Beyond Your Wildest Dreams
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what
God has prepared for those who love him"
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)
I. In order to understand our future we must understand our past.
A. Our past influences our future.II. In order to understand our past we must trust God.
“Then Jacob called together all his sons and said, "Gather around me, and I will tell you what is going to happen to you in the days to come." Genesis 49:1 (NLT)B. Our past can be a reminder of God's blessings.
“After this happened Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named the stone Ebenezer, saying, "The Lord has helped us to this point." 1 Samuel 7:12 (NCV)C. The past is full of helpful lessons for today.
“All these events happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us, who live at the time when this age is drawing to a close.” 1 Corinthians 10:11 (NLT)
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NCV)III. Only then we can accept God’s plan.
A. God’s plan requires our submission to him.
“Then the people answered Joshua, "Anything you command us to do, we will do. Any place you send us, we will go.” Joshua 1:16 (NCV)B. God's plan is for our eternal benefit.
“No, the wisdom we speak of is the secret wisdom of God, which was hidden in former times, though he made it for our benefit before the world began.” 1 Corinthians 2:7 (NLT)
C. God's plan cannot be understood apart from Christ.
“God's secret plan has now been revealed to us; it is a plan centered on Christ, designed long ago according to his good pleasure. And this is his plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ - everything in heaven and on earth.” Eph. 1:9-10 (NLT)
Take My Hand
Matthew 14:22-32
Personal invitation (Matthew 14:29)
Got Faith?
Matthew 17:14-27
I. How much faith is enough?
Faith vs. function.
Not how much
but who (vs. 20)
I Jn. 5:14-15
II. Why we can put our faith in Jesus:
1) He would die
for us. (vs. 22-23)
Rom. 5:7-8
2) He is the son of God (vs. 24-27)
Who gives us freedom.
(Rom. 6:6-7, Jn. 8:36)
Who makes us family.
(vs 26-28, Gal 4:4-7)
III. The result of faith:
A life of service. (vs. 27, I Cor. 8:13)