THERE IS MORE (Expect for more)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRAYER + FASTING

WORSHIP NIGHT

YOUTH LUNCH — Pray over students Sunday!

INTRO

Today, I want to spend the next few moments and really LEAN IN to what God wants to speak to us.

My prayer — we would walk out of this room…

Greater View of who God is…

Stir up our heart and our faith so that we can see all that God has for us…

ACTS 3:1-10 (NLT) 1 Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money. 4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” 7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. 8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them. 9 All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. 10 When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded!

QUESTION ——

WHY IS IT SO HARD TO BELIEVE IN A GOD

WHO HAS MORE FOR YOU THAN YOU CAN EVER IMAGINE?

STORY

NOT BEING ABLE TO PLAY PEE-WEE FOOTBALL…

BUILD THE TENSION

Have you ever faced a disappointment in your life that has now stopped you from stepping out & trying something new?

I’M GRATEFUL YOU’RE HERE —— WE’RE GOING TO UNPACK AND SHOW YOU HOW ——

YOU ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE AND STEP INTO THE “MORE” THAT GOD HAS FOR YOU…

YOU’RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO HUSTLE FOR IT…

INVITATION ON THE TABLE: — BELIEVE HE HAS MORE FOR YOU!

AMAZING STORY — WHAT WE FIND IN THE PASSAGE: THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENING

HAVE YOU EVER RECEIVED SOMETHING FROM GOD THAT FELT OUT OF BLUE…

Weren’t praying for it...

Not even on the radar…

You can’t even take credit for it…

YOU DON’T EXPERIENCE THESE MOMENTS, IF YOU’RE CYNICAL…

You don’t experience these moments if you’re so JADED by what life has thrown your way so far… that you can’t see hope on the other side.

POWER IN THE TEXT

[SUMMARIZE THE TEXT]

LAME MAN (Since birth…)

DROPPED OFF AT TEMPLE (Normal day in the life…)

ASKING/BEGGING FOR MONEY…

THE ONLY EXPECTATION HE HAD WAS SOLELY BASED ON WHAT HE WAS ASKING PEOPLE FOR…

ASKS FOR MONEY —> EXPECTS TO RECEIVE MONEY

MAYBE IN YOUR LIFE YOU’VE COME TO A PLACE WHERE YOU ARE ONLY EXPECTING TO GET WHAT YOU’VE ASKED FOR….

Life has become Glorified Christmas List…

Life has become transactional…

ENCOURAGEMENT: You need to expect for more! Maybe you need to start believing God for more than what you’re asking for…

[BACK STORY]

THE MAN ASKS FOR MONEY…

Sometimes he gets money…

Sometimes he doesn’t…

ONE DAY, Peter/John shows up to just go pray… They’re not expecting a miracle to take place.

As their interaction begins, I love how Peter had the ability to LOOK BEYOND what the man was asking for… to see his real need!

HAVE YOU EVER HAD ANYONE ASK YOU “HOW YOU’RE DOING?”

BUT DEEP DOWN INSIDE YOU KINDA HOPED THAT SOMEBODY WOULD’VE LOOKED PAST WHAT YOU “SAID” — AND GO A LITTLE FURTHER… TO THINK ABOUT YOU — A LITTLE DEEPER

[STORY] MENTOR — CARLOS LOLLETT

WE ALL NEED SOMEONE TO SAY “LOOK AT US!”

IT’S ONE THING TO SEE A PERSON…

IT’S ANOTHER THING TO LOOK AT A PERSON…

ACTS 3:4-7 (NLT) 4 Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 The lame man looked… expecting some money. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ… get up and walk!” 7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand… the man’s feet and ankles were INSTANTLY healed…

ACTS 3:9-10 (NLT) 9 All the people saw him walking… 10 they were absolutely astounded! ← WHY?

BECAUSE AN UNSPOKEN DESIRE THAT WAS BURIED DEEP WITHIN THE MAN —— WAS ANSWERED.

[QUESTION FOR YOU] ARE YOU EXPECTING MORE?

PERHAPS, YOU’RE ONLY GETTING WHAT YOU’RE REQUESTING BECAUSE YOU’RE STRUGGLING TO BELIEVE GOD HAS MORE FOR YOU…

EPHESIANS 3:20 (NLT) 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us…

CAN YOU OPEN UP YOUR HEART TO THE POTENTIALITY THAT GOD HAS SO MUCH MORE FOR YOU THAN WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE.

THAT GOD WANTS TO DO SOMETHING FAR GREATER THAN WHAT YOU’VE ALREADY EXPERIENCED.

THAT GOD WILL INTERRUPT YOUR LIFE AND CRASH YOUR PLANS AND DO SOMETHING FAR GREATER THAT ISN’T EVEN ON YOUR RADAR ——— FOR ONE REASON ALONE:

BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU.

BECAUSE IT WILL BRING GLORY TO HIS NAME.

MAYBE YOU’VE JUST BEEN GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS OF LIFE —— EVERYTHING TRANSACTIONAL FOR YOU…

WOULD YOU BELIEVE GOD FOR MORE…

I THINK YOU NEED TO BE OPEN TO SURPRISES… OPEN TO “A-HA” MOMENTS… OPEN TO BEING SHOCKED BY GOD…

I BELIEVE HE IS READY TO GIVE SOMETHING TO YOU THAT YOU’RE NOT EVEN SMART ENOUGH TO ASK FOR…

COULD WE HOPE LIKE THAT?!

COULD WE THINK LIKE THAT?!

WHAT’S STOPPING YOU FROM THINKING LIKE THAT? ——— WHAT’S HINDERING YOU?

MAYBE IT’S A DISAPPOINTMENT YOU EXPERIENCED…

MAYBE IT’S FROM PAST REJECTION…

CAN WE DIG DEEP AND FIND OUT THE THING THAT IS IN YOU — THAT IS BLOCKING YOU — FROM EXPECTING MORE.

YOU’RE NOT GOING TO JUST GET WHAT YOU ASKED FOR… YOU’RE GOING TO GET ——SO ——— MUCH ——— MORE.