In this section you will find the Notes used in our Wednesday Night Bible Study
11-30-22.
Positioned For A Purpose
Introduction
Psalms 1:1-3
1 Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way 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 doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper.
The Ability To Change our Community and our Culture Comes From understanding Position.
Areas We Will Cover In This Series:
You are either going to Navigate through life by Faith or Fear,
It’s all about what you choose to give your energy and your spirit to in these moments.
Our Daily Routines direct us to a position in life.
We will dive deep into how our choices effect us Mentally, Emotionally, Spiritually, and Physically.
The enemy wants us to focus on our own insecurities, weaknesses, and fears.
We will see in this study that God’s desire is for us to focus on who He is through us. That is how Communities and Cultures change.
John 6:40
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which sees the Son, and believes on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
The Word “Will” here means:
thelēma
thel'-ay-mah
a determination, to purpose or decree. A choice for a determined outcome.
Purpose:
So What does having a purpose mean?
When you do something with purpose, your thoughts and actions have an aim or intention in mind.
What is the aim or intention of our purpose?
Romans 15:5-7
5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 6:20
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Morning Question 1: “What Is My Current Spiritual, Mental, and Emotional Position? (That will usually determine your Physical position.)
Morning Question 2: If I am off course, How do I correct it today?
Be A Thermostat, Not A Thermometer.
A Thermometer reacts to the environment around it.
A Thermostat Changes the environment around it.
We will also look into the lives of some Biblical figures.
We will see how changing their Position effected their Purpose. Some Positively and some negatively.
Here are a few:
Adam
Abraham
Moses
Joseph
Ester
Elijah
Saul
David
Jesus Christ
Peter
Paul
Positioned For A Purpose
Introduction
Psalms 1:1-3
1 Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way 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 doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper.
The Ability To Change our Community and our Culture Comes From understanding Position.
Areas We Will Cover In This Series:
- Who We Are In Christ:
- Our Part In God’s Plan:
- Our Daily Routines and how they effect our Position:
You are either going to Navigate through life by Faith or Fear,
It’s all about what you choose to give your energy and your spirit to in these moments.
Our Daily Routines direct us to a position in life.
We will dive deep into how our choices effect us Mentally, Emotionally, Spiritually, and Physically.
- Our Compassion and Investment Into the Community around us:
The enemy wants us to focus on our own insecurities, weaknesses, and fears.
We will see in this study that God’s desire is for us to focus on who He is through us. That is how Communities and Cultures change.
John 6:40
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which sees the Son, and believes on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
The Word “Will” here means:
thelēma
thel'-ay-mah
a determination, to purpose or decree. A choice for a determined outcome.
Purpose:
So What does having a purpose mean?
When you do something with purpose, your thoughts and actions have an aim or intention in mind.
What is the aim or intention of our purpose?
Romans 15:5-7
5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 6:20
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Morning Question 1: “What Is My Current Spiritual, Mental, and Emotional Position? (That will usually determine your Physical position.)
Morning Question 2: If I am off course, How do I correct it today?
Be A Thermostat, Not A Thermometer.
A Thermometer reacts to the environment around it.
A Thermostat Changes the environment around it.
We will also look into the lives of some Biblical figures.
We will see how changing their Position effected their Purpose. Some Positively and some negatively.
Here are a few:
Adam
Abraham
Moses
Joseph
Ester
Elijah
Saul
David
Jesus Christ
Peter
Paul
12-07 2022. Positioned For A Purpose Part 2
Nehemiah’s Purpose
Nehemiah’s Story is Our Story as well.
The Vision and Process that comes with Building something for God is Exciting.
Let’s take a closer look at how God put Nehemiah in Position to realize his Purpose.
1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,
Nehemiah 1:2-3
2 … Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
3. It Burdened Nehemiah:
Nehemiah 1:4
4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
4. He Was In The Right Position:
Nehemiah 2:1-3
1 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.
2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,
3 And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
Nehemiah 2:4-8
4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.
6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.
7 Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;
8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.
6. God Gave Him Unified People:
Nehemiah 2:16-18
16 And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.
17 Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.
18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
No one Leads without someone to Follow.
No one Builds without Workers.
God sent the right people, at the right time, for the right reason.
He did it for Nehemiah, and He has done it for us.
