11/9/12 "iCrisis"

“iCrisis”

-by Trevor L. Cooper

11/09/12

• “Who am I? Why am I here? What do I do now?”
• These are all questions we ask ourselves and God from times to time.
• Maybe you feel like you're bouncing along from step to step, feeling like nothing could break your stride, and then BAM! Semi-Truck full of problems.
• Everything you thought about yourself, your personality, your hopes, your fears, everything seems lost.
• You have an (title of message), otherwise known as an identity crisis.
• Last week we talked about giving up to God, not on Him.
• Well today we are going to find out who you are, now that you've spent some time giving up some things in your life that you don't need.
• By the way, don't be alarmed if you can't find some of the verses I give you today, I had to look them up in the front of my Bible too.
• Let's read about a few examples of an “iCrisis”.
• 2 Kings 2:12-14 “12 Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress. 13 Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River. 14 He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried out, 'Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?' Then the river divided, and Elisha went across.”
• Elijah gets taken to Heaven, Elisha has an “iCrisis”, and cries out “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?”
• Many people have read this as a calm request for strength. I beg to differ...
• If you read closely, Elisha says a number of times, earlier on in the chapter, how much he is dedicated to his master Elijah. He loves him like a father, but now it's time for Elijah to go.
• God takes “Jah” but leaves “Sha”.
• And Elisha tears his robes and cries out in distress it says.
• This doesn't seem very peaceful to me, in fact I'd bet Elisha was feeling pretty down in that moment. But watch this...
• Elisha picks up his master's cloak and strikes the water, maybe a little angry?“...Then the river divided...” just like Elijah had done moments earlier, and Elisha goes across.
• Do you think God was trying to tell Elisha that He was still with him?
• Just like all the verses we read last week on how God never leaves us.
• Let's read another example:
• Exodus 3:11-12,14 “11 But Moses protested to God, 'Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?' 12 God answered, 'I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.' 14 God replied to Moses, 'I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.'”
• Moses is arguing with a burning bush, that is not burning, and losing!
• God tells Moe to go to Egypt, free the Israelites, and lead them.
• Moe tells God “Who am I?”, God answers “I'll be with you”.
• Moe asks mo' questions, God answers.
• Moe was having an “iCry” session with God.
• I so glad we have never tried to offer excuses to God when He asks us to do something.
• Isn't it funny that when God gives us an epiphany, we give Him our inadequacy.
• We think that we are useless, but I would submit to you today to reconsider your worth to God.
• Let's just see how God treats His children:
• Zephaniah 3:15-17 “15 For the Lord will remove his hand of judgment and will disperse the armies of your enemy. And the Lord himself, the King of Israel, will live among you! At last your troubles will be over, and you will never again fear disaster. 16 On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be, 'Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid! 17 For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.'”
• Remember that when God uses the word Zion, it means the church, past, present, and future.
• Let's see how much God desires His children:
• Genesis 1:26 “26 Then God said, 'Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.'”
• And just for fun, let's see how carefully God made His children:
• Genesis 2:7 “7 Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.”
• Cheer up! He delights in you! He calms your fears! He rejoices over you!
• He gathered together dust and personally breathed life into you, and gave you reign over the Earth.
• But maybe you're not yet convinced? Still feel like you aren't valued? Or maybe you think that God has a lesser view of you?
• Ephesians 2:10 “10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things (or works) he planned for us long ago.”
• Ephesians 4:1 “1 Therefore I, (Paul) a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.”
• You are His masterpiece! He spoke everything into creation except you! You were handmade!
• Therefore, walk worthy, head held high that Daddy really cares about you.
• If you asked Katy Perry “What is the greatest thing you've ever done?”, she might say when she won her first Grammy. If you ask Martin Scorsese, he might say when he won his first Oscar. If you ask Bill Gates, he might say when he founded Microsoft.
• But if you asked God “What is the greatest thing you've ever done?” He would undoubtedly answer “Baby, I'm looking at it!” Amen and Hallelujah!!!
• “Okay, God thinks I'm awesome, so how do I walk worthy?”

• Step 1: “Don't seek worldly ways.”
• Romans 12:2 “2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

• Step 2: “Don't keep the garbage.”
• Psalms 1:1 “1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.”

• Step 3: “Don't be discontent.”
• Haggai 1:5-7 “5 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! 6 You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes! 7 'This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you!'”

