Archives for April 2020 | Overflow Church Grand Prairie, Tx | Notes
Overflow Church Grand Prairie, Tx
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Little Foxes

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John 10:7–11 (NIV), I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 “I am the good shepherd.

Jesus has called us to a fruitful life…
John 15:1–8 (NLT) “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

John 15:16 (NLT) You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit…

2 Peter 1:3–4 (NIV) 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
hooray

🦊 little foxes ðŸ¦Š 

Song of Solomon 2:14–15 (NLT) 14 My dove is hiding behind the rocks, behind an outcrop on the cliff. Let me see your face; let me hear your voice. For your voice is pleasant, and your face is lovely. 15 Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blossoming!

The Little Foxes
1. Dysfunctions
2. Distractions
3. Disobedience
“The 
words we speak, the attitudes we carry, the good fail to do.” 


People keep foxes around by
1. Petting them
2. Protecting them
3. Provide for them

Removing the foxes
Judges 15:4–5 (NLT) 4 (Samson)went out and caught 300 foxes. He tied their tails together in pairs, and he fastened a torch to each pair of tails. 5 Then he lit the torches and let the foxes run through the grain fields of the Philistines. He burned all their grain to the ground, including the sheaves and the uncut grain. He also destroyed their vineyards and olive groves.
1. Find the foxes
Sins that are little to us are big to God.”
Ask the Lord
Psalm 139:23–24 (NLT)23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Examine yourself
2 Corinthians 13:5 (NLT) Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves…

2. Fire the foxes
Galatians 5:24–25 (NIV) Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

3. Let them go 

2 Corinthians 7:1 (NIV) Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God

Discouragement/ Despair

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John 10:7–11 (NIV), I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 “I am the good shepherd.

Joesph(Genesis 37)
Genesis 50:20–21 (NIV) 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

“We have to recognize that what we often feel like rejection is simply redirection."

Rejection is not…
1. Rejection is not opposition
2. Rejection from people is not a rejection from God.
3. Someone else's blessing is not rejection. 

Self-Rejection/Acceptance
  • We should be accurate in self-assessment.
  • Romans 12:3 (NIV) Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment…
1. Unhealthy Comparison 
2. Healthy Comparisons
We need to be inspired when others do well, not intimidated.”

3 Points of affirmation.
1. Adopted
Ephesians 1:3–5 (NLT) 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

“Know who you are, by knowing whose you are.” 

Psalm 94:14 (NIV)For the Lord will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance.

2. Adored 
James 1:18 (NLT) He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

“You are more than accepted by God; you are exceptional to God.”

3. Appointed
Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)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.


2 Timothy 2:20–21 (NLT) 20 In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

Ministry:
Hebrews 4:15–16 (NIV)15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need

Rejection

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John 10:7–11 (NIV), I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 “I am the good shepherd.

Joesph(Genesis 37)
Genesis 50:20–21 (NIV) 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

“We have to recognize that what we often feel like rejection is simply redirection."

Rejection is not…
1. Rejection is not opposition
2. Rejection from people is not a rejection from God.
3. Someone else's blessing is not rejection. 

Self-Rejection/Acceptance
  • We should be accurate in self-assessment.
  • Romans 12:3 (NIV) Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment…
1. Unhealthy Comparison 
2. Healthy Comparisons
We need to be inspired when others do well, not intimidated.”

3 Points of affirmation.
1. Adopted
Ephesians 1:3–5 (NLT) 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

“Know who you are, by knowing whose you are.” 

Psalm 94:14 (NIV)For the Lord will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance.

2. Adored 
James 1:18 (NLT) He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

“You are more than accepted by God; you are exceptional to God.”

3. Appointed
Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)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.


2 Timothy 2:20–21 (NLT) 20 In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

Ministry:
Hebrews 4:15–16 (NIV)15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need

Grave Robber

Jesus robs graves
1. Lazarus
John 11:17-26 (NIV) On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.21 "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." 23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."  24 Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

John 11:38-40 (NIV) Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 "Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." 40 Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"  

John 11:41–44 (NIV) 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, (IF Jesus wasn't specific by saying "Lazarus come forth" everybody would have been raised and the grave yard empty.)come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

2. His own body
Revelation 1:18 (NLT)  I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.

1 Corinthians 15:1–8 (NLT) Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. 2 It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place. 3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.

3. Us
Just as he said to Lazarus, He says to us….

1- Come Out He calls us out of the grave.
He is calling us out of the grave and into grace!

2. Remove the grave cloths.
I Corinthians 15:54–55 (NIV) 54 “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 

Romans 5:8(NIV) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.


Isaiah 53:3-6 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Hope

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Hebrews 11:1(NIV) Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. 

HOPE: Favorable and confident expectation

1 Peter 1:3–8 (NLT) 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must 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.


Genesis 22:1 “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.” 2 “Take your son, your only son —yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” 3 The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.” 6 So Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them walked on together, 7 Isaac turned to Abraham and said, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “We have the fire and the wood,” the boy said, “but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?” 8 “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both walked on together. 9 When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. 10 And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. 11 At that moment the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!“ Yes,” Abraham replied. “Here I am!” 12 “Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.” 13 Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14 Abraham named the place JEHOVAH-JIRAH (which means “the Lord will provide”).

How did Abraham have such a confident expectation?
1. He was postured towards the promise.
He was trusting in and waiting upon what God had Promised.
  • We are not being held hostage. We are being held in the embrace of of kind and gracious champion!!!”

Hebrews 6:18–20 (NIV)18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable(Oath and Promise) things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.
  • Gods promise is always the greater reality!

2. He had a History of hope.

Develop some Hope History:
  • Celebrate Little victories! 
  • Then celebrate again. 
  • Maybe your history in hope starts today?

3. He spoke hope. 
  • Vs 5 “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.”
  • Vs 8 “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,

4. He looked up.
13 Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket.
He looked up...it's was what he always did.

Hebrews 11:11 (NLT) It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.

Hope KEEPS LOOKING….
Hebrews 12:2(NKJV) Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.


Matthew 11:2–4 (NIV) 2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” 4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see….”

He is the one you've been looking for been looking for.

Romans 15:13(NIV) May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.