Sunday, August 22, 2010

Walking With The Greats - The Life of Solomon

This week's service can be watched at
"...follow the example of those who are going to inherit
God’s promises because of their faith and endurance."
Hebrew 6:12

Today's Scripture Text: 1st Kings 3:1-15

If you KNOW the right thing, you’re INTELLIGENT; If you DO the right thing, you’re WISE!  Wisdom is the ability to make the right choicesWisdom is the application of knowledge.

Proverbs 9:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom..."; James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him"


LIFE LESSON 1 - Seek Wisdom - Receive Wealth - 1 Kings 3:12-13

Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."  Because Solomon requested wisdom, God made him Healthy, Wealthy and Wise!

LIFE LESSON 2 - Godly Wisdom Gains Great Respect - 1 Kings 3:16-28

Your wisdom will be your witness!  People around you will see God through you.  God's favour comes through a life lived in Wisdom, so in every are of your life, ask for wisdom!  Incredibly, in all the wisdom God gave Solomon, he still had a vice... Women! Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines.

LIFE LESSON 3 - Wrong Connection Will Lead You in the Wrong Direction - 1 Kings 11:1-3

Solomon was led to worship other gods against 'the beginning of wisdom'.  He lost his 'fear of the Lord'.

Sin Will Get in the Way of Your Prophetic Promises

Solomon wrote more songs to God than David; He was a worshipper who had wisdom, but he allowed sin to remain and it was to his demise.  Disobedience, no matter how small, is a problem; it can foster addiction.  Addiction is predictable:
  1. First you tolerate it;
  2. Then you justify it;
  3. Then you participate in it.
Solomon's compromise affected his future and eroded the peace of the people of his kingdom.  It affected his children and his kingdom was split into 2 nations!

LIFE LESSON 4 - Two-timing on God Gets His Anger & Not His Favour - 1 Kings 11:1-12

vs 4 - "As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been."

vs 9 - "The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel..."

LIFE LESSON 5 - It’s Not Only How You Start But How You Finish That’s Important

vs 11 - "So the LORD said to Solomon, "Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates."

Solomon lost the Kingdom and it affected the generations to follow.  Even if you start slow, stay faithful.  Your choice to faithfully serve God and fear Him with healthy respect flowing from your realization of what He's done for you and what life would be like without Him, is what will keep you experiencing the promises of God.

Paul finished the race and won the prize - 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Let Solomon's life be an example - don't compromise; don't allow for even a 1% margin of error; finish strong!  Let your best days be those ahead of you!  God hasn't brought you this far to drop you now!  He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it! Remember: All Gods promises prove true!

CHALLENGE
Regardless of where you started or where you find yourself today, it's not too late to get God's wisdom to help direct your life so that you can receive and walk in all the promises of God.  Do these 3 things daily:
  1. seek wisdom
  2. stay on course
  3. finish strong
You are a light in the darkness.  Let your light shine with wisdom.  It will illuminate your path so that you can see where you are going to get to your destiny.

Please log your comments on how this week's message has been a blessing to you!  Simply click on the comments link immediately below this week's blog. Any comments already submitted will appear and you can comment below them.
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Sunday, August 15, 2010

Walking With The Greats - The Life of David

This week's service can be watched at
"...follow the example of those who are going to inherit
God’s promises because of their faith and endurance."
Hebrew 6:12

Today's Scripture Text: 1 Samuel 13:3-16;16:4-13

Have you ever felt like you were all alone?  Have you ever felt like there was one challenge after another?  Have you ever felt like everything around you was going wrong in spite of God's prophetic promise for your life?  David, like Samuel was called prophetically but he continued to do what he was doing while God developed him, until the time God was ready to release him.

A GLIMPSE encourages us but WAITING prepares us.

LIFE LESSON #1: Prophetic Glimpse Encourages us But Rarely Means We Are Ready.

There's a difference between anointing and releaseAnointing is Empowerment with Purpose.  Release is Timing.
  • Everyone is anointed: Empowered with Purpose. 
  • God's process and timing for release is different for each person.
"David was a man after God's own heart."  AFTER means 'in pursuit or search of'.  HEART means 'will and purpose'.

LIFE LESSON #2: Pursuing Requires Doing.

