GROUNDED AND GROWING, CUP OVERFLOWING (Oh, Wouldn't That Be Great?!) --Isaiah 35
May 11, 2015
GROUNDED AND GROWING,
CUP OVERFLOWING(Oh, Wouldn't That Be
Great?!)--Isaiah 35
Enough of this living on crumbs, always thirsty, feeling alone!
Isaiah 35(Message Bible)
Wilderness and desert will sing joyously,the badlands will celebrate and flower—Like the crocus in spring, [2] bursting into blossom, a symphony of song and color.Mountain glories of Lebanon—a gift.Awesome Carmel, stunning Sharon—gifts.God's resplendent glory, fully on display.God awesome, God majestic. [3] Energize the limp hands,strengthen the rubbery knees.
Isaiah 35 (continued)
[4] Tell fearful souls,"Courage! Take heart! God is here, right here,on his way to put things right And redress all wrongs. He's on his way! He'll save you!" [5] Blind eyes will be opened,deaf ears unstopped, [6] Lame men and women will leap like deer,the voiceless break into song.Springs of water will burst out in the wilderness,streams flow in the desert.
Isaiah 35 (continued)
[7] Hot sands will become a cool oasis,thirsty ground a splashing fountain.Even lowly jackals will have water to drink,and barren grasslands flourish richly. [8] There will be a highway called the Holy Road.No one rude or rebelliousis permitted on this road.It's for God's people exclusively—impossible to get lost on this road.Not even fools can get lost on it. [9] No lions on this road,no dangerous wild animals—
TAKE HOME
• There's no getting around it, we all want victory, joy and God doing a work of wonder in our midst.
• There's no getting around it, we all want victory, joy and God doing a work of wonder in our midst.
• Enough of this living on a crumb, always thirsty, feeling alone and praying to a closed up heaven.
• Enough of this living on a crumb, always thirsty, feeling alone and praying to a closed up heaven.
• God is not so far away, but I want him here in my life. Yes I long for vitality, punch and a cup overflowing with joy. Bring it on!
• God is not so far away, but I want him here in my life. Yes I long for vitality, punch and a cup overflowing with joy. Bring it on!
Lord, I want to Lord, I want to please you and please you and serve you. Please serve you. Please shape me with your shape me with your word and fill me word and fill me with your Spirit that with your Spirit that I may know your joy I may know your joy and be your and be your empowered servantempowered servant
Lord, I want to Lord, I want to please you and please you and serve you. Please serve you. Please shape me with your shape me with your word and fill me word and fill me with your Spirit that with your Spirit that I may know your joy I may know your joy and be your and be your empowered servantempowered servant
Decision
ANNOUNCEMENTSANNOUNCEMENTSANNOUNCEMENTSANNOUNCEMENTS
Worship in SongWorship in SongWorship in SongWorship in Song
Enough of this living on crumbs, always thirsty, feeling alone!
IT'S A COMMON LONGING AND CRY OF OUR HEARTS. TO BE FILLED WITH
GOD AND LIVING IN VICTORY
IT'S A COMMON LONGING AND CRY OF OUR HEARTS. TO BE FILLED WITH
GOD AND LIVING IN VICTORY
Romans 7 is too often our theme song:
"I have discovered this principle of life-that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. Oh what a miserable person I am. Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?" ---The Apostle Paul
David (despite being King of the land) knew this kind of defeat that had him knock, knock, knocking on Heaven's Door:
"Oh, give me back my joy again; You have broken me-Now let me rejoice.Create in me a clean heart, O God.Renew a loyal spirit in me. Don't banish me from your presence, And don't take your Holy Spirit from me.Restore to me the joy of your salvationAnd Make me willing to obey you.“--Psalm 51: 8-12
HOW MANY ARE LAUGHING ON THE OUTSIDE BUT CRYING ON THE INSIDE?
ARE YOU?
HOW MANY ARE LAUGHING ON THE OUTSIDE BUT CRYING ON THE INSIDE?
ARE YOU?
