Sermon Central
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Arrive Alive
Contributed by Gary Stebbins on Jan 20, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: God has called us to live life to its fullest and walk in the annointing and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Introduction
Last week- shared some thoughts concerning 2009.
Live purposefully- determination/intent/resolve
God’s Word is true today- not just the past
Expect increase- God’s presence/voice
Advance in adversity- not a time to draw back
Alice has a conversation with Cheshire Cat …
Coming to a fork-in road- Alice asks, “Would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?” The cat responds, “That depends on a great deal on where you want to get to.” Alice answers, “I don’t much care where …” Then the cat says, “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.” (Alice in Wonderland)
As we go through life, regardless of what road we choose to walk down, we will get somewhere.
The real question, however, is …
Where is that somewhere and
is that really where I want to go.
Not only is it important to know where we are going, it is important to be able to stay on course.
We live in an exciting culture- filled w/opportunities.
One not so healthy trait of- culture- lure of the instant- instant gratification- I want it now mentality.
The result is we are easily distracted from the road that God has us on.
It is those who stay on course that finish life well.
Those who stay on course are those who see life …
as a marathon, not as a sprint.
1 Cor 9:24-27
Live life to its fullest
Yesterday- shared w/men about living life to its fullest
I believe God wants us to live life to its fullest.
If you claim to be a Christian, then you are saying that you have experienced God’s salvation.
Unfortunately many Christians see salvation as …
My sins- been forgive, I am going to heaven,
now I can relax and live as I have always lived.
The term salvation is much more larger than that.
Medical field- use various terminologies to define a person’s medical condition … DTR, RHD, DOA.
One term they give to infants is FTT- failure to thrive.
They assign FTT to those infants who for one reason or another are unable to gain weight or grow.
For many Christians today, if you would look at their spiritual medical chart in heaven, it would say FTT
Salvation speaks of life where once there was death.
Ephesians 2:4-6 NASU
You and I are seated in heavenly places with God.
That should make your head spin with the dizziness of the height to which you have been raised up to.
Jn 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. NASU
Jn 10:10 … My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. NLT
Jn 10:10 … I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. MSG
Jn 10:10 … I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). AMP
Does that describe the life you are living?
To live life abundantly, as I mentioned last week, we must learn to live our life with purpose.
That means- must live purposefully, thoughtfully.
Not haphazardly-driven by – circumstance of life.
Ask yourself a couple of questions …
1. What am I living for?
2. What is keeping me from living fully for the thing I want to live for?
God created mankind to thrive- to be fully alive.
God wants us to experience an explosion of growth.
This will only happen if you live with …
determination, intent, resolve.
A Fresh Outpouring of the Holy Spirit
We are living in a time when I believe we are going to see a fresh outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit.
The book of Acts- exciting book to read- you see God working with and interacting with men-performing many miracles/supernatural acts.
I cannot read the book of Acts and conclude that does not apply today, that it is just for back then.
I am in as much a need for that type of encounter with God as people were back then.
God breathed the breath of His Spirit and everyone around was aware of it.
It did not look pretty and was greatly criticized.
God’s breath came “like a violent rushing wind.”
The religious rulers were upset/tried to shut it down.
You can put us in jail but you cannot stop a move of God.
When God’s Spirit comes, something else comes as well.
God comes to shake things up.
Mal 4:1
According to Malachi God-coming to judge the world
However, this prophecy is for the arrogant/evildoer.
It is not for the believer.
Yes there will be collateral damage.
Christians will suffer as a result of the judgment.
But God has promised that in these hard times, He will be there for His people.
