40 Series

Give God a Chance Series (1 of 6)

40

1/1/17 CFBC Chester, IL Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker

A There are certain things you want to accomplish this year I want to help you get there.

1 Today is the day many of us have made promises to ourselves to be healthier, happier, better people.

a So do I, and want us to take the journey together over the next 40 days (Jan. 1 thru February 9)

b Let’s give God a chance to do something God-sized with our not-so-happy meals that we call our lives.

2 Pray

B We know very little about the first 30 years of Jesus’ life: Scripture says “Luke 2:52 (HCSB) And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.”

1 We really start getting the details of Jesus’ life when He turns around 30 years of age.

a He chooses His team (the disciples), identifies His purpose (Advance the Kingdom & redeem mankind) and starts working to accomplish that purpose.

b In your life . . .

aa See CFBC as your team (we’re on your side & we want you to do well),

bb acknowledge your purpose (lose weight, stop drinking/gambling, some other habit)

cc you know what you need to do to accomplish your purpose . . . this is the season/time to start working to accomplish your purpose.

2 In Jesus life, the first thing He had to move on in His purpose, He had to spend 40 days in the wilderness facing His greatest opponent–Satan.

a He had to give Father God 40 days before He got His break through.

b I want you to commit this morning to giving God your next 40 days in order to receive your own break through.

aa Jesus opponent was Satan: your opponent might be losing weight, releasing bitterness, cleaning up your thoughts or house, . . .you know what they are and you don’t need me telling you.

bb If God asked Himself to give Him your focus for the next 40 days in order to be transformed, refocused, renewed, recalibrated . . . would you?

cc Over the next 40 days we’re going to work on establishing new patterns to develop new purpose.

c In Scripture, the number 40 represents new beginnings, being released from bondage, & victory over opponents.

aa Genesis 7:4 (HCSB) 4 Seven days from now I will make it rain on the earth 40 days and 40 nights, and I will wipe off from the face of the earth every living thing I have made.” (Rained for 40 days/nights in the flood)

bb (Gen 8:6 KJV) And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made: ( Noah waited another 40 days after it rained before he opened a window in the Ark.)

cc Exodus 24:18 (HCSB) 18 Moses entered the cloud as he went up the mountain, and he remained on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights. (God gave him the patterns of the Tabernacle)

dd Jonah 3:4 (HCSB) 4 Jonah set out on the first day of his walk in the city and proclaimed, “In 40 days Nineveh will be demolished!” (Nineveh was given 40 days to repent)

ee (1 Sam 17:16 NLT) For forty days, twice a day, morning and evening, the Philistine giant strutted in front of the Israelite army. (Goliath came for forty days before being killed by David.)

ff (1 Ki 19:8 KJV) And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

Elijah strengthened by one angelic meal went forty days to Mount Horeb where the Lord passed by and he heard the voice of God

TS: Let’s give God 40 days that can change our lives, give us freedom, new purpose, overcome our opponents.

I Jesus faced His 40.

A You would think Jesus could have cleft out of facing His 40 days, but God didn’t deliver Him.

1 Even though Jesus would have to face His 40 days, He was not alone: Luke 4:1 (HCSB) Then Jesus returned from the Jordan, full of the Holy Spirit, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness.

a Salvation isn’t just about getting man into heaven, it’s also about getting heaven into man.

aa The first step that cannot be ignored when we’re facing our 40 days is making sure you are a Christian.

bb Becoming a Christian means, among other things, that the very Spirit of God resides & dwells in you.

b The same Spirit that filled Jesus is in every Born Again Believer.

2 The second thing I want you to notice (besides the fact that He wasn’t alone) is that Satan was opposing Him during the 40 days: Luke 4:2 (HCSB)2 for 40 days to be tempted by the Devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over, He was hungry.