YET GOD'S PROMISES AWAIT THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO FOLLOW HIS
LEAD
YET GOD'S PROMISES AWAIT THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO FOLLOW HIS
LEAD
PSALM 1 is all about the joy and fruitfulness
that awaits the righteous:
PSALM 1 is all about the joy and fruitfulness
that awaits the righteous:
Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners or join in with mockers.
But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.
A WORLDWIDE EVENT!CELEBRATED BY ALL OF
GOD’S PEOPLE
Confession:I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus is my Lord Jesus is my Lord and Savoir.and Savoir.
Worship in SongWorship in SongWorship in SongWorship in Song
OBEDIENCE TO GOD IS A PERSONAL MATTER, BUT THERE IS MORE JOY AND GREATER RESULTS WHEN WE WALK AS
A COUPLE, A TRIO, A CLUSTER. A CHURCH
OBEDIENCE TO GOD IS A PERSONAL MATTER, BUT THERE IS MORE JOY AND GREATER RESULTS WHEN WE WALK AS
A COUPLE, A TRIO, A CLUSTER. A CHURCH
A GRAND EXPERIMENT! A BUNCH OF US STARTING A NEW OR RENEWED
JOURNEY TOGETHER, HAND IN HAND
A GRAND EXPERIMENT! A BUNCH OF US STARTING A NEW OR RENEWED
JOURNEY TOGETHER, HAND IN HAND
• Intentional Submission to God's Leading.• Immersion in God's Word.• Commitment to God's People.• Conversations with God.• Participation in Christ's mission.
HIS LEADING
"O Lord, I give my life to you.I trust in you, O God!Show me the right path, O Lord;Point out the road for me to follow.Lead me by your truth and teach meFor you are the God who saves me.All day I will put my hope in you."--Psalm 25: 1-5
HIS WORD
"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. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work."--II Timothy 3: 16, 17
HIS PEOPLE
"Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." --Hebrews 10:24, 25
CONVERSATIONS
"Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God's mysterious plan." --Ephesians 6: 18, 19
PARTICIPATION"And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are God's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead: 'Come back to God!'--II Corinthians 5: 19,20
VISUALIZE… our people, congregation, community of faith, walking shoulder to shoulder as we follow the Good Shepherd.
ENERGIZED BY HIS WORD. We are grazing on his Word and putting on spiritual muscle.
STRENGTHENED BY OUR WARM CONNECTION. Nobody is alone. We are aware of each other's needs. No stragglers.
SPIRITUAL CONTACT.We are all on the line to God on a regular basis. Jesus is on the Main Line.
OUR MISSION IS CLEAR! We are beggars showing other beggars where there is bread!
Come Holy Spirit! Walk with us Heavenly Father! Join us on the Journey Blessed Jesus!
Let our light so shine that we will glorify our Father in Heaven!
Worship in SongWorship in SongWorship in SongWorship in Song
OFFERING
The widow who taught us
thankfulness.
Worship in SongWorship in SongWorship in SongWorship in Song
PRAYER & PRAISE
TAKE HOME
• There's no getting around it, we all want victory, joy and God doing a work of wonder in our midst.
• There's no getting around it, we all want victory, joy and God doing a work of wonder in our midst.
• Enough of this living on a crumb, always thirsty, feeling alone and praying to a closed up heaven.
• Enough of this living on a crumb, always thirsty, feeling alone and praying to a closed up heaven.
• God is not so far away, but I want him here in my life. Yes I long for vitality, punch and a cup overflowing with joy. Bring it on!
• God is not so far away, but I want him here in my life. Yes I long for vitality, punch and a cup overflowing with joy. Bring it on!
Lord, I want to Lord, I want to please you and please you and serve you. Please serve you. Please shape me with your shape me with your word and fill me word and fill me with your Spirit that with your Spirit that I may know your joy I may know your joy and be your and be your empowered servantempowered servant
Lord, I want to Lord, I want to please you and please you and serve you. Please serve you. Please shape me with your shape me with your word and fill me word and fill me with your Spirit that with your Spirit that I may know your joy I may know your joy and be your and be your empowered servantempowered servant
Decision
GO AND TOUCH THE WORLD