Before God created you upon the earth, God gave you your purpose for the earth.
Jeremiah 1:5 (NIRV)
5 “Before I formed you in your mother’s body I chose you.
Before you were born I set you apart to serve me.
Before you were born I set you apart to serve me.
Ephesians 2:10 (NIRV)
10 We are God’s creation.
He created us to belong to Christ Jesus.
Now we can do good works. Long ago God prepared these works for us to do.
He created us to belong to Christ Jesus.
Now we can do good works. Long ago God prepared these works for us to do.
If we are God's Masterpiece, we have a Master Plan.
Over time we've allowed our adventurous spirit to decay.
Over time we've allowed our adventurous spirit to decay.
Inaction regrets will far outnumber our action regrets at the end of our lives.
Why did we abandon the adventure? Here are three reasons.
Why did we abandon the adventure? Here are three reasons.
1. Discarded dreams. Our plans replaced our purpose.
Men beyond 40 will close doors that they will never return too again.
I want my dreams to outlive me.
Men beyond 40 will close doors that they will never return too again.
I want my dreams to outlive me.
Job 17:11 A (NIRV)
11 My life is almost over.
My plans are destroyed.
My plans are destroyed.
Job had given up on himself, but God had not given up on Job.
We give up on ourselves in the middle of a trial.
We give up on ourselves in the middle of a trial.
That trial is taking us to the destiny that God has called us to be a part of.
Don't give up when you're in the middle of where you're going.
Don't give up when you're in the middle of where you're going.
2. Distracted vision.
We have a place that we are supposed to be going, but we can't see it because there is too much going on in our lives.
We have a place that we are supposed to be going, but we can't see it because there is too much going on in our lives.
Sounds create visual imagery.
If you're standing on a corner and hear a motorcycle.
You expect to see a motorcycle coming from around the corner.
If you're standing on a corner and hear a motorcycle.
You expect to see a motorcycle coming from around the corner.
Some of us have been listening to the wrong voices for so long that our minds are filled with the wrong ideas.
We are now looking for the wrong things.
We are now looking for the wrong things.
God wants to clear the slate and show us what His will is.
That's why its important to distance yourself from the world.
Here is a story to illustrated my point.
That's why its important to distance yourself from the world.
Here is a story to illustrated my point.
Matthew 17:14-21 (NIRV)
14 When they came near the crowd, a man approached Jesus.
He got on his knees in front of him.
He got on his knees in front of him.
15 “Lord,” he said, “have mercy on my son.
He shakes wildly and suffers a great deal.
He often falls into the fire or into the water.
He shakes wildly and suffers a great deal.
He often falls into the fire or into the water.
16 I brought him to your disciples. But they couldn’t heal him.”
17 “You unbelieving and evil people!” Jesus replied.
“How long do I have to stay with you?
How long do I have to put up with you?
Bring the boy here to me.”
“How long do I have to stay with you?
How long do I have to put up with you?
Bring the boy here to me.”
18 Jesus ordered the demon to leave the boy, and it came out of him.
He was healed at that moment.
He was healed at that moment.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private.
They asked, “Why couldn’t we drive out the demon?”
They asked, “Why couldn’t we drive out the demon?”
20-21 He replied, “Because your faith is much too small.
What I’m about to tell you is true. If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, it is enough.
You can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there.’
And it will move.
Nothing will be impossible for you.”
What I’m about to tell you is true. If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, it is enough.
You can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there.’
And it will move.
Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Jesus's disciples were unbelieving because they were disconnected from God.
They were evil because they were too connected to the world.
The answer is prayer and fasting.
They were evil because they were too connected to the world.
The answer is prayer and fasting.
Prayer connects me to God.
Fasting disconnects me from the world.
Some of us need to fast facebook, and put our face in God's book.
Fasting disconnects me from the world.
Some of us need to fast facebook, and put our face in God's book.
3. Disbelief
Somewhere along the way we've said it's not possible for God to use me to do something great.
Somewhere along the way we've said it's not possible for God to use me to do something great.
God never has a case of mistaken identity.
God knows who He knows, and He calls whom He knows.
The enemy tries to disqualify us.
God knows who He knows, and He calls whom He knows.
The enemy tries to disqualify us.
God tries to get us to see the possibilities.
When you are blinded to the possibilities of your future, you'll settle with the familiarities of your past.
When you are blinded to the possibilities of your future, you'll settle with the familiarities of your past.
We need to release the things of the past, and walk boldly into our future.
A. We've got to believe again.
God is not looking for perfection. He's looking for progress.
