is high season in Naples. Another 58% increased difference! Hallelujah!! Glory to God, He is so faithful.

Alternate Endings series “Failing Forward” by: Pastor James (video/notes)

Alternate Ending

“FAILING FORWARD”  by: Pastor James

Review:

• Last week we talked about being emotionally driven or spiritually driven.  What a great message by Pastor Tracy last week which everyone should listen to or watch online if you missed it.
• Pastor Tracy also touched on OATs again.  Observations, associations, and teachings.  These are the things that will show up when you are at the end of your rope, when you don’t have any answers, when you have failed for potentially the last time.  When you don’t know what to do and your thinking about throwing in the chips for the last time and giving up.  Your OATs will lead you, if you’ve put in the right ones…you’ll succeed.
• It’s so important that we continue to feed on the Word of God, because these OATs show up when you need them.  You’ll know how to respond to situations that otherwise would take you down.

Overview:

• Today we will be talking about failing forward.  But, we won’t be talking about it as a negative thing.  That seems impossible, but failure doesn’t have to be something that holds the believer back.  However, most of the time…it does.
• If you’re under the impression that you will never come up against a struggle or even have some setbacks, then you’ve convinced yourself that you already live in heaven.
  • It’s not a matter of if you fail, it’s how you react to it and move forward.
• Suichi Honda story
  • Not hired by Toyota Motor Company
  • Encouraged by his neighbors to continue making motorcycles
  • Honda Motor Company

Suichi exercised the “failing forward” notion, and you can too.

• A MAN’S GREATEST FEAR IS FAILURE.
  • God has a plan for you.  Your failures have kept you down.  Your job isn’t what you had intended.  Your family life isn’t going well.  Your feeling regret from the road that you took, and failure is eating at your core.
  • Very similar to the story of Samson that we’ve been reviewing in this series.

• A FAILURE IS AN EVENT, NOT A PERSON.
  • “I’m a failure”…NO. It was a failure, I’m not.

Failing is nothing more than a learning experience. Fail forward instead of back.

• Two types of blocks
  • Stumbling blocks and Starting blocks
    • Don’t let your failure be a stumbling block, but rather a starting block
    • If the Olympians didn’t have a starting block, they wouldn’t be able to win the 100 yard dash.
    • We have to detach ourselves from the failure and look at it as an event rather than part of us.  You are not a failure, perhaps you have failed like all of us, but don’t let it define you.
      • What God sees
    • Romans 8:28 NKJV- And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to Hispurpose.
      • God sees your failure as a starting block, not a stumbling block
    • Read on your own: Romans 3:21-31
      • Your sin/failure is less significant to God than your life.
    • Romans 3:24-26 NKJV – being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth  as  a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
      • Romans 3:25,26 – He passed over the sins previously committed to demonstrate His righteousness
        • Break Down: through Jesus, God made a “new covenant” way to get past the sin and failure of His people, so that He could demonstrate His righteousness.
          • Every time God looks past your failure and blesses, He is showcasing His righteousness.
          • Why wouldn’t He want to do that all the time?

God isn’t looking forward to your failure, but He’s looking forward to showcasing His righteousness. – Fail Forward

• Propitiation (G2435 – cover of Ark of the Covenant/Testimony)
• Mercy seat – defined in Hebrews
  • a means of appeasing
  • A discretionary pardoning
  • the cover of the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies
  • Leviticus 16:14 – sprinkled the blood 7 times on the Mercy seat
    • The number 7 means – completion, spiritual perfection, God’s seal, holiness
      • Seven is the second perfect number. In Hebrew seven is shevah (shebah) from the root shava (shaba or sheba), meaning “to be full.”
        • Full of His blood, not full of your sin.
        • “your full of it…”
        • Exodus 37:6-9 – the Mercy seat built
          • Cherubim looking at the blood on the Mercy seat not the sin
          • Example of what God is looking at in you.
            

