Are You a World Changer?

Notes: Are You a World Changer?

Hebrews 11

SPEAKER:

Greg Laurie

MUSICAL GUEST:

Phil Wickham

WORSHIP TEAM:

Harvest Worship Band

SERIES:

WorldChangers

Sunday, August 7, 2016 — 8:00 a.m.

Are you a thermostat or a thermometer?

A thermometer is influenced by its surroundings, a thermostat affects its surroundings.

Are you changing culture or is culture changing you?

Hebrews 11 speaks to us about people that have changed the world through faith. Like Enoch, Jacob, Moses, Joseph and Sarah and others.

The olympics are going on in Rio right now. 

Heb 12:1 NKJV Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Those in The Hall of Faith, were not super heroes, they were men of great faith and super things happened around them.

Gideon was a frightened farmer and Moses was a fugitive.

Many of them did not start the race of faith well, but they all finished well.

They all fell a few times in their races. They all received scars during their race before they received medals.

Like a new believer, we have all been justified and can get up and finish our race well.

1 John 5:4 NKJV For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

The more you use your faith the stronger it becomes. Kind of like muscles, use them or lose them.

Jude 20-21 NKJV But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Faith means doing things. Praying. Staying. Keeping.

Many people are all show and no go with faith. If you want to be a World Changer you need to use faith.

Hebrews 11New King James Version (NKJV)

By Faith We Understand

11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

3 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.

Faith at the Dawn of History

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; [a] for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Faithful Abraham

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

1.Faith does things.

Faith has to be put to use.

You can’t run and stand still at the same time. 

Its easy to tell others to have faith.

2.Faith grows stronger through testing.

James 1:2-3 NKJV My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

Your faith will grow through a series of test and trials.

Jeremiah 12:5 NKJV “If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, Then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, In which you trusted, they wearied you, Then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan?

If you want to run with horses, then don’t hang out with jackasses.

3.What is faith?

Faith sees invisible things!

Knowing that an apology will lead to healing in your marriage.

Faith is the evidence of things hoped for.

4.Faith comes by hearing and obeying Gods word.

Romans 10:17 NKJV So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

You have to go to church with an open heart.

5.Faith can make the difference between something happening and not happening.

The Bible tells us Jesus did no miracles in His home town. 

Where there is faith, God will work, where there is no faith there are no works. 

With faith you will receive what you need in life.

People that take their faith and put it into action see things happen.

When we don’t reach out to God in faith, not much happens.

The first hero in the Hall of Faith is you!

Heb 11:6 KJV But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

6.Our faith must be in God.

Even the nonbeliever uses faith everyday. 

When you are on an airplane, you have faith in the pilot and the plane. When you go through a green light, you have faith that the person in the other direction will stop at the red light. 

Abel is the first mentioned by name in the Hall of Faith.

Gen 4:7 NKJV If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

Sin can strike in a moment. 

1 Peter 5:8 NKJV Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 

Ephesians 4:26-27 NKJV “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. 

7.Living by faith has a price.

If you are going to be a Christian, then be a Christian. If you are going to live in this world, then live in this world face the consequences and end up in Hell. Choose what you are going to do and commit to it. Chose being a Christian and be a world changer!

Gen 4:9 NKJV Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

A Christian is a walking epistle, written by God and read by men.

When you go to a funeral of a nonbeliever it is such a sad event. When you go to the funeral of a believer there is the joy of knowing that the person is in Heaven.

We should have faith in God because He will sustain you through life.

Angels

Notes: Angels

Hebrews 1

Psalm 91

SPEAKER:

Jack Graham

WORSHIP TEAM:

Harvest Worship Band

Sunday, July 24, 2016 — 8:00 a.m.

Angels are spoken about all through the Bible. They are spoken about more often in the New Testament them agape love.

"Do not fear because the Angels are here"

Psalm 91:11-12 NLT

[11] For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. [12] They will hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone.

This is a promise to all believers in the world.

We live in a physical world, but beyond the physical world is an invisible spiritual wold.

2 Corinthians 4:18 NLT

[18] So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

All around us is divine activity. Heaven is a real place and it is also a dimension. The eternal world is much closer than we think.

Elisha prayed to God that He would open Elisha's servant's eyes to see, God did...it was an eye opening experience. Elisha and his servant saw the angels there.

The best reason to look for angels is to see God. Angels are always there for the purposes of God. These are Angel beings doing God's work.

Three points today:

1. Angels are worshippers.

They are there to worship God. They are never to be worshipped.

Just like them, we are only to worship God.

Isaiah 6:2-8 NLT

[2] Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. [3] They were calling out to each other, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven's Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!" [4] Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke. [5] Then I said, "It's all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the LORD of Heaven's Armies." [6] Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. [7] He touched my lips with it and said, "See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven." [8] Then I heard the Lord asking, "Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?" I said, "Here I am. Send me."

The Angels are there worshipping:

Isaiah 6:3 NLT

[3] They were calling out to each other, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven's Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!"

Angels watch us worship. What do they see when they watch you worship?

Angels are created by God...humans will never become angels.

Colossians 1:16 NLT

[16] for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see- such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.

God created them for Himself.

Psalm 148:2 NLT

[2] Praise him, all his angels! Praise him, all the armies of heaven!

Job 38:4-7 NLT

[4] "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. [5] Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line? [6] What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone [7] as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?

