Introduction
Pastor Tony- God has established times/seasons …
Earth rotating around sun- new year
According to the Chinese calendar …
2006 Year of the Dog
2007 Year of the Pig (begins Feb 18th)
According to the Jewish calendar …
2007 is the year 5767 (began Sept 2006)
Years- counted from the creation of the world.
Pastor Tony ended 2006- challenge- Reset the Bar …
1. Pursuit of God
Heb 7:25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him … NASU
Are we in pursuit of God?
Pursuit- to follow in order to overtake.
2. Battle to resist sin
1 Pet 1:17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; NASU
Conduct- the way we live our lives- sloppy living.
The End of the Age
Pastor Tony’s instructions become more important when we realize we are living at the end of this age
Mtt 24:6-7
Jesus could return in our life time, we could experience the birth pangs of the end of the age.
We could face- tribulation that we see in Revelation.
Rev 6:8 I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth. NASU
Consider what the Prophet Joel said …
Joel 2:11 … The day of the LORD is indeed great and very awesome, And who can endure it? NASU
This question should cause a fear in our hearts?
Pro 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom … NASU
Earth faced another time of judgment …
Lk 17:26-27
People lived like nothing would ever change.
We cannot, must not, go through 2007, without preparing ourselves for the days ahead.
Jesus Himself gives us a warning …
Mk 13:31-37
Alert- to watch, keep awake, be vigilant, aware.
An Alert is a call to a state of readiness- Red Alert!
The earth is currently filled with people who are unaware of or unwilling to think about the coming trouble (David Sliker).
God will bring judgment upon the earth to awaken people’s hearts towards Him.
Why? Because He is mad? No, He loves man.
2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. NASU
2007- The Year of the Believer
Faith/personal belief is going to be very important.
Num 14:11 The LORD said to Moses, "How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst? NASU
It is going to take courage to believe and live the Gospel of the Kingdom in the days ahead.
We need to become like David’s Mighty Men.
1Chr 11:1-3
God desires to be our shepherd/prince.
He has made a covenant with us.
Mighty Men began to gather around David.
1Chr 12:22
1Chr 11:10-14
These are the type of men that gathered around David.
1 Chr 11:22 Benaiah … mighty in deeds …
1 Chr 12:14 These of the sons of Gad … he who was least was equal to a hundred and the greatest to a thousand. NASU
1 Chr 12:21 … for they were all mighty men of valor … NASU
1 Chr 12:28 also Zadok, a young man mighty of valor … NASU
1 Chr 12:30 Of the sons of Ephraim … mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers’ households. NASU
1 Chr 12:33 Of Zebulun … helped David with an undivided heart. NASU
1 Chr 12:38 … being men of war who could draw up in battle formation, came to Hebron with a perfect heart … NASU
God is forming His army of believers today.
As I was reading 1 Chronicles I felt this question impressed on my heart concerning the Elders …
Where are the Mighty Men of COTR? Are we, as the Elders of COTR, the Mighty Men of God that He has assembled here to lead and shepherd COTR? Do they carry a burden for the heart of God and what is important to Him?
But the question really applies to the greater assembly- to the saints God as assembled at COTR
Are we the Mighty Men and Women of God that He has assembled at COTR to take His Kingdom for the sake of our community?
David’s Mighty Men- loyal, served w/undivided heart.
They were more concerned about the Kingdom of God than their own personal lives.
We are going to be called upon to do Mighty deeds.
We must be willing to embrace the impossible.
It is going to test our ability to …
walk and build together,
look beyond normal, believe for the extravagant
In essence God is looking for Men Mighty of FAITH.
Men willing to face the reality of where we are today and to believe the IMPOSSIBLE for the future.
Men and women ...
with a dream, with a vision,
with a passion to pursue that vision at all cost,
not easily discouraged, that will not turn back,
willing to die to themselves, forsake sin.
Are we those Mighty men and women?
Consider what Jesus said about those who believe …
Mk 16:17-18
Challenge
Whenever Jesus spoke, His Words always demanded action on the part of those who heard.
To not act is to remain exactly where you were before you heard the Words of God.
Truth not acted- becomes folly to those who hear it.
They are fooled into believing they are followers of Christ, yet they never go any where.
If you act on God’s Words/you will never be the same
When you act, God’s power becomes available to you
Jesus said …
Mtt 11:28 "Come to Me … NASU
When we go to God the supernatural life of God invades our hearts.
When you act on God’s Words, you are taking on His life- immediately paralyzes- world/flesh/devil.
Jn 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." NASU
Never fail to act on God’s Word.
