"CONTRAST - LIVING SET APART!" Part 7 - "RAISE YOUR GAZE!"

SERMON NOTES:  

Israel’s old history calls us today to lives of renewed faith-full-ness to Jesus, to lives of refreshing contrast.  It is a set apart life!    

2 Kings 615 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha….
20 After they entered the city, Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the Lord opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.
21 When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?”
22 “Do not kill them,” he answered. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.” 23 So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.

 Living a Contrast life with Jesus means we get to “Raise Our Gaze”!

We get to look at all of life through God’s-at-Work lenses.   

As we Raise Our Gaze:

·       we receive peace from God as we trust Him.  He has a lot of resources available to Him.

·       we don’t have to answer the call of fear, doubt, anxiety and the need to control.

·       the question, “Oh no, what shall we do?” is replaced with the prayer, “Open my eyes Lord,  I want to see Your MORE…”

·       we get to act differently – living in contrast with normal.  We get to act like God is real!

·       we get to receive God’s overwhelming grace and share it!

Study Guide

Solitude, Scripture & Prayer 

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone.  Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me? 

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?”

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God

The readings this week:

Monday – 2 Kings 6:8-17

Tuesday – 2 Kings 6:18-23

Wednesday – Ephesians 3:14-21

Thursday –  1 John 4:1-6

Friday – John 14:25-27, 16:32-33

Saturday – Psalm 66

Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

"CONTRAST - LIVING SET APART!" Part 6 - "DON'T MISS THE SURPRISES!"

SERMON NOTES:  

Israel’s old history calls us today to lives of renewed faith-full-ness to Jesus, to lives of refreshing contrast.  It is a set apart life!    

Elisha and Namaan

2 Kings 5 Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.  2 Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”… … …
8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: “Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.”9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”
11 But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy……
13 Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” 14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

God often works through Surprising Grace Gifts which can be received but are easily missed!

God’s Surprising Grace Gifts are received by faith;

-          which surrenders in humility and

-          trusts with obedience!

GSGG’s are missed when control, fear, anxiety and anger lead us to “take matters into our own hands!”

Who received GSGG’s and who missed them?      There is the contrast!

How can I shape my life to be a good “receiver” of God’s Surprising Grace Gifts?

Study Guide

Solitude, Scripture & Prayer 

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone.  Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?
What are You asking me to believe about You and about me? 
How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?”

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God

The readings this week:

Monday – 2 Kings 5:1-14

Tuesday – 2 Kings 5:15-27

Wednesday – Philippians 4:4-9

Thursday –  Matthew 11:25-30

Friday – Luke 8:40-56

Saturday – Psalm 98

Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

"CONTRAST - LIVING SET APART!" Part 5 - "BURN THE PLOW, EAT THE COW AND LET'S GO!"

SERMON NOTES:  

Israel’s old history calls us today to lives of renewed faith-full-ness to Jesus, to lives of refreshing contrast.  It is a set apart life!    

Elijah and Elisha

1 Kings 19 19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. 20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”
“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”
21 So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.

The calling of Elisha reveals a consistent reality of the contrast life of following Jesus:

“Embracing” God’s future means “letting go” of my past!

               I get to leave what is to receive was is to come!

               Holding on to today and yesterday prevents me from taking hold of tomorrow!

God is all about setting us free from our past so He can give us His future – that is the contrast life! 

The Jesus Difference

Philippians 3:7-14 But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

An unexpected gift!

2 Kings 2:1-18 9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”
“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.

When you go with God…… go big!

Study Guide

Solitude, Scripture & Prayer 

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone.  Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me? 

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?”

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God

The readings this week:
Monday – 1 Kings 19:19-21

Tuesday – Philippians 3:1-11

Wednesday – Philippians 3:12-14

Thursday –  Matthew 4:18-22

Friday – 2 Kings 2:1-18

Saturday – Psalm 51

Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

"CONTRAST - LIVING SET APART!" Part 4 - Lonely, Not Alone

SERMON NOTES:  

Israel’s old history calls us today to lives of renewed faith-full-ness to Jesus, to lives of refreshing contrast!  It’s a set apart life! 

Living a life of contrast is lonely, but we are never alone! 

Elijah Flees to Horeb 

1 Kings 19  Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them."

3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." 5 Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. 