There is a responsibility in the process.  Don't sit back and relax and expect everything you need to develop you for your call to fall into you lap.  Be diligent to pursue your call with all your might.  Guard yourself so that what was begun in the Spirit will not be finished in the flesh!  You don't want to end up in the wilderness to learn what could have been learned in the 'PREPARATION PROCESS'.

LIFE LESSON #3: PERSEVERANCE is not giving up when everything is chasing you the opposite way.

David made it to the palace as a servant.  He waited in the process and trusted in God.  Nobody can block God's will for your life but you!  God's promotion comes at the right time, but not always a convenient time.  Each of us is on an individual journey, different from those around us.  Be patient and persevere in the process to the promise.

Serve your way through; don't keep changing buses.

How do I do this?
Ecclesiastes 9:10 "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might..."  Where you are now, stay faithful no matter how long it takes.  Be faithful with the little things and then you will be trusted with the big things.

3 Practices in Becoming a Person After God’s Heart:
  1. PASSION for God’s Word - Psalm 119:97-100 Think on God's Word all day long.  Believers should develop a burning passion for His Word.  It can be drawn upon for every situation in life.

LIFE LESSON #4: Wisdom, Insight & Understanding Come from God’s Word.

  1. PRAYER - Psalm 116:1-2  "I love the LORD, because He has heard my voice and my supplications.  Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live."

LIFE LESSON #5: No Matter What You’re Going Through, Keep Going to God.

LIFE LESSON #6: People of Prayer Still Face Problems.

There may still be problems in the process but as we are faithful to pray, we will progress to the promise.  KEEP ON PRAYING!
  1. PRAISE – Psalm 34:1
David loved to praise God from the pasture to the palace and everywhere in the process.  2 Samuel 6:15-23 David's wife thought his expression of praise was inappropriate for a King.  David was not embarrassed to abandon himself before God and before others.

CHALLENGE
God's has great destiny on your life.  As you listen to His voice, He will reveal His call on your life to you.  Make sure that you stay faithful in the process to your prophetic promise and don't try to get ahead of God.  If you feel you have taken getting to God's promise into your own hands, simply pray to God and hand it all back to Him.  Allow Him to form you in the process and make you fully ready so that you can fulfill His promise in His power.

Please log your comments on how this week's message has been a blessing to you!  Simply click on the comments link immediately below this week's blog. Any comments already submitted will appear and you can comment below them.
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Sunday, August 08, 2010

Walking With The Greats - The Life of Samuel

This week's service can be watched at
"...follow the example of those who are going to inherit
God’s promises because of their faith and endurance."
Hebrew 6:12

Today's Scripture Text: 1 Samuel 3:1-20


3 Important Lessons from Life of Samuel

  1. Samuel Listened - 1 Samuel 3:8-9
God speaks to you in His timing.  David said in Psalm 63:1 "Early will I seek you...".  It is so important that we seek God before the distractions of the day begin.

There Is a Difference Between Hearing and Listening.  According to Webster's dictionary, 'hearing' is 'the act of perceiving sound'.  It can be conscious or subconscious.  Whereas 'listening' is 'to pay close attention, to give attention with the ear'.  Some people hear but they don't listen.  We need to listen because we desire to understand.  The call is to listen attentively to the voice of the Lord.  When God spoke, Samuel heard Him.  We need to not only to be hearers of the Word but doers also - James 1:22-25.

LIFE LESSON #1: Don’t get so caught up in your thing, that you’re no longer listening to God.
  1. Samuel Served - 1 Samuel 3:1
Because your heart is pure in serving, God rewards your actions.  Samuel served the Lord by assisting Eli (his Priest, Pastor).  Samuel rose to great places in the kingdom because he served his man of God.  Samuel could have become bitter because he was left to serve in the temple, but he chose to serve with excellence and with the right attitude.  Serving is an action that flows out of humility.  If you have pride, you won't serve with the right motive.  You will look to be noticed for what you did.  The intent will be, 'What can I get from this?'  When you don't get what you expected, you get bitter.
LIFE LESSON #2: Faithful & dependable serving opens the doorway for more.
Eli promoted Samuel to priest of the nation because Samuel was dependable; he  could be counted on.  If you want attention, that becomes the goal and not giving glory to God.  If your heart is right, then in the right season God will bless you.  Faithfulness proves trustworthiness.  It brings confidence.  When you can be counted on to serve, God will open doors of favour in your life.  Serving opens the door for more. vs.15: 'Samuel got up and opened the doors of the tabernacle as usual'.  He didn't start his own church or do his own new thing.  He did what he normally does.  He served as usual knowing that when God is ready, He will promote.
  1. Samuel Obeyed - 1 Samuel 3:17-18
Obedience needs to be your standard when it's easy and even when it's difficult.  Samuel's first assignment was to go to Eli and tell him his family was to be cut off from the priesthood.  Because Samuel lived a lifestyle of obedience, he could bring correction that would be received.  Most people who like to tell it like it is, don't like to hear it like it is.  If you don't love the person, don't say a thing.  Correction must be given in sincere love.  The test is this: It will hurt your heart to correct someone if you truly love them.  'I am determined to obey the Lord!'

