The Principle of the First Step 8/27/17

Transcription

1 The Principle of the First Step 8/27/17 -Announce: -Baptism today! 5pm (Baptism class 1 hour before) Intro: -I m talking today about a highly important principle that is found all over the Word of God. -Show you a picture to illustrate it. images;_ylt=awrsbma5fabzk3eawjzxnyoa;_ylu=x3odmte0bxvocxzwbgnvbg8dz3exbh BvcwMxBHZ0aWQDQjQ0MjhfMQRzZWMDcGl2cw--? p=wildebeast+crossing+the+masai+mara&fr2=pivweb&fr=opensearch#id=44&iurl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.tanzania-expeditions.com%2fwpcontent%2fuploads%2f2016%2f04%2fwildebeests-migration-safari.jpg&action=click -This is a picture of the great migration of wildebeests migrating across the Masai Mara River from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara. -In my first trip to Africa, I went with an organization that took us on Safari in Kenya the last 2 days we were there. -While we were eating a sack lunch in the jeep, we got to witness one of the 7 natural wonders in the world the great migration. -Some go to Africa to see it but miss it. -I got to see it within 30 minutes over lunch. -Now, the reason why it s sometimes a difficult event to witness is because the wildebeests don t always cooperate. -Thousands gather and cluster at the water s edge. -They are all waiting for one thing to happen. -Someone to take the lead. -For one animal in their group to jump into the water. -Once one does, they all follow This is what God is wanting from us. -To courageously trust Him and step into the water no matter who else does.

2 -Example of this is found in Joshua 3 -Background: -Moses has died. Joshua is now their leader. -God is about to lead the children of Israel from Egypt, then from the wilderness, now into the Promised Land. -They arrive at the banks of the Jordan River. -God gives them specific instructions. -Joshua 3:12-17 (NLT) Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13 The priests will carry the Ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth. As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall. 14 So the people left their camp to cross the Jordan, and the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of them. 15 It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river s edge, 16 the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho. 17 Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Lord s Covenant stood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed as the people passed by. They waited there until the whole nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan on dry ground. -Okay, their leader, Moses, has just died. -They are inheriting a new leader, Joshua. -They are coming from the wilderness with nothing but the Ark of God. -What did the Ark of the Covenant symbolize? -The Presence, Authority, and Power of God. -In other words, God had not abandoned them. -But, He asks them to do something that demonstrates faith. -God, in taking them from the wilderness to the abundant land that He had promised them, DOES NOT MOVE THE WATER UNTIL THEY OBEDIENTLY PUT THEIR FEET IN THE WATER. -God could have easily parted the water for them as they approached. -But God required that they obediently demonstrate faith in Him. -Hebrews 11:6a (NIV) And without faith it is impossible to please God -It doesn t say it is unlikely or hard or difficult. -The verse says, Impossible. -It s the principle of the First Step -Until the priests obediently put their feet in the water, like God said, the water did not move Many who do not know this principle violate it. -In their marriages, In their finances, In their spiritual life.

3 -Let me show you some Biblical examples where God requires faith. (1) Moses crossing the Red Sea God doesn t just open the Red Sea for them. -He tells Moses stretch out your staff. (2) 2 Kings 5 talks about Naaman, the Captain of the Armies of Syria, who had leprosy. -He goes to Elisha the Prophet. -Elisha does not come out to meet him. -He simply sends word to Naaman to wash 7 times in the Jordan River and then he would be healed. -Naaman, gets angry and refuses to do so, but his servants urged him to obey. -He does, his skin is restored, and he finds out that the God of Israel is the One True God. -But, before God healed him, he had to demonstrate faith. (3) Jesus feeds an estimated 15,000 people from a little boy s lunch. (5 loaves of bread and 2 fish) -The lunch had to be given in faith before the miracle could take place. (4) Peter walked on the water but first he had to get out of the boat. -In order to experience God s power, He requires that you obediently take the first step. -In order for transformation or the supernatural to take place, God requires that we obediently take the first step. -It s called FAITH -Faith Definition: Obedience that flows from a heart that is willing to trust Him. -Faith is not just belief without action. -It is always TRUST and OBEDIENCE (acting on that trust) -Remember what God says: Without faith without an obedient, trusting step, it is impossible to please Him. -Everyday Examples: (1) Salvation: What all comes with salvation? What happens to you when you put your trust in Jesus? What all do you have access to now? -Heaven, Indwelled with the Holy Spirit, Right with God, Every spiritual blessing given to us in Christ, adopted into the family of God, Sons and Daughters of the Reigning King, all principalities and powers under our feet, victorious in Christ, no longer guilty, no longer living in fear, no longer slaves and the list could go on and on. -Listen, none of that is accessible, until you demonstrate faith and put your trust in the plan that God has made. -That plan is Jesus Christ.

4 (2) Tithing: -Malachi 3:8-12 (NLT) Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! But you ask, What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you? You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 9 You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do, says the Lord of Heaven s Armies, I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! 11 Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe, says the Lord of Heaven s Armies. 12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight, says the Lord of Heaven s Armies. -God says, Bring back what rightfully belongs to me. - If you obey Me in this area, I will open the windows of Heaven over you. -He says Put Me To The Test. -Some of you are saying even as you walk in this place, God, why don t you show up in my life? or God why don t I see you working? or Why don t I see the blessing of God in my life. -God emphatically says, I can t! -Because you are violating the First Step Princple. -He doesn t give you the money first and then you start tithing. -No, He requires that you demonstrate faith. (3) Spiritual Restoration: -James 5:16 (NLT) Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. - So that you will be healed. -Faith has to be demonstrated BEFORE God begins to work. (4) Marriage: Where in the Bible does it say about marriage, Change Thy Spouse? -No, what does it say? Love Thy Spouse. -We love, God changes. -As long as we are trying to change our spouses, God can t. -By loving instead of changing, we are demonstrating faith that God is big enough to handle the situation. (5) Spiritual Gift: Until you begin to use it, God cannot begin to bless it. (6) Accomplishing Great Things For God: -You can t until you first obediently put your feet in the water.

5 -In all of these scenarios, there has to be a step of faith in order to get from God ALL THAT HE READILY WANTS TO GIVE YOU. -How do you do that? (1) Step Out of Your Trust and Into the Water of His Trust -Either you trust yourself or you trust God. -Listen, all of God s Words are trustworthy. -Because God is totally trustworthy. -Those of us who know this know it because we have stepped out in faith. (2) Step Out of Your Control and Into the Water of His Control -Don t you know that control is an illusion? -I would much rather abandon myself to the control of the Maker of Heaven and Earth than abandon myself to my own control. *God is supremely good. God is infinitely trust worthy. God is amazingly faithful. -Story about Henrietta Mears p88 (If You Want To Walk On The Water, You Have To Get Out of The Boat) -In what area is God calling you to get your feet wet? -To step out in faith and trust Him? -Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) And without faith it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him Bridge Group Questions: (1) What stood out to you about this week s message? (2) God did not move the water until the priests obediently put their feet in the water. Why do you think God works this way? (3) What is the definition of faith that was given by Pastor Matt in the sermon? Do you agree with this definition? (4) How have you experienced God move in your life by you obediently putting your feet in the water? (5) Do you truly believe that God is good? Why or why not?