Walk the talk, talk the walk (18 September 2015)

Pastor Benjamin (Genrev service)

Whatever u're holding too tightly in ur hands (dreams, hopes, desires, disillusions) give it to the Lord to fulfil. Let Him pour in you fresh dreams, anointings & hope directed of Him. Chase Jesus

Sermon proper

Part 1 Walk the talk

Romans 12:1-2 (msg)
God helping me even on weekdays
Walking out the talk doesn't depend on ourselves. The Lord is doing it through us.
God helps us in everything we do, even the mundane things

We all want to do things for God. But the best thing we can do for Him is really the opposite - to receive/embrace what He has done for us. 

Don't look at yourself and ask whether you've done this or that

It's actually about asking whether Christ has done this and that for us

That's how we begin to walk it out - the power comes from first resting and receiving.

It's tempting to look at our situations in the natural. That's flesh.
It takes faith to look to the Lord when circumstances are opposite to what we're believing

God brings the best out of us but the process can be painful and frightening.
We like to hold on to something to feel more secured. Like roller coaster.
But when God is bringing you to another level, you have to let go. & we don't want to bcos we want to be in control.

Let God have it, don't take it back.

2 Cor 5:7 We walk by faith not by sight
How about feelings?

Walking by faith doesn't mean we won't feel feelings.

We will feel feelings of insecurity and emotions, but that doesn't mean we go by feelings either.
We think feelings will fade with maturity but feelings never grow weaker.

We are easily persuaded by feelings. But instead we should be persuaded by faith.

Everyday begins from the secret place with the Lord. Where's that?

Matt 14:22-33
He went to the mountain to pray. Alone.
To be alone is an art. Doesn't mean you feel lonely.

Be alone with the Father. Because that's the time to receive from the Father.

Set aside time with the Lord when you're not cluttered with thoughts, conversations etc

Notice that after the quiet time, Jesus walked on water

We're empowered in our quiet times with the Lord to then walk life well!

Once a week on Sunday is not enough
Common theme for all the testimonies we hear = alot of time is spent with Jesus before those testimonies come about. Eg. prayer, tongues

Before Jesus walked on water, He knew where the disciples were to walk towards them.
4th watch = at the darkest time of the night

Jesus will walk to me in my storm bcos His eyes are on me especially in the darkest moment

When God begins to appear / work in our lives, we may not always recognise that it's God. We may even mistake it as the devil.

Don't be in a rush to conclude. Give the matter enough time.

Common characteristics if it's God:
1) There will be supernatural enabling.

You will be very bold and very strong. You will still have feelings but won't be overwhelmed by them.

Whatever is of God will have no fear in it. There will always be comfort. (Isaiah 41:10)

2) There will be supernatural resources and abilities to back you up.

What if you share the gospel with others and they don't get saved? That's fine, it's the HS's job to convict the person, not yours.

When was Peter afraid? When he saw the wind

He heard the Lord say come, then he walked. He didn't see

But when his eyes saw the wind, he was afraid.

Don't set ur eyes on the wind / storms of life. They will come and go.

V31 Jesus immediately saved him first, then mini rebuke, "Why so little faith?" 

But know that Jesus saves immediately!

V32 when Jesus got into the boat, the storm ceased

Invite Jesus into your boat/life everyday because He's the storm stiller and will work everything out for your good

V23 backtrack, the start of walking on water is Jesus being in the mountain by Himself

Romans 12:1-2 (amplified)

Do not be confirmed to this world = do not look at the storms of life

Some changes in life are progressive

We tend to overestimate God in the short term and underestimate Him in the long term

We may want things fast, but slower is better and steadier

All our discouragements and disappointments are because we're looking at ourselves or at time.

God makes all things beautiful in His time (Ecc 3:11)

With faith and patience we inherit the promises of God (Hebrews 6:12)

We walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7)

Walking by sight = seeing the wind

We think that the challenge is in our feelings. But no, the challenge is actually in our thinking because the way we think influences the way we feel.

E.g. Listening to emo songs can trigger sad memories and feelings

When you don't 'feel' faith for a breakthrough, it's because you don't think a breakthrough is possible. 

Think --> Feel --> Faith. Let's go to the root and correct our thinking!

Phil 4:8 

How to renew our minds = by meditating on good things = by replacing our thoughts with thoughts based on the Word

The start is a conscience decision to allow God to change your thinking. Then slowly but surely your feelings will align and make walking in faith easier. 

2 Cor 10:3-6

There is a devil who wants you to think bad thoughts because it will rob you of faith

Fear is a feeling / feelings of rejection

It's a stronghold, that God wants to deal with and there's power to destroy it! 

How? By taking every thought and argument (argument in your mind, I can do all things except....) captive to obey Christ

V5 … captivity to the obedience of Christ

Not "to obey Christ", but "to the obedience of Christ"

Romans 5:19 The obedience of Christ = what Jesus did for us on the cross

So, when we have a wrong thought, replace that thought with the obedience of Christ / with what Christ has done

That's how we change our feelings & faith & every promise of God becomes yes and Amen

Every time we think righteous thoughts, the power of God is released in our life

V6 our obedience is obedience of faith = to bring it to the obedience of Christ

Part 2 Talk the walk

So how to replace our thoughts with thoughts based on the Word? Find a Scripture verse, and stand on it; speak it out

E.g. When we have a worry, Matt 6:25-31

V26 

Replace thoughts of worry with thoughts of He supplies the birds what more for us

There is constant supply of His Spirit in our lives

V31 Take no thought, saying = you take a thought by saying

Hence, to replace a thought, you have to say/speak it out 

Replace a negative thought by talking about what the Word of God says

Don't keep it silently in your mind either

We react the way we react because of our past, but today, we're a new creation in Christ!

The way out is to talk the word of God and then you'll begin to walk the word of God out naturally too, despite of how you feel.

Some verses to help us get started:

• I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4:13)
• The joy of the Lord is my strength (Nehemiah 8:10)
• This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice, and again I say rejoice and be glad in it (Ps 118:24)
• The Kingdom of God is within me (Luke 17:21)
• No weapon formed against me shall prosper, and every tongue that rises against me in judgement I shall show to be wrong. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and my righteousness if from the Lord (Isaiah 54:17)
• The Lord is my shepherd (Ps 23:1)
• I am not alone. The Lord is by my side all day long and He is near me. (Deut 31:8)