God out of the equation totally – grasshopper – giants

His desire and purpose ignored

His ability to produce denied

His unfailing love rejected

WHAT THEY FORGOT

1.   Made in His image

Genesis 1:26-28(NLT)  ²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”  ²⁷ So God created human beings in his own image.  In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Spiritual existence larger than physical reality

Capacity to make correct choices

Synergy to release creativity

2.   Gifted with His favor

Psalm 84:10-12(NLT)  ¹⁰ A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!  I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.  ¹¹ For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.  He gives us grace and glory.  The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.  ¹² O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.

Mercy rather than justice

Opportunities greater than talent

Favor in relationships

3.   Chosen to fulfill His destiny

Psalm 73:23-24(NLT)  ²³ Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand.  ²⁴ You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.

God’s ultimate plan of redemption

God’s intervention in the affairs of man

God’s personal plan for each of us

For Sherri and I – Labor Day weekend – marriage in 1986 – several moves – 2001 move to Fort Wayne – moving forward now

Joe Paterno – 60^th year – 45^th year as head coach – most wins – two national championships – 5 undefeated seasons – most bowl wins and appearances

At the end of the day – live for God to the fullest possibility

 1.   Natural Giants

 2 Corinthians 1:8,9(NLT)  ⁸ We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters,  about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it.

 Physical and emotional challenges

Circumstantial challenges

Relational challenges

2.   Spiritual Giants

Ephesians 6:12(NLT)  For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

The head spiritual intimidator – Satan

The power players of intimidation – rulers and authorities

The influence of personal oppression

3.   Illusionary Giants

2 Corinthians 10:4,5(Amplified)  ⁴For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, ⁵[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),

The power of fear

The power of doubt

The power of imagination

Thomas Jefferson – tendency to develop prolonged incapacitating headaches, usually at 7-8 year intervals, usually correlated with stress or grief, complicated by indecision and deeply buried rage

Winston Churchill – fell under the black cloud of depression. This happened to him when he left the Admiralty in 1915, when he was out of office during the 1930’s, when he was defeated in the election of 1945, and then again after his final resignation. He nicknamed his depression his “Black Dog.”

Martin Luther – “Heavy thoughts brought on physical maladies; when the soul is oppressed, so is the body. When cares, heavy cogitations, sorrows, and passions superabound, they weaken the body, which, without the soul, is dead.”

I have fought a good fight – I can do all things through Christ

 A land full of promise and possibility

Giants that are stronger and a land that will devour us

We felt like grasshoppers and that’s what the giants thought too

3 perceptions of the grasshopper complex – how to overcome the mindset

1.   The power of victimization – perceptions after generations in slavery

Being used and abused

Slavery mentality

Shame and rejection

Romans 8:31-34(NLT)  ³¹ What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? ³² Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? ³³ Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. ³⁴ Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

God is for us – who can be against us

Right standing with God

Jesus died for us – raised for us – sitting at God’s right hand pleading for us

2.   Feelings of inadequacy – perceptions after years of wandering

The power of inferiority

Consumed with insufficiency

Controlled by fear and guilt

Romans 8:35-37(NLT)  ³⁵ Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? ³⁶ (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) ³⁷ No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

The inseparable love of Christ

Clear perspective of challenging circumstances

The secret to victorious living

3.   Overwhelming odds – perceptions after assessing the land

Distortion of phobias and weaknesses

Distortion of the size and strength of giants

Pre-determined failure

Romans 8:38-39(NLT)  ³⁸ And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. ³⁹ No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The power of God’s love – while we were yet sinners

Nothing created is greater than the power of the creator

Living in the love of God revealed in Christ

26 years ago this month – felt victimized – felt inadequate – felt overwhelmed – Connie/son and daughter preparing for ministry – Sherri and I met – dreamed a dream – today LBC – living the dream

