Professors Or Possesors

Professors or Possessors

Review

Last week we looked at the story of Joseph

as a young man- was gifted by God w/dreams,

these dreams were part of his destiny,

but Joseph was also proud/arrogant in the way he handled what God had given him,

his brothers sold him into slavery,

in Egypt, as a slave, got himself into trouble with his master’s wife- thrown into prison,

interpreted dreams for- baker/cupbearer but was overlooked again and left in prison.

God had to first work in Joseph’s life first, to establish His Kingdom in Joseph’s heart, to prepare Him.

The difficulties were opportunities for God to work.

2 Cor 4:7-12

Through these trials, Joseph was broken open

the glory of God within was released and

he was able to affect whole nations.

God gave Joseph divine strategies to save Egypt and Jewish people from seven years of famine.

The destiny of a nation is in the hands of the church. Lance Wallnau

The story of Joseph is the story of

one man being shaped by God

through- series of trials/difficulties that prepared

him to be a man of influence in his culture.

What could God do w/body of people like Joseph- broken, walking together, filled w/glory of God?

Professors versus Possessors

I was at- COTRI regional prayer summit last week.

Dr. Lawrence Kennedy, who oversees COTRI, was there with a number of other regional pastors.

(IN YOUR NOTES):

Some people are professors and others are possessors. Dr Lawrence Kennedy

Profess- to declare openly or freely, (2) to declare in words or appearance only (pretend).

Tit 1:16 They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him … NASU

2 Tim 3:5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power NASU

Possess- to have, hold, occupy, seize something so as to make it your own.

It is one thing to profess that we are Christians and another to live in that reality- to possess it.

Often our thinking limits what God wants to do in us.

Isa 55:8-9

If this were not true, then He would not be God.

If this is true, why do we hold our thinking over God’s Word- choosing to believe a lies rather than truth?

We need God to invade our minds with His thoughts and our hearts with His affections.

This will only happen as we take time with God in prayer and the Word.

Priests and Kings

We have been created to be priests and kings.

Rev 5:8-10

(IN YOUR NOTES):

Priests are people who have a relationship w/God.

They know how to …

talk w/God,

intercede on behalf of others, and

listen to and hear God’s voice.

(IN YOUR NOTES):

Kings are called to rule or govern.

They are people with extraordinary

influence or affluence,

they are opinion shapers, decision makers.

Deut 28:13 "The Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully

God has called us to reign/rule w/Him- to be people …

of influence and

who influence the influencers in our culture.

The Next Season of God

In the natural- great concern for what the future holds.

We all wonder what will happen in the future to our nation and how it will affect us personally.

Many- making preparations- stock food, investments.

We have come through a prosperous season and have now entered a more difficult one economically.

But are we as concerned about the next season of God?

What is it that God is about to do?

What part has He called us to play in that?

(IN YOUR NOTES):

How we live in the current season of God and how you leave this season, will affect our fruitfulness in the next season.

I have discussed w/number of people how they are responding to difficult situations in their lives

struggle w/discouragement/fear/anxiety/anger.

We all struggle from time to time in our walk w/God.

It is during these times that we must hold onto an eternal perspective.

We must recognize that our current trials/difficulties are opportunities to grow in our faith.

They are times to take a hold of everything God wants to teach us now so we are prepared for- next season

Jn 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. NASU

As our culture spirals towards darkness and immorality, we have this assurance

Rom 5:20 where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, NASU

God’s grace is there for us in this season and the next.

What is our assignment in the next season of God and how do we step into it?