Because Nehemiah was in the right Position, Mentally, Emotionally, Spiritually, and Physically, God used him in a Mighty way.
The end result is found in one short sentence.
Nehemiah 7:1
1 Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed…
Never give up, Never give in, and Never give out. You are where you are for a Purpose.
Nehemiah’s Purpose
Nehemiah’s Story is Our Story as well.
The Vision and Process that comes with Building something for God is Exciting.
Let’s take a closer look at how God put Nehemiah in Position to realize his Purpose.
- God Made Sure He Was In The Right Place:
1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,
- Sometimes you can be at the right place, but still be out of position.
- This places him in the place for a divine appointment.
Nehemiah 1:2-3
2 … Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
3. It Burdened Nehemiah:
Nehemiah 1:4
4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
- God knew the “Position” of his heart. That is why he was the right person for the Vision.
4. He Was In The Right Position:
Nehemiah 2:1-3
1 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.
2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,
3 And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
- I want you to notice the Two Positions that God Had Nehemiah at the same time.
- He was near the King as his Cupbearer, and he was also in a Position of Sadness.
- Then God places a discerning Spirit on the King to enquirer about Nehemiah’s condition.
Nehemiah 2:4-8
4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.
6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.
7 Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;
8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.
- When God shows you Favor and His Hand is resting upon you, then you know that you are in Position for a Purpose.
- The King asked a simple question. “What Do You Need?”
- Never short change or limit God.
- If He Opens the door, walk through with Boldness.
6. God Gave Him Unified People:
Nehemiah 2:16-18
16 And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.
17 Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.
18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
No one Leads without someone to Follow.
No one Builds without Workers.
God sent the right people, at the right time, for the right reason.
He did it for Nehemiah, and He has done it for us.
Because Nehemiah was in the right Position, Mentally, Emotionally, Spiritually, and Physically, God used him in a Mighty way.
The end result is found in one short sentence.
Nehemiah 7:1
1 Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed…
Never give up, Never give in, and Never give out. You are where you are for a Purpose.
12-21-2022 Positioned For A Purpose. Pt. 3
The Battle For Position
Everyone who has ever been born, has been given a Purpose.
From the beginning of your life, there has been a Battle for That Purpose.
It was that way with Moses when he was born.
There was a Battle for the Purpose of Joseph.
He even proclaimed “What you have meant for evil, God meant it for good.”
The story of Adam and Eve, will show us a couple that had a very specific Purpose.
We will also see a well crafted plan to destroy that Purpose by getting them Out of Position.
First let’s look at there Position and Purpose.
Genesis 1:26-28
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Genesis 2:7-8
7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
The Battle of the Mind was lost, when they engaged in a conversation with the enemy.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Genesis 3:5
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
2. They Lost Their Emotional Position:
Genesis 3:6
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
The enemy’s plan always tells us to Trust our Feelings.
The serpent knew that if he could get their Focus off of God, and on themselves, then he could get them out of Position.
3. They Lost Their Spiritual Position:
Genesis 3:7-8
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
4. They Lost Their Physical Position:
Genesis 3:23-24
23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
It Started like any other day. They didn’t go looking for trouble, Trouble came looking for them.
They were simply Good People who had a bad day.
An idea was Presented to them.
The idea Promoted a Conversation which introduced them to Doubt.
Doubt offered them a Choice.
That Choice changed their lives and ours forever.
It Started in The Mind, then Passed trough the Emotions.
That ultimately brought them down Spiritually and drove them away from their Purpose.
It is a formula that satan has used everyday since that day on someone.
He keeps using it because it keeps working.
It keeps working because we fail to realize what is happening until it’s over.
It is Always A Battle For Your Position To Keep You From Fulfilling Your Purpose.
01-04-2023 Positioned For A Purpose. Pt. 4
Position Restored
Last week, we looked at the fall of Adam and Eve.
The end result was that they lost their Position, which effected their Purpose.
God’s plan for mankind never included abandonment.
His Word makes that plain;
Joshua 1:5
5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Jesus Came To Reclaim Our Position & Purpose:
Romans 5:12
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Romans 5:14-15
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the resemblance of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
15 But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
The Battle To Destroy God’s Plan:
Matthew 2:13-15
13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
Matthew 4:1
1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Matthew 4:5-6
5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and sat him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Matthew 4:8-9
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto Him, All these things will I give You, if You will fall down and worship me.
