LIVING GOD’S DREAM DESPITE PAST POOR DECISIONS

LIVING GOD’S DREAM DESPITE PAST POOR DECISIONS

Time to Dream: Trusting God to Open Doors – Part 2

“We all stumble in many ways.” James 3:2

RECOVERING GOD’S ORIGINAL DREAM FOR ME

1. HONESTLY

4 COMMON CAUSES

Seen in Peter’s Betrayal of Jesus

Peter: “Everyone else may stumble in their faith, but I won’t!”  Mark 14:29

Jesus: “Could you not stay awake with me for just one hour?”  Mark 14:37

“Peter followed Jesus at a distance…”  Mark 14:54a

“Peter then sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.” Mark 14:54b

Jesus said, “Simon Peter, Satan has asked to test you, but I have prayed for you that your faith will not fail. So WHEN you have repented and recovered, I want you to strengthen the other disciples.”  Luke 22:31-32

2. HUMBLY

David: “Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. In your great compassion, please wipe out the stain of all my wrongdoing. Wash away all my guilt and cleanse me from my sins.  For I am haunted by my failures and I can’t forget the evil things I’ve done… I know you love complete honesty from my heart so help me see what’s deep inside me… Then create a new, pure heart in me and renew my spirit with the right desires and restore the joy of your salvation! Then I’ll help bring others back to you too.” Psalm 51:1-3, 6, 10

3. GRATEFULLY

“Christ sacrificed his life’s blood (on the Cross) to set us free, which means that ALL our sins are now forgiven! God did this because of his generous grace to us.”  Ephesians 1:7

“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus!”

Romans 8:1 (NLT)

WHY DOES SIN NOT INVALIDATE GOD’S DREAM FOR ME?

BECAUSE . . .

1. JESUS

“When Jesus served as a sacrifice for our sins, He solved the sin problem for God — not only ours, but the whole worlds.”  1 John 2:2 (MSG)

2. GOD’S GOODNESS

“He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy.”  Titus 3:5 (NLT)

3. GOD’S CALLING & GIFTS

“For God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. They can’t be withdrawn.” – Romans 11:29

4. GENEROUSLY

“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Matthew 6:14-15 (NLT)

5. COURAGEOUSLY

“Devote your whole heart to God and reach out to Him in prayer for help.  If you get rid of the sins in your heart and your home you will face the world again without shame and you’ll be strong and free of fear! Then you’ll forget your past troubles, like water under a bridge. Your life will be brighter than noonday, and even in darkness you’ll shine like the morning. And now you’ll have courage because you will have hope!”  Job 11:13-18

“Forget the former thing and do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it is springing up; do you not perceive it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness and I will create streams where there has been wasteland!”  Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

HOMEWORK FOR TIME TO DREAM! THIS WEEK

1. Participate in 21 Days of Fast. Call in daily at 9pm for prayer.
   • https://www.therockpointchurch.org/updates/21-days-of-prayer-and-fasting-january-11-31-2021/
   •    Read your bible daily
2.   In your Life Group, watch & discuss video lesson #2

              “The 2nd Open Door: The Door To Authentic Relationships”

4.   Memorize this promise:

                   “There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” Rom. 8:1