Series: The Kingdom Of God – Part 2

Message Title: How to Drift from God

Speaker: Pastor Craig Groeschel

• Satan wants to DESTROY your faith.

2 Corinthians 11:3 NIV
³ But I’m afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

Matthew 13:19-23 NIV
¹⁹ When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. ²⁰ The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ²¹ But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. ²² The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. ²³ But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Hebrews 2:1 NIV
¹ We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

HOW TO DRIFT FROM GOD IN 5 EASY STEPS

1. NEGLECT YOUR TIME WITH GOD.

Psalm 63:1 NIV
¹ O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you…

2. IF YOU DON’T LIKE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES, BLAME GOD.

Proverbs 3:5 NIV
⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…

3. HANG AROUND BAD INFLUENCES.

1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV
³³ Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character…”

4. GIVE INTO TEMPTATION.

James 1:14-15 NIV
¹⁴ But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

5. LOVE THIS WORLD MORE THAN YOU LOVE GOD.

1 John 2:15 NIV
¹⁵ Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him.

• IF ALL ELSE FAILS: FAKE IT!

Isaiah 29:13 NIV
¹³ The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me…

Revelation 3:1 NIV
I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

RETURNING TO YOUR FIRST LOVE

Revelation 2:4-5 NIV
⁴ …You have forsaken your first love. ⁵ Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first…

Series: The Kingdom Of God

Message Title: Purpose and Progress

Speaker: Pastor Stovall Weems

Definition of the Kingdom of God: wherever the rule and reign of King Jesus is established.

Luke 4:42-43 NKJV
⁴² Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; ⁴³ but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.”

Keys to understanding the kingdom and your role in God’s kingdom…

1. Having time alone with God.
2. Hearing God’s voice.
3. Knowing your purpose.

Your purpose involves progress in the Kingdom of God.

Speaker: Pastor John Siebeling (Guest Speaker)

Luke 13:6-9 (NIV)
⁶ Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. ⁷ So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

⁸ “ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. ⁹ If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ “

He had vision (I can see it).

• Potential
• Big Picture
• Short-term

He had patience (I can wait).

He had commitment (I can change).

Thanks for joining us today! Please feel free to use the area below to take notes. Hang out 30 minutes before and after the service in our Chat Lobby to kick back and connect with others attending Church Online with you!

Speaker: Pastor John Scott

Isaiah 6:1-8 NLT
¹ It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. ² Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. ³ They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!” ⁴ Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke. ⁵ Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.” ⁶ Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. ⁷ He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.” ⁸ Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

1. Admit who we are and where we’ve been.

Isaiah 6:5 NLT
⁵ Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.”

“Do I accept this as my fate or as a temporary state?”  ~Bishop TD Jakes

2. Know Who we’re with now.

Who’s with me?

Genesis 4:6 NLT
⁶ “Why are you so angry?” the LORD asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? ⁷ You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

Luke 22:31-32 NIV
³¹ “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. ³² But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Isaiah 6:6-7 NLT
^{6^Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. ^7} He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”

3. Know where we’re going together.

Isaiah 6:8 NLT
⁸ Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”
I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

I know who I’ve been. I know where I’ve been. I know Who I’m with. And I’m going wherever He sends me.

Speaker: Pastor Chris Brooks

Genesis 32:24-32 NKJV
²⁴ Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. ²⁵ Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. ²⁶ And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” ²⁷ So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” ²⁸ And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” ²⁹ Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there. ³⁰ So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” ³¹ Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip. ³² Therefore to this day the children of Israel do not eat the muscle that shrank, which is on the hip socket, because He touched the socket of Jacob’s hip in the muscle that shrank.

How to Lose Control

1. Surrender our Fear.

2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV
⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

I. Fear of Rejection.
II. Fear of Failure.
III. Fear of the unknown.

Proverbs 12:25 NIV
²⁵ An anxious heart weighs a man down

2. Commit to pray and obey God no matter what.

3. Trust God for the outcome and don’t take it back.

Isaiah 26:3 NKJV
³ You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you.

Speaker: Billy Hornsby (Guest)

• Jesus is the greatest when it comes to love.
• Jesus is all about commitment.

Marriage is a commitment to:

• Solving problems together
• Loving each other sacrificially
• Enduring through struggles
• Growing old together
• Serving each other

Speaker: Pastor Rick Bezet

Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV)
¹⁶ This is what the LORD says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it.’

Romans 3:10 (NIV)
¹⁰ There is no one righteous, not even one.