39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
40 And saying, Thou that destroys the temple, and builds it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
John 18:36-37
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice.
John 5:30
30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
He knew what His Purpose was and the Position that His Father put Him in.
He taught us how to stay Focused on our Purpose in the midst of many Distractions.
Philippians 2:5-29
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
John 10:17-18
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
01-11-2023 Positioned For A Purpose. Pt. 5
The Path To Spiritual Stability
Because we live in a culture that increasingly leans toward commercialism, materialism, and secularism, it is not always easy to keep the soul nourished and Focused.
The challenge of these days, is how to nurture, feed, heal, restore, and renew our Spiritual Life.
Here are some practical suggestions for building a stronger spiritual life that will keep you in the right Position.
1. Be a River:
John 7:37-38
37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believes on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Jesus said that Rivers of living water will flow from the heart of those who believe in me.
Remember, it is the mountain stream that carries fresh, life giving water because it flows out and down.
A Swamp is stagnant and life-devouring. A swamp collects and retains water that comes its way.
Don’t be the kind of person who seeks to accumulate much and allow so little to flow through you.
As Christians we are to let blessings flow through us and on to others. When we hoard the blessings of our lives, we are in danger of becoming spiritually stagnant, and emotionally detached.
Resolve to break up the stagnant parts of your life and let blessings flow like a river.
2. Recognize and Acknowledge Your Blessings:
Ephesians 1:3
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Too often we go through life oblivious to the good that comes flowing into our lives.
Make a mental or written note for a week of your Blessings.
Identify if the blessing came to you from a Church or Family Member. A neighbor or a friend. A co-worker or a child, or maybe even a stranger.
There may be Blessings that are just between you and God.
As we focus on how Blessed we are, the things of the world will grow dim in our sight.
3. Speak Words of Life.
One of the most beautiful and compassionate passages in the Bible contains these words of blessing proclaimed by Moses:
Numbers 6:23-27
23 Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,
24 The LORD bless you, and keep you:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
27 And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.
Speak words that will uplift, encourage, and bless other people. As you build them up, your own spirit will get stronger.
4. Take a Step of faith
Hebrews 11:8-10
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Spiritual growth means taking a leap of faith from time to time. Rather than trying to get everything in place before you start something important, why not follow God’s leading and allow the plan to evolve? This means taking a step of faith and trusting God to provide what may be needed for success.
Abram didn’t know exactly where he was going. His focus, however, was to look for something built and sustained by God.
5. Be a Grateful Person.
Psalms 100:1-5
1 A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations.
Start every day with a morning prayer of gratitude to God for the gift of a new day.
Do this even if the day ahead appears fearful or uncertain.
End each day with an evening prayer of gratitude to God for the gift of the day.
Do this even if you’ve had a very tough day.
6. Cultivate a Little Solitude.
Matthew 14:23
23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
Spend some time away from the crowd and the noise of life.
Set aside a few minutes to be alone-just you and God.
In quietness we turn our minds away from the problems of life and fix our thoughts on the mind of God.
7. Fast and Pray
Ezra 8:22-23
22 … The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
23 So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.
Prayer linked with fasting has always been a Biblical principle.
The next time you are asked to pray urgently for someone in difficulty, consider combining your praying with fasting.
8. Turn Your Worries Over To God.
Psalms 55:22
22 Cast your burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain you: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
1 Peter 5:7
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.
Do this each time worry crops up. Lean on the Facts of God’s Word and not the Feelings and Fears of your emotions.
Proverbs 3:5-8
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
9. Use Your Gifts
Hebrews 2:3-4
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
God has generously given each of us unique gifts and talents.
Make use of them for they were givent\ to you for a specific purpose.
10. Exercise Your Power of Choice.
Joshua 24:15-16
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
16 And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
No matter what happens to you, you always have the freedom to choose. You can choose joy over despair.
You can select love over hate.
You can select forgiveness over revenge. You can select growth over stagnation.
Remember that a crisis can evoke the best in us or the worst in us. The choice is ours!
The Spiritual Life takes tremendous Focus. And Discipline.
Start developing better Spiritual Habits today, and you will find yourself in the right Position For Your Purpose.
