Embracing the Cross through Brokennessg

The Marketplace Call

Os Hillman

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Three Traveling Merchants

The Cross is the starting point for knowing Christ intimatelyg y

You are Called to f fa Transformed Life

It’s About Knowing Christ

This is what the LORD says:This is what the LORD says:"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong

man boast of his strength or the rich man man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boastboast of his riches, but let him who boasts boastabout this: about this: that he understands and knows me, that he understands and knows me, ,,that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,

justice and righteousness on earth, for in thesejustice and righteousness on earth, for in theseI delight "declares the LORDI delight "declares the LORD Jeremiah 9:23 24

Called to Someone, Not Called to Someone, Not S thiS thi

I delight, declares the LORD. I delight, declares the LORD. Jeremiah 9:23-24

Something.Something.

Brokenness Is God’s Method of Making Spiritual Deposits Into Our Livesg p p

I will give you the treasures of darkness, hidden riches in secret places,

That you may know I, the Lord, Who calls y yyou by name -Isa 45:3

7 Year’s of Deposits

The Cross is the Foundation for Every Believer’s Callfor Every Believer s Call

L t thi i d b i hi h l iLet this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal withdid not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming g , gin the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Phil 2:5-9

The cross is a sign of adoption

In this you greatly rejoice though nowIn this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that thebeen grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, p g pthough it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the

l ti f J Ch i t hrevelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. 1 Peter 1:6-8

3 Reasons we will encounter the cross

1) Sin1) Sin

2) Generational Sin (subconscious, t h ld 2 C 10 4)strongholds – 2 Cor 10:4)

3) Calling3) Calling

Abrupt events can often signal a new calling. i.e. King Saul – lost donkeys

Joseph

Early signs you are experiencing the cross

• “Why am I going through this?”

“Thi k G d I’ t i i !• “This makes no sense, God. I’m not in sin! Why is this happening to me?”

• “My world is falling apart.”

• “I feel like I’m in a freefall and have nothing to hang• I feel like I m in a freefall and have nothing to hang onto. I can’t control anything.”

• “It’s not true! How could they think such lies!?”• It s not true! How could they think such lies!?

• “How could he/she betray me like this?”

Stages of the cross

• Black Hole out of control• Black Hole – out of control

• Desert isolation• Desert – isolation

• Restoration - fulfillment• Restoration - fulfillment

God gives us the cross, and then the cross gives us God.g

“ t th h h t i bitt“…to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.” Prov 27: 7b

You can only put two nails in your own cross; but it takes

someone else to actually put us y pon the cross

It often involves a “Judas” in our life

The cross is painful, bloody and very personal.

Custom made

Common Attributes

Removal of . . .

• relationshipsrelationships• resources

di t bl i t• predictable circumstances

Everything you receive comfort and strength fromcomfort and strength from

The more unwilling we are to deal with our sin the more public it will become.

It i l iIt is always more serious when a leader sins.

The need to control outcomesThe need to control outcomes must yield to complete

d f tsurrender of outcomes.

You rarely find comfort from anyYou rarely find comfort from any man when you have been put

thon the cross.

The cross is a custom designed assault to remove pride and self assurance Itsremove pride and self-assurance. Its

primary goal is humility, greater dependence upon God and increased p pintimacy with Jesus and our Father.

J h 13 f h i iJoseph - 13 years of character trainingMoses - 40 years

God Turns Messes Into Messagesg

John Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress• Grew up in poverty and taught himself to read.

St l d ith f li f t b i f i b• Struggled with feelings of not being forgiven by God.

• Wife died of a sudden illness.

• Imprisoned 12 years for preaching without aImprisoned 12 years for preaching without a license.

• Experienced God’s presence in a special wayExperienced God s presence in a special way while he was in prison.

The Pilgrim’s Progress was a book that couldThe Pilgrim s Progress was a book that could only have been written by a soul that was refined by the fires of adversity.

J d T t”“Judas Test”

Betrayal is often a tool of the cross

Joseph - brothersJ d d P JJudas and Peter to Jesus

David

Ps 55:12-14

“For it is not an enemy who reproaches me;Then I could bear it Nor is it one who hatesThen I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; Then I could hide from him. But it was you, aThen I could hide from him. But it was you, a man my equal, My companion and my acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, And walked to the house of God in the throng.” - David

A W Tozer once wrote “It is doubtfulA. W. Tozer once wrote, It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly

until he has hurt him deeply ”until he has hurt him deeply.

He reveals the deep things ofHe reveals the deep things of darkness, and brings deep shadows

into the light Job 12:22into the light. Job 12:22

Cross becomes your authorityWalking successfully through your season of the cross gives you theseason of the cross gives you the authority to minister the message God deposits into your life during that p y gseason.

The level of adversity always corresponds to the level of call. This pdefines the depth and width of the ministry He plans through your life.

Get all God desires for you to get

• It is very important to get all the jewels of the process of the cross He takesof the process of the cross He takes you through.

• Don’t extricate yourself

• It is what you gain in your crossIt is what you gain in your cross experience that will determine the fruit.

