“AM I AN UNBELIEVING BELIEVER?” BY: PASTOR KENT MUNSEY SERIES: MISSIO DEI WEEK: 2 / Think Higher
MAIN SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 3:15-20 15 But now bring me a musician.” Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. 16 And he said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ 17 For thus says the LORD: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’ 18 And this is a simple matter in the sight of the LORD; He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand. 20 Now it happened in the morning, when the grain offering was offered, that suddenly water came by way of Edom, and the land was filled with water.”
Introduction: God provides seed to the sower. We are currently in our Missio Dei season. Missio Dei is latin for the Mission of God. Once a year our church rallies their faith for God to supernaturally provide (2 Cor 9:7) so that we can give to see His mission move forward. This is an offering that is above and beyond our normal tithes and offerings. This offering we will go to three main things: people, places + spaces, and global partnerships. 1. People: Adding new staff, as well as leadership training, development, and an eventual bible college. 2. Places and Spaces: Expanding our reach by securing buildings/spaces. 3. Our Global Partnerships: A21 Campaign, World Vision, Compassion
1. FAITH IS BIRTHED IN GOD’S PRESENCE. In 2 Kings 3:15, Elisha says "But now bring me a musician. Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him." We see here that an atmosphere of worship invites God's presence to our place of prayer. Then the Lord shows up! •
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Take time in this season to get into the presence of God and PRAY. Use your lunch time to get away and pray. Make a worship playlist! Get into an atmosphere of prayer and worship because faith is birthed in God’s presence. It is in God’s presence that he is able to get into the deep places of our heart. When we are hurt our first instinct is to create boundaries and
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fences around our heart so we do not get hurt again. This places a limitation on our lives. Proverbs 4:23 "Above all, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life.” The word “wellspring,” here in hebrew means “boundaries.” Our hearts determine the boundaries of our lives. Only God can address the deep places of our hearts. All of us have been hurt in our pasts. We shouldn’t try to minimize the risk of being hurt by creating small boundaries as this will ultimately limit our lives. Through getting in the presence of God, we open our hearts, and as a result we grow.
2. FAITH GOES BEYOND INSPIRATION TO PARTICIPATION. 2 Kings 3:16 it says “make this valley full of ditches.” After a 7-day march, supplies (food and water) were gone. Even in their weariness, they were asked to do more work in “digging ditches.” God asks us to do what we can do. We see their faith go from inspiration to participation. It took faith for them to trust God and give out of their weak state. •
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Be encouraged to activate your faith in this Missio Dei season. Pastor Kent used the example of the “Faith and Action Block Party,” that we hosted for the city and Mayor last Friday. Last year we saw God respond to prayer where there were over forty hours on memorial day weekend with no gun fire, which is the first time that has ever happened! We (on our own) cannot stop violence in our city. However, we could assemble and rally on a Friday to cook burgers, and connect with people, and use our faith in prayer to God believing He can do the impossible. Faith is found when we say, "Lord, I will do whatever you want me to do." Disobedience is the kryptonite of our faith. It weakens our faith, thus stifling our growth.
3. FAITH CONTINUES REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT SEES. 2 Kings 3:17-18 says, “For thus says the LORD: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’ 18 And this is a simple matter in the sight of the LORD; He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.” In the scripture, we see that the night before the brought their offering which would of been a sacrificial lamb offering. This was an offering that would have been bloody. We see in scripture that the enemy came. When the enemy came to the valley, they saw a valley full of what appeared to be blood. We see that there was no wind and no rain. However the Lord, supernaturally brought water in which touched the offering and the ditches filled. The enemy
saw what they thought was a massacre and terror hit them and it became a great victory. • •
Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible. If you could see it, then you wouldn't need faith. We see that when we don’t have enough, God has enough. Even when it does not make sense or it appears like we are being put in a place of weakness, God can work with it.
Conclusion | Faith Put Into Action 1. Inquire of the Lord. Pray and look for God to speak. 2. Get Into An Atmosphere of Faith. Be intentional about getting into God's presence regularly. 3. Let Your Faith Go Beyond Inspiration to Participation. God asks us to do what we can. What was the last thing God asked you to do? 4. Hold Fast To Your Faith. Let your faith continue regardless of what it sees in the natural. "Faith is the evidence of things not seen..."
STUDY SCRIPTURES: Proverbs 4:23 "Above all, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life.” Hebrews 10:37-38 “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back. My soul has no pleasure in him.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”