Making It Happen
Gtcotr/ss072504
This morning I am not going to be reading from just one passage, but will reference several scriptures in efforts to adequately give a foundation for the truth God has inspired me to share today.
The primary concept for our message today can be found in the heart of our:
Key Scripture: Matthew 17:20 “… I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (NIV)
There are at least three key ingredients to living a successful, meaningful and fulfilled life.
I. Three Key Ingredients
A. Purpose
B. Passion
C. Power
II. Allow Me To Elaborate
A. First - Purpose
1. There are different paradigms of purpose - for example:
* A person’s Eternal Purpose
> The things that await us in the hereafter
* A person’s Earthly Purpose
> Make a living, make a life & make a difference
* A person’s Daily Purpose
> Goals for each day, to make it the most it can be
> The reason I got up this morning
> Linking my today with my earthly life and eternity
> Making today count in the big picture
> Being available to God’s will today
> Advancing the cause & enjoying the journey
Note: A continuing sense of true purpose comes only from a growing relationship with God.
B. Then There Is - Passion
1. The spiritual and emotional energy that gives us an excitement to pursue a thing.
Note: When my daughter April first went to ORU she lived in a girls dormitory. The girls of her wing all had tee shirts made with a portion of scripture from Psalms 56 written on the back. It went like this:
“Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me.” (Psa 56:1)
Although it may be taken a little out of context in this occasion, nonetheless it does describe
Passion - The hot pursuit.
2. Passion can be displayed as - Zeal
When Jesus went into the temple and saw the purpose of God replaced by the purposes of man, He displayed His passion. After He had platted a whip from small cords He drove them all out of the temple, emptied their change and turned over their tables. Then Jesus began to preach and quote scriptures to them all.
Upon seeing this Jesus’ disciples remembered what David had written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit when prophesying about the coming Messiah in Psalms 69:9. The disciples statement can be found in:
John 2:17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up." (NKJV)
The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:12 that he was following hard after Christ so that he might fully get a hold on what had already fully gotten a hold of him. For this he would throw away everything else he had and was. This is passion!
Enduring passion for the purposes of God comes only from a growing relationship with God.
C. This Brings Us To - Power
1. I am talking about the power to make things happen.
2. To Be Empowered
* so that you can take control & make things happen
III. The Power To Make It Happen
A. Jacob
1. Genesis 27 Isaac blessed Jacob with his words
* Where did Isaac get that power?
2. Genesis 49 Jacob speaks the future over his sons
* Where did he get the power to do that?
3. We Know This To Be - Prophecy
* Prophecy can exist on at least 3 levels
> Telling what has already happened
> Telling what God says is going to happen
> Declaration of faith that what you say will happen
4. We clearly see this in the Old Testament --- But what about the New Testament?
B. Lets look at the Apostle Paul.
1. 2 Timothy 1:6 Paul had the power to give a spiritual gift to Timothy - Paul possessed the power to make it happen.
2. 1 Timothy 4:14 The elders of the church under Paul’s leadership spoke over Timothy’s life and imparted special spiritual abilities to him. The elders had the power to make it happen.
3. Acts 13:11 Paul, being withstood by Elymas the sorcerer, tired of his resistance to and perversion of the gospel, declared that Elymas would be blinded for a season - and it happened just as Paul said. This is definite power to make it happen.
C. What about Peter?
1. Acts 5 Discerning that Ananias and Sapphira were not telling the truth about the money they had pledged to the church, Peter spoke with power. This Christian husband and wife both fell down dead as a doornail right there in the church.
2. Peter exercised the Power to make it happen!
IV. What Comes Out Of Your Mouth, Spoken With Purpose And Passion Releases Power To Make Things Happen.
A. Where can we find purpose? True purpose comes:
* From a growing relationship with God!
B. Where can we get a passion for the purposes of life?
* From a growing relationship with God.
C. Where do we get the power to take control and make things happen? Power, like true purpose and enduring passion comes only:
* From a growing relationship with God.
Listen to these scriptures:
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Mark 11
22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Isaiah 57:19 I create the fruit of the lips …
Job 22:28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.
Psalms 2:7 I will declare the decree …
Hebrews 10:35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
This word translated confidence is the Greek word ‘Parrhesia’ which means The freedom, boldness, courage and assurance to speak out.
To be so fearless in the face of opposition that you are actually cheerful in a confident outlook about your future.
Now that’s Power!
Power to take control and make things happen!
Instead of being controlled and just letting things happen.
Where does that power come from?
Say it with me: From a growing relationship with God.
The power of God belongs to the children of God.
V. Three Keys To Power
A. A Growing Relationship With God
B. An Unselfish Purpose
C. A Boldness To Speak Out
VI. Close -
When Jesus’ disciples marveled that the fig tree had obeyed Him and withered away in only a day, Jesus said to these men:
“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20 NIV)
* Do you lack a growing relationship with God?
> Do you lack purpose for eternity, earthly life, for your today?
> Do you lack passion for life, family, job, church, eternity, tomorrow?
> Do you lack the power to take control and make things happen?
* Good News! - You can begin that growing relationship with God today. Right here, right now! No matter the past - the future is yours and nothing will be impossible for you if you only have faith.
Growing Relationship - Unselfish Purpose - Boldness To Speak Out
