The Handoff

Notes: The Handoff

2 Timothy 3

SPEAKER:

Paul Eaton

WORSHIP TEAM:

Harvest Worship Band

Sunday, September 4, 2016 — 10:00 a.m.

This year with all of the outreaches of Harvest over 42,000 people have made a profession of faith! Amazing!!!

A believer's marching orders...

Matthew 28:19 NLT

[19] Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

We are to keep the faith moving forward.

Pastor Eaton is telling us about the women's relay at the Olympics relay and how the baton was dropped, and the story behind it.

His message is about how not just running the race is important, but how we do the handoff to the future runners of the faith.

2 Timothy 4:6-7 NLT

[6] As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. [7] I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.

Paul is speaking to Timothy as his mentor.

Mentor- an experienced trusted advisor.

Disciple Maker - teaches the disciple to be a learner.

The disciple of our world appears to be the opposite of what Paul describes.

2 Timothy 3:10-17 NLT

[10] But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance. [11] You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra-but the Lord rescued me from all of it. [12] Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. [13] But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived. [14] But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. [15] You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. [16] All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. [17] God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Past, present and future.

Past: verses 10-11

Future: 12-13

Present: 14- 17

Pauls priorities:

-teaching

-conduct

-aim in life

Paul was not just a teacher, he was a great teacher.

Acts 20:20-21 NLT

[20] I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. [21] I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike-the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 9:16 NLT

[16] Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn't preach the Good News!

Timothy followed Pauls teaching and conduct.

Paul taught, "do what I do", his teaching and conduct were in agreement.Find this in someone and be this for someone.

Have an example and be an example.

Who's your example? Who are you an example to?

Pauls Virtues:

-faith: trust in God

-patience: with God

-love: for God

-steadfastness: holding on to God

1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT

[13] Three things will last forever-faith, hope, and love-and the greatest of these is love.

Focus on God.

Paul's endurance. Faith that cannot be tested is faith that cannot be trusted.

Timothy is from Lystra, he possibly saw what happened to Paul in Acts 14.

Acts 14:8-20 NLT

[8] While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet. He had been that way from birth, so he had never walked. He was sitting [9] and listening as Paul preached. Looking straight at him, Paul realized he had faith to be healed. [10] So Paul called to him in a loud voice, "Stand up!" And the man jumped to his feet and started walking. [11] When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, "These men are gods in human form!" [12] They decided that Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and that Paul was Hermes, since he was the chief speaker. [13] Now the temple of Zeus was located just outside the town. So the priest of the temple and the crowd brought bulls and wreaths of flowers to the town gates, and they prepared to offer sacrifices to the apostles. [14] But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothing in dismay and ran out among the people, shouting, [15] "Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings-just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. [16] In the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways, [17] but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts." [18] But even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them. [19] Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. [20] But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

Paul had been through much...but the Lord had rescued him.

2 Timothy 4:18 ESV

[18] The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Our Christian beliefs are no longer main stream. The world looks at our beliefs as wrong...but my beliefs are from God's word.

Know that the Lord is still in charge and you can trust in Him.

You must continue everyday; continue, continue, continue the race.  

2 Timothy 3:14 ESV

[14] But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it

Learning + Believing = Wise for salvation through Jesus Christ

Knowing God and making Him known through worship, learning and loving.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV

[16] All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Scripture changes us and profits us.

The scripture is profitable:

Teaching: what is right

Reproof: what is not right

Training: how to get right

Correction: how to stay right

New believers are looking at you as an example.

We like our comfort zone, God wants to call us out of it.

Get involved!

Romans 10:9 ESV

[9] because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

The Water Is the Problem

Notes: The Water Is the Problem
1 Kings 18
SPEAKER:
Levi Lusko
WORSHIP TEAM:
Harvest Worship Band
Thursday, August 25, 2016 — 7:00 p.m.

In 1 Kings the nation of Israel is split into the Northern and Southern kingdoms. Ahab was a horrible king of the north. He married Jezabel who tried to wipe our true God out of Israel. Elijah was raised up in this time.

Elijah has been called the mightiest of the miracle working prophets.

Elijah goes to their palace and said it will not rain until he said it will.

It did not rain for three years. 

Water in the Old Testament was a symbol of Gods blessing.

Deuteronomy 11:13-14 NKJV
[13] 'And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the LORD your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, [14] then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil.

Rain meant life and death during this time.

1 Kings 18:20-41 NKJV
[20] So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. [21] And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a word. [22] Then Elijah said to the people, "I alone am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. [23] Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. [24] Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers by fire, He is God." So all the people answered and said, "It is well spoken." [25] Now Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it." [26] So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made. [27] And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, "Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened." [28] So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. [29] And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention. [30] Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. [31] And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, "Israel shall be your name." [32] Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed. [33] And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, "Fill four waterpots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood." [34] Then he said, "Do it a second time," and they did it a second time; and he said, "Do it a third time," and they did it a third time. [35] So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water. [36] And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. [37] Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again." [38] Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. [39] Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!" [40] And Elijah said to them, "Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape!" So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon and executed them there. [41] Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain."