Don’t give in to sin, God wants you to Win!!

1 Samuel 3:19-20 - Samuel chose to obey and everyone knew by his obedience that he was a prophet of the Lord!

LIFE LESSON #3: Persist in righteousness and you will be blessed! 
Blessed in your family, finances and health!  Be persistent even if it feels like no one else is being persistent.  Romans 14:17-18 teaches us that RIGHTEOUSNESS produces PEACE and Real JOY in the Holy Ghost!  It isn't always easy to obey but when you do you will live in joy and peace.  No righteousness, no peace - No peace, no joy.  In every area of your life where Christ is ruling, you will have peace because Jesus is the Prince of Peace!  Unrighteousness will rob you of that peace.

REMEMBER: How you walk through a storm is a witness to those around you!
CHALLENGESo much of what we experience day to day is a result of not listening to the voice of the Lord.  It becomes very easy to get distracted when we have not spent time listening to the Lord as He desires to direct us daily.  In Mark 1:35 it says, "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."  If Jesus needed to listen to the Lord without distraction, how much more should we establish a protocol for getting to a place where we can listen without distraction to the Lord to receive the direction He has for our life.  If we are going to serve the Lord, it should be in doing what He requested we do.  True obedience is a result of serving as instructed during a time of listening.  Take the time to establish a daily protocol of listening to the Lord - before the distractions start to come.  You will be overwhelmed by the blessing that comes as a result of your obedience to serving God as directed by His Spirit!

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Monday, August 02, 2010

Walking With The Greats - The Life of Hannah

This week's service can be watched at

These things happened to them as examples for us.

1 Corinthians 10:11

Today's Scripture Text: 
1 Samuel 1:1-20

1. Hannah has an Ongoing Problem

She can't have children.  To make matters worse, her husband has a second wife!  This wife was very fruitful and taunted Hannah regularly that she had no children.

LIFE LESSON #1 - Life is Full of Surprises But One Thing is For Sure, We All Face Problems.

Have a look at this video to see an example of what our response should be to the problems we face: Response To Problems
Your response is the KEY to your Victory!

2. Hannah Responds in Prayer

LIFE LESSON #2 - Prayer Should Be Our First Reaction, NOT Our Last Resort.

When we face problems, it is very easy to react in the natural and begin to rehearse the problem both internally and with those around you.  Follow Hannah's example and 'Go to the Throne NOT the Telephone'!
3 Keys to Hannah's Prayers:
1) Persistence - vs.7
It's not good enough to win some games if you loose the whole series!  You need to stay focussed, be persistent and consistent!
LIFE LESSON #3 - If You Make Excuses For Why You Have to Give Up, It Will Hinder Your Miracle.

You have been designed to win.  It is in you to break through.  You have been given everything you need to succeed in this life. 2 Peter 1:3
Don't give in, you will win!
2) Passion - vs.15
In Exodus 2:23, the Israelites passionately cried out to God and he heard and answered their prayers.   In Hebrews 5:7 we read that Jesus cried out to the Lord with passionate pleas and was heard because of His passionate reverence for God!  There are many examples in scripture of people of God whose passion got God's attention.  We need to be passionate in our petitions.

Merriam Webster's Dictionary defines 'passion' as an intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction; a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept; an object of desire or deep interest.
The proof of your passion is in your pursuit!

