Sermon Central
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Part 1 - Where Do We Go From Here? Series
Contributed by Pastor Bruce A. Shields on Jan 31, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: PART 1 - this is the first part of a series on finding our purpose as God’s people in todays world. Where should we be? Where are we? How do we get where God wants us, and what tools has He given us to get there?
FINDING PURPOSE
Part 1 – Where Do We Go From Here?
† SCRIPTURE READING
“O Lord, I have heard the report of you and was afraid, O Lord, revive your work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make yourself known! In wrath remember love, pity, and mercy.”
PRAYER
† So where do we go from here?
We’ve heard God’s word and testimony from those who’ve experienced it. We’ve prayed and fasted as a people, searching ourselves and our hearts, looking for conviction of sin in our lives.
Some of us may be afraid or confused right now. This may be new territory for some, familiar grounds for others.
Fasting & prayer, the week of renewal, the conviction of hearts, confessions, repentance and forgiveness may be new territory.
Like the Prophet wrote in the scripture we just read,
“Revive your work in the midst of the years (or in our time) in our time make yourself known!”
What a plea to God!
We do these things because we want MORE of God!
We do these things to clean up our acts and in doing so untie God’s hands so He can do the things He wants to do for us, and has planned for us!
I always imagine God’s hand above our heads with all the goodness He has planned for our lives.
I do these things because on that last day when I stand before my Lord on His throne, I have to hear “Well done good and faithful servant!”
I will settle for nothing less than God’s best for my life and for this church!
It’s time to put off the old man and BE the people God created us to be!
I pray that after the past week, and the weeks leading up to then, God spoke to your heart.
I pray you searched yourself.
I pray that if you were convicted, you addressed it.
† Remember
Salvation is FREE!
But forgiveness is a result of confession and repentance!
Because without repentance, there is no forgiveness!
† Psalm 66:16 – 20
16 Come and listen, all you who fear God;
let me tell you what he has done for me.
17 I cried out to him with my mouth;
his praise was on my tongue.
18 If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened;
19 but God has surely listened
and heard my voice in prayer.
20 Praise be to God,
who has not rejected my prayer
or withheld his love from me!”
If you are hiding sin in your heart, thinking that it’s doing no harm, think again. For God knows the heart of man, and for this reason, you will not be heard by God.
I can’t image God withholding His love from me as the scripture says.
“I pray and pray and nothing seems to happen!”
You better check yourself.
“9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.
10 I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
12 Praise be to you, O LORD ;
teach me your decrees.”
If we fill our hearts with the Lords words, there is no room for us to harbor sin.
Like Mary’s story last week, if we give Jesus the WHOLE house of our heart, filling it with Him, when Satan comes a knocking with temptation, Jesus will answer for us.
Is this road easy to travel?
No of course not. God never promised that it would be smooth sailing.
Rather, He told us the opposite.
Sometimes we may feel like the road is too long.
Or, the work too hard.
Or, the terrain too difficult to cross.
† Matthew 7:13, 14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
God is faithful, and He has a purpose for you and for this church.
Together we can discover just what that purpose is.
Through studying the word, God will reveal to us what our purpose is.
We may get discouraged occasionally.
We may want to give up.
It would be much easier to just do what you want and not worry about pleasing God.
It would be much easier to show up for 1 hour once a week and call it good between you and God.
One problem though.
If you spent 1 hour a week with your children, what kind of relationship would you have? How about with your husband or wife?