Determined that if God is for us – who can be against us

Determined that I am in right standing with God

Determined that I am called to victorious living

Determined that no circumstances are greater than God’s love revealed in Christ

 1.   Cannot be business as usual

 Isaiah 43:19(NLT)  ¹⁹ For I am about to do something new.  See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?  I will make a pathway through the wilderness.  I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

 Relationship instead of religious order

Power without the need to control

Transformation rather than rehabilitation – resurrection not resuscitation

2.   Must dispense love, hope, and faith

I Corinthians 13:13(NLT)  Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

Love that emanates from the heart of God

Hope that is bigger than life

Faith that becomes the substance of hope released by love

3.   Need to provide onramps to grow and serve – Willow Creek Summit

John 1:12(NLT)  But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

Being changed and becoming agents of change

Shifting identity from self to service

4.   Depend on the Holy Spirit to empower and transform

Acts 1:8(NLT)  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Not empowering my life – releasing the empowering life of Christ

Holy Spirit connected to our spirit – transforming our mind and body

Embracing and pursuing destiny in Christ

 1.   A contagious vision

 2 Corinthians 4:5-7(NLT)  ⁵ You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.  ⁷ We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.  This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

 Light in the darkness created by sin – suffering, injustice, isolation, despair

The treasure of the life of Christ in us – transformation process

Called and empowered to change the world – locally and globally

2.   A strategic plan

Jeremiah 29:11(NLT)  ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

God is in the redemption business

Plan for our personal redemption

Opportunity to become part of God’s redemptive team

3.   A community of empowerment

Acts 4:32-34(NLT)  ³² All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. ³³ The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. ³⁴ There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them

Getting the bigger picture – united in heart and mind

Embracing the team – what they owned was not there own

Finding specific assignment – giving witness to resurrection power

Synergy of individual and collective talents and efforts – great blessing

International Center of Bethlehem – Mitri Raheb –  since 1995 over 190,000 sq ft of building space – 100 employees/third largest employer in Bethlehem – over $16 million in 10 years – Guest House, Fine Arts Theatre, Arts and Crafts Center, Media Center, School and College, Health and Wellness Center – Bright Stars of Bethlehem – THAT WE MIGHT HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT ABUNDANTLY

Fort Wayne – next week will reach bikers and car enthusiasts – children and teenagers – project days – Wings of Hope – Heal the Hunger – Burmese – church and clean water in Dominican Republic – Christ Faith Home in India – ESTABLISHIING A TEAM ENVIRONEMENT THAT INDENTIFIES AND DEVELOPS INDIVIDUAL STRENGTHS

1.             The message

Luke 4:18-19(NLT)  ¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, ¹⁹ and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.

This is the unchanging constant

It originates in Christ

His life makes it alive in us

We are called to be ambassadors of that life

2.             The methods

1 Samuel 17:38-40(NLT)  ³⁸ Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. ³⁹ David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before.   “I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. ⁴⁰ He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.

Cross n Dagger – expanded to cars – this year sports bikes – expanded kids area

Different methods work with different people

Methods are never sacred – the message is sacred

Separating tradition in the message and methods mistaken for tradition

Measure of our methods is effectiveness

3.             The moment

Esther 4:13-14(NLT)  ¹³ Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. ¹⁴ If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”

The thieves of yesterday and tomorrow

Seizing the moment

Living this moment to the full releases the future

From the Hole in our Gospel – Edward Kimball taught Sunday School in Boston – teenager came to class – rough kid – went to the shoe store where he worked – boy committed life to Christ – D. L. Moody – preached to 1 million people – traveled 1 million miles before radio, television, automobiles, and airplanes – influenced F. B. Meyer for Christ – Meyer influenced J. W. Chapman – reached out to baseball players – Billy Sunday – influenced Mordecai Ham – came to Charlotte, NC a few years later and held a crusade – a young teenager came forward – Billy Graham

4.             The mystique

Colossians 2:1-3(NLT)  ¹ I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. ² I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. ³ In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Living in the natural