3) Promise of Faithfulness – vs.11
Hannah's prayer was unselfish.  It was a prayer that would cause others to see that God answers prayer.  Everyone who knows what you are going through will see God move and He will get ALL the glory!
LIFE LESSON #4 - You Need To Expect a Miracle.

In due time she received her miracle.  "In due time..."   She didn't give up!  Persevere, your miracle's almost here. vs.28.
Expectation is the breeding ground for miracles!

3. Hannah Received God’s Provision

LIFE LESSON #5 - Don’t Stop at One Miracle, Stay Faithful & Live a Life of Miracles.

When God is faithful to us, we must be faithful to him.  When God provides a job, we need to be faithful to tithe.  When God gives us our healing, we need to be faithful to serve.  When we are faithful, we won't just see one miracle; we will see miracle after miracle after miracle! 

THE REST OF THE STORY:

1 Samuel 2:21
After Hannah was faithful to her promise, she was
blessed with 3 more sons and 2 daughters for a total of 6 children! Hannah's faithfulness brought her fruitfulness!

DECLARATION:
  • We declare an increased release of blessing!
  • We declare problems are going to go and blessings are going to flow as we determine not to give up!
  • We declare the strength of God over everyone who walks in faithfulness!
  • We declare God is turning it around right now!
CHALLENGEMany of us have been dealing with issues in our lives that have been plaguing us for quite some time.  Now is not the time to give up or give in.  The challenge is to remain faithful to God.  When you remain faithful, pray and expect a miracle, even when it seems as though the situation is not getting resolved, you allow God to be Lord over your circumstances.  In due season, like with Hannah (vs. 20), you will bear the fruit of faithfulness and that fruit will be greater than you could ask or even imagine.  And one of the greatest benefits of your faithfulness will be that your miracle will bring others to the God of Miracles!  Glory to God!

Please log your comments on how this week's message has been a blessing to you!  Simply click on the comments link immediately below this week's blog. Any comments already submitted will appear and you can comment below them.
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Sunday, July 25, 2010

Are You a Giant Slayer?

This week's service can be watched at

Psalm 50:15
"Call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall honour and glorify Me."  Our guest speaker, 
Pastor Scott Cooper ministered a powerful and encouraging message from the text of David & Goliath found in 1st Samuel 17:1-54.  


The odds were impossible for David to win against the giant.  Goliath was over 9 feet tall and David was only a short young Hebrew shepherd.  But David recognized the giant for who he really was.  Giants want to keep you in fear, but if you turn back, you make yourself a target for the enemy.  Even in last week's message we discussed that there can be no turning back.  God is trying to make a point.  We need to keep pressing forward!  


Here are four things that David did to see his victory:
  1. He reminded himself of past victories - vs. 34-37  (David encouraged himself) The enemy reminds us
    of our failures.  In Revelation 12:10 he is called the accuser of the brethren.  Get an Ebenezer (a reminder of another time when God worked in your favour to bring you the victory
    .)
  2. Don't pay attention to the odds - It doesn't matter what is possible in the natural.  God operates above our realm, in the supernatural.  He can do ANYTHING!  When the odds are against you, remember that God is for you! Romans 8:31
  3. He fixed his vision upwards - from horizontal to vertical - David looked at things from his father's
    (God's) perspective.  God see's what we call 'giants' as tiny little blips on the radar screen, like flies that He can wipe out with one tiny swat!
  4. He ran right into the face of his fears - God will use my gifts, talents and abilities to bring the victory, but only if I take action.  I must believe He has my back and will honour my faith in action.
Pastor Scott shared the many challenges he and his family have faced over the years and how God delivered them out of them all.  He used the 'Behemoth', the large roller coaster at Canada's Wonderland, as an example when he explained to his family in each case, "I know the ride is not leaving the tracks and that it will be over quickly."  We need to trust God regardless of the situation.  It is our trust and the attitude we choose to have in the midst of our circumstances that releases the hand of God to act on our behalf.  


Pastor Scott's wife Wendy encouraged the people of HWC from Romans 14:17 AMP - "[After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."