• Step 4: “Don't eat expired food.”
• John 6:35 “35 Jesus replied, 'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'”

• Step 5: “Do EVERYTHING for God.”
• 1 Corinthians 10:31 “31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. ”

• Have you ever heard the phrase “Actions speak louder than words”?
• We are known by our actions and our words, whether famous or infamous.
• 2 Corinthians 3:3-6 “3 Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This 'letter' is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts. 4 We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. 5 It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. 6 He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.”
• Our words and actions are writing “letters” on peoples hearts.
• Are they Good? Bad? Or Ugly?
• I picture my life as a tree, either growing, dying, or dead.
• If a tree is dead, it doesn't produce any fruit.
• If a tree is dying, it doesn't produce bad fruit.
• If a tree is growing... Do you see where I'm going with this?
• And I'm not the first person to think this either...
• Matthew 12:33 “33 'A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad.'”
• Jesus said it best, “If you are good, your fruit will be good.”
• Fruit is the visible and tangible production of the life of a tree.
• Likewise, our actions and words are the visible and tangible production of our lives.
• I want mine to not only be good, but I want them to be Godly.
• “How do I make a change? I know what is wrong, how do I fix my 'iCrisis'?”
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”
• Spend some time with God, pray, read His Word, praise and worship Him, go to church, keep coming to A.U.D.I.O. (I'm pretty sure that last one is in the Bible).
• But isn't it interesting that in Ephesians 2:10 and 2 Timothy 3:17 both verses mention

“Good Work(s)”

• “Who am I?” Answer: God's Masterpiece!
• “Why am I here?” Answer: To do good works!
• “What do I do now?” Answer: SERVE!!!
• Serve God. Show yourself approved by your good works. Be a blessing to other people. Find the hurting and love them. Go into the world and preach the Gospel.
• Whatever God sends you to do, be happy and go forth in doing “good works”.
• Remember like I told you last week, “Are you gonna be a Samuel, or a Jonah?”
• Let's pray...
• Father, I pray that you remind each of us who we are in you Lord. That we will bear good fruits, through our actions and words God. Let us be “A light to the world” like your word says. We want to lead others, so they may follow you Jesus. All for Your Glory, in Jesus name, Amen.

11/2/12 "It's Never Too Late To Give Up..."

“It's Never Too Late To Give Up...”

