Audio File: 

2012-01-15 PM - Ps Grant Neuper.mp3

Sermon Notes

Introduction

God is interested in the whole of your life
No God compartment Col 3:3 Your life is hidden with Christ in God (You are one)
How can I shape my life around God? Desire/ faith/ request (What do you want?)

Your desire

John 5:5  Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.

Matthew 20:29 Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. 30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” 31 Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”32 So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”      33 They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” 34 So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.

John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you (Desire first  – then request…)

(What do you want to see?)  

Your faith

Mark 11: 22  So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them
(Will you believe God to act?)

Your request
(by invitation from God – to trust Him!) Make your request known to Him –
Philippians 4:6    Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
(Will you be specific in your request?)

What do you want in this year?  Float along and hope?
Being intentional… 

Workshop time tonight to consider aspects of your life and the desires that you have in these areas and how they can become faith-filled requests to God as we set our course for the year (not random incidents, but part of a plan as we shape our lives around God.)

1. Journey with God

• Knowing Him
• Spiritual disciplines
• Engaging with His Word / Other reading also helpful
• Intimacy (Fasting) (Prayer)
• Obedience
• He is the hub of everything
• What do I want? (Walk with Him; hear His voice)
• What can I do? (Make myself available) (e.g. Hebrews: Jesus amazng)
• What can I trust God for? (e.g. Time out with Him during 2012)

2. Family life

• Investing in your partner (even years before you marry!)
• Actively parenting – your life’s greatest work (legacy)
• Contributing to your household (any age and stage – Bogey Street)
• What do I want? (Intimacy / connection with spouse)
• What can I do? (Attend pre-mar; enrichment; parenting; go camping)
• What can I trust God for? (His favour/active involvement in child.lives

3. Friendships

• They provide stability & strength:observe me over time,believe in me
• They include accountability & encouragement: Speak life into my life
• They give perspective (Reference points)          
• What do I want?  Key people / my equals
• What can I do? Time & effort / communicate (Jess)
• What can I trust God for? The right people; opportunities 2B together

4. Health and fitness

• With God? Is He interested? (healing ministry) (fitness? – temple?)
• Can become a god – take up the key central place in your life…
• Fearfully and wonderfully made (incredible systems/balances:design)
• What do I want? (Fit and healthy?)
• What can I do? (Eat and exercise) Plan, set realistic goals (eg running)
• What can I trust God for? (healing; protection from injury)

5. Career and studies

• Growth (opportunities)  Is God interested? Hrs spent here – ideal place to apply the Word
• Learning about His world…
• Development (Promotion? Influence? Prep for next?)
• [2 Peter 1:5 add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Chr]
• (No place for stagnation!)
• Improvement (skills / better at what I do) What do you do?
• Failing forward (gaining/ mining the exp/ moving on/ moving back in)

What do I want?
What can I do? (Sign up / study)
What can I trust God for? (Opportunities / favour / financial increase – normally a consequence of hard work & taking good opportunities)

6. Fruitfulness

• General: Outflow / honouring to God [John 15:8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.]
• evangelism (reaching more people for Christ)
• and discipleship (leading others to maturity and fruitfulness)
• Specific:
• God’s unique purpose for my life
• (my how of doing E & D in the bigger KOG)
• 2 Peter 1:10 Be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble.

What do I want? (Life more than protect &provide for my household)
What can I do? Speak up! Obey His promptings! also Get equipped…
What can I trust God for? Clarity – normally comes as we get involved  Steps in the right direction this year / movement / every year closer

Conclusion  

What do I want?  What can I do?
What can I trust God for?   (all 6 areas? Maybe just 1 aspect clear?)