CHALLENGE
Do you have the trust in God that David had?  In order to have the faith of a giant slayer, you have to be prepared to do what giant slayers do.  Like you, David was by no means perfect, which means you too qualify to be a giant slayer.  However you must be prepared to consecrate yourself daily to the Lord and experience the small victories.  With every victory God gives you, you need to have an 'Ebenezer', a reminder of the victories God has given you.  If you don't have any currently, take some time to recall the victories God has given you and put some reminders in place so you don't forget what God has done before that He can and will do again.


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Sunday, July 18, 2010

Walking With The Greats - The Life of Ruth

This week's service can be watched at

These things happened to them as examples for us.
1 Corinthians 10:11

When you are faithful, your challenges will not DESTROY you, but they will DEPLOY you into the Destiny God has for your life!

Ruth 1 & 2 - 
How to Triumph with Trials on Every Side:

Determination To Your Commitment – Ruth 1:16


'I am not a quitter!'  We live in a society that wants everything to come easy.  They miss the best because they won't hold on through the test'Don't ask me to go back from where I came.'


God is trying to accelerate you but every time you decide to change direction, you have to slow down!  You must stay the course.  When challenges come, don't give up; keep on going.  We need a 'crazy glue' attitude; "No matter what happens, I am going to stick with it."  Others may quit but I'm not going back!


Life Lesson #1: When the going gets tough, the tough keep on going!


Sometimes we can be nervous about what's ahead.  It sometimes seems safer to go backwards.  A rear-view mirror is designed to be used only when we are going backwards.  But if we spend too much time looking in the rear-view mirror while trying to drive forward, the results will be disastrous.  In like manner, if we keep looking back while trying to move forward with God's plan for our life, we will hinder getting to the destiny God has for us and we will end up creating mess and frustration for ourselves and those around us.


Be DETERMINED not to look back or go back! - I'm staying on track and I'm not going back!  I'm accelerating and advancing into my destiny!  There is no stopping me now!

Devotion To God And Others - staying faithful, loyal and dedicated – Ruth 2:9-11


Here's a test of devotion: If you were working hard and not getting rewarded, would you stay faithful?


RUTH LEARNED THAT FAITHFULNESS EVENTUALLY BRINGS GREAT BLESSING!


Life Lesson #2: Favour Follows Faithfulness


As we show God our faithfulness, He shows us His favour!  Ruth did not whine, grumble or complain.  She did not feel sorry for herself.  She did what she had to do with what she had.  
Expect the unexpected.  Your devotion & reputation in faithfulness will attract favour into your life.  At HWC we are entering a season where God is releasing supernatural favour to those who have remained faithful!  

Decision To Follow Wise Counsel – Ruth 3:5-6


Ruth followed godly counsel and God's blessing was released in provision, protection and every other area of her life.


Life Lesson #3: Obedience is the key ingredient to release God’s Blessing


Here are three keys to your acceleration:

  1. Don't turn back
  2. Faithfulness
  3. Obedience
Using these keys daily will deploy you into your destiny.

CHALLENGE
Take a look at your life and see if there is any area where faithfulness is lacking.  Review this week's scriptures and ask God to help you to commit to being faithful to Him and everything you do daily, just like Ruth was.  As you do this, you will experience God releasing his favour into your life and you will be even more motivated to remain faithful and increase your devotion and determination towards Him.  Contact someone this week and encourage them to stay faithful.  We are about to experience a supernatural release of God's favour and we don't want anyone to miss it!

Please log your comments on how this week's message has been a blessing to you!  Simply click on the comments link immediately below this week's blog. Any comments already submitted will appear and you can comment below them.
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Sunday, July 11, 2010

Get Ready for a Season of Triumph!

This week's service can be watched at

GOD IS FOR YOU - NOT AGAINST YOU!
  1. Some of our challenges are caused by others.  They can be caused by others selfishness and by their jealousy.  You need to be quick to forget, forgive and receive God's blessing.  Don't keep your eyes on the challenge or those involved.  Commit them to God and watch Him demonstrate His glory.  In times like this, remember this phrase: "Got To Live & Just Forgive". 
  1. Some of our challenges are caused by self.  Our wrong choices bring our struggles.  Many times we can be our own worst enemy, but even when we cause our own problems, God is ready to forgive us and turn it around.  We need to cast our cares on Him and He will intervene on our behalf.
     
