Sunday mornings message 24/11/24
Part four of the 'Enduring Well' series
citywestchurch YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijpyzUkb56k
Introduction
Why is it important to endure well in our Christian Walk? The truth is that no one is a mistake. God has a plan and purpose for each of us, and He has created us to do something valuable. Our lives have purpose, and we are called to fulfill God's will.
Key Verses
Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart. and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Ephesians 2:10: "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Isaiah 46:10: "I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please."
Leaders Note
Pick and choose what best works for your group. Have fun Jesus people!
The Power of the Spoken Word – Life and Death
Proverbs 18:21: "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat it's fruit"
Our words are powerful. God has given us the ability to speak life into situations and to declare His promises. Just as God spoke life into the world through creation in Gensis, we are also called to speak with faith and authority, bringing God's kingdom to earth. When we declare God's Word, it is more than just words – it's an expression of faith that activates His supernatural power.
The Lord, through the prophet Isaiah, uses the example of rain. He said in the same way that it falls from the sky and waters the ground, so that seeds yield fruit for the one who sowed them and bread to the eater, so is the Word that comes from the mouth of God. It will not return to Him empty but will accomplish everything He wants it to and will achieve the purpose for which He sent it. The Word of God is a messenger that cannot return until it has fulfilled His mission.
When you make a confession, it becomes a decree. It’s not just the words in and of themselves that make declaration powerful, as words alone hold no supernatural power. It’s the faith and authority attached to the words we speak, because we know our King who makes a decree powerful. It’s the source they come from, and the faith they are spoken in that adds the power. A decree is much more than words
Questions
God speaks to who we are called to be, not who we currently are. What decrees are there over people in the Bible, calling people into their God given purposes through the power of words?
(There are many examples, these are a few)
Abraham - Father of many nations
Moses - Mighty warrior and deliverer, while he was hiding from the law as a shepherd
David - a King while he was a child tending sheep in the fields.
What decrees have been spoken over your life?
Isaiah 55:11: "his words are like seeds that get planted and bear fruit – they always bear fruit, when you plant the seed of Gods work they product fruit."
God’s Word is like seed – it always produces fruit when it is planted in faith. When we speak God's Word, we align ourselves with His will and release His power into our lives.
God Has Called Us Qualified
Colossians 1:12-14: "and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins"
Through Jesus, we are qualified to receive all of God’s promises. It’s not based on our own strength but on the work Jesus did for us. Just as Gideon was called by God to lead, despite feeling unqualified, we too can walk in the authority and power that God has given us.
The world tries to put qualifications on us. But God has His own list of qualifications that He has given us:
We are free
We are not condemned
We are overcomers
We have a purpose
We have an eternity in Heaven
Question
What qualifications has God given you in your life?
The Power of "I Will Never" – The Opposite of Obedience
Jonah 1:10: This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so.)
Jonah ran away from God's call to Nineveh, saying, "I will never go there." This declaration of refusal led to chaos until Jonah chose obedience.
Our words have the power to shape our destiny. When we declare, "I will never," we can limit what God wants to do in our lives. Obedience to God’s call is not just for our benefit; it also impacts others. Jonah's obedience eventually led to the repentance of an entire city.
Questions
What are the "I will never" statements you’ve made in your life?
How can you replace them with declarations of faith and obedience?
Conclusion
Our words hold immense power – they can bring life or death. Just like Jonah, our obedience or disobedience affects not only our lives but also those around us. The challenges we face can become testimonies of God’s redemptive power. God’s Word is supernatural and when we speak in faith, it can change our circumstances and the lives of those we encounter.
Question
How can you use the power of your words this week to declare God’s promises and walk in obedience to His plan for your life?
Prayer
Ask God to help you speak words of life and declare His truth over your life.
Pray for the courage to obey God's call, even when it feels difficult.
Thank God for qualifying you and for His plan and purpose in your life.
Catch up with the Enduring Well series on YouTube:
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