Approved To Overcome
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I had to learn to walk before I could run.
I think we all do this. We wanna jump right to the end of the movie without experiencing all the things that told the story. We focus so much on the destination, that we ignore the purpose of the journey.
Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
Saul did not need to wait until he was approved by anyone else other than Jesus.
I titled this sermon:
Approved To Overcome
He knew the Gospel because he had experienced it, and then went to tell others about it.
When we experience Jesus in our lives, we have all we need to go and tell others. That's the beauty of the Gospel, it is simple and it is powerful.
as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
But notice where Saul began preaching.
Saul did not need to wait until he was approved by anyone else other than God. He knew the Gospel because he had experienced it, and then went to tell others about it. Paul was a Pharisee, but he preached the Gospel which was new to him. The Gospel had been experienced by Saul, everything else was just knowledge. When we experience Jesus in our lives, we have all we need to go and tell others. That's the beauty of the Gospel, it is simple and it is powerful. God used Saul's gifts and He uses our also. Saul preached Jesus in the synagogues. He took Christ to the very place where he had most opposed Him. In what areas in your lives are you most opposing Jesus? We have to take Him to the places in our lives that are the most difficult to face, that is where Jesus' light shines the brightest.
God has given you everything that you need to be effective in the place that you are. He not only gives us an experience with Him to change us, but He also uses a past to prepare us. God uses your past to equip you for your future. Saul was a Pharisee. He used that knowledge to take Jesus where Jesus had just taken him out of.
God has given you everything that you need to be effective in the place that you are. God uses your past to equip you for your future.But notice where Saul began preaching.
But notice where Saul began preaching.
Notice where Saul began preaching.
Saul preached Jesus in the synagogues. He took Christ to the very place where he had most opposed Him. The places that opposed and accused Stephen in . Saul gained permission and had the authority to go into those places for the purpose of imprisoning Christians, but imagine their surprise when he walked in and began preaching Christ!
Getting my ID as Pastor in the hospital for visitation.
We have been given the permission and the authority to take Jesus into the world. Who has more authority over the world than He who created it? If the Creator gives you permission to take His Word into His creation, then there is no one else who has the authority to take that away from you.
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 1
We have the power and authority, not only to go into the darkness, but to be victorious over it! He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world.
We have to take Him to the places in our lives that are the most difficult to face, that is where Jesus' light shines the brightest.
We have been Approved To Overcome.
Saul knew it, and he didn’t waste any time.
Saul had a reputation. People had seen and heard about him doing many terrible things.
Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”
and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
There are certain people in my past that don’t buy the fact that I’m a pastor. They judge me because of what they know about my past.
After knowing someone to be a certain way for such a long time, it is difficult to think that they can change. When we see that change in people, our natural reaction is to assume they are lying or being fake.
How many of you in this room have been judged because of something you did in the past? Do you believe a person can change? Do you believe a person can be changed?
But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
Sometimes we fight to overcome our past, and sometimes other people will refuse to see anything but who we used to be. There are times we allow our past mistakes to influence what we think about ourselves. Sometimes we become embarrassed about our faith in certain company. The enemy will use your past to make you doubt your future.
Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”
Sometimes we fight to overcome our past, and sometimes other people will refuse to see anything but who we used to be. There are times we allow our past mistakes to influence what we think about ourselves. Sometimes we become embarrassed about our faith in certain company. The enemy will use your past to make you doubt your future.
The world was expecting one thing from Saul, but Saul's words and actions showed everyone who he was now. Sometimes our words don't match our actions. Why? We try to save face among those who know our past sins, or we don't truly believe in what we are saying.
Sometimes we fight to overcome our past, and sometimes other people will refuse to see anything but who we used to be. There are times we allow our past mistakes to influence what we think about ourselves. Sometimes we become embarrassed about our faith in certain company. The enemy will use your past to make you doubt your future.
Do you care more about what other people think of you or do you care more about being who God created you to be? If you care more about what other people think, then maybe you don’t really believe in who Jesus is and what He did for you. Nothing destroys your witness and your testimony more than when you yourself don't believe it!
Sometimes we fight to overcome our past, and sometimes other people will refuse to see anything but who we used to be. There are times we allow our past mistakes to influence what we think about ourselves. Sometimes we become embarrassed about our faith in certain company. The enemy will use your past to make you doubt your future.
God is not interested in our past, He is investing in our future. He’s not interested in what you have done, but in what you are willing to do for Him.
Our identity as believers comes from Jesus and no one else, and anything or anyone that says different is a lie!
It's not because of who we are, but who Jesus is, that the Gospel is so powerful.
