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Circumcision: Consider the Cost of Being a Crossover People
New Life Church on the Rock Wednesday 5/16/07
Josh 1:1-9
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide:
2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them-- to the Israelites.
3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.
4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates-- all the Hittite country-- to the Great Sea on the west.
5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.
7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
(NIV)
I) Introduction: Consider the Cost
A) It was about a month ago the God gave this word to Pastor Ken during our 21 day.
1) Arise and cross over, because the world needs a savior
2) And we’ve been talking about this as it relates to our building our building.
3) And God is saying to us that it is time to arise and crossover
B) And that’s exciting
1) Isn’t it
2) What’s not exciting about it
3) We are going to arise, cross over, and posses the land.
4) How exciting
C) Well tonight I want to share with you a little about the cost of being a crossover people.
Luke 14:28-32
28 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?
29 For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him,
30 saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'
31 "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.
(NIV)
II) I want to start by quickly looking at three examples from Joshua
A) Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh
1) This is found in Joshua 1:12-18
2) They had asked Moses if they could receive their inheritance on this side of the Jordan
3) And God acquiesced.
4) So that at the time that God told Joshua to arise and crossover, the 2½ tribes were already settling in.
5) But they arose
6) For them the cost of being a crossover people was that they had nothing to gain
7) The point
(a) As we cross over this Jordan, there are some of you out there who are going to step into new ministry,
(b) And God is going to use you, and open doors like you wouldn’t believe
(c) But others of you, like the tribes of Reuben and Gad, have already received
(d) and are crossing over to facilitate others
B) The story at Ai
1) Found in Joshua 7
2) The children of Israel crossed over
3) We know how they attacked and sacked Jericho
4) But the next story is when they approached a small town named Ai
5) It was so small, the city could only afford two letters in it’s name
6) But at the battle of Jericho one man sinned
7) And when the army went up against little Ai, they were defeated because of that one mans sin.
8) In fact the Bible says that 36 men of Israel died.
(a) 36 men who did not commit sin
(b) 36 men who crossed over, but did not personally receive the inheritance
(c) Wow, talk about paying the price
C) The next example is where I want to camp out a little bit
1) It’s found in Joshua chapter 5:2-8
Josh 5:2-8
2 At that time the LORD said to Joshua, "Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again."
3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth.
4 Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt-- all the men of military age-- died in the desert on the way after leaving Egypt.
5 All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the desert during the journey from Egypt had not.
6 The Israelites had moved about in the desert forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the LORD. For the LORD had sworn to them that they would not see the land that he had solemnly promised their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
7 So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way.
8 And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed.
(NIV)
2) Now this isn’t pleasant to talk about, but my friends there is a price for being a crossover people
3) Now I don’t want to discourage you in telling you that there is a price.
4) Instead it’s my prayer that after tonight you would get encouraged about paying the price.
D) Now allow me to preach for a minute
1) Israel was willing to pay the price for two reasons
(a) They didn’t want to go back
(b) They prize was worth the price
2) Parable of the pearl of great price in the field
3) Peter at the day of Pentecost
4) 3 Hebrew Children
III) What is Circumcision
A) In the natural it is the removal of the foreskin
B) The Hebrew word used for the foreskin is Orlah
1) It means barrier
2) It is also used in describing an uncircumcised heart: Orlas HaLeiv
3) Or uncircumcised lips: Orel S’fasaim
4) Each example denotes a barrier
C) So when we translate this from the natural to the spiritual
1) And we read in the Bible, God calling us to circumcise our hearts
2) He is calling us to remove the barrier
D) Now without getting to graphical
1) In the natural, that which is circumcised is the most intimate place found on the body
2) In the spiritual, God is calling for the removal of the barriers around the most intimate places in our hearts
E) There is a process that takes place in our Christian experience
1) The Bible uses many analogies to describe it
(a) Circumcision of the heart (Deuteronomy)
(b) Discipline of the Lord (Hebrews)
(c) Crucible of God’s refinement (Proverbs)
(d) Pruning (Romans)
2) It’s all about something being removed
(a) Being purified
3) It is a part of the natural process for spiritual growth.