  2. Some of our challenges are caused by outside circumstances.  At times like these we ask questions like, 'What did I do to deserve this?' or 'Why are these things happening in my life?'  Sometimes there is no apparent rhyme or reason, but know this:
Whatever The Reason For The Trial, This Is A Season Of Triumph!

In Romans 8:28 (AMP) Paul declares, 'We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labour] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.  GOOD means ‘for your pleasure and success’.  We need to make sure we are asking the right
questions!


Here are two questions to ask in challenging times:
  1. If God be with us who can be against us? - Romans 8:31  Regardless of what has come against you, know that God was not taken by surprise.  He is for you and that means that nothing can successfully take you down or out.
  2. Who can separate us from the Love of Christ? - Romans 8:35  TRIBULATION means intense pressure. DISTRESS means extreme difficulty.  Romans 8:37 declares that 'We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us!'
The final answer to all the questions we ask when facing all challenges: "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

CHALLENGEWhen you are in the middle of a challenge, it isn't always easy to respond the way God has taught us to respond.  That's why it is so important to spend time daily with the Lord preparing your spirit to be ready for the battles of the day.  When the challenge comes, then you will recall the promises of Romans 8 and your response to the challenge will be birthed from the Word of God, by the Spirit of God!  Take the time to review the scriptures from today's message and ponder them in your heart.  Refer to them all this week and watch how God shows up to be a very present help in times of trouble.

Please log your comments on how this week's message has been a blessing to you!  Simply click on the comments link immediately below this week's blog. Any comments already submitted will appear and you can comment below them.
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Monday, July 05, 2010

Walking With The Greats - The Life of Samson

This week's service can be watched at

These things happened to them as examples for us.
1 Corinthians 10:11

Samson Was Listed Among the Greats!

LIFE LESSON #1: Our Choice to Sin Impacts our Life
1. He had a Great Call - Judges 13:1-7,16

God has great plans for your life - Psalm 139:16, Jeremiah 29:11
LIFE LESSON #2: Don’t Sell Yourselves Short - God has Great Plans for You!
2. He did some Great Exploits - Judges 14:5-6; Judges 15:14-15

"The Spirt of The Lord Came Powerfully Upon Him" but Samson boasted that it was in his own strength.  He forgot that God was his Source.
LIFE LESSON #3:Recognize the Source of your Strength is God
"Remember the Lord, for it is He who gives you the power..." -Deuteronomy 8:18

Every good and perfect gift comes from the Lord -James 1:17

The same spirit that raised Christ from the dead... -Romans 8:11

3. He Had a Great Weakness - Lust
LIFE LESSON #4: Spiritual Potential Does Not Guarantee Spiritual Success!
Being tempted is one thing - but giving into temptation is where the problem begins.  The more you give into temptation, the more of a grip it has on your life!  Samson kept falling into the same trap with women.  Then he rules for 20 years, ignoring the tugging of the Spirit and then he ends up going right back to his issues.

The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy - John 10:10.

He uses our weakness against us.  Don't confuse God's presence as condoning your actions.
He didn't realize the Spirit had left him.  The first thing to go was his eyes, the eyes that caused his lust!  He was delivered, but not the way God wanted to do it.  Don't miss your potential!

4. He Had A Great Finish

Sure he failed and went through many thing unnecessarily, but when he came to his senses, God was prepared to anoint him once again to do great things, even if they were the last things he would do.
LIFE LESSON #5: Even if You Mess Up, Don’t Give Up. - FINISH STRONG
He may have gone wrong - but he chose to finish strong!

You can never go so far into sin that you can get away from the love of God.  He will always be as close as the mention of His name.  Samson remembered God and God remembered Samson.  Even if you mess up, don't give up!  Finish strong!

Today is the day to break the cycle of sin over your life!


CHALLENGE
Take a moment right now and examine your heart.  Ask the Spirit of God to search your heart and show you where you have weakness.  Ask Him to deliver you from that weakness as you humble yourself - before it is too late.  Before that thing takes you out.  As He delivers you, make a choice to finish strong!  Remember - He is close, regardless of your condition.  Call on His name everyday and watch Him work!!