In the passage, the people were merely spectators. Elijah asked the people to just add water.

John 2:7 NKJV
[7] Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim.

John 4:14 NKJV
[14] but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."

Living water is all God asks us to add to many of our life's situations.

1. God can do the impossible, He often calls on us to do the impractical.

God will let the stack against us get to the impossible so we have to trust in Him.

Where did the water come from that the people had to pour out for Elijah? The people had to pour out the very thing that they needed.

2. It's giving, not keeping, that leads to receiving.

Proverbs 11:24 NKJV
[24] There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.

Generosity breaks the back of greed.

Giving leads to receiving. 

3. You will never experience all God has until He has all you are.

No man can serve two masters.

Philippians 2:17 NKJV
[17] Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

God wants us to know, empty vessels can be filled up.

4. When prayer goes up, power comes down.

Satan shakes his knees when he sees the weakest Saint on their knees.

1 Kings 18:41 NKJV
[41] Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain."

In God's economy we need to hear it, before we can see it. You have to pray it and hear God answer it before you see it.

2 Chronicles 7:14-15 NKJV
[14] if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. [15] Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.

The gospel is not behave and earn, it is believe and receive.

The World Changer Who Was out of This World

Notes: The World Changer Who Was out of This World

Hebrews 11

SPEAKER:

Greg Laurie

WORSHIP TEAM:

Harvest Worship Band

SERIES:

WorldChangers

Sunday, August 21, 2016 — 10:00 a.m.

Themes of Harvest:

Worship, Learn and Love

Getting into God's word is so important to spiritual growth.

1-52-12

1 day of worship

52 weeks to learn

12 months to love

Honest to God- The Prayer Life of David will be this year's Bible theme.

As small groups we can learn to understand the Bible better.

The Olympics are going on now;

Usain Bolt is the reigning fastest man on the planet. He starts fast, stays fast and finishes fast.

Who determines how fast we run the race of life? We do!

God gives us the tools, but we set the pace.

World Changers effect their surroundings more than their surroundings effect  them.

World changers are thermostats not thermometers.

Enoch was a world changer.

1. Enoch walked with God.

Amos 3:3 NKJV

[3] Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?

When we walk with God, He sets the pace, however He meets us where we are at.

"Walking with God" means to learn to pray, think, and live Biblically.

2. Enoch was well pleasing to God.

Hebrews 11:5 NKJV

[5] By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony: that he pleased God.

3. Enoch was a witness for God.

Everyone has a testimony. Is yours good or bad?

A true follower has a valid testimony no matter how extreme or uneventful it may be.

People will observe you as a Christian and approach you and ask you why you are the way you are.

Give the glory to God!

Earn the right to share the Gospel with people based on how they see the way you live your life.

Jude 1:14-15 NKJV

[14] Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, [15] to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him."

Enoch proclaimed the Gospel through his life.

1 Peter 3:15 NKJV

[15] But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

We are to be a witness, not a prosecutor or defendant.

The objective is not to win an argument but to win a soul.

You never know when the opportunity will come.

2 Timothy 2:24-26 NKJV

[24] And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, [25] in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, [26] and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

"Be kind to everyone!"

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NKJV

[19] For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; [20] and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; [21] to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; [22] to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. [23] Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

Evangelism and Giving, two subjects Pastor Greg talks about that makes the room quiet. Awkward moments for most.

God promises to bless us when we do it!

Malachi 3:10 NKJV

[10] Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

Everything you have belongs to God. Get God's money out of our house and back into His house.

Tithing is where we start. Every New Testament giving is stated to go further than the Old Testament standard.

1 Corinthians 16:2 NKJV

[2] On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NKJV

[6] But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. [7] So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

If you can't give cheerfully then ask God to change your heart.

Three conversions for a Christian: the mind, the heart and the wallet.

Let's double our efforts to do what the devil doesn't want us to do.

90% of Christians have never brought another Christian to faith.

There is great joy in bringing others to Christ.

4. Enoch went to be with God.

Genesis 5:24 NKJV

[24] And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

Hebrews 11:5 NKJV

[5] By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Enoch did not die.  Enoch and Elijah are the only ones who did not die, they were taken up to Heaven.

Seek to honor and please the Lord. Look for the opportunities to please God.

If you walk with the Lord on earth, you will walk with Him one day in Heaven.

Revelation 3:4 NKJV

[4] You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.

Could Christ come back in our generation? Absolutely. But no matter what, we should live as if it is. In the interim, walk with God.

Want a great way to live your life? Walk with God!

Sometimes we need a little help with our walk.

Galatians 6:1 NKJV

[1] Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

Just as the two Olympians did, we are to help each other up when we fall.

This is the walk you need to finish!

Have you started your walk with Jesus?