On the way to church Sunday morning I heard Natalie Grant’s, I WILL NOT BE MOVED. I love this song! The lyrics remind me of my life and how I hold on to the promises in God’s word that tell me:
“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength”
“The plans that God has for me are for a future filled with hope”
“I am called and equipped according to God’s plans for me”
“I am a child of God and He will never leave or forsake me”
“I am fearfully and WONDERFULLY made”
Romans 12:3 tells us to walk in confidence and security, but not to get puffed up:
3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
But we are also not to think too little of ourselves.
In Numbers 13, God promises to give the homeless Israelites an awesome piece of real estate. But when they went to check it out, they were afraid of all the giants inhabiting the land and instantly felt small, weak and afraid.
31 But the men who had gone up with him said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are." 32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. 33 We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."
When we FEEL small, we LOOK small to others. There are people in this world who take advantage of the weak, and Satan would love nothing better than for you to feel small. He knows that God has a plan for your life!
Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
You can know the promises of God and never live a victorious life if you don’t choose to walk in them! You can forfeit all the plans that God has for you by choosing to walk in fear and unbelief. Now back to that song….
I WILL NOT BE MOVED? I began to think of things that threaten my footing; things that could potentially cause me to waiver; things that HAVE caused me to waiver in my faith. When I open my eyes and look around there are giants everywhere! When I’m focused on the giants, I fail to look up and focus on a MUCH bigger God. When I’m focused on the giants, my circumstances appear to be overwhelming. When I’m focused on the giants, I feel small, weak, ineffective, ill equipped, not useful, defeated.
I have been moved. Moved to complaining bitterly when my feelings are hurt; moved to tears over unanswered prayers and broken dreams; moved to being reclusive when I can’t handle anymore. In Matthew 12 and Luke 6, God’s word reveals that “out of the heart, the mouth speaks.” A broken heart rehearses its wounds. Choosing salvation isn’t insurance against the wounding of your heart, but instead, assurance that you won’t walk this way alone.
In John 16, Jesus tells us himself that we will have troubles:
33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
In Deuteronomy 31, Moses reminds us that we are not alone:
8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
We are not to be afraid or discouraged, though discouragement will surely come. I may have allowed myself to be moved, but I still hold firm to my faith in God. He is who He says He is, and He can do what He says he can do.
So how can I stay secure?
1. Obey the word of God – if you want to obey it, you have to read it. If you want to understand it better, you need to study it. Join a small group, or bible study group, or get some friends to join you at your house and study the word together.
ME: I have seasons where I’m better at this than others. And, it shows. I can see and feel a difference in myself and the “giant sightings” on the plains of my life.
2. Stop thinking and saying negative stuff about yourself AND about others. Live in a constant state of forgiveness, allowing others to be just as imperfect as you are.
Ephesians 4:29-30
29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
If every word (or matter) is established by 2-3 witnesses as it states in 2 Corinthians 13:1, then why would we want to be the one to speak a negative over our own life or the life of another? Remember, Satan the accuser is always the first witness for evil for every living soul. Why would we want to confirm it by being the 2nd or 3rd witness?
You will become what you believe yourself to be.
Proverbs 23 (NKJV)
7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
People will rise or fall with the words they agree with.
ME: How many negative words echo in the halls of my sub conscience? Words that were (or are) spoken over me, to me, around me, about me? Arrows loaded with the poison to kill God’s plans for my life. How many of them did I believe? Probably all at some point. How many bad choices did I make because of what I believed about myself at any given time? Many. Those words, once spoken….once received, must continually be replaced with the words of God in order to lose their power.
Whose words have you agreed with over your life?
Whose life have you affected with your own words?
Words of life, or words of accusation?
3. Stop comparing yourself to others. Your value comes only from your identity in Christ.
Phillippians 1:6
…..that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It’s not about how good you are, or how “good at it” you are. There is always someone else who is better, or better at it. And there is always someone that needs encouragement. It’s not about “what” you are doing in service to God. We are all gifted differently for a purpose.
1 Corinthians 12:4
4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
1 Corinthians 12:12
12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.
ME: I know now that I am called by God to use my gifts for Him. There are things that I do well, and things that I don’t do well. We are to bring our best offering to God, so I bring him what I do best. But even my best is not as good as others who are gifted in the same way.
Do I compare myself?
Human nature says yes. Does it mean that this couldn’t possibly be my calling or God’s plan for my life? I’m learning that it does not. If I let the fact that someone is more spiritual, sings better, plays better, or writes better stop me from doing any of it….how can God get the glory from my life and who He created me to be?
I don’t have to be the best, I have to be obedient. I don’t need to have accolades, awards, acceptance or approval. I need to be obedient. Obedience brings a blessing of peace in knowing that you are doing what God wants you to do; that deep sense of knowing. And occasionally God sends some warm fuzzies of encouragement my way!
And all the rest of that stuff that I don’t do well? God can have that too and use it how He sees fit.
