I have had it in my spirit that the Lord is wanting to take us as a church to the next level. That will mean growth, excitement, change, more people, etc..

·         When God speaks a word to us individually or as a church, we often make the mistake and think that this is going to happen with out our cooperation.

1 Cor 3:9 For we are God's fellow-workers; ..

Matt 9:37 …The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

·         1 Cor 16:8-9
8 I will be staying here at Ephesus until the holiday of Pentecost, 9 for there is a wide open door for me to preach and teach here. So much is happening, but there are many enemies. (TLB)

1.      Going to the next level, will take determination

Heb 11:13-15, 24-25, 36-40

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

24By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (KJV)

2.      To go to the next level, you will have to let go of the past and only look forward! Don’t look back!

Heb 11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

Phil 3:13-14

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (KJV)

Heb 12:1-3

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

3.      Run the race, with Obedience. Obedience, one step after the other.

·         There are steps to fulfill the plans that God has for us. Obedience in the small things are important. If I tell you to do 5 things and you do 4 of them did you obey? Some would say yes, others would look at the percentages and decide, others would say no. Others would run to the mercy of God and then say I tried so, yes!

·         Is partial obedience disobedience? God does not judge by intentions.(I intended to run, do I get a prize?)

1 Cor 9:24-27

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.(being in the race is not the Goal, winning is) 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last for ever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.´(NIV)

Matt 21:28-31

28 "What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' 29 "'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. 30 "Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. 31 "Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. (NIV)

Josh 1:8 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.

4.      Submit yourself to God. Self control through God control.

Prov 25:28 A man without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down walls. (TLB)

·         We cannot follow our feelings and have victory in our lives. The devil will give us thoughts, cause bad circumstances, send temptations that affect our feelings, convince us that selfishness is OK.

·         The only way to control our emotions is to submit them..

James 4:6-10

6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (NIV)

Gal 6:9 And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't get discouraged and give up. (TLB)