4) Both in the natural and in the spiritual God made growth to occur whether you want it to or not.
5) God’s perfect plan (before the fall) in a nut shell
(a) Growing
(b) Fully grown, and thus reproducing
(c) Dead
6) My question for you is, in the spiritual, which one of those three are you
Story about Romania
IV) Observations about Circumcision
A) It’s confusing
1) When a baby is being circumcised he doesn’t understand
(a) What is happening
(b) Why it’s happening
2) In fact do you know who decides who’s circumcised and who isn’t
3) It’s not the hospital, it’s the father, our Father
4) Often times it’s confusing to understand how a God who loves us would be hurting us
5) The answer to confusion is trust
Job 23:8-10
8 "But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him.
9 When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.
10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
(NIV)
B) It hurts
1) I’m not gonna lie to you
2) Do you know why there is not a line of 40 year old men at Baptist Hospital tonight wanting to get circumcised
3) Because it hurts
4) I had a friend who gave up on the Daniel Fast because he didn’t see why he should put himself through it
5) We have some strange thinking in the Church today
(a) We assume if it hurts, its bad
(i) But in the natural we don’t mind working out and exercising
(ii) Even though we wake up sore the next morning
(iii) In fact we’re proud the next morning when we are sore
(iv) But we don’t think this translates into the spiritual real
(b) We think learning discipline in our spiritual lives means we’ve done something wrong, or we’re weak
(i) Anyone here in the army
(ii) Did you have to learn discipline
(iii) Are you proud of that fact
C) Something is being removed (change is occurring)
1) A lot of times we blame God for things He didn’t do
2) Story of Mr. Fowler on the roof
3) The only way to learn to walk, is to walk
4) I used to pray
(a) God help Cheryl and I to better support each other during tough and trying times
(b) And then I would wonder why are we going through all these tough and trying times
D) You must be exposed
1) You are not going to be able to go through circumcision with your pants on
2) You will be exposed and vulnerable
3) It is innate in man to try to hide his sins
(a) God had to go looking for Adam in the garden
4) But God wants to expose us, and our sin
5) And there’s no better place to be
6) The story of Ziporah
V) Conclusion: Responding to Circumcision
A) Don’t move
1) Pastor Ron says “No matter how bad things are, you can always make them worse”
B) Shut up
Job 38:1-3
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:
2 "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?
3 Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
(NIV)
Job 40:3-5
3 Then Job answered the LORD:
4 "I am unworthy-- how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth.
5 I spoke once, but I have no answer-- twice, but I will say no more."
(NIV)
Job 40:8
8 "Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?
(NIV)
C) Hang on
1) Story of Justin at Children’s Church
James 1:2-4
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
(NIV)
Showing posts with label Crossing Over. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Crossing Over. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Circumcision: the Cost of Crossing Over - Chris Isaac
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Crossing Over: Immaturity to Maturity
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New Life COTR Wednesday April 25, 2007
CROSSING OVER
Immaturity to Maturity
Joshua 1:1-18(NIV)
ARISE AND CROSS OVER. Remember that church. (Show Banner)
Crossing Over is a process that every living, growing, healthy church and person will go through at some point.
Such crossings nearly always require major change which at times can be very unsettling.
Crossing Over cannot be avoided. To try and do so would hinder the growth God has planned and abort His purposes.
The Jordan represents the barrier God is calling you to CROSSOVER!
It represents the transition between where you are now and where you want to be! This might apply to you personally as well as the church.
IT MIGHT BE A PLACE OF CROSSING OVER FROM DREAM TO DESTINY. MANY PEOPLE LIVE IN THEIR DREAMS BUT NEVER LIVE IN THEIR DESTINY!
When God says ARISE AND CROSSOVER He is trying to move you into the NEW THING He has for you!
CROSSING OVER IS ABOUT TRANSFORMATION!
As a church it might mean radical changes to the life and structure of the church to breakthrough to the place God is calling you!