Do you care more about what other people think of you or do you care more about what God thinks of you? If you care more about what other people think, then maybe you don’t really believe in who Jesus is and what He did for you. Nothing destroys your witness and your testimony more than when you yourself don't believe it!
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us.
The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us.
Look at your neighbor and say "Its the same power"
But we’ve gotta let go of the old.
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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
We must discard the old and let it pass away. We cannot put on new over the old. When we refuse to let go of the old, we miss seeing what the new could have been.
Merrick’s birthday party, sweaty feet.
God is not worried about where you’ve been, He wants to see where you are willing to go. He wants to see you walk into the darkness and shine His light so bright that the devil has to put on some sunglasses. But how can you expect to shine the light of Christ when you never replaced the dead batteries of the world with the never-ending power of the Spirit of God?! When we hold on to our past mistakes, we walk into darkness with dead batteries in our light.
When we overcome our past, we can fully come in to the future God has for us.
We have been Approved To Overcome.
Let’s take a look at what happens.
But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
Saul lived out his faith daily, in the midst of opposition and doubt about his resolve and intentions, he continued following Jesus and doing what he was called to do. Saul used what he knew to further the Gospel of Christ. Everyday, he gained confidence in his ability and qualification to preach the Word.
Adam gives me the hand, you stunk a little less today.
The more we practice our faith, the stronger we become. The more we train, the stronger we get. Don't wait until you know everything to start telling people about Jesus because that day will never come.
His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
Be faithful with what He gives you rather than waiting for what you asked for or think you should have.
So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
Start with what you know and what you've experienced. God will bless and increase what you bring to Him. The things we spend our time doing will be the things that define us.
It is God who brings the increase. Because of who He is, not who we are.
But here’s the thing. Listen to what Jesus says in:
Be faithful with what He gives you rather than waiting for what you asked for or think you should have.Start with what you know and what you've experienced. God will bless and increase what you bring to Him. The things we spend our time doing will be the things that define us.
Start with what you know and what you've experienced. God will bless and increase what you bring to Him. The things we spend our time doing will be the things that define us.
Start with what you know and what you've experienced. God will bless and increase what you bring to Him. The things we spend our time doing will be the things that define us.
I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
How can we expect to minister in God’s authority if we aren’t living under it?! When we live under God’s authority, we end up PROVING that Jesus is the Christ, because our words and our actions match the identity we have been given.
Start where you are, with what you know.
Embracing your new identity in Christ, taking Him to the darkest places in your life.
Trust that God will bless and increase what you bring to Him.
I can’t help but think about the men in prison that we talked about last week. Those men were not changed by a doctrine class, or by identifying with a certain religion, or even by arguing down their world views. Those men are changed by seeing the love of Jesus through men and women who care enough about them to go and share it with them.
Where is your synagogue this morning?
What past mistakes have you allowed to keep you from moving forward?
What current sin keeps are you holding on to that keeps you from living under and ministering in God’s authority.
I can’t help but think about the men in prison that we talked about last week. Those men were not changed by a doctrine class, or by identifying with a certain religion, or even by arguing down their world views. Those men are changed by seeing the love of Jesus through men and women who care enough about them to go and share it with them.
Let’s pray
Approved To Overcome
Approved To Overcome
We have been Approved To Overcome.
We have been Approved To Overcome.
Approved to overcome our lack of qualification,
our past identity in sin,
and our weakness apart from Christ.
When we make that choice,
Let’s pray
In what areas in your lives are you most opposing Jesus?
Where is your synagogue this morning?
Where is your synagogue this morning?
What past mistakes have you allowed to keep you from moving forward?
What current sin keeps are you holding on to?
What areas of your life do you keep in a prison?
These are the things that keep you from living under and ministering in God’s authority.
What past mistakes have you allowed to keep you from moving forward?
What current sin keeps are you holding on to that keeps you from living under and ministering in God’s authority.
I can’t help but think about the men in prison that we talked about last week. Those men were not changed by a doctrine class, or by identifying with a certain religion, or even by arguing down their world views. Those men are changed by seeing the love of Jesus through men and women who care enough about them to go and share it with them.
I can’t help but think about the men in prison that we talked about last week. Those men were not changed by a doctrine class, or by identifying with a certain religion, or even by arguing down their world views. Those men are changed by seeing the love of Jesus through men and women who care enough about them to go and share it with them.
This is something we all have the ability to do.
It doesn't take an education on the bible to change someone's life, it takes an experience with Jesus. It takes the Gospel.
Invitation
When we make that choice, we have been Approved To Overcome.