We don't know how many angels there are.

2. Angels are witnesses.

An angel is a messenger. They deliver important messages to individuals and sometimes to groups.

Pastor Jack said Harvest is known as a highly evangelistic church.

Angels do not share the Gospel. We have to declare the witness of Christ.

3. Angels are warriors.

The Bible does not confirm that we have a guardian angel, but it does confirm that we have an angel guard.

Angels are warriors fighting on our behalf in spiritual battles.

Daniel 10:9-21 NLT

[9] Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. [10] Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. [11] And the man said to me, "Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you." When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling. [12] Then he said, "Don't be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. [13] But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. [14] Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come." [15] While he was speaking to me, I looked down at the ground, unable to say a word. [16] Then the one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing in front of me, "I am filled with anguish because of the vision I have seen, my lord, and I am very weak. [17] How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe." [18] Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning. [19] "Don't be afraid," he said, "for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!" As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, "Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me." [20] He replied, "Do you know why I have come? Soon I must return to fight against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia, and after that the spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece will come. [21] Meanwhile, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one helps me against these spirit princes except Michael, your spirit prince.

Prayer is not preparation for the battle, prayer IS the battle!

Angels are there fighting the spiritual battles for us.

We may not always see angels, but angels always see us.

Angels point us to Jesus.

Tis' The Season (Becoming Ant Man)

Notes: Tis' The Season (Becoming Ant Man)

Proverbs 30

SPEAKER:

Levi Lusko

WORSHIP TEAM:

Harvest Worship Band

Thursday, July 14, 2016 — 7:00 p.m.

Proverbs 30:25 NKJV

[25] The ants are a people not strong, Yet they prepare their food in the summer;

An old saying "don't sweat the small stuff", that can be good advice in some scenarios. But in some scenarios that can be deadly advice.

The space shuttles that exploded, exploded because of very small issues .

Luke 16:10 NKJV

[10] He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.

If we take care of the quality of our minutes, we can trust God to take care of the years.

We need to do the small things for the Lord, the things that no one else sees. God sees it!

God keeps track of those who get the assist.

Small tactical activity can lead to large breakthroughs.

Agur speaks of four things that are small but are exceedingly wise...

Proverbs 30:24-28 NKJV

[24] There are four things which are little on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise: [25] The ants are a people not strong, Yet they prepare their food in the summer; [26] The rock badgers are a feeble folk, Yet they make their homes in the crags; [27] The locusts have no king, Yet they all advance in ranks; [28] The spider skillfully grasps with its hands, And it is in kings' palaces.

There are a million trillion ants in this world. There is 1.5 million ants per person on this planet.

Ants can lift 50 times their body weight.

Ants understand the power of teamwork. Even ant holes are the same size of a soldier ant's head.

Proverbs 30:25 NKJV

[25] The ants are a people not strong, Yet they prepare their food in the summer;

They do something when it is not winter, so that they have it when it is winter.

Proverbs 6:6 NKJV

[6] Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,

Proverbs 6:8 NKJV

[8] Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest.

If we are to become Ant Man:

1. We need to learn to Understand Seasons

They are unavoidable and somewhat predictable.

Genesis 8:22 NKJV

[22] "While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease."

Seasons are unavoidable! Yet they are predictable.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NKJV

[1] To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: [2] A time to be born, And a time to die;A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; [3] A time to kill, And a time to heal;A time to break down, And a time to build up; [4] A time to weep, And a time to laugh;A time to mourn, And a time to dance; [5] A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones;A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; [6] A time to gain, And a time to lose;A time to keep, And a time to throw away; [7] A time to tear, And a time to sew;A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; [8] A time to love, And a time to hate;A time of war, And a time of peace.

To everything there are seasons.

Every season has a strength and a struggle, a blessing and a burden.

2. Diagnose Your Season

The sooner you can diagnose, the sooner you can adapt.

We need to access our season to know when to react.

We can keep building our sand castles too close to the break, or we can build it so it doesn't wash away quickly.

What's a small tactical activity you can make that can be a huge breakthrough for you?

Some seasons go quickly and some seem to drag on and on.

David was told he was going to be king, and then everything got worse for years.

Small decisions can bring you into and out of seasons.

No season last forever.

Your favorite season will be coming soon.

Once the season is gone, you will never get that exact same season back.

The season you are in would be greener if you would just water it.

If you get a blessing before its time, it will not become beautiful, it will be a burden when you don't want it.

3. Prepare for coming seasons

An old Chinese proverb: When is the best time to plant a tree? 10 years ago. The second best time is right now.

God at times will give us tomorrow's provision today. We must plan.

We have to become Ant Man, if you want potatoes in the fall, you must plant them now.

This is not just money that we may get today that will get us through tomorrow, it may be spiritual supplies you are given today as well that will get you through tomorrow.

One of the wisest things you can do in this life, is to train for a trial that you are not in now. It may not be for your benefit, but for someone else you care about.

Luke 16:9 NKJV

[9] "And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.

Use the money you have now to take care of those that will spend time with you in Heaven.

4 Celebrate your season.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 NKJV

[11] He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

God is up to something and He is doing something. You might not know what it is, but it is for your good.

Trust your God that everything will become beautiful in time.

Philippians 4:11-13 NKJV

[11] Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: [12] I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. [13] I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

No matter what season you are in, tis the season to be jolly...falalalala lalalala