We have to look no further than the 12 disciples to understand that God can use anybody.
God is not looking for perfection. He's looking for progress.
We have to look no further than the 12 disciples to understand that God can use anybody.
Acts 4:13 (NIRV)
13 The leaders saw how bold Peter and John were.
They also realized that Peter and John were ordinary men with no training. This surprised the leaders.
They realized that these men had been with Jesus.
They also realized that Peter and John were ordinary men with no training. This surprised the leaders.
They realized that these men had been with Jesus.
You don't have to have it all together if you'll just spend a little bit of time with Jesus and realize that He will use you.
God doesn't call the qualified. He qualifies the called.
The closer you get to Jesus.
The more qualified you are to do what He has called you to do.
The closer you get to Jesus.
The more qualified you are to do what He has called you to do.
B. We have to go all in.
Conquer your fears.
Don't let your fears conquer you.
God loves calling people who've been left over and looked over.
Conquer your fears.
Don't let your fears conquer you.
God loves calling people who've been left over and looked over.
Look at Moses at the age of 40 who tried to accomplish God's vision and failed miserably (Exodus 2:12), but succeeded at age 80 (Exodus 7:7).
David was completely looked over by his own father.
He wasn't even invited to his own coronation (1 Samuel 16).
He wasn't even invited to his own coronation (1 Samuel 16).
Esther should have never been the queen.
There were thousands of Persian women to chose from.
She was chosen as a young Hebrew girl.
There were thousands of Persian women to chose from.
She was chosen as a young Hebrew girl.
She asked why and how?
Her cousin Mordecai said that you've been called into the kingdom for such a time as this (Esther 4:14).
Her cousin Mordecai said that you've been called into the kingdom for such a time as this (Esther 4:14).
No one ever disqualified themselves more than Simon Peter.
He actually denied Christ three times!
Even after Jesus said that you're going too.
He actually denied Christ three times!
Even after Jesus said that you're going too.
God loves to call people whom the world would say.
God would never use you.
God has a call on you, but it's going to take you stepping out in faith and praying big prayers.
God would never use you.
God has a call on you, but it's going to take you stepping out in faith and praying big prayers.
Big prayers are prayers so big that if God does not come through. We're going to look like a bunch of idiots.
You can never build God's reputation if you're not willing to risk your own.
You can never build God's reputation if you're not willing to risk your own.
Think about the little boy with the 5 loaves and 2 fishes.
There were 5,000 men there!
Maybe 20,000 people counting all the women and children!
There were 5,000 men there!
Maybe 20,000 people counting all the women and children!
Obviously 5 loaves and 2 fishes were not enough.
We wouldn't offer it because it would be embarrassing.
We wouldn't offer it because it would be embarrassing.
C. We have to give what we have to Jesus.
Jesus took the 5 loaves and 2 fishes.
Blessed it.
Broke it, and handed it out.
Don't tell me that you don't have enough.
Jesus took the 5 loaves and 2 fishes.
Blessed it.
Broke it, and handed it out.
Don't tell me that you don't have enough.
Colossians 1:16-18 The Message (MSG)
15-18 We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen.
We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created.
For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him.
He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment.
And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body.
We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created.
For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him.
He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment.
And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body.
Acts 10:35-36 The Message (MSG)
34-36 Peter fairly exploded with his good news: “It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer:
God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open.
The Message he sent to the children of Israel—that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again—well, he’s doing it everywhere, among everyone.
God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open.
The Message he sent to the children of Israel—that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again—well, he’s doing it everywhere, among everyone.
The door is now open.
You've just got to be able to accept the challenge inside of you.
Jesus is calling.
You've just got to be able to accept the challenge inside of you.
Jesus is calling.
I pray for those who have discarded their dreams.
I pray for the distracted.
I pray for the unbelieving.
I pray for the distracted.
I pray for the unbelieving.
What is Jesus asking you?
Are you available?
Will you give your heart to Jesus?
Are you available?
Will you give your heart to Jesus?
Dear Jesus, you are my only hope.
I'm not looking back, but looking forward.
I give to you my sins, and I accept your righteousness.
Please be my Lord and Savior.
I'm not looking back, but looking forward.
I give to you my sins, and I accept your righteousness.
Please be my Lord and Savior.
https://hopecity.com/sermons/awaken-adventure-part-1/
Notes taken from Jeremy Foster, Hope City Church, Awaken: The Adventure Part Idisbelief, distracted, dreams, Hope City Church, Jeremy Foster, purpose,
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