Government Take-Over!!
January12, 2014
Where we’re headed today • Purpose:
• Momentary pause to “connect dots”
• Activate - Launch into action
• Process:
• Follow our trail since August
• What does it mean to ‘step out in faith’
• Develop action plans
• Payoff:
• Alignment and clarity
• We ‘move’
Our Trail…
Empowering Passionate Disciples of Christ
Equipping people to passionately
Live like Jesus lived,
Do what Jesus did, and
Advance His kingdom together.
August 4 - 2013
Our Trail….
Established the Framework
August 4 – Sept 1
1 Peter 1: 1-12
First Pass Study
Sept 15 – Oct 13
1 Peter 1: 13-25
Our Life
Set Your
Hope
Suffering &
Salvation
Our Life
October 20 – Nov 3
1 Peter 2: 1-13
Deeper Dive
November 10 – Dec 1
1 Peter 2: 13-17
Dec 8 – Jan 5
Empty Ourselves, Harbor Mindset,
True Disciples
Be Holy
God’s Life &
Government
Fear God
Love
One Another
SELF
Our Goal: Be more like Jesus
- Do what He did
- Live like He lived
- Advance His Kingdom
How do we do it?
Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth
14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of
everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources
he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.17 Then Christ will make his
home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love
and keep you strong.18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people
should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.19 May you experience
the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made
complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.20 Now all glory
to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish
infinitely more than we might ask or think.21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ
Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
Eph 3:14-21 (NLT)
A change in Government is a journey…
Revelation
?
Non-Believer
Salvation
Sanctification
Discipleship
The Fundamental Questions….
• Am I on the journey?
• Am I moving forward, is my government changing?
A bit about the journey….
6
So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little
while.7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though
your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will
bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.8 You
love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice
with a glorious, inexpressible joy.9 The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:6-9
(NLT)
Trials => Test Faith & Trust=> Joy, Praise, Glory, Salvation
Romans 4 – Faith of Abraham
Hebrews 11 – Faith hall of fame
5 lbs
No Weight
Faith Demonstration….
Area = 1324 sq in
43%
Area = 1890 sq in
“Young” Follower
20.5 in
24.5 in
Both experienced the same faith step (5lbs) which increased their God Gov’t (center hub)
by 43% …. But their lives may look very different from the outside!
43%
Area = 4429 sq in
Area = 6378 sq in
“Mature” Follower
37.5 in
45 in
Key Points
• The band is useless when it is in a relaxed state…. So are we
• The band is useless if it goes beyond it’s limits … So are we
• The Lord will never ask us to do more than we can handle
•
•
13
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.14 Phil 4:13-14 (NLT)
10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he
planned for us long ago. Eph 2:10 (NLT)
• A ‘faith step’ looks different depending on where you start
• We don’t define the faith step –that is the work of the Holy Spirit
• For one it might be ‘inviting someone to dinner’ for another it might be ‘sell everything
and move to the inner city’
• It is our part to be hungry, to be searching and to be OBEDIENT
24
But that does not mean we want to dominate you by telling you how to put your faith into practice. We
want to work together with you so you will be full of joy, for it is by your own faith that you stand firm 2
Cor 1:24 (NLT)
How do we start moving in more
faith?
• Study scripture:
• See examples
• Build confidence and trust in the Lord
• Inspiration and revelation
• Take an inventory:
• Where have I decided to be ‘relaxed’ and not under tension?
• Confess and repent!
• Where have I been ‘under tension’ and seen the Lord come through and bring great Joy through the
trials?
• Refresh and praise Him!
• Get my next assignment:
• Ask the Lord – daily, hourly… it is a mindset (harbor vs. open seas)
• Obey immediately!
• Ask someone to hold you accountable if that helps (discipleship)
• Repeat - for the rest of our lives!!!
Ready to start?
• Complete the Worksheet - NOW
• Inventory
• Next Assignment
• Come prepared to share next week –
• I know the Lord will make this an
assignment for someone 
• Read Scriptures:
• 1 Peter
• Danny’s list from last week
• Gospels – see how Jesus did it!
Let’s be on the Open Seas together!!!