If you do not successfully walk through y y gthis season you will be disqualified to

minister from that place.

Michael Molinos, 1600s“The first darkness is that which comes from sin. It is a darkness that is filled with unhappiness and leads the Christian to eternal death. The second kind of darkness is darkness which the Lord allows within ouris darkness which the Lord allows within our inward part in order to establish and settle virtue.

This is a happy darkness because it ill i i d i i h iilluminates your inward spirit, strengthens it and gives it greater light. I would have you see these times of darkness as a happysee these times of darkness as a happy darkness, a darkness in which you should persevere in your inward pursuit.”

Michael Molinos, 1600s“It is a manifest sign that God, in His infinite mercy is seeking to bring youinfinite mercy, is seeking to bring you into the inward path. How good will be the results, dear friend, if you will but ysimply embrace these times with grace and with resignation! Such times are for

i it l d Th ti fyour spiritual good. These times of darkness do not slow you down in your journey toward Him! They may seemjourney toward Him! They may seem to, but in fact they hasten you toward the final point of your journey”the final point of your journey

Overcoming is not always good

Some of us are such good survivalists that we have not been brought lowthat we have not been brought low enough to learn the most important Kingdom lessons of the cross humilityKingdom lessons of the cross – humility and brokenness.

“I would kill you myself if I could.”Mentor

God uses emotional pain to motivate us to seek Him to reveal those issues in our lives

th t till d th h li dthat still need the cross; healing and wholeness. It is the greatest thing He can do

for a follower of Christ. Otherwise, we

remain stuck in our dysfunctional stuff.

Hos 5:15“I will return again to my place

till they acknowledge their offense.Then they will seek My face;

In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me."

3 Phase Obedience Cycle3 Phase Obedience CycleConvenienceConvenience

Kingdom ofKingdom ofO tO t b db dPainPain--Motivated Motivated

CrisisCrisisConvictionConviction

Kingdom of Kingdom of GodGod

Manifested!Manifested!LoveLove--motivationmotivation

OutcomeOutcome--based based ObedienceObedience

ObedienceObedience

I tiIntimacyWith Jesus

Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered

in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should , glive the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but

for the will of God. 1 Peter 4:1-3

3 Phase3 Phase Obedience CycleObedience CycleBusiness OwnersBusiness OwnersBusiness OwnersBusiness Owners

ConvenienceConvenience

M b iM b i

CrisisCrisisConvictionConviction

His business, His business, His way.His way.

My business, My business, my way.my way. My business. My business.

His way.His way.

Manifest His Glory!

There is often a death of a vision before the true vision is realized

Death and Resurrection Principle in the Bible

Abraham • (Ishmail) Isaac

Joseph • Dream

Disciples • Earthly Kingdom

Moses tried to deliver his peoplethrough Egyptian way. Banished 40 years

God has to disqualify you from thinking you are qualified for thethinking you are qualified for the mission He has for you. i.e. Moses, Joseph 40 and 13 years ofJoseph 40 and 13 years of preparation

Moses• Moses spent his first 40 years thinking he

was somebody.was somebody.

• He spent his next 40 years learning he wasHe spent his next 40 years learning he was nobody

• He spent his third 40 years discovering what God can do with a nobody.“ y

D.L. Moody

The Greater the Call, the Greater the Scrutinyy

M i i iMoses - circumcisionDavid - Uzzah, counting troops

After death, there is resurrectionNo glory in death alone.g y

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also

h ld lk i f lif R 6 4should walk in newness of life. Rom 6:4

Leadership is often birthed through the cross of adversity and brokennessy

• Joseph – Pit - World Leader• Joseph – Pit - World Leader• David – Saul’s sword - King• Paul – Stricken blind persecution - ApostlePaul Stricken blind, persecution Apostle• Peter – Denial of Jesus, persecution -

Apostle• King Saul – Business crisis –– Generational

Sin – Pride/Control - Disqualified

“Simple” fool vs” Hardened” fool

Birthing of new things is often out of dark placesoften out of dark places

• Genesis 15:12 says “a thick and dreadful darkness came over” Abram.darkness came over Abram.

• It is in the depths of that strange and terribleIt is in the depths of that strange and terrible darkness that God tells Abram his descendents will one day be slaves in a ystrange country, but they will come out of that nation with great possessions and return

h l d h ll h H l L dto the land that we now call the Holy Land.

A.W. Tozer

“A true and safe leader is likely one who has no desire to lead but is forced intohas no desire to lead, but is forced into a position of leadership by the inward pressure of the Holy Spirit and by thepressure of the Holy Spirit and by the pressure of an external situation.”

Martin LutherMartin Luther was surprised to be used by God to reform the Church Lutherby God to reform the Church. Luther was simply struggling for salvation before God, and was the most surprised person to set off the cataclysmic 16th century movement we

i l ll th R f tinow simply call, the Reformation.

TGIF and FW movement

“Beware of the Christian leaderBeware of the Christian leader who does not walk with a limp.”

B b M f dBob Mumford

Embracing the Cross is a Key to Nation TransformationShadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego Understood the Cross

• They drew the line in the sand. As a result they were willing to die for their faith.

