"Interruption or Invitation?"
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· 67 viewsWe often have a fear of doing what God is asking us to do. How can we break that mentality and be obedient to what He is calling us to do?
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FEAR OF WHAT GOD IS ASKING ME TO DO
: Fear Not: Fear of What People Think about Me vs. what God thinks.
See someone coming know going to ask you to do something. Avoid.
We see God that way: Fear of what God is asking me to do. We don’t want to surrender everything in our life to God because He:
Might send to Africa, Give up something, Marry someone ugly.
“Fear Not” is mentioned 365 times in scripture. Coincidence? Nope! We need to remind ourselves every day of the year to fear not!
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Fear is not the opposite or absence of faith! Fear is faith just faith in the wrong things and worst case scenario! What if’s.
Lose my job? Economy falls apart? Spouse cheats? Cancer?
Never marry. Marry a jerk? Marry a jerk and my kids look like him?
Charity traveling up to PA in ice storm and calls me during chapel-she got in an accident and how am I going to raise the kids on my own? How am I going to get our son home?
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
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WHY ARE WE AFRAID OF GOD’S PLANS?
1) GOD’S INTERRUPTIONS ARE OFTEN INCONVENIENT.
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” 29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. NLT
Bald naked babies playing a harp on a cloud
Fierce creatures obey God—destroy God’s enemy; a nation at God’s command & protect child in harms way or in a bad situation.
Mary is freaked out!
Mary’s engaged to be married and excited. (13-16 yrs old)
Amped up for what’s to come: Searching on Pinterest looking for ideas for the wedding, writing her new last name, Brainstorming names for kid.
God interrupts—inconvenient for Mary and how she had her future mapped out.
What we call interruptions, God calls invitations.
God interrupts our plans with an invitation for something better.
God interrupted Moses—burning bush, Jonah—fish, Saul—light.
We often shake off His invitations because they are interruptions to us.
Ex. of stories: Invites you to church/message speaks to you, Friend in hospital and you speak life to them and maybe even someone else, Need at church and signed up for a ministry and begin to look forward to participating in the ministry you were so quick to excuse yourself from.
Friday working on cleaning house for my wife after a long trip and a knock on the door occurs. Didn’t want to answer. Focused on getting work done. Met a young man and had an opportunity to talk to him about his life, etc.
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30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!
Fear not = don’t be afraid (in other translations)
How many of you want favor with God?
I’m Mary—Wedding reality show yes to the dress & wedding paid for!
The first reason we are afraid of God’s plans is:
God’s interruptions are often inconvenient. Secondly,
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2) GOD’S PURPOSE IS OFTEN DIFFERENT THAN YOUR PLANS.
31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
Emotions swinging back and forth
Wow—I’m going to give birth to the son of God
What are they going to say about me? (Sin punished by death)
What’s Joseph going to think?
Just as the heavens are higher than earth—my ways higher!
Rocked my world with Linkin/special needs=have more patience and compassion
Child with special needs * Lose job * Thought you would marry
Moved from pastoring in WV (nothing wrong; planned on not moving from here) to MTCOTS in Franklin=being able to particpate in seeing God transform men’s lives in front of me day by day
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34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
Not just impossible—absurd!
I haven’t played basketball since college—Win NBA Championship!
Inconceivable—Princess Bride
Don’t understand. How will my marriage make it? Heal from wounds? How will we pay the bills? Survive this storm?
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35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God…37 For nothing is impossible with God.” , NLT
God will ask you to attempt something you couldn’t do so you can believe God to do it.
Can you change spouse? Can God change spouse?
Can you heal loved one? Can God heal your loved one?
Can you save your unsaved loved one? Can God save your unsaved loved one?
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WHAT IS GOD ASKING YOU TO DO OR BELIEVE?
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Start a ministry, Go back to college, Reach out to someone
Break up with person, Try to mend relationship with dad
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WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?
Remember:
OUTCOME IS GOD’S RESPONSIBILITY. OBEDIENCE IS YOURS.
Moving to NC from WV/find house/ministry is growing in our life as pastors and doors are opening
The angel puts this opportunity in front of Mary and this is how she responds:
Foster, Life Group, Give something
38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” NLT
Remember who I am and whose I am.
Because I belong to God; I can trust God with the outcome.
Prayer:
Are you afraid of the plans God has for you?
God’s interruptions are often inconvenient.
2) GOD’S PURPOSE IS OFTEN DIFFERENT THAN YOUR PLANS
Is God interrupting your plans? Are you feeling inconvenienced?
Will you commit to pray and obey?
Ask: What are you leading me to do and believe?
Are you more concerned with your plans than God’s purpose being fulfilled in your life?