-by Trevor L. Cooper

11/02/12

• Welcome to the first Alphas Unleashed: Discipleship, Intimacy, Outreach Experience. I'm here today to tell you (title of message), bear with me, it's not what you think.
• Why did we start A.U.D.I.O.?
• Matthew 28:19-20 “19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” NLT
• My question for you today: “Are you gonna be a Samuel, or a Jonah?”
• 1 Samuel 3:4-6,10 “4-5 Then God called out, 'Samuel, Samuel!' Samuel answered, 'Yes? I'm here.' Then he ran to Eli saying, 'I heard you call. Here I am.' Eli said, 'I didn't call you. Go back to bed.' And so he did. 6-7 God called again, 'Samuel, Samuel!' Samuel got up and went to Eli, 'I heard you call. Here I am.' Again Eli said, 'Son, I didn't call you. Go back to bed.' (This all happened before Samuel knew God for himself. It was before the revelation of God had been given to him personally.) 10 Then God came and stood before him exactly as before, calling out, 'Samuel! Samuel!' Samuel answered, 'Speak. I'm your servant, ready to listen.'” MSG
• So we have this kid Sammy, he hears someone calling him, he runs to his master Eli, who says “Wasn't me”. This happens three times, until Eli finally tells Sammy to “Holla Back”, and he does, and look what he says “Speak. I'm your servant, ready to listen.”
• Isn't it interesting that God comes to this kid, before Sammy even knew who God is personally. But God chooses him personally to do something.
• Well God doesn't have a lot of happy things to say to Sammy. See Eli's kids had been talking some smack about God, and Eli didn't tell them to shut up, and now they were in trouble.
• But that's a story for another day, you should read it sometime.
• Look at Sammy obedience, he hears God call him, and without hesitation, he responds with “I'm listening” and nothing else, no doubt, no hesitation.
• Notice that this was the third time God called to him. I wonder if anyone here today has had God calling to them, and maybe they didn't know it was Him, or maybe they wanted to make sure, so they kept asking everyone else. Instead of just saying “I'm listening”.
• Yet God still gave Sammy another chance to hear Him. Sometimes I think we get discouraged because we hear God speak, and we question, or doubt, or disobey. And we think that we missed our only chance to be used by God. But He is a God of second chances.
• Let's see a similar but vastly different story, with the same ending.
• Jonah 1:2-3 “2 'Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.' 3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.” NIV
• Once again, God says “I've got some bad news, I want you to pass it on.” Just like Samuel, but now we have this Jonah joker who goes “NO, NO, lalalala, I can't hear you!” like a 2 year old.
• Well, Jonah ends up in pretty bad shape. He gets thrown off the boat, eaten by a big fish, vomited out... and then does what he was told to do in the first place.
• Has this ever happened to you? You're minding your own business, then someone asks you to do something, and no matter how much you fight it, you do what they ask anyway.
• Maybe you are a little too much like Jonah, and not enough like Samuel.
• Have obedience, don't play around in disobedience or delayed-obedience.
• And BTW God doesn't just ask you to give bad news, He doesn't just come with bad news. This was O.G. God, or O.T. (Old Testament) God, angry, loving, vengeful, and merciful. This was under the law of Moses, but today we have the new covenant of Jesus Christ.
• God doesn't call you to do bad, but he does call you to be a light to the world. And sometimes that means that you have to do something that is uncomfortable to you. But are you gonna be...?
• John 3:16-17 “16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.” AMP
• I grew up hearing that, like many of us, but I never really got it, like many of us.
• I've been a “Jonah” before; I've been:
• Addicted to Meth, Cocaine, Alcohol, Cigarettes, Sex, Porn
• Afflicted with Heartbreak, Cancer, Lust, Envy, Anger, Poor Self-Esteem/Image
• I was living to die, waking up every morning living every week as one big day that ends in Y(why), as in “Why? Why do I keep going? Why am I here?”
• I was earning exactly what I was working for.
• Romans 6:23,22,15 “23 The wages that sin pays are death, but God’s gift is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and become slaves to God, you have the consequence of a holy life, and the outcome is eternal life. 15 So what? Should we sin because we aren’t under Law but under grace? Absolutely not!” CEB
• Verse 22 “...You have been set free from sin and slaves to God...” So Jesus died for me, not to condemn me, but to save me. Not so I would get the sin and death that I earned, but be set free from it. Not so I could continue to sin more, but so I would follow Him. “...you have the consequence of a holy life, and the outcome is eternal life.”
• Verse 15 “So what?...” I love the cynical tone there, but there is also a tone of desperation for an answer, “...Should we sin because we aren't under the Law but under grace? Absolutely not!”, the NIV says “By no means!”, the NLT says “Of course not!”, the KJV says “God forbid!”.
• Are you getting what I'm saying today? You are no longer tied to your sins, let them go, and love God. “I'm just being myself” some might say, and to that I'd reply “No, you're being who you were” and if you've never known the love of my best friend and Father, I'd say “Aren't you tired of the same old self you've been?”, we'll have a chance to pray with you at the end.
• But God isn't even the one who makes you feel bad about your sins. Read along with me...
• Romans 8:1-2 “1 There is no condemnation now for those who live in union with Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit, which brings us life in union with Christ Jesus, has set me free from the law of sin and death.” GNT
• There is no condemnation. Period! Not from the devil, not from your friends, not your boss.
• I love where it says “...has set me free...” so if I'm in union with Jesus, and I've made Him Lord of my life, (Romans 10:9-10) nobody can/will be able to condemn me of my sins, and God sent His Holy Spirit to convict me, not of my sins, but of the righteousness I have in Him!
• Just don't try that in the next time you get in an argument!