The Battle For Position
Everyone who has ever been born, has been given a Purpose.
From the beginning of your life, there has been a Battle for That Purpose.
It was that way with Moses when he was born.
There was a Battle for the Purpose of Joseph.
He even proclaimed “What you have meant for evil, God meant it for good.”
The story of Adam and Eve, will show us a couple that had a very specific Purpose.
We will also see a well crafted plan to destroy that Purpose by getting them Out of Position.
First let’s look at there Position and Purpose.
Genesis 1:26-28
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Genesis 2:7-8
7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
- The Purpose for Adam and Eve was to Keep the Garden of God by Having “Dominion” over it. Full Authority.
- They were familiar with the Commands of God, but until this moment had never known Doubt. They had never doubted God’s Word.
- So that is where the enemy began, with Doubt, then he would present a Choice.
- The Battle for Purpose always begins with a Battle for your Position.
- If satan can change your Position, he will change your Condition.
- That will always effect your Purpose.
- They Lost Their Mental Position:
1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
The Battle of the Mind was lost, when they engaged in a conversation with the enemy.
- Notice that satan hid himself inside the very thing they were given Dominion over.
- They did not realize the trap that awaited them.
- You can’t stop satan from talking to you, but you don’t have to answer him.
- During the conversation, satan introduces two things to this couple. Doubt followed by a Choice.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
- That is the Doubt. satan is actually planting this seed; “Do you believe what God said, or what I am telling you?”
Genesis 3:5
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
- They had never Doubted God before.
- All that satan needed to do was to create Doubt, which would offer them a Choice to believe God or not.
- The Battle always starts in the Mind.
2. They Lost Their Emotional Position:
Genesis 3:6
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
- Once you lose control of your Mental Position, then your Emotions get Involved.
- “She Saw” and “She Desired”
The enemy’s plan always tells us to Trust our Feelings.
The serpent knew that if he could get their Focus off of God, and on themselves, then he could get them out of Position.
3. They Lost Their Spiritual Position:
Genesis 3:7-8
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
- Immediately something changed.
- They had made a Choice based on Doubt and it brought Chaos to their Perfect World.
- The Relationship and Fellowship with God had been damaged, and for the first time they Hid from Him.
- Let’s Notice their reactions:
- Their Eyes Were Opened:
- The Knew That They Were Not Covered:
- They Tried To Cover and Hide Themselves:
4. They Lost Their Physical Position:
Genesis 3:23-24
23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
- The end result of an Appointed, Anointed Couple, who had a very specific purpose.
- But they were Lured out of Position, and failed to realize their Purpose.
It Started like any other day. They didn’t go looking for trouble, Trouble came looking for them.
They were simply Good People who had a bad day.
An idea was Presented to them.
The idea Promoted a Conversation which introduced them to Doubt.
Doubt offered them a Choice.
That Choice changed their lives and ours forever.
It Started in The Mind, then Passed trough the Emotions.
That ultimately brought them down Spiritually and drove them away from their Purpose.
It is a formula that satan has used everyday since that day on someone.
He keeps using it because it keeps working.
It keeps working because we fail to realize what is happening until it’s over.
It is Always A Battle For Your Position To Keep You From Fulfilling Your Purpose.
01-04-2023 Positioned For A Purpose. Pt. 4
Position Restored
Last week, we looked at the fall of Adam and Eve.
The end result was that they lost their Position, which effected their Purpose.
God’s plan for mankind never included abandonment.
His Word makes that plain;
Joshua 1:5
5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Jesus Came To Reclaim Our Position & Purpose:
Romans 5:12
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Romans 5:14-15
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the resemblance of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
15 But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
- Jesus came to not only Save us from hell, but also to Restore the Power and Authority given to man from the beginning.
The Battle To Destroy God’s Plan:
Matthew 2:13-15
13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
Matthew 4:1
1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
- What was the purpose for the Temptation?
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Matthew 4:5-6
5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and sat him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Matthew 4:8-9
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto Him, All these things will I give You, if You will fall down and worship me.
- What we see in this encounter, is the same formula used in the Garden.
- Verses 3 and 6 was designed to create Doubt.
- It was also used again as Jesus was on the Cross.
39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
40 And saying, Thou that destroys the temple, and builds it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
- Then In Verse 9 the devil offers Jesus a choice.
