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Half Year Overview. Majoring on Jesus Word | Truth | Way | Life | Light Jesus is The Way Why Jesus came to earth Represent the Father Demonstrate God’s power Provide for our salvation Set up the Kingdom on earth Fulfil the ultimate plan – release the Holy Spirit Jesus ‘Teaching
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Half Year Overview • Majoring on Jesus • Word | Truth | Way | Life | Light • Jesus is The Way • Why Jesus came to earth • Represent the Father • Demonstrate God’s power • Provide for our salvation • Set up the Kingdom on earth • Fulfil the ultimate plan – release the Holy Spirit • Jesus ‘Teaching • Come to me | Believe in me • Follow me | Obey me • Make disciples | baptise | teach
Half Year Overview • Journeying with Jesus • We are now the Way • Called to community • Called to communicate • Called to compete and complete • Representatives of Jesus • His earthly “sales force” • Witnesses • Imitators • Salvation is an event – mission is a process • Believers • Baptism in water and spirit • Local congregation involvement
Half Year Overview • Hard words of Jesus • Take up your cross • Deny yourself • Lose your life • Give up homes and possessions • Easter | Resurrection | Ascension • 40 Days with Jesus • The Work of the Holy Spirit • Eternal destiny • Born | Baptised | Filled • Outcomes? • How have we been impacted? • What has changed? “Holiness not happiness is the chief end of man”
New Theme • Understanding & Seeing what God is doing • Big Question • How do I hear God? • Role of the Bible today • Quiet time • Prayer • 3 Misconceptions
3 Misconceptions ‘Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart’ Psalm 37:4 (NIVUK) • #1 – if it is contrary to my hopes it must be God’s will • We want to do what He wants • Obedience – whatever the cost • Truly believing He has the best for us • #2 – if it makes us happy it must be God’s will • Faith and feelings can get mixed up • Faith is not opposite to feelings but often overrides them • #3 – preconceptions are the norm • Doomed to failure or destined to success? • Positive or negative mindset? ‘Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see’Hebrews 11:1 (NLT) ‘With God’s power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine’Ephesians 3:20 (NCV)
Psalm 37 – 6 Clues for Hearing God • Trust in the Lord and do good (v3) • Take delight in Lord (v4) • Commit your way to the Lord (v5) • Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him (v7) • Too busy – other priorities • Too noisy • Too lazy • Patience is a fruit of the Spirit • Trust and Timing are interlinked • Waiting develops growth ‘The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him’Psalm 37:23 NLT: ‘He delights in every detail of their lives’ ‘Reverence for God adds hours to each day’ Proverbs 10:27 (The Message)
Psalm 37 – 6 Clues for Hearing God • Trust in the Lord and do good (v3) • Take delight in Lord (v4) • Commit your way to the Lord (v5) • Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him (v7) • Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret (v8) • Hope in the Lord and keep His way (v37) ‘Wait passionately’Psalm 37:37 (The Message)
The Challenge • What holds us back? • Past | Future • Confidence • Obedience • Priorities | Time • Unbelief or Disbelief • Disappointment • Insert your own here __________________________ “Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work”