There is no way to avoid the challenges and stresses of crossing over.
Just focusing on the “promised land” and preaching sermons about Canaan will not get you there.
Singing songs about where you would like to be will not get you there either!
At some point the rubber has to meet the road and you must engage in the challenge God has before you.
If you don’t you are deceiving yourself and robbing yourself of your destiny in Christ!
YOU CANNOT CROSS OVER ON THE CHEAP, IT WILL COST YOU SOMETHING!
*******When you cross over you won’t bring everybody with you! There will be some who just won’t face the challenge!
God is calling us to advance forward to where He is already waiting on us.
Never move forward in response to voices in the church, especially to those who are pushing and shoving you, JUST LISTEN FOR GOD’S CALL TO PROCEED!
JOSHUA TOLD THE PEOPLE THAT IN THREE DAYS THEY WERE GOING TO CROSS OVER! NOT ONE DAY OR FOUR DAYS BUT IN THREE DAYS!
When it’s God’s time and you get to the point of cross over, BREAKTHROUGH comes!
We must arrive at the place where we have no choice but to proceed!
ARISE AND CROSS OVER!
TRANSITION: Tonight I’m going to give you the first step in CROSSING OVER. How many want to be a CROSS OVER PEOPLE.
Before I give the first step. WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BEING A CROSS OVER PEOPLE?
In the Old Testament we’ve heard the children of Israel called the Hebrew Children!
Hebrew- the root word is “ABAR” (aw-bar) it means “TO CROSS OVER.”
It is impossible for the devil to stop a CROSS OVER PEOPLE
The only thing that can stop a CROSS OVER PEOPLE is CROSS OVER PEOPLE!
Exodus 1:15-22(NIV)
God told Joshua, “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life.”
What kept the Children of Israel from CROSSING OVER and entering the Promised Land God had for them? Instead they died in the wilderness. THEY DID!!!!
Numbers 14:26-35(NIV)
The devil cannot stop a CROSS OVER PEOPLE!
Example of the disciples going crazy when Jesus had told them to get in the boat and cross over to the other side. A storm arises and the disciples loose it! Jesus stands up and calms the storm and then says, “O ye of little faith.”
NOTHING CAN STOP A CROSS OVER PEOPLE!
TRANSITION: The first step in Crossing Over!
I. SEPARATION- The first step in crossing over.
For God’s people to complete the next phase of their journey, God deemed it necessary to bring one term of leadership to a close and initiate a NEW ONE!
There had to be a separation- a severing of the things of the past, in order to grasp the future.
SEPARATION IS THE FIRST ACT OF POSSESSION
If you want to receive something then you’ve got to let go of something FIRST! It’s a life principle.
(Example of checkbook and money)
The first thing you need to do in order to CROSS OVER is to separate yourself from all the stuff that you cannot take forward with you.
YOU CANNOT HAVE THE PROMISED LAND AND MOSES!
Consider, what the Moses traditions that belong to your past.
Meaningless church programs, things the church keeps doing for no real reason!
YOU MUST BE WILLING TO LET GO!
It’s pointless to hold on to people who don’t want to go with you! It may be God trying to break a spirit of control in the church!
No matter how good the past was the old regime has had it’s day! Those things were relevant for there day.
*****The first thing God told Joshua is that you cannot lead these people the way Moses did!
GOD DID NOT WANT JOSHUA TO LIVE IN THE SHADOW OF MOSES!
(The history of our church, then and NOW!)
Moses death symbolized a separation from the previous way of doing things and all it represented.
THIS IS THE CAHLLENEGE THAT FACES YOU TO IF YOU ARE COMMITTED TO CROSSING OVER AND POSSESSING ALL THAT GOD HAS IN STORE FOR YOU!
SEPARATION IS THE FIRST ACT OF POSSESSION!
TRANSITION: What is one thing we can let go of, leave behind, so we can ARISE AND CROSS OVER AND POSSESS THE LAND GOD HAS FOR US?
I. IMMATURITY
Hebrews 6:1-3(NIV)
Let us leave-let us separate from our immature ways and take hold of maturity.