Please log your comments on how this week's message has been a blessing to you!  Simply click on the comments link immediately below this week's blog. Any comments already submitted will appear and you can comment below them.
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Monday, June 28, 2010

Walking With The Greats - The Life of Gideon

This week's service can be watched at

These things happened to them as examples for us.
1 Corinthians 10:11

Mighty Hero, The LORD Is With You! - Judges 6:1-14; 6:25-35

When man has a problem, God has the solution!

As we have been going through this great series called "Walking With The Greats" and sharing about these great men and women of God, it might be easy to think that they were superheros or people with greater faith and strength than you could ever have.  In fact, the opposite is true.  For example, here were some of the character traits of these 'greats' that we esteem so highly:
  • Noah got drunk
  • Abraham was too old
  • Isaac was a daydreamer
  • Jacob was a liar
  • Leah was just plain ugly
  • Joseph was abused
  • Moses couldn’t speak the language well
  • Samson was a womanizer
  • Rahab was a prostitute
  • Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
  • David had an affair and was a murderer
  • Isaiah preached naked
  • Jonah ran from God
  • Naomi was a widow
  • Job went bankrupt
  • John the Baptist ate bugs
  • Peter denied Christ
  • The disciples fell asleep while praying
  • Martha worried about everything
  • The Samaritan woman was divorced more than once
  • Zaccheus was too small
  • Paul was too religious
  • Timothy had an ulcer
  • Lazarus was dead – what could be worse than that!
What we need to realize is that God doesn't work through people's perfections.  The great men and women of faith in the bible had just as many obstacles to overcome as we do.  But God empowered them regardless.

LIFE LESSON #1: Man looks at our abilities, God looks at our possibilities.
You are more than a conqueror, but when God calls us, we can't leave things as they are.  There are things we have to do to get the victory.

LIFE LESSON #2: Tear Down the Idols in Our Lives - Judges 6:25-26
We need to identify any altars in our life that are set up to false gods and tear them down.  Gideon did it at night for fear of the people. The altar he destroyed was his father's altar.  What generational altars do you need to tear down?  We have relationship altars, habit altars, unforgiveness altars... put your faith in God and tear them down!  We must put first things first - God must be first in your life.  Tear down the altar and put God first and fear will be replaced with faith.  Fear holds us back but faith moves us forward.  We all have fear and doubt.  What will you do with those thoughts when they come to your mind?  What will your response be?  To get the victory, we must walk in faith, not fear.

LIFE LESSON #3: Don’t be Afraid of Impossible Odds - Judges 6:34-35
Gideon told God there are too many, when they were outnumbered 135,000 to one.  Take small faith steps first, then you will be able to take the bigger faith steps.  God will make your situation so that only He can get the glory!  Gideon was left with only 300 men in his army.  those odds are 450 to 1!  But God was on Gideon's side and He is on your side too.  Regardless of your situation, with God - a miracle is a miracle!  His power works best in your weakness! 2 Corinthians 12:9

LIFE LESSON #4: You've Still Got To Fight - Don’t Give Up Until the Job is Done!
You have a job to do, a part to play.  God requires you; you are part of His victory plan for your life.  Not just praying, but doing.  He will give you a plan of attack but you must trust God and follow the plan.  Most of the 135,000 who were against Gideon killed themselves without the 300 ever getting dirty.  But Gideon's men still had to draw their swords against the final 15,000!  We can't get excited over partial victory.  We can't give up until we have complete victory!  We need to pray, to hear from God - but we also have to fight!

“Keep Praying, Keep Fighting 'til the Victory is Won!”

Jeremiah 29:11
God's plan is for you to win, to overcome!


You need to know that you are a mighty person of valour!

CHALLENGET
ake the time to examine your life to see if there are any altars that need to be torn down.  Trust God as you honour Him and tear them down completely.  Don't be satisfied with partial victory.  Keep fighting until you have the entire victory.  Then, go forward and be encouraged by that small step to, take on the next challenge, the bigger challenge.  As you commit yourself to doing WHATEVER IT TAKES, God will get the glory by doing what only He can do!  He is waiting to get with you right now.  Go into your closet every day this week and watch God share His plans for you, with you; then go out and do what He told you to do and experience victory every day this week!  Then, blog your testimony of victory below!

Please log your comments on how this week's message has been a blessing to you!  Simply click on the comments link immediately below this week's blog. Any comments already submitted will appear and you can comment below them.
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NOTE:
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Thanks for visiting!