Where will God take you?
Luke 2:26-28
When you say, "It’s time for us to move, not just feed," the flock will mumble. But a pastor, by definition, is a shepherd who is not only feeding, but also is taking people somewhere.
My goal in preaching is to help people capture God’s vision and align themselves with it. I never see my teaching as simply educational. It’s always prophetic, pointing forward, calling to advance. It’s leading them to stretch.
How do you stretch people and nurture their souls at the same time?
I want to lead people with fresh understandings. First, God made you with a purpose and destiny. Second, God’s love has embraced you and is going to get you there. As you move toward that goal, God is beside you, supporting you. Third, whatever the apparent struggle or reversal, there is going to be ultimate triumph.
Where is God taking you this Christmas?
1. Purpose and destiny- God had a purpose and a destiny for Mary.
Mary was afraid
Finding favor with God
I am going to do something with you that is so fantastic that many will wonder. But God how can this be I have not been that great of a person. I did this and still have this problem. Grace is sufficient.
DO NOT BE AFRAID for you have found favor with God. We find favor with God not because of our own righteousness but because of His righteousness imputed in us.
God’s purpose and destiny for us is that God wants to do something in you that not even your self can conjure up, make up or create. He wants to see you become more than you have ever been in the past and continue to do it more and more each day molding and shaping you.
Its supernatural, it is a God thing. We ought to be saying that more and more that man it is a God thing. He did this , He’s doing this and HE is going to do more.
2.Love to get there -God’s love has embraced you and is going to get you there
What ever God plans for you he will be there. Mary says how can this be…the Holy Spirit will come on you and the power of the most High will overshadow you.
There are so many times in life that we just don’t know how we are going to follow God’s standards of purity, selflessness, truth and his goodness to be more like Christ which he has told us to do….First you have to be in the word. Filling your mind because that is something that God has given us to guide us to cleanse our mind to renew it and change our thoughts. God’s loves embraces you through out the word.
Listen Mary nothing is impossible with God.
Nothing is impossible with God.
Get that in your heart and mind……..with God noting is impoosbile…meaning all thigns are possible to those who believe.
With God all things are possible.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Matthew 19:26 NAS
Mark 9:23 NAS And Jesus said to him, " ’If You can ?’ All things are possible to him who believes
Mark 10:27 NAS Looking at them, Jesus said, "With people it is impossible, but not with God ; for all things are possible with God
Luke 18:27 NAS
But He said, "The things that are impossible with people are possible with God."
God’s love you and embraces you every time you fail everything you slip every time you, say a lie, tell a gossip, every time you take a drink, every time you look at improper stuff on the internet. Every time you think badly about some one, every time you think you are better than some one else, every time you ect
3. Triumph in the end- Whatever the apparent struggle or reversal there is going to be an ultimate triumph.
There was an apparent struggle with Mary being a virgin and pregnant. Not fully married yet. Joseph having doubts. Got to go to Bethlehem.
IF you believe if you keep the faith. God wants you to have victory in the struggles you go through.
Contrary to what you have heard God’s highest purpose for you is not to make you comfortable, wealthy or happy. If you put your faith in Him, he has something far more wonderful in mind for you- He plans to conform you to the likeness of His son! He began to change you the day you yielded yourself to Him and He will continue this process through out your life.
Struggles and trials and conflict is one of the many tools that God can use to help you develop a more Christ-like character.
God wants to move you beyond. He want you to be like Mary an obedience servant
