What About Your Vision Series #1
“How Can I Be Sure?”
Genesis 15:1-11 NLT
We are entering into one of the most awesome times of our lives! We get the opportunity to be the ones to take the Gospel into a year it has never been before to accomplish things that have never been done before!
How does it make you feel to be chosen by God to be one of the ones to execute HIS plans in 2007?
I believe 2007 will the year of an open heaven if we will dare to prepare ourselves to go & do what we have never believed we could up until now!
• What’s it going to be, just another year of survival?
• Is it going to be just another year of wondering what might could have been?
Or will it be the year you decide to go all the way for God & dare to believe that if you will show up God will be there too!
I want to start this series talking about a man who faced all the doubts & confusions that anyone of us could ever have.
His name is Abraham.
• Rescues his nephew Lot.
• Melchizedek blesses Abram.
• Then talks with God.
Let’s read Genesis 15:1-11 NLT
Notice in verse 8 that after all Abram’s been through he asks God the question, “how can I be sure that I will actually possess it?”
As I prepare to make a first fruits offering to the Lord this might be a valuable question to get answered before I commit to give up food, drink, & anything else that will create a sacrifice in my life.
I believe God showed Abram 3 things that would ensure that he would see the fulfillment of what God had told him.
These have worked in the past & will continue to work today for those who will dare to put it into practice in their life today.
I. He provided the Sacrifice…
Genesis 15:9 The LORD told him, “Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”
You notice that if we ask God expecting to get an answer He will tell us exactly what He wants as a sacrifice offering to Him.
What is God challenging you with to stretch you into new realms you have never been before with God?
Romans 12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.
So as you are writing out your sacrificial offering to the Lord for 2007 don’t just copy someone else, but make personal between you & God!
This will create a greater presence in your life than you ever thought possible.
Give examples of Providing a sacrifice for this New Year… My personal & maybe someone else that has shared a little with me.
Remember we are providing a personal sacrifice to God!
II. Prepare the Sacrifice…
Genesis 15:10b Then he cut each animal down the middle and laid the halves side by side; he did not, however, cut the birds in half.
God gave Abram specific instructions for preparing the sacrifice that God wanted from him.
He will do the same with us if we begin to expect that He is going to do it.
OK God you want me to fast so I will do my best. Don’t get mad at me if it is not exactly what You had in mind.
This would be Providing, but NO preparation!
Would God have accepted Abram’s sacrifices even if he did not cut & place them where God wanted them? I don’t think so!
Why do we think He would do it for us?
Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
If we truly have a revelation of the Cross of Jesus Christ, then we understand that sacrifice is what paves the way or positions us for the greatest breakthroughs the world has ever seen.
Fasting & praying breaks our flesh! This, too many Christians has become optional or is for those who have a greater calling on their life!
Nonsense! If you want to experience God things you are going to have to quit thinking like weak, flesh human beings & begin to think like a supernatural, born-again child of God!
2 Timothy 2:15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.
We will never be able to present ourselves to God & gain His approval until we have broke our flesh will & begin to live in the Spirit of the living God!
Psalm 51:17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
Galatians 5:24-25 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
See when your flesh is not ruling you anymore then you will see that fasting & prayer are your allies not your burden to bear because you are a Christian.
III. Protect the Sacrifice…
Genesis 15:11 Some vultures swooped down to eat the carcasses, but Abram chased them away.
Abram did not say, Oh God what am I supposed to do now, those big birds came down & took my sacrifice I was trying to give to You…
You see many of us have tried to provide & even prepare our sacrifice for the Lord but when the devil sent some big ugly sacrifice thieves to take your sacrifice we did nothing to protect it until it was complete!
Remember the things you do to offer yourself as a sacrifice to God & to quit living by the flesh & begin living by His Spirit are not efforts made in the natural!
These things move us into the supernatural!
Ephesians 6:10-13 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
We must believe that what we are offering to God at anytime in our life is worth protecting!
Don’t you write down a commitment to pray & fast that you are not willing to fight to protect it to its completion!
Some folks will be joining me tonight to prepare ourselves in prayer for the New Year that we have been chosen to take this Gospel into. They will not be here because they have to or are afraid that someone might think bad of them if they are not here.
Tonight will be people that are hungry to present themselves as a vessel that God can move in & through to make a difference in this world that cannot be overlooked!
How can I be sure about my sacrifice?
I believe with all my heart that I have given you God’s answer to that question.
How bad do you want to hear where He wants to take you from here?
Today is the last day of 2006 & that requires you to make a decision about what must you do to prepare yourself for 2007?
2007 will be the year of an open heaven for all who dare to press in!
