Do you believe your present failures mean that God won't be able to complete his purpose in your life? Learn how to grasp God’s power to heal and restore you. The God who saved you WILL restore you!
00:00 Introduction
1: 17 Is that You? Are You Saved, but Feeling Inadequate to Be Used By God?
2:56 Only You Can Stop God’s Plan For Your Life
4:56 The Intent of Your Heart is Greater Than Your Failures
5:49 Activation: Take Daily Steps in the Right Direction
6:44 How to Pray
Pastor Jack Hayford, who pastored a church that grew to 10,000 people over 30 years, writes:
“I have spoken with thousands of people who view their present failures as guarantees that God will never be able to complete His purpose in their lives. For these people—indeed for most of us—a call to obedience seems a virtual seal against victory, because, they feel, perfect obedience eludes them.”
“Rebuilding the Real You, p 51”
Is that You? Are You Saved, but Feeling Inadequate to Be Used By God?
I had been an alcoholic for 10 years when I was born again. That’s exactly how I felt. I was ashamed of my outbursts of anger, the lust I struggled with, and I was discovering just how shellfish I had become. How could God ever use me?
John 10:10 AMP Jesus said:
The thief [Satan] comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].
See 1 John 3:8 NASB
Pastor Hayford writes:
"The Lord who saved you has a long - term purpose for you . You will be moved from being marginalized in life to finding the central purpose of your life .
you will come to know what “ holy ” really means — “ wholly whole , ” completely restored .
You are learning how God’s restoration program is included in His gift of redemption in Christ . He regenerated you; He will restore you . Redemption includes a reborn spirit and a restored soul — a certain recovery of all that’s been stolen in the past"
Rebuilding the Real You, p 46
Only We Can Stop God’s Plan For Our Lives
If we get discouraged and quit, Satan wins.
Your heart’s desire is the only thing that will limit you. Are you willing to do whatever God wants you to? Is your heart set to please God in the time you have left on the earth?
Paul wasted 30 years of his life. He chased, imprisoned, and killed Christians. Paul became perhaps the greatest Christian to ever live. He wrote 2/3 of the New Testament. Despite his horrible beginning, Paul was able to say at the end of his life: “ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7
How could God do so much through Paul? Paul’s heart desire was to complete everything God had planned for him. If that’s your heart, God will use you greatly too!
Your Heart For God is Greater than Your Failures
Your sins and failures have been forgiven and forgotten by God when you were born again. Isaiah 43:25 NKJV, Romans 8:1 NASB, 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV
Pastor Hayford concludes:
‘…. The intent of your heart to obey the Lord counts far more than what kind of a personality or performance record you possess. First Samuel 16:7 says, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
Clearly, God is not as concerned with our perfection as He is with our direction. The praying heart that is intent on obedience may not immediately perfect those intentions, but God is set to respond to us according to our “heartset.” ‘Ibid p 51.
Activation: The Way Forward – Take Daily Steps in the Right Direction
Instead of living each day mired in discouragement and despair, cast your flaws and failures on God. Let Hope pick you up and propel you into the plans and purposes of God. Refuse to give thoughts of failure, discouragement and despair a place in your mind. Kick them out!
*There is tremendous power in daily pursuit of God. Tell God your desire to please Him every morning.
*Develop a habit of immediate obedience.
*Ask God to help you overcome your flaws and failures.
How to Pray (see the video for details)
*Praise God, Worship Him.
*Pray knowing that there is always an answer
Isaiah 65:24 NLT
Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
*You aren’t facing your problems alone. God is with you. He will help you.
To Strengthen Yourself Pray God’s promises in Scripture.
In John 16:33, 1 John 5:4 NIV:
What does your faith do? Your faith reaches out and takes hold of the power in the promises of God. Your faith applies Jesus’s victory to you and your circumstances.
* Faith requires an activation – an action step.
James 2:17 NLT So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
If you want to grow your faith, act on it!
Daily, take action steps in the opposite direction of your flaw or failure.
*Pray through to peace.
*Journal this victory and thank God.
*When old thought pattern, old habits, and temptations come at you, repeat this process.
#Restore #restoration #davemilford