MISSIONS UPDATE: Yesterday the Missions team went to Bense Village, where Isabella grew up. She started in very humble beginnings, without running water or electricity, and the Lord sent her back there to be a blessing. Villagers came out to receive the gifts and the prayers, but many simply wanted to see Isabella, one of their own, who left for America and came back to be a blessing.
Here is a link to some of the pictures from yesterday: https://goo.gl/BhP4j7.
A special thanks, once again, to all our partners and supporters. To those who would like to donate, please do so via: http://ripministries.org/donate.
Here are a few ways to stay updated:
Missions page on the website: http://ripministries.org/missions/missions.
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Now let’s get into the Word.
This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”, by continuing with our new mini-series entitled, “Focusing on Dying To Self”. Let’s go back to a scripture we have been looking at for that last few days.
Jesus said, “Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” (John 14:19, 20). Jesus was living WITH them, but soon He was going to be IN them. If you are Born-Again, God Himself has taken up residence inside of you.
So what does this mean to you today? Let’s look at it from the perspective of limits.
1. God can use anyone. I grew up on Welfare. The government provided my family food stamps so we could have and enjoy meals. My mother, an immigrant, accepted the assistance and made the most of it. She raised my sister and I and now we are in position to give back. Isabella grew up without electricity or running water. Like many of my family members in the Dominican Republic during the years of my youth, Isabella bathed and washed her clothes in the river. Many days she barely had something to eat. And now she is able to give back. If God can use my wife and I, then He can use anyone. He is not looking for your ability. God has all the ability required. He is looking for your availability. You are available, He is able, and there are no limits to what God can accomplish through you.
2. The supernatural flows when you die to self, human ability and human limits.
a. When God calls you to do something He is not doing so based on your human ability, power, or resources. He calls you based on the fact that He is IN you. He wants to the do the work through you, but you are hindering Him from doing so until you die to yourself and your limits.
b. When God tells you to do something and you give him reasons (really excuses) why you can’t, what are your reasons based on? I will answer the question for you. They are based on your limits. The day you die to your limits will be the day God is free to truly do what He wants to do in, with and through your life.
c. If the project God has called you to requires money, God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. If it requires the assistance of others, God can give you favor. If it requires a level of insight you don’t currently have, God can download His wisdom to you in a minute; wisdom that comes by revelation and far exceeds anything you could have ever received by education. The point is that when you truly die to self and to your limits, there are no more excuses. All that is left is a willing vessel in the hands of a limitless God. Will you be that vessel? Will you die to your limits? If you do, the life you will live will be beyond anything you ever imagined.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. I bring my life into focus in 2016 by dying to self. The days of me giving You excuses are over. When You tell me to do something, I am ready to launch out IN FAITH to get it done. You have already given me THE MEASURE of faith required to access the grace You deposited in me from the foundations of the world. I no longer base decisions on me, my power or my resources. Since my decisions are only based on You, Your power and Your resources, I cannot make any excuses. You have no limits, You live in me, and I now have no limits. I die to every thought of lack, insufficiency, shortage, deficit, inability, or ineptitude. I die to me and look to You. You have the money, You have the power, You can give me favor, You can open door no man can close, You can close doors no man can open, and my eyes are fixed and focused on You! Living this way I a truly excited about my future! It’s a future with NO LIMITS! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