Living from the supernatural

Releasing the supernatural in the natural

Influencing and impacting our culture

Pool of Bethesda – angel troubling the water or Jesus asking do you want to be whole – a hit and miss mainly miss or a life transforming encounter with the supernatural power of Christ – WE MUST LIVE ON THE CUTTING EDGE – INFLUENCING AND IMPACTING OUT CULTURE WITH THE SUPERNATURAL POWER OF THE GOSPEL

 Galatians 5:13(NLT)  For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

 1.   The cost of freedom

The quest for freedom that launched our nation

” . . . you might have tracked the army from White Marsh to Valley Forge by the blood of their feet.” – George Washington

  Valley Forge was the campground of 11,000 troops of George Washington’s Continental Army from Dec. 19, 1777, to June 19, 1778. Because of the suffering endured there by the hungry, poorly clothed, and badly housed troops, 2,500 of whom died during the harsh winter, Valley Forge came to symbolize the heroism of the American revolutionaries.

 God’s quest for freedom that redeemed the human race

Gordon’s Calvary

2.   The privilege of freedom

From The Declaration of Independence – We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Free from the power of sin

Free to be everything God created us to be

3.   The responsibility of freedom

From the preamble to the Constitution – We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Freed to make a difference for our nation and for our world

Freed to allow the life of Christ flow through us as agents of redemption

4.   The ultimate freedom

The trip – Mitri Raheb – that we might have life and have it abundantly – “Hope is not what we see, it is what we do,” he said. “We believe we can make a difference.” – Bright Stars

The Hole in the Gospel – 26,575 children die each day from preventable illness related to poverty – 40% of the world lives on less than $2 per day – $25,000 per year better than 90% of the worlds population – $50,000 per year better than 99% of the worlds population

John 8:32(NLT)  And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Living from the truth – will set us free – we can make a difference – we have this treasure of the life of Christ in us

 1.             Bruises that cause pain

 Isaiah 1:6(NLT)  You are battered from head to foot—covered with bruises, welts, and infected wounds—without any soothing ointments or bandages.

 Bruises from our actions

Bruises from other peoples actions

Bruises from a sinful world

Bruises from the demonic world

2.             Baggage stacked on baggage

Psalm 55:1-2(NLT)  ¹ Listen to my prayer, O God.  Do not ignore my cry for help!  ² Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles

Interwoven genetic baggage

Interwoven oppression baggage

Interwoven mind games baggage

Interwoven wounds baggage

3.             Damaged soul and a broken heart

Psalm 147:3(NLT)  He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.

Living from emotions – controlled by faulty reasoning

Broken heart – crushed redefined as contrite

4.             The journey to wholeness

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24(NLT)  ²³ Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. ²⁴ God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.

Healing for the bruises

Freed from the baggage

Renewed mind and aligned heart

Passion for wholeness

Chuck Colson – special counsel to President Nixon – Watergate scandal – known as the “hatchet man” – Colson has written that he was “valuable to the President … because I was willing … to be ruthless in getting things done” – Colson would walk over his own grandmother if necessary” – Colson sought to hire Teamsters thugs to beat up anti-war demonstrators. – Colson proposed firebombing the Brookings Institution and stealing politically damaging documents while firefighters put the fire out.- his close friend, Raytheon Company chairman of the board Thomas L. Phillips, gave Colson a copy of Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis, which, after reading it, led Colson to become an evangelical Christian. – after serving his prison time in Maxwell Correction Facility in Alabama began Prison Fellowship – reaches prisoners, ex-prisoners, families – Angel Tree for children – 112 countries

Chuck Colson quote – We must be the same person in private and in public. Only the Christian worldview gives us the basis for this kind of integrity.

1.   Generational authority

Ephesians 6:1-4(NLT)  ¹ Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. ² “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: ³ If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”

 ⁴ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

Honor to parents

Responsibility of parents

Discipline and instruction that comes from God

2.   Genetic realities

Hebrews 7:9-10(NLT)  ⁹ In addition, we might even say that these Levites—the ones who collect the tithe—paid a tithe to Melchizedek when their ancestor Abraham paid a tithe to him. ¹⁰ For although Levi wasn’t born yet, the seed from which he came was in Abraham’s body when Melchizedek collected the tithe from him.