SAMSON’S STORY SHOWS US

Now the rulers of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate, saying, “Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands.” 24 When the people saw [Samson], they praised their god, saying, “Our god has delivered our enemy into our hands, the one who laid waste our land and multiplied our slain.” 25 While they were in high spirits, they shouted, “Bring out Samson to entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them. Judges 16:23-25

• Not only did Samson look bad, but God looked bad through Samson
• God was getting a black eye on this.  Now, Samson had to separate himself from his own personal failures and realize that God will have the last say.  He needed to realize that God would still use him, even though he failed.  His regrets and remorse were probably more than he could bare, but he had to step past them and allow God to still have the last say through him.
• God wants to use you for His good purpose.  No matter how bad you’ve failed and messed up.  You must know this.  Don’t sit back in your failure, stand up in God’s success.
• Samson had some pillars to push down in himself prior to the ones that he pushed down on the Philistines.
  • He had to push down the failure and the ridicule.  He had to push down the regret of making the wrong choices on his way to captivity.
  • He had to push down the fact that God is alive and well and always looking to bless.

Push down the pillars of failure…Fail Forward

TWO RESPONSES TO FAILURE

• THE NATURAL RESPONSE IS REMORSE.
  • Remorse is the reminder of your failure.
  • After forgiveness, there is no more reminder for God outside of your reminding Him. “But God, I have fallen short so many times.”
    • God’s response, “And when was that again?”
• THE BETTER RESPONSE IS accepting His love and forgiveness.

…When they stood him among the pillars.26 Samson said to the servant who held his hand, “Put me where I can feel the pillars that support the temple, so that I may lean against them…” 28 Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “O Sovereign Lord, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more… Judges 16:25-26, 28

• Samson decided that this was his end.  But, more importantly, he also decided that the victory was the Lord’s.  He allowed God to use his hands to get the glory.
• Not for one second do we see in this story that God looked down on Samson.  Of course, God would have rather had a different plan, but he won’t invade our will.  I’m sure the angels were celebrating when Samson cried out to God “just one more…”
  • Katherine Kuhlman (great revivalist)- fill me up one more time
    • Getting past her insufficiencies and failures and walking in the grace.
    • Surfer on the beach - well known speaker story
      • Ready to give up
      • “Hit the wall one more time.”
• In your time of need, you have God’s full attention no matter what got you there in the first place.
  • John 17:23 NKJV – I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
  • God sees opportunity to show Himself to this world…through you.

WHEN A MAN IS DOWN, HE’S NOT OUT!

• He’s only out when he talks himself into it.

EVEN IN OUR FAILURES, GOD CAN STILL ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSES.

Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, 30 Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived. Judges 16:29-30

• With all his might – Hebrew: koach-
  • Human strength, animal strength, strength of angels, and the power of God
  • Throughout Samson’s life, “the Spirit of the Lord came upon Him”

My story:

• Hired into the auto industry at a young age (right after high school)
• It went well for quite some time, but realized that I needed a degree to get past the ceiling for promotion.
• Raised in a lower class household, and not following God very closely
• I was looking for a review/raise/promotion, but my boss told me that I was at the ceiling without a degree. I felt like praying but knew that my relationship wasn’t what it should be with God.
• I prayed, but wasn’t sure that it would work, because what would make God want to promote someone that had backslidden.
  • Romans 3:25,26 – He passed over the sins previously committed to demonstrate His righteousness
    • God had a Failing Forward mindset for me… Like Samson
    • God wanted to demonstrate His righteousness through me.
• A week or so later, my boss called me back into his office. He wanted to let me know that he went to the president of the billion dollar company that I worked for and got approval to restart a college tuition program that had been stopped years ago.
• I got my tuition paid.
  • Don’t let your failure and regret define your future.
  • Every great man has failed.  He wouldn’t be a success without his failure.  However, many average men wouldn’t be average if they would have been able to get past their failure and see the opportunity.
    • Back in the starting blocks instead of the stumbling block
    • I had some pillars to push down just to pray. God pushed the other pillars down because I prayed.
    • God will always take an opportunity to show His righteousness

MOVING FORWARD

Get back into the starting blocks. God doesn’t see your failure, He sees the blood.

He wants to demonstrate His righteousness in you.

Fail forward into your Alternate Ending

Alternate Ending “Emotions or Spirit: which one is leading?” (video/notes)

Alternate Endings: Emotions or Spirit: which one is leading?

