Following Through

February 2005

Dakota Community Church

Following Through

Introduction:

Tonight I want to take a look at three questions that we must all answer concerning the call of God, the purposes and promises we have heard and received from Him, and our ability and desire to see it all through to full manifestation.

It is coming up on nine years since we made the trek from Halifax to plant a church in Winnipeg.

Some have not been here since the beginning; however the Lord has lead you to join us in this adventure.

Do you remember what you left to come here? Do you remember why you left it?

Sometimes I get romantically remembering my office, the gymnasium, the certainty of payday and I forget that the Holy Spirit was stirring me with a complete dissatisfaction.

I can remember telling Kathy on the way home from church; “I don’t think I can keep doing this, I just feel like I have to follow my heart.”

Three questions we need to answer about following through:

1. What if we just cannot do it?

Matthew 14: 22-34

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.

John 15: 3-8

You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Mark 11: 22-24

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Philippians 4: 12-13

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

1John 5: 4-5

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

1John 4:4

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

I have been involved with many things that were supposed to be impossible.

Since when is “can’t” a part of God’s vocabulary?

We need to get our eyes off of the waves, off of the circumstances and onto the Word of God.

We can do it!

2. What if we decide not to do it?