Change, Transition, And Compliance

Live in a time of great transition- in the world/Church.

God has said …

2006 will be a year of opportunity

filled with great possibilities

that will be realized (only)

through faith and obedience.

To step into our opportunities/possibilities, we must be compliant to what God is saying now.

Movie- Flight of the Navigator- compliant)

Comply- to adapt one’s life to the wishes of another.

A Compliant heart is one ready to adapt.

Change is important if we are going to stay up w/God.

We must learn to hear what God is saying in this hour.

If we act on yesterday’s word- might miss God.

As John Eckhardt says …

God is a progressive God.

We know …

Heb13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. NASU

God Himself does not change, the principles by which He interacts with man do not change, but …

the work that God is doing in our lives and in the world around us is progressive.

Consider Elijah the prophet …

1Ki 17:1-9

The nature of God did not change, His promise to take care of Elijah did not change, but …

the way He provided for Elijah and

what Elijah had to do to receive that provision-

-did change.

We must be able to respond to change in order to move w/what God is doing in us/church/world.

If we are going to be able to comply to the NOW Word of God, we must prepare our lives daily.

1Cor 9:24-27

If we are going to transition with God in this time of change we must know who we are in Christ.

One thing that hinders us from obedience to God and fulfilling our purpose, is not knowing who we are.

A person who knows their identity in Christ becomes a threat to the Kingdom of darkness/asset to God.

Look at Gideon …

Judges 6:12, 15

12 The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, "The LORD is with you, O valiant warrior." NASU

15 He said to Him, "O Lord, how shall I deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house." NASU

Gideon did not know he was a valiant warrior.

He had to come into his identity to fulfill his purposes in the Kingdom of God.

Consider Moses …

Ex 3:10-11

10 "Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt."

11 But Moses said to God, " Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?" NASU

Moses did not know he was the deliverer of Israel, he had to step into his identity.

Both of them had to believe in the testimony of God concerning who they were and the great opportunities and possibilities God was placing before them.

It would take great faith, courage, and obedience to step into their eternal calling.

John Eckhardt says this about identity …

Identity is defined as the condition of being oneself, and not another.

When you know your identity-you can be yourself.

You do not have to be something you are not.

Consider- shepherd boy David- destined to be a King-

1Sam 17:38-40

David was not comfortable being something he was not- he was not a trained warrior- shepherd boy.

He felt comfortable w/the tools of a shepherd.

We will not fulfill our purposes if we are trying to fit into a mold we were not created for.

If we are going to be able to stay up with God in this HOUR, we must become a people of prayer.

It is in prayer that we will find ourselves/our identity.

There are things we will not step into unless we pray.

There are things that will not be released in our lives unless we declare them to be true through prayer.

Both individual and corporate prayer are essential.

Jesus went off to the mountain by Himself to pray …

Mtt 14:23 After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. NASU

The church was praying for Peter …

Acts 12:12 And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. NASU

Testimony- Millie Lyons …

I thought back over how God had led us as a 17 and 20 year old with no special ambitions or direction from the cotton fields of West Texas to amazing places. We couldn’t have dreamed up a more exciting, fulfilling life ... from barefooted natives to the presidential palace. Giving us a home in the jungle, reaching out to 25 native groups, to Admirals, Generals, to friends and foes alike … Only God could have planned all this for us. I am truly amazed. Sometimes I tell the Lord that "it’s enough", I am ready to join Floyd, but He doesn’t seem anxious to call me home, so as long as I am still here I have a mission. I am not always sure, but encouraging members of our SS class, reaching out to neighbors, or anyone who comes my way, seems to be what I do best.