What do we do when we don’t hear God?  Don’t despair , instead depend!  

The LORD Appears to Elijah  

And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 10 He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."

11 The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"       

God is speaking.  Are you really listening? 

Living a life of contrast is lonely, but we are never alone! 

Study Guide

Solitude, Scripture & Prayer 

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone.  Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me? 

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?”

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God

The readings this week:
Monday – Luke 24:18-32

Tuesday – 1 Kings 19:1-8

Wednesday – 1 Kings 19:9-18

Thursday –  1 Kings 19:19-21

Friday – Jonah 4:1-11

Saturday – Psalm 146

Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

"CONTRAST - LIVING SET APART!" Part 3 - The Moment of Truth

SERMON NOTES:  

The Story: Prophets are lonely truth tellers.

              Prophetic Traits

●        Ready to speak a costly truth

●        Charismatic and Action Oriented

●        Fierce, occasionally cranky

●        Prone to self doubt

              Events on Mt. Carmel

              Biblical standing alone.

It doesn’t always have a happy ending.

We will all be called on to stand alone.

Theology: God’s sovereignty and glory will be defended.

              It is never shared.

              It is unstoppable.           

It is the safest place to be.           

We-ology: We often become accidental polytheists.

The Hebrews had forgotten whose they were.

Humans don’t exchange God for nothing. Humans exchange God for everything.

God does not exist for our happiness. We exist for God’s glory.

Study Guide

Solitude, Scripture & Prayer 

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone.  Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me? 

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?”

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God

The readings this week:

Monday – Acts 3:1-10

Tuesday – Acts 3:11-16

Wednesday – Acts 5:1-11

Thursday – Acts 7:1-29

Friday – Acts 7:29-53

Saturday – Acts 7:54-8:8

Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

"CONTRAST - LIVING SET APART!" Part 2 - Stepping Into Rescue!

SERMON NOTES:  

Israel’s old history calls us today to lives of renewed faith-full-ness to Jesus, to lives of refreshing contrast.  It is a set apart life!    

Elijah the Prophet
1 Kings 17 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”….

Suffering is common to all who live in a broken sinful world!  Contrast is seen in the response. 

Contrast living in the midst of suffering is uncommon.  It means taking steps of faith to see and receive God’s provision and rescue graciously available. 

1 Kings 17:2-21.
10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.” 12 “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”

13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son.14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”
15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.
17 Sometime later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. 18 She said to Elijah, “What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?”
19 “Give me your son,” Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed.20 Then he cried out to the Lord…

Faith surrenders in very real steps only to discover that “rescue ” comes packaged in a real relationship with the living God.

Study Guide

Solitude, Scripture & Prayer 

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone.  Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me? 

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?”

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God

The readings this week:

Monday – Colossians 1:9-14

Tuesday – 1 Kings 16:19-17:1

Wednesday – 1 Kings 17:17-24

Thursday – 1 Kings 17:17-24

Friday – 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Saturday – Psalm 121

Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

"CONTRAST - LIVING SET APART!" Part 1 - Faith-Full-Ness Matters

SERMON NOTES:  

Israel’s old history calls us today to lives of renewed faith-full-ness to Jesus, to lives of refreshing contrast – to a set apart life!     

It is a life in contrast!    The question is where will the contrast be?

The Preface

1 Kings 11 9 The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.10 Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command. 

The Story

1 Kings 12 … 12 Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, “Come back to me in three days.” 13 The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, 14 he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” 15 So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the Lord, to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijahthe Shilonite.

1 Kings 14 7 Go, tell Jeroboam that this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I raised you up from among the people and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. 8 I tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, but you have not been like my servant David… 9 You have done more evil than all who lived before you. You have made for yourself other gods you have aroused my anger and turned your back on me.

In this story what is God saying …

… about people?

… about Himself?

… to me?

Study Guide

Solitude, Scripture & Prayer 

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone.  Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me? 

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?”

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God

The readings this week:

Monday – Matthew 11:20-30

Tuesday – 1 Kings 11:1-13

Wednesday – 1 Kings 12

Thursday – 1 Kings 14:1-20

Friday – Ephesians 4:17-32

Saturday – Psalm 51

Got questions? Continue the discussion. Follow the link @ https://goo.gl/Jd93J7