Ephesians 4:14- “Then we will no longer be infant, tossed back and forth and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.”
1Corinthains 13:11- “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.”
12 SIGNS OF IMMATURITY
1. Ephesians 4:11-13- Tossed too and Fro- Problems dictate your life. Problems are in control of you .
2. Follow winds of doctrine- Spiritual Hobo’s, Don’t have a home, Can’t get planted. Want their ears tickled.
3. Hebrews 5:11-14- Dull of hearing: Don’t value spiritual things, Slow to learn, Spiritual ADD. You must train yourself to listen.
4. Need taught, can’t teach yourself or others. Babies can’t feed themselves or someone else.
5. Need milk and not meat: can’t handle the weighter things of the ministry. If you stay on milk you can only handle so much. Things don’t get easier the greater the ministry.
6. Unskillful in the Word of righteousness: Misapply the Word of God, Hurt people with the Word. Adjust theology to agree own ideas.
7. Do not act on what they hear: Are not faithful with what they hear. Are not faithful with little. Mature people do what they hear.
8. The immature are easily offended. Easily hurt, have to walk on eggshells around. Governed by their emotions. Believe everything they hear instead of believing God.
9. Are unable to discern right from wrong: Ruled by emotions. Mature say: not everything that feels bad is bad. Not everything that feels good is good. The Lord chastens who He loves!
10. 1Corinthians 3:1-9- Envy and jealousy. Desire what somebody else has without doing what God requires to get it. Gossip, slander, to lift yourself up! Jealous of someone else’s title.
11. Strife and division: Romans 16: 17,18 Mark those who cause division and strife. Mark those who talk against leadership.
12. Immaturity cannot receive from other ministry gifts. Can’t receive from other races or genders. Be at church no matter whose preaching.
Let go immaturity and embrace maturity.
New Life COTR Wednesday April 25, 2007
CROSSING OVER
Immaturity to Maturity
Joshua 1:1-18(NIV)
ARISE AND CROSS OVER. Remember that church. (Show Banner)
Crossing Over is a process that every living, growing, healthy church and person will go through at some point.
Such crossings nearly always require major change which at times can be very unsettling.
Crossing Over cannot be avoided. To try and do so would hinder the growth God has planned and abort His purposes.
The Jordan represents the barrier God is calling you to CROSSOVER!
It represents the transition between where you are now and where you want to be! This might apply to you personally as well as the church.
IT MIGHT BE A PLACE OF CROSSING OVER FROM DREAM TO DESTINY. MANY PEOPLE LIVE IN THEIR DREAMS BUT NEVER LIVE IN THEIR DESTINY!
When God says ARISE AND CROSSOVER He is trying to move you into the NEW THING He has for you!
CROSSING OVER IS ABOUT TRANSFORMATION!
As a church it might mean radical changes to the life and structure of the church to breakthrough to the place God is calling you!
There is no way to avoid the challenges and stresses of crossing over.
Just focusing on the “promised land” and preaching sermons about Canaan will not get you there.
Singing songs about where you would like to be will not get you there either!
At some point the rubber has to meet the road and you must engage in the challenge God has before you.
If you don’t you are deceiving yourself and robbing yourself of your destiny in Christ!
YOU CANNOT CROSS OVER ON THE CHEAP, IT WILL COST YOU SOMETHING!
*******When you cross over you won’t bring everybody with you! There will be some who just won’t face the challenge!
God is calling us to advance forward to where He is already waiting on us.
Never move forward in response to voices in the church, especially to those who are pushing and shoving you, JUST LISTEN FOR GOD’S CALL TO PROCEED!
JOSHUA TOLD THE PEOPLE THAT IN THREE DAYS THEY WERE GOING TO CROSS OVER! NOT ONE DAY OR FOUR DAYS BUT IN THREE DAYS!
When it’s God’s time and you get to the point of cross over, BREAKTHROUGH comes!
We must arrive at the place where we have no choice but to proceed!
ARISE AND CROSS OVER!
