There are spiritual seeds still in the ground. There are words and promises still in waiting, that still have the ability to bear fruit and take shape in our lives.
Exodus 14:10-16 ESV
10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. (the enemy lurking causes fear) And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD. 11 They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” 15 The LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me?(complainingcauses you to be stagnant) Tell the people of Israel to go forward. 16 Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground.
Gods people will always have enemies lurking who want to instill fear, paralysis, and confusion to keep you from the will of God.
Complacency will always tempt you to settle for a life, vision and calling less than Gods best.
Complaining stops forward movement and causes you to stand still.
Matthew 28:18-20 ESV
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Generational Hope Exists to Connect Generations To the Hope of Jesus.
YOU BELONG, YOU HAVE PURPOSE, and YOU ARE LOVED!
As Christians, our values are shaped by what we believe.
1. WE SURRENDER TO A SPIRIT FILLED LIFE
We make room for life-changing encounters with the Holy Spirit, the only source for divine transformation through God’s presence.
Acts 1:8 ESV- But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Gal 5:22-24 ESV- But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
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2.WE LIVE A FAITH-INSPIRED LIFE. **
Following Jesus is a dynamic, action-oriented Lifestyle.
James 2:17 ESV-
“So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
Hebrews 11:1 ESV
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
3. WE APPLY GOD’S WORD.
We are people of the Word, recognizing that God’s Word is alive, active, and our standard for life and practice.
2 Tim 3:16 ESV
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
Romans 12:1-2 ESV
I appeal to you therefore, brothers,[a] by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.[b] 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
**4. WE INVEST IN EVERY GENERATION
Discipleship is the continual surrender of all of life to God’s good design for identity, purpose and belonging. Every generation matters and plays a vital role in God’s Plan.
Matthew 16:24-25 - “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life[g] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Psalm 145:4 - “One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.”
Malachi 5:5-6- And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”
Discussion Questions:
1- What is a word, promise or spiritual seed that you have sown in your life that you are still believing to bear fruit from?
2- What does it mean to move forward? What is one aspect of your life that God wants you to move forward in?
3- What does it mean that God’s word is our standard for Life and Practice? Describe one area of your life where God’s word has shaped, changed, or caused your life to look differently because of it?
4- Read Matthew 16:24-25. How does this verse describe discipleship. How does the principle of losing our life cause us to find it?