#492 PIVOT Series# 2, Celebrate Foundations, part 2

PIVOT Series# 2, Celebrating Foundations 2
By: D. Karl Thomas

“When opportunity comes it’s too late to prepare.”   John Wooden

Pivot:— fixed point supporting something which turns or balances.
The Unchangeable in relationship to the Changeable.

Isaiah 46:9-10 “Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’”

Malachi 3:6  “For I am the Lord, I do not change;”

Hebrews 13:8  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

Isaiah 43:19 (NIV) “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
Perceive:—become aware or conscious of (something); come to realize or understand.

Deuteronomy 8:3  “He humbled you and allowed you to be hungry and fed you with manna, [a substance] which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, so that He might make you understand [by personal experience] that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.

God wants you to be comfortable with change.

Knowledge of your unchangeable covenant relationship with your Heavenly Father allows you to master a changing world.

1 Timothy 3:15  “…so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.”

1 Corinthians 3:11 “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Ephesians 3:21 “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”  

Ephesians 2:19-21 “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.”

Luke 6:47-49 (Message)  “If you work the words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of his house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last. …
…But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards. It was a total loss.”

COVER PICTURE OF BOOK — “Welcome Home”
THESE ARE THE VERBS WE VALUE 

Connect
The love and goodness of God are available for all to experience freely, generously, and graciously.
We value this need to connect with others and we understand that authenticity and acceptance are necessary for true connection.

1 Peter 2:17 (MSG)   “Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.”
Belong — Believe — Behave

Follow
He simply invited people to “be with him” Mark 3:14 (NIV), and to “follow him.” Matthew 4:19 (NIV) This is what made connecting with him so easy and why the invitation to come and find the place where you belong is so open and free.
Baptisms — Jesus / Water /Spirit

Discover
No greater question than “who am I and what am I here for?” Failing to arrive at life-giving answers to these questions can leave one feeling driven, aimless, and living with no real sense of identity or purpose.
allowing Jesus to help us discover our true identity and purpose is that when he helps us, it leads to lasting peace and rest.

Invite
The desire to invite others to experience the goodness and love of God is the most natural of all responses to our own personal encounter with Jesus.
“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” John 4:29

Give
Jesus wants us to live well.  To have our needs met.  To have enough left over to help take care of the needs of those around us.
“…God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”  2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV).

Serve
Knowing who we are, who He is, and His purpose for us, empowers us to see that success looks a lot like blessing others and advancing their interests.
1Peter 4:10 “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.”

Enjoy
The value that permeates all that we do, is reflected in the mandate to “rejoice  always.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16
We make fun and enjoyment a massive priority in all of our ministries and activities.
Joy and laughter should be hallmarks of our lives, empowering and strengthening us in all that we do.

PIVOT Series# 2, Celebrate Foundations 2, Sermon notes to print, PDF