- What Jesus was trying to show us is clear.
- Understand how satan operates, and know where your strength comes from.
- The plan he uses is very enticing, so the only way to beat him, is with God’s Word.
John 18:36-37
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice.
John 5:30
30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
He knew what His Purpose was and the Position that His Father put Him in.
He taught us how to stay Focused on our Purpose in the midst of many Distractions.
Philippians 2:5-29
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
John 10:17-18
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
01-11-2023 Positioned For A Purpose. Pt. 5
The Path To Spiritual Stability
Because we live in a culture that increasingly leans toward commercialism, materialism, and secularism, it is not always easy to keep the soul nourished and Focused.
The challenge of these days, is how to nurture, feed, heal, restore, and renew our Spiritual Life.
Here are some practical suggestions for building a stronger spiritual life that will keep you in the right Position.
1. Be a River:
John 7:37-38
37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believes on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Jesus said that Rivers of living water will flow from the heart of those who believe in me.
Remember, it is the mountain stream that carries fresh, life giving water because it flows out and down.
A Swamp is stagnant and life-devouring. A swamp collects and retains water that comes its way.
Don’t be the kind of person who seeks to accumulate much and allow so little to flow through you.
As Christians we are to let blessings flow through us and on to others. When we hoard the blessings of our lives, we are in danger of becoming spiritually stagnant, and emotionally detached.
Resolve to break up the stagnant parts of your life and let blessings flow like a river.
2. Recognize and Acknowledge Your Blessings:
Ephesians 1:3
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Too often we go through life oblivious to the good that comes flowing into our lives.
Make a mental or written note for a week of your Blessings.
Identify if the blessing came to you from a Church or Family Member. A neighbor or a friend. A co-worker or a child, or maybe even a stranger.
There may be Blessings that are just between you and God.
As we focus on how Blessed we are, the things of the world will grow dim in our sight.
3. Speak Words of Life.
One of the most beautiful and compassionate passages in the Bible contains these words of blessing proclaimed by Moses:
Numbers 6:23-27
23 Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,
24 The LORD bless you, and keep you:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
27 And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.
Speak words that will uplift, encourage, and bless other people. As you build them up, your own spirit will get stronger.
4. Take a Step of faith
Hebrews 11:8-10
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Spiritual growth means taking a leap of faith from time to time. Rather than trying to get everything in place before you start something important, why not follow God’s leading and allow the plan to evolve? This means taking a step of faith and trusting God to provide what may be needed for success.
Abram didn’t know exactly where he was going. His focus, however, was to look for something built and sustained by God.
5. Be a Grateful Person.
Psalms 100:1-5
1 A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations.
Start every day with a morning prayer of gratitude to God for the gift of a new day.
Do this even if the day ahead appears fearful or uncertain.
End each day with an evening prayer of gratitude to God for the gift of the day.
Do this even if you’ve had a very tough day.
6. Cultivate a Little Solitude.
Matthew 14:23
23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
Spend some time away from the crowd and the noise of life.
Set aside a few minutes to be alone-just you and God.
In quietness we turn our minds away from the problems of life and fix our thoughts on the mind of God.
7. Fast and Pray
Ezra 8:22-23
22 … The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
23 So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.
Prayer linked with fasting has always been a Biblical principle.
The next time you are asked to pray urgently for someone in difficulty, consider combining your praying with fasting.
8. Turn Your Worries Over To God.
Psalms 55:22
22 Cast your burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain you: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
1 Peter 5:7
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.
Do this each time worry crops up. Lean on the Facts of God’s Word and not the Feelings and Fears of your emotions.
Proverbs 3:5-8
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
9. Use Your Gifts
Hebrews 2:3-4
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
God has generously given each of us unique gifts and talents.
Make use of them for they were givent\ to you for a specific purpose.
10. Exercise Your Power of Choice.
Joshua 24:15-16
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
16 And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
No matter what happens to you, you always have the freedom to choose. You can choose joy over despair.
You can select love over hate.
You can select forgiveness over revenge. You can select growth over stagnation.
Remember that a crisis can evoke the best in us or the worst in us. The choice is ours!
The Spiritual Life takes tremendous Focus. And Discipline.
Start developing better Spiritual Habits today, and you will find yourself in the right Position For Your Purpose.