TRANSITION: Tonight I’m going to give you the first step in CROSSING OVER. How many want to be a CROSS OVER PEOPLE.
Before I give the first step. WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BEING A CROSS OVER PEOPLE?
In the Old Testament we’ve heard the children of Israel called the Hebrew Children!
Hebrew- the root word is “ABAR” (aw-bar) it means “TO CROSS OVER.”
It is impossible for the devil to stop a CROSS OVER PEOPLE
The only thing that can stop a CROSS OVER PEOPLE is CROSS OVER PEOPLE!
Exodus 1:15-22(NIV)
God told Joshua, “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life.”
What kept the Children of Israel from CROSSING OVER and entering the Promised Land God had for them? Instead they died in the wilderness. THEY DID!!!!
Numbers 14:26-35(NIV)
The devil cannot stop a CROSS OVER PEOPLE!
Example of the disciples going crazy when Jesus had told them to get in the boat and cross over to the other side. A storm arises and the disciples loose it! Jesus stands up and calms the storm and then says, “O ye of little faith.”
NOTHING CAN STOP A CROSS OVER PEOPLE!
TRANSITION: The first step in Crossing Over!
I. SEPARATION- The first step in crossing over.
For God’s people to complete the next phase of their journey, God deemed it necessary to bring one term of leadership to a close and initiate a NEW ONE!
There had to be a separation- a severing of the things of the past, in order to grasp the future.
SEPARATION IS THE FIRST ACT OF POSSESSION
If you want to receive something then you’ve got to let go of something FIRST! It’s a life principle.
(Example of checkbook and money)
The first thing you need to do in order to CROSS OVER is to separate yourself from all the stuff that you cannot take forward with you.
YOU CANNOT HAVE THE PROMISED LAND AND MOSES!
Consider, what the Moses traditions that belong to your past.
Meaningless church programs, things the church keeps doing for no real reason!
YOU MUST BE WILLING TO LET GO!
It’s pointless to hold on to people who don’t want to go with you! It may be God trying to break a spirit of control in the church!
No matter how good the past was the old regime has had it’s day! Those things were relevant for there day.
*****The first thing God told Joshua is that you cannot lead these people the way Moses did!
GOD DID NOT WANT JOSHUA TO LIVE IN THE SHADOW OF MOSES!
(The history of our church, then and NOW!)
Moses death symbolized a separation from the previous way of doing things and all it represented.
THIS IS THE CAHLLENEGE THAT FACES YOU TO IF YOU ARE COMMITTED TO CROSSING OVER AND POSSESSING ALL THAT GOD HAS IN STORE FOR YOU!
SEPARATION IS THE FIRST ACT OF POSSESSION!
TRANSITION: What is one thing we can let go of, leave behind, so we can ARISE AND CROSS OVER AND POSSESS THE LAND GOD HAS FOR US?
I. IMMATURITY
Hebrews 6:1-3(NIV)
Let us leave-let us separate from our immature ways and take hold of maturity.
Ephesians 4:14- “Then we will no longer be infant, tossed back and forth and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.”
1Corinthains 13:11- “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.”
12 SIGNS OF IMMATURITY
1. Ephesians 4:11-13- Tossed too and Fro- Problems dictate your life. Problems are in control of you .
2. Follow winds of doctrine- Spiritual Hobo’s, Don’t have a home, Can’t get planted. Want their ears tickled.
3. Hebrews 5:11-14- Dull of hearing: Don’t value spiritual things, Slow to learn, Spiritual ADD. You must train yourself to listen.
4. Need taught, can’t teach yourself or others. Babies can’t feed themselves or someone else.
5. Need milk and not meat: can’t handle the weighter things of the ministry. If you stay on milk you can only handle so much. Things don’t get easier the greater the ministry.
6. Unskillful in the Word of righteousness: Misapply the Word of God, Hurt people with the Word. Adjust theology to agree own ideas.
7. Do not act on what they hear: Are not faithful with what they hear. Are not faithful with little. Mature people do what they hear.