Matthew 23:13-15 (NIV)
¹³ Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. ¹⁵ Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.

Matthew 9:36-38 (NIV)
³⁶ But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. ³⁷ Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. ³⁸ Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’

1 Corinthians 3:5-7 (NIV)
⁵ What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe-as the Lord has assigned to each his task. ⁶ I planted the seed, Apollos watered  it, but God made it grow. ⁷ So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

5 facts about Reaching others:

1. We can’t forget about the grace that let us in.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NIV)
¹⁹ Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. ²⁰ To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law so as to win those under the law. ²¹ To those not having the law I became like one not having the law, so as to win those not having the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. ²³ I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Philippians 3:12 (NIV)
¹² I do not claim that I have already succeeded or have already become perfect…All of us who are spiritually mature should have this same attitude.

Romans 14:1 (NIV)
¹ Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.

2. We must allow people to question our beliefs.

Mark 9:24 (NIV)
²⁴ I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!

3. Authenticity is Imperative.

Hebrews 10:22 (NIV)
²² Draw near to God with a sincere heart…

James 4:6 (NIV)
⁶ God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
¹⁴ If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Matthew 18:4 (NIV)
⁴ Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

2 Corinthians 4:2 (The Message)
² We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don’t maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don’t twist God’s Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see in the presence of God.

4. Don’t try to do what only God can do.

5. Lift up your eyes and see the harvest.

Speaker: Pastor Stovall Weems

Mission, Vision, Strategy

1. Our Mission

Mission speaks to our purpose.

• Our mission in life is to glorify God.

Matthew 22:37-39 NKJV
³⁷ Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV
³¹ So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

At Celebration Church, we are leading people to experience a God—first life.

Matthew 6:33 NKJV
³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

2. Our Vision

Vision speaks to how we are going to accomplish our mission.

Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV
¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

We accomplish our mission through five streams of church life:

1. Celebration Services
2. Personal Devotion
3. Small Groups
4. Serving Teams
5. Outreach

Colossians 1:28-29 NIV
²⁸ We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. ²⁹ To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

3. Our Strategy

Strategy speaks to the specific direction to accomplish our vision in the most effective way for this season.

Luke 12:56 NKJV
⁵⁶ Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?

• The strategy depends on the seasons of the church, the energy of the church, and the strength of the church.

• Everyone should have a Personal Life Mission which should have a seeking God component.

• Wherever there is growth, there is change. Wherever there is change, there is adaption.

2 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV
¹³ We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you.

2 Corinthians 3:17 NKJV
¹⁷ But “he who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”

• When fatigue becomes the norm instead of the exception, you need to re-evaluate your annointing.

Luke 19:42-44 NKJV
⁴² saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. ⁴³ For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, ⁴⁴ and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

Awakening: Total Life Challenge

Challenge # 4

This year, live your life for the glory of God. Become a partner in the mission God has for us.

1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV
³¹ Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Colossians 1:10 NKJV
¹⁰ that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

2 Corinthians 8:23 NKJV
²³ If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

The next 21 days…

Don’t lose your spiritual momentum!  2010 will be the best year ever if it is your best year spiritually!

I. Become a partner in the mission (today).
II. Continue to make God’s house a priority.
III. Continue in your personal devotions and form a personal devotion group with your family or friends.
IV. Join a small group, class, or serving team.
V. Be part of an outreach or missions trip this year. (Don’t miss next week!)

Speaker: Pastor Stovall Weems

Create some space for God.

Matthew 6:3-4 NKJV
³ But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

1. When God fills a space, creation happens.

2. When God fills a space, formation happens.

3. When God fills a space, revelation happens.

• When you need change in your life, if you make space for God, He will fill it.

4. When God fills a space, domination happens.

• In facing trials and tribulations, whatever storm you are facing, create space for God to fill.

• God gives us a principle or promise from His word. We need to give God the space to fulfill that promise.

5. When God fills a space, salvation happens.

John 1:1 NKJV
¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

6. When God fills a space, multiplication happens.

• When you give, you create a space for God to work.

7. When God fills a space, manifestation happens.

• Don’t try to fit God into your plans, let your plans follow God.

Matthew 6:6 NKJV
⁶ But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Matthew 6:17-18 NKJV
¹⁷ But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

When you pray…

When you fast…

When you give…

God is a filler not a forcer.

Awakening: Total Life Challenge

Challenge # 3

Create space for God in your life and finances.

I. Participate in this season of prayer and fasting.
II. Establish a time of personal devotion.
III. Give generously this year.