If we’re not careful we simply go through the Jesus motions without ever becoming the Jesus movement he’s called us to be.
Over these next few weeks we are going to focus on God’s call for us to be the Jesus movement to our generation. God is going to activate something within us to take us to another dimension of loving, serving and giving.
Week 1: LOVE
Our 2017 New Year’s Revelation is: Love Is Our Source. When people give you kindness it’s easy to give them kindness. When they are unkind you must give them what God gives you instead. This speaks of your willingness to allow the expression of your life to be born from the source from within rather than a reaction to what is taking place around you.
Something can be awakened within you when you read things that God has revealed like: Isa 54:17 "No weapon that is formed against you will prosper…NAS The more convinced you are of God’s Word the more your reality is born from within rather than from that which is beyond your control.
This becomes the lifestyle of every believer the more they believe! We know what it is to have a faith but do we really know what it is to live by faith? This is where circumstances can’t take control of the resources of our lives!
You were never created to live out a life you could live without God’s help. Do your circumstances have control of your life?
· Do you love only those who love you?
· Do you serve only when it is convenient for you?
· Do you give in a way that is worshipful and sacrificial?
Interestingly that verse about no weapon forming against us prospering is given in the context of heritage. Your faith protects your children and others who have been entrusted to your care.
Isa 54:13-14 "All your sons will be taught of the LORD; And the well-being of your sons will be great. 14 "In righteousness you will be established; You will be far from oppression, for you will not fear; And from terror, for it will not come near you… NAS
You will be far from oppression for you will not fear. Notice it doesn’t say you won’t fear because you will be far from oppression. It actually says you will be far from oppression because you won’t fear!
God’s always trying to deal with what’s going on in our hearts because that’s the key to dealing with what is going on in our lives. Jesus had peace inside and it calmed the storm outside. We have this capacity within our lives as well!
Fear and oppression are friends. I’ve learned that troubled friends tend to introduce you to more troubled friends. Also when you lose friends you’ll likely lose their friends. Have you ever had a friendship breakup and it cost you another friend because of their relationship? Break up with fear and it will impact your friendship with oppression!
1 John 4:18 tells us how perfect love casts out fear. We can be free! We can be generous! We can be blessed!
If you think about somebody you know who always seems to be generous you’ll envision a certain lifestyle. Then if you think about somebody who never seems to be generous you’ll envision an entirely different lifestyle. There is a tremendous difference between these two lifestyles.
My personal and pastoral conviction is that we are to worship with every resource of our lives. Tithes and offerings are central to unlocking another dimension of God’s provision. Speak to your financial storm! Don’t let fear hold you in a state of financial oppression!
Be free from fear -
Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” NIV
GP4RL: Begin praying about your 2018 New Year’s Revelation and how you can more effectively love, serve and give.
DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY GROUP LEADERS
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide.
OPENING DISCUSSION:
1. Share a sacrifice you made that resulted from love.
It is important to reflect on what God revealed to us for our 2017 word, “LOVE IS OUR SOURCE.”
Pastor said, “God’s always trying to deal with what’s in our hearts because that’s the key to dealing with what surrounds our lives.”
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
2. In what ways have you observed this to be true in your own life?
Our willingness to allow God to deal with what’s in our hearts not only transforms our lives but also impacts the lives of those around us.
Isa 54:13-14 “All your sons will be taught of the LORD; And the well-being of your sons will be great. 14 “In righteousness you will be established; You will be far from oppression, for you will not fear; And from terror, for it will not come near you… NAS
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
3. What speaks to you from Isa 54:13-14?
It is an interesting observation that these verses don’t say you won’t fear because you are far from oppression. Instead it actually says you will be far from oppression because you won’t fear!
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
4. In what ways do fear and oppression tend to empower each other in our lives – and what are some things we can do to address these enemies?
Sunday, November 5th focus we are asking the Destiny family to share how they plan to love, serve and give more effectively in 2018. These avenues in and of themselves help us conquer fear not only in our lives but in the lives of others!
Isa 54:17 “No weapon that is formed against you will prosper… NAS
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
5. What speaks to you from Isa 54:17?
There will be weapons formed against us. However, we have the ability to allow our hearts to be transformed so powerfully that these weapons won’t be able to prosper against us.
Jesus demonstrated how we can be in the storm without allowing the storm in us. The peace in his heart was powerful enough to calm the storm.
Conclude by inviting everybody to share any storm they might be going through. Take the time to pray over those needs agreeing that weapons formed against us will not prosper and storms that may be raging will be calmed!