8. The immature are easily offended. Easily hurt, have to walk on eggshells around. Governed by their emotions. Believe everything they hear instead of believing God.
9. Are unable to discern right from wrong: Ruled by emotions. Mature say: not everything that feels bad is bad. Not everything that feels good is good. The Lord chastens who He loves!
10. 1Corinthians 3:1-9- Envy and jealousy. Desire what somebody else has without doing what God requires to get it. Gossip, slander, to lift yourself up! Jealous of someone else’s title.
11. Strife and division: Romans 16: 17,18 Mark those who cause division and strife. Mark those who talk against leadership.
12. Immaturity cannot receive from other ministry gifts. Can’t receive from other races or genders. Be at church no matter whose preaching.
Let go immaturity and embrace maturity.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Arise and Crossover Because the World Needs a Savior - Pastor Kenneth Woolf
Download MP3 audio
New Life COTR Sunday April 8, 2007
EASTER SUNDAY
“Arise and Crossover”
“The World needs a Savior”
INTRODUCTION: Share some of the history of New Life COTR. Just over 7 years ago this church was in the middle of a storm. Adversity was all around. It was touch and go, would this church survive?
I was called upon to be the next Senior Pastor of New Life COTR. It was a six month transition so during the waiting period I began to seek God for a word for this church.
I knew that if this church was going to survive it needed a Word from God that would sustain it and lift it out of the place of adversity and move it forward to the destiny God had for it.
The Spirit of God led me to Joshua 1 where God is instructing Joshua to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land after the former generation had died in the wilderness.
Joshua 1:1-9(NIV)- Turn and Read Joshua 3:14-17(NIV)
The children of Israel had every reason to fail but they trusted and obeyed God and even though they faced a Jordan River at flood stage they CROSSED OVER with the help and power of God.
From this passage of scripture the Word God gave me for this church was ARISE AND CROSSOVER!
We faced a Jordan River of adversity, hurt and pain that was at FLOOD STAGE!
THIS CHURCH NEEDED A SAVIOR. NOT JUST ANY SAVIOR BUT A RISEN SAVIOR!
IF WE WERE TO MOVE FORWARD AND “ARISE AND CROSSOVER” WE WOULD NEED THE POWER OF A RISEN SAVIOR!!!
Romans 6:14- “By His power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.”
There is a power from God, that same power that raised Christ from the dead that is available to us today!
TRANSITION: Yes, New Life COTR needed a Savior and needed to experience the power of a risen Savior.
Here we are today, over 7 years later! Making an impact all over the world!
No matter whom you are and no matter what you’re facing, the power of a risen Savior is here to help you and give you hope.
Romans 15:13- “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
DO YOU NEED THE POWER OF A RISEN SAVIOR TODAY?
Romans 6:4(NIV)- “…..just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
TRANSITION: New Life COTR answered the call to ARISE AND CROSSOVER and that is why we’re where were at today!
BUT TODAY WE FACE ANOTHER JORDAN RIVER! A RIVER THAT SEEMS TO BE AT FLOODSTAGE.
On North Highway 105 just outside the city limits of Vidor is a piece of property that awaits a new church building.
OUR RIVER JORDAN IS BEFORE US.
THE WORD FROM GOD TODAY IS STILL THE SAME AS SEVEN YEARS AGO AND THAT WORD IS “ARISE AND CROSSOVER”!!!!!
ARISE AND CROSSOVER AND BUILD THE NEW CHURCH!
Today, that same power is available to us that we experienced seven years ago!
But here’s the difference!
Seven years ago we needed a Savior but today God says, “ARISE AND CROSSOVER AND BUILD THE NEW CHURCH BECAUSE THE WORLD NEEDS A SAVIOR!
The world needs to experience a RISEN SAVIOR! The power of a risen Savior!
That power is available to us today!
Ephesians 1:18-23- Turn and Read
CONCLUSION: New Life COTR- It’s time to ARISE AND CROSSOVER, THE WORLD NEEDS A SAVIOR!
If you’re here today and you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior I pray that I’ve wakened in you your need for a Savior.