So call Security! Call Jesus!
based on Sermon by Matt Hoole June 6, 2010
visit www.mccag.org to hear the audio file
“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength”
“The plans that God has for me are for a future filled with hope”
“I am called and equipped according to God’s plans for me”
“I am a child of God and He will never leave or forsake me”
“I am fearfully and WONDERFULLY made”
Romans 12:3 tells us to walk in confidence and security, but not to get puffed up:
3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
But we are also not to think too little of ourselves.
In Numbers 13, God promises to give the homeless Israelites an awesome piece of real estate. But when they went to check it out, they were afraid of all the giants inhabiting the land and instantly felt small, weak and afraid.
31 But the men who had gone up with him said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are." 32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. 33 We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."
When we FEEL small, we LOOK small to others. There are people in this world who take advantage of the weak, and Satan would love nothing better than for you to feel small. He knows that God has a plan for your life!
Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
You can know the promises of God and never live a victorious life if you don’t choose to walk in them! You can forfeit all the plans that God has for you by choosing to walk in fear and unbelief. Now back to that song….
I WILL NOT BE MOVED? I began to think of things that threaten my footing; things that could potentially cause me to waiver; things that HAVE caused me to waiver in my faith. When I open my eyes and look around there are giants everywhere! When I’m focused on the giants, I fail to look up and focus on a MUCH bigger God. When I’m focused on the giants, my circumstances appear to be overwhelming. When I’m focused on the giants, I feel small, weak, ineffective, ill equipped, not useful, defeated.
I have been moved. Moved to complaining bitterly when my feelings are hurt; moved to tears over unanswered prayers and broken dreams; moved to being reclusive when I can’t handle anymore. In Matthew 12 and Luke 6, God’s word reveals that “out of the heart, the mouth speaks.” A broken heart rehearses its wounds. Choosing salvation isn’t insurance against the wounding of your heart, but instead, assurance that you won’t walk this way alone.
In John 16, Jesus tells us himself that we will have troubles:
33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
In Deuteronomy 31, Moses reminds us that we are not alone:
8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
We are not to be afraid or discouraged, though discouragement will surely come. I may have allowed myself to be moved, but I still hold firm to my faith in God. He is who He says He is, and He can do what He says he can do.
So how can I stay secure?
1. Obey the word of God – if you want to obey it, you have to read it. If you want to understand it better, you need to study it. Join a small group, or bible study group, or get some friends to join you at your house and study the word together.
ME: I have seasons where I’m better at this than others. And, it shows. I can see and feel a difference in myself and the “giant sightings” on the plains of my life.
2. Stop thinking and saying negative stuff about yourself AND about others. Live in a constant state of forgiveness, allowing others to be just as imperfect as you are.
Ephesians 4:29-30
29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
If every word (or matter) is established by 2-3 witnesses as it states in 2 Corinthians 13:1, then why would we want to be the one to speak a negative over our own life or the life of another? Remember, Satan the accuser is always the first witness for evil for every living soul. Why would we want to confirm it by being the 2nd or 3rd witness?
You will become what you believe yourself to be.
Proverbs 23 (NKJV)
7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
People will rise or fall with the words they agree with.
ME: How many negative words echo in the halls of my sub conscience? Words that were (or are) spoken over me, to me, around me, about me? Arrows loaded with the poison to kill God’s plans for my life. How many of them did I believe? Probably all at some point. How many bad choices did I make because of what I believed about myself at any given time? Many. Those words, once spoken….once received, must continually be replaced with the words of God in order to lose their power.
Whose words have you agreed with over your life?
Whose life have you affected with your own words?
Words of life, or words of accusation?
3. Stop comparing yourself to others. Your value comes only from your identity in Christ.
Phillippians 1:6
…..that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It’s not about how good you are, or how “good at it” you are. There is always someone else who is better, or better at it. And there is always someone that needs encouragement. It’s not about “what” you are doing in service to God. We are all gifted differently for a purpose.
1 Corinthians 12:4
4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
1 Corinthians 12:12
12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.
ME: I know now that I am called by God to use my gifts for Him. There are things that I do well, and things that I don’t do well. We are to bring our best offering to God, so I bring him what I do best. But even my best is not as good as others who are gifted in the same way.
Do I compare myself?
Human nature says yes. Does it mean that this couldn’t possibly be my calling or God’s plan for my life? I’m learning that it does not. If I let the fact that someone is more spiritual, sings better, plays better, or writes better stop me from doing any of it….how can God get the glory from my life and who He created me to be? I don’t have to be the best, I have to be obedient. I don’t need to have accolades, awards, acceptance or approval. I need to be obedient. Obedience brings a blessing of peace in knowing that you are doing what God wants you to do; that deep sense of knowing. And occasionally God sends some warm fuzzies of encouragement my way!
And all the rest of that stuff that I don’t do well? God can have that too and use it how He sees fit.
So call Security! Call Jesus!
based on Sermon by Matt Hoole June 6, 2010
visit www.mccag.org to hear the audio file