Sunday July 8, 2012            Pastor Tracy Boyd

Review:

John 10:10

¹⁰ The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Through Christ’s death and resurrection the potential for abundant life has been released and provided for every follower of Christ. The minute we receive Jesus this is available! However there is an obstacle that we have to overcome- our mind! Our mind determines our choices our choices determine our destiny or endings!

• When we come to Christ, our OATS (observations, associations and teachings) ,which have been shaped by  a negative world that manipulates toward the Lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life, have already been shaped!

1 John 2:16

For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world

• These operated in Samson’s life and it brought his destruction
• Anything that we cooperate with of the enemy’s will destroy our lives.

World: this is not physical creation, but the sphere of evil operating in our world under the dominion of satan

• If our oats are not reshaped by the Word, by default we will be shaped by a  negative world.

• I want, I deserve, I can handle will continue in our lives and will lead to destruction.
• We don’t have to be destroyed; we can have an alternate ending. Our first step is letting the Word reshape our thinking. We shared:

Proverbs 4:20-23

My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words ²¹ Do not let them out of your sight keep them within your heart; ²² for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. ²³ Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

This week: Being emotionally led or Spirit led.

Samson did what He felt like doing- he was emotionally driven:

We are too! We

• Vote, shop, eat, give and change jobs emotionally
• Being emotionally lead leads to chaos!

We’ve been given the privilege to be led by our human spirit which is connected to the Holy Spirit who is the source of all wisdom

Galatians 5:16-17 (NIV)

¹⁶ So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

Romans 8:12-13 (NLT)

¹² Therefore, dear brothers and sisters you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. ¹³ For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.

Bring it back to the Word: The Holy Spirit wants to lead us toward those things that bring life. We are wired to hear His voice. However his language is the Word.

Two emotions that bring us down

Anger:

Ephesians 4:26-27 (NKJ)

Be angry, and do not sin”:^[ do not let the sun go down on your wrath, ²⁷ nor give place to the devil. (don’t act out on your anger or habor stuff)

Proverbs 16:32 (NKJ)

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Proverbs 29:11 (NKJ)

A fool vents all his feelings,But a wise man holds them back.

Proverbs 19:11 (NLT)

Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.

Solution

• James 1:19: (NIV)

¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

(listen 2x as much as we speak; listen to the situation from another perspective, listen to God)

Pride:

Proverbs 16:18 (NIV)
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Examples: keep up with the Jones, jeans we bought because of the name, Mom staying up all night to sow a dress, not letting anyone know we are struggling in any area because of image.

Solution

• James 4:6-7 (NKJ)

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:“ God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

⁷ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

• If Gods word says forgive we submit to it, if it says not to get offended we submit to it, if it says to tithe we submit to it….
• PRIDE HINDERS POWER

You’ve been qualified to use the Holy Spirit’s power!

Colossians 1:12-13 (NKJ)

….giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. ¹³ He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

Jesus delivered us from the dominion of Lust of the eye, lust of the flesh and the pride of life. We are delivered from: I want it, I deserve it, I can handle it

In this new kingdom they are replaced:

I want it: with Contentment

I deserve it: with Thankfulness

I can handle it: with total dependence on God’s supply

Faith is recognizing our complete emptiness and utter need of God then going to Him knowing and believing He wants to release all the supply we need!

Romans 6:16( NKJ)

For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

This is how you can cooperate/release help from the Holy Spirit; say, “Sin will not have dominion over me, I am content, I am thankful and I am completely dependent on God.”

Romans 8:37 (NKJ) we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

God always provides

Last week, I was struggling with my finances, but despite that I decided to
give my mom a little bit of money because she is going through some financial
struggles herself.  I also took her, my little brother, and my daughters to
the movies, because they had been looking forward to watching a movie that was out at the theater.
Sunday came and even though i was really short with my money, I have my
tithe and left it all in God’s hands. I prayed to the Lord to help me
provide until my next paycheck, and I knew he would.

Well, God answered my prayers really quick!!
When Monday came I got an envelope in the mail, and it was a check for a
little over $300! The glory of God is AMAZING!!!
I immediately shared my testimony with my brother and friend, so they can
know that God never leaves us alone, he always provides for his
children!!