Does it look impossible! If God can raise Jesus three day dead body from the grave he can change your life and give you hope and a reason to live.
It’s time for you to crossover from death to life!
John 1:12- “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
Acts 2:21- “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord we be saved.”
New Life COTR is here today because YOU NEED A SAVIOR!
NEW LIFE COTR, IT’S TIME TO “ARISE AND CROSSOVER” THE WORLD NEEDS A SAVIOR!
New Life COTR Sunday April 8, 2007
EASTER SUNDAY
“Arise and Crossover”
“The World needs a Savior”
INTRODUCTION: Share some of the history of New Life COTR. Just over 7 years ago this church was in the middle of a storm. Adversity was all around. It was touch and go, would this church survive?
I was called upon to be the next Senior Pastor of New Life COTR. It was a six month transition so during the waiting period I began to seek God for a word for this church.
I knew that if this church was going to survive it needed a Word from God that would sustain it and lift it out of the place of adversity and move it forward to the destiny God had for it.
The Spirit of God led me to Joshua 1 where God is instructing Joshua to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land after the former generation had died in the wilderness.
Joshua 1:1-9(NIV)- Turn and Read Joshua 3:14-17(NIV)
The children of Israel had every reason to fail but they trusted and obeyed God and even though they faced a Jordan River at flood stage they CROSSED OVER with the help and power of God.
From this passage of scripture the Word God gave me for this church was ARISE AND CROSSOVER!
We faced a Jordan River of adversity, hurt and pain that was at FLOOD STAGE!
THIS CHURCH NEEDED A SAVIOR. NOT JUST ANY SAVIOR BUT A RISEN SAVIOR!
IF WE WERE TO MOVE FORWARD AND “ARISE AND CROSSOVER” WE WOULD NEED THE POWER OF A RISEN SAVIOR!!!
Romans 6:14- “By His power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.”
There is a power from God, that same power that raised Christ from the dead that is available to us today!
TRANSITION: Yes, New Life COTR needed a Savior and needed to experience the power of a risen Savior.
Here we are today, over 7 years later! Making an impact all over the world!
No matter whom you are and no matter what you’re facing, the power of a risen Savior is here to help you and give you hope.
Romans 15:13- “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
DO YOU NEED THE POWER OF A RISEN SAVIOR TODAY?
Romans 6:4(NIV)- “…..just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
TRANSITION: New Life COTR answered the call to ARISE AND CROSSOVER and that is why we’re where were at today!
BUT TODAY WE FACE ANOTHER JORDAN RIVER! A RIVER THAT SEEMS TO BE AT FLOODSTAGE.
On North Highway 105 just outside the city limits of Vidor is a piece of property that awaits a new church building.
OUR RIVER JORDAN IS BEFORE US.
THE WORD FROM GOD TODAY IS STILL THE SAME AS SEVEN YEARS AGO AND THAT WORD IS “ARISE AND CROSSOVER”!!!!!
ARISE AND CROSSOVER AND BUILD THE NEW CHURCH!
Today, that same power is available to us that we experienced seven years ago!
But here’s the difference!
Seven years ago we needed a Savior but today God says, “ARISE AND CROSSOVER AND BUILD THE NEW CHURCH BECAUSE THE WORLD NEEDS A SAVIOR!
The world needs to experience a RISEN SAVIOR! The power of a risen Savior!
That power is available to us today!
Ephesians 1:18-23- Turn and Read
CONCLUSION: New Life COTR- It’s time to ARISE AND CROSSOVER, THE WORLD NEEDS A SAVIOR!
If you’re here today and you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior I pray that I’ve wakened in you your need for a Savior.
Does it look impossible! If God can raise Jesus three day dead body from the grave he can change your life and give you hope and a reason to live.
It’s time for you to crossover from death to life!
John 1:12- “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
Acts 2:21- “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord we be saved.”
New Life COTR is here today because YOU NEED A SAVIOR!
NEW LIFE COTR, IT’S TIME TO “ARISE AND CROSSOVER” THE WORLD NEEDS A SAVIOR!