Understanding DNA – the genetic instructions for all of your make-up – studying genetics of family to determine likelihood for illness based on family history

Nurture vs. nature

3.   Thought and action patterns

1 Kings 15:25-26(NLT)  ²⁵ Nadab son of Jeroboam began to rule over Israel in the second year of King Asa’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Israel two years. ²⁶ But he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his father, continuing the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit.

Children imitate parents – Andrew in my shoes

Reason and emotion

Action and reaction

4.   The power of blessings and curses

Deuteronomy 11:26-28(NLT)  ²⁶ “Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse! ²⁷ You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today. ²⁸ But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the Lord your God and turn away from him and worship gods you have not known before.

Dynamics of authority – genetics – patterns

Laws of sowing and reaping

Spiritual dynamics release both blessings and curses

Breaking the power of curses

Releasing the power of blessing

Isaac with Jacob and Esau

5.   Unique identity

Jeremiah 1:4-8(NLT)  ⁴ The Lord gave me this message:   ⁵ “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.  Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”  ⁶ “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”  ⁷ The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. ⁸ And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Formed by God

Set apart by God

Appointed by God

Led and protected by God

Francis Chan – started Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA – gives away about 90% of his income – church gives over half of its income away – just resigned church to go to innercity – spoke at Foursquare Convention – God didn’t say Chinese baby number 4 million and 1 what do I do with this baby – mother told to abort him – died in child birth – he feels a sense of purpose – God planned him – don’t know what I am going to do next – but I am very confident in what I am going to be like – people to say your Jesus is God

Your identity in Christ frees the potential of your genetic inheritance – gives freedom to break patterns – breaks every curse – release every blessing

 1.             Opposing kingdoms

 Isaiah 14:12-16(NLT)  ¹² “How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning!  You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world.  ¹³ For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars.  I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north.  ¹⁴ I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.’  ¹⁵ Instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead, down to its lowest depths.  ¹⁶ Everyone there will stare at you and ask,  ‘Can this be the one who shook the earth and made the kingdoms of the world tremble?

 The kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of Light

The origin of the struggle in the Garden of Eden

Deliverance in the ministry of Jesus – Matt 4/Gaderene/addressed spirits/triumph over hell in crucifixion and resurrection

 The Exorcist – released in 1973 – grossed $440,000,000 – scariest movie – Harry Potter – first book released in 1997 – teen wizard stories – 7 books – most recent – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – moved 11million units in first 24 hours of release

 2.             Open doors

 Genesis 4:7(NLT)  You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

 Intentional sin

Traumatic circumstances

Generational impact

Substance abuse

Dark practices

 3.             Interconnected strongholds

 Ecclesiastes 4:12(NLT)  A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

 The power of three way interwoven connections

Strongholds like – Fear – shame – control

Other combinations – such as rejection – rebellion – control

Understanding triune connections – spirit/soul/body – Father/Son/Holy Spirit

 4.             Breaking the powers

 Colossians 2:13-15(NLT)  ¹³ You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. ¹⁴ He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

 Deliverance and demonic demonstration

Authority of the believer

The power of affirming agreement

Gaining knowledge and wisdom

5.             Walking in freedom

2 Corinthians 3:16-18(NLT)  ¹⁶ But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Put on the whole armor of God

Guard the mind

Guard the mouth

Deal with the flesh

Overcome by the Word and testimony to the Word

Resist the powers of satan

Plugged into the body of Christ – be accountable

Praise God in the middle of the battle

A Beautiful Mind – 1001 film about John Nash – brilliant mathematician who develops schizophrenia -  Quote from John Nash – It’s the same with your dreams and nightmares. You have to feed them to keep them alive.

What you feeds grows – what you starve dies