c3invercargill

Gods got a plan! Gods got a plan for you!

Will you make a decision to step out in faith and pursue it or will you sit on the sidelines of life and be a spectator?

Matt 1:18-19

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.

19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

Jewish civil law meant he had two choices he could make

• Divorce her. Being pledged in marriage/engaged was as good as being already married but still not living together.
• Public Disgrace—Have her stoned to death

The Law said to kill Mary!

The law was the way to death

The Spirit is the way to Life

The Law was written on Paper and ruled the natural world

The Spirit came to live in and write on our Hearts. To rule the supernatural world

2 Cor 3:6

He is the one who has enabled us to represent his new covenant. This is a covenant, not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old way ends in death; in the new way, the Holy Spirit gives life. NLT

All of history and the future redemption of the world came down to one man-Joseph

One Decision-To divorce her or not

Planting of C3 Invercargill came down to man-Me

Pursue the future vision or not? That one decision comes down to you!

1. Your future comes down to one person-You!

• Pursue what God has prepared for you
• Eph 2:10

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works , which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Divorce or Stone?

• When the pressures on we feel we have little or few choices
• World screams “forget tomorrow-live for now!” “Give up your job” “Get out of that relationship”

Spirit whispers “Wait for me” “Work with me” “Come away with me”

Matthew 11:30 (The Message)

^28-30“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

God always has another plan! He is a Redeemer of bad situations.

• Joseph wasn’t left stuck in a prison-He was part of Gods plan to save millions of people
• Moses wasn’t left cornered by Pharaoh at the edge of the Red Sea.
• Shadrach Meshach and Abednego didn’t burn. Nebuchadnezzar turned praised God
• Even a thief dying on a cross got a last chance

1 Cor 2:9

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” NLT

2011 is going to be a year of opportunity for those who seize it. Ca pe dium

What’s on your heart for 2011?

He has Gifts this Christmas/New Year that will be out of the ordinary.

He’s an extraordinary God!

He doesn’t make ordinary!

You’re not ordinary! Made in the image of God!

Don’t be afraid to take Mary Home! Don’t be afraid to step out in faith in 2011

Choice is to run in fear or walk by Faith

Matt 1:20

“But after he had considered this”

• Joseph had made up his mind
• He was going to slink away and divorce her on the quiet

You might be feeling its time to pull away from your dreams

Feeling it’s all too hard

The Lord may bring you a present this year you don’t really want?

Socks………Again………….ummm……………..Great:(

Theres always a Chance to redeem a situation that’s gone wrong.

• Turn your marriage around
• Upgrade the job your thinking of leaving
• Forgive that person whose wronged you

Joseph could have said it’s all over. Our plans, our future all ruined.

• Just thought of himself

Wait-Here comes the B plan!

An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

2. Get married to the Vision

• Don’t be afraid to take Mary home!
• Get Committed-Stay Committed. New Years resolution
• Joseph was a Real Man! A man of Honor

Pregnant with the Holy Spirit

3. Your mission may lie pregnant/growing/locked up in someone else

• Be nice to people- You don’t know who you may be talking to

Heb 13:2

Continue to love each other with true Christian love. 2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! NLT

Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean its not about to happen

• Our baby grew Jordan grew unseen. Babies grow without us seeing a thing until one day it’s birthed.
• Vision grows unseen until it’s birthed.
• Jesus grew in wisdom and stature with men. Growing behind the scenes

Mary carried the Spirits seed inside her womb

• Growing, Unseen
• Josephs greatest call in life to be a father grew unseen
• Your greatest leaps forward may be in the hands of someone else.

Love your neighbor

Gal 5:14

The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Greatest Gift you may receive this Christmas is the seed of a dream that becomes deposited within you and/or those around you.

When it happens-Don’t be afraid to take it home

Don’t divorce yourself from Gods plan for eternity and risk forever in obscurity….

Dont blend in with the spectators-Get out on the field!

Take a hold of the promises of God for you this coming year and let them make a difference in your life and the lives of those around you!

See you at C3 Church