• I though it was God who made me feel bad about my sins. And that as a result, He turned His back on me.
• So every time I prayed for forgiveness I'd go on and on trying to get God to hear me out.
• Turn with me in your Bibles and watch this amazing revelation God wants somebody to hear.
• Deuteronomy 31:6,8; Joshua 1:5; and Hebrews 13:5-6; say Amen when you're there.
• Deuteronomy 31:6,8 “6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. 8 And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” NKJV
• Joshua 1:5 “5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” KJV
• Hebrews 13:5-6 “5 Don’t love money. Be happy with what you have because God has said, 'I will never abandon you or leave you.' 6 So we can confidently say,'The Lord is my helper. I will not be afraid. What can mortals do to me?'” GWT
• I thought God turned His back on me because of my sins. I thought He didn't miraculously heal me cause He was angry, or had forgotten about me. WRONG!
• Because of some bad teaching I heard from a friend, I thought God was mad at me for my past. WRONG AGAIN!
• He is my all-knowing, all-powerful, always-there, all-loving Father who just wanted me to give up!
• Not on Him, but to Him!
• 1 Peter 5:7 “7 casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you.” ASV
• I would give up on Him, because I thought He gave up on me a long time ago.WRONG x3!!!
• Is there anyone here today who needs to give up?
• Cast your cares, but then have faith that he is taking care of it! If God doesn't forget about you, then He doesn't forget about what you're going through. But He has forgotten your sins.
• Trust that He will do/is doing/has done what you prayed for.
• Proverbs 3:5-6 “5 Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” WEB
• John 14:14 “14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” TLV
• It's a one time prayer request, then we have to believe in Him, the reason why we pray for something more than once is to remind ourselves, not God. He doesn't need us nagging Him.
• But we gotta start bringing Him into every part of our lives! During breakfast, driving to work, while at work, eating lunch, running errands, going to school, raising kids, relaxing at home, making dinner, when we go to sleep, and especially when we wake up tomorrow.
• Serving with God is not a one time thing, it's daily. Everyday, step-by-step, we walk with God, in the Holy Spirit, following Jesus.
• I love this picture of our Abba Father:
• “He is like a Father teaching His infant child to walk for the first time. Arms wide open, out-stretched, saying 'Come to me, walk to Daddy, I'm right here, I have everything you want, all the answers you need!'”
• But maybe you're like me. You fell down a few times, maybe a few to many times to you. And you got hurt, you scraped your knee, and now you're focusing on your injury. Maybe it was a friend said something about you, maybe your boyfriend mistreated you, maybe a class-mate insulted your work. And now you're focusing on that offense, consumed by those thoughts.
• Maybe you'd say today, “You don't know what I've been through, I'm not perfect.” And to that I'd say, “Neither am I! But that's okay, He IS!”
• Philippians 3:12-15 “12 I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize. 13 My friends, I don't feel I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead. 14 I run toward the goal, so I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done. 15 All of us who are mature should think in this same way. And if any of you think differently, God will make it clear to you.” CEV
• Paul says to the people in Philly, “...I am not perfect...” it's not about what we see, but what God sees in us! That you are perfect in His eyes, spotless, blameless, without blemish.
• You fell down? Get back up, keep going, He is still there, and He still wants you!
• The best part is you don't even have to go the whole way! You don't have to make the journey by yourself! Read with me:
• James 4:8 “8 Come near to God, and God will come near to you. You sinners, clean sin out of your lives. You who are trying to follow God and the world at the same time, make your thinking pure.” NCV
• Take that first step, make the leap, choose to stand up, “get that dirt off ya shoulder”, God WILL come to you, Daddy's gonna be there, trust, believe, and give up!!!
• I heard someone pray that they wanted to get out of God's way, when really they wanted to get out of their own way. I like to say it “Get out of your way, and get into Yahweh.”
• You can't stop God from doing anything that He wants to do, just like Jonah. But you can ask for a change of plans like Moses, or Joshua, or Elijah, or any number of examples in which people were obedient to God, and got what they wanted.
• “Are you gonna be a Samuel, or a Jonah?” I'd rather be like Samuel, not Jonah. I'd rather be unquestioningly obedient to God's will, then try and fight Him every step of the way.
• Give God the controls of your life, and watch how things will begin to change in it.
• Maybe you've never known Him, or maybe you've fallen down, I'm here today to tell you “It's never too late to give up... To God, not on Him.”
• Like I said earlier in Romans, let's read together now
• Romans 10:9-10 “9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” ESV
• If you would like to give up right now, I just wanna urge you to raise your hand, and by that you are saying “Yes Pastor, pray with me”.
• It's real easy just repeat after me:
• “Jesus, come into my heart, be Lord of my life, live in me. I believe you died and rose again. Come to me, as I come to you God. Forgive me of my sins, I want to come home, and live with you. In Jesus name, Amen.”
• Welcome to the family, I'm so glad you are here, and I thank God for you today.
• I love you, God loves you, now go and be blessed in all you do!

Version Abbreviations:

NLT=New Living Translation; MSG=The Message; NIV=New International Version; AMP=Amplified Bible; CEB=Common English Bible; GNT=Good News Translation; NKJV=New King James Version; KJV=King James Version; GWT=GOD'S WORD Translation; ASV=American Standard Version; WEB=World English Bible; TLV=Tree of Life Bible; CEV=Contemporary English Version; NCV= New Century Version; ESV=English Standard Version