• When God delivered, God was honored in their nation and His name was even legally

t t dprotected.

• They were elevated in influence andThey were elevated in influence and authority in their nation.

There is a line in the sand for every leader at the top of mountains that you must know.

The Joseph Calling?Si ifi d b t d itSignified by great adversity.

1. Spiritual provider. 2. Physical provider.

Indicators• Your life, like Joseph, is forever going to be

associated with the adversity you wentassociated with the adversity you went through by others.

• Severe adversity, remarkable restoration for influence.

• Spiritual & Physical provider.p y p

• Influence over resourcesInfluence over resources

Each of Joseph’s 4 Tests Moved Him Toward Each of Joseph’s 4 Tests Moved Him Toward Fulfillment of God’s Ultimate Purpose for His LifeFulfillment of God’s Ultimate Purpose for His LifeEach of Joseph’s 4 Tests Moved Him Toward Each of Joseph’s 4 Tests Moved Him Toward Fulfillment of God’s Ultimate Purpose for His LifeFulfillment of God’s Ultimate Purpose for His Life

44

Fulfillment of God s Ultimate Purpose for His LifeFulfillment of God s Ultimate Purpose for His LifeFulfillment of God s Ultimate Purpose for His LifeFulfillment of God s Ultimate Purpose for His Life

Matt 6:14-15B t if d t f i th i

StewardshipStewardship33But if you do not forgive men their

trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

PurityPurity

PerseverancePerseverance

Political PowerPolitical Power11

22PrisonPrison

Financial Financial BlessingBlessing

g y p

BitternessBitterness

“Pit”“Pit”DiscouragementDiscouragement

PurityPurity

Potiphar’s WifePotiphar’s Wife

PrisonPrison

“ til the Word of the Lord proved him true ”

Family Family RejectionRejection

Judas TestJudas Test

Sexual Sexual TemptationTemptation

2 Yr Delay2 Yr DelayDreamDream

…til the Word of the Lord proved him true. (Ps.105:19)

Joseph’s Two Pits

1. Betrayed by family - Slave, servant, Potiphar’s housePotiphar s house

2. Wrongfully accused, imprisoned in a dungeon – rejected, abandoned, forgotten

Bad to worse!

Failure and Calling

Failure is one of the major tools God uses to learn the lessons of the cross.

God wants to crucify the successmodel most of us operate fromp

• Abraham failed to wait for the promised son.

• Moses attempted deliverance of his people through the Eqyptian modelg qyp

• David failed by committing adultery and murder

• Peter failed to love Jesus and denied Him three times.

God will use failure in your life to break down that strong desire in your heart to see yourthat strong desire in your heart to see your

name in lights. And when he finally breaks you of that lust for recognition, He may place you

before the lights like you never imagined.Joseph probably could have cared less that he wasJoseph probably could have cared less that he was elevated to the position of second in command to Pharaoh. He had become dead to his situation and

was simply motivated by his obedience to God.

Abraham Lincoln

• Failed in business at 31.• Defeated for legislature at 33.• Again failed at business at 33.• Elected to legislature at 34.• Sweetheart died at 35. Nervous

breakdown at 43breakdown at 43.• Defeated for Congress at 46.• Defeated for Congress at 48• Defeated for Congress at 48.

• Elected President of the United States at 51.

Ps 127:1

Unless the Lord builds the house,They labor in vain who build it;

Unless the Lord guards the city,g y,The watchman stays awake in vain.

Zech 4:6-7

So he answered and said to me:"Thi i h d f h L d Z bb b l"This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,‘

Says the Lord of hosts 'Who are you OSays the Lord of hosts. Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall

become a plain!become a plain!

The Role Failure Plays in Our Destinies

“S i i f f il t“Success is moving from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.”

Winston Churchill

Ishmaels Are Born When the CrossIshmaels Are Born When the Cross Has not Fully Performed Its Work in

the Individual’s Lifethe Individual s Life

i.e. self-will, natural ability, reason, logic, failure to move in God’s timing

When God is in it it flowsWhen God is in it, it flows.When the flesh is in it,

it’s forcedit’s forced

CIB vs TGIF

The Cross MeansThe Cross Means Moving in God’s Timing,

Not OursNot Ours

Oswald Chambers

When God gives a vision and darkness follows waiting on God will bring youfollows, waiting on God will bring you into accordance with the vision He has given if you await His timinggiven if you await His timing. Otherwise, you try to do away with the supernatural in God’s undertakingssupernatural in God s undertakings. Never try to help God fulfill His word.

The Cross Means Moving in God’s Timing

• David waited for God to elevate him to beDavid waited for God to elevate him to be king and willed himself to wait for God’s perfect timing for God to fulfill His promise to him.

• Jesus waited for the right timing to fulfill his purpose. His followers wanted him to fulfill a

h G d’purpose that was not God’s purpose.

Lessons from the Red Sea

Ex 14:13-14B t M id t th l "D tBut Moses said to the people, "Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of th L d hi h H ill li h fthe Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you h t d illhave seen today, you will never see them again forever. " The Lord will fi ht f hil k il t "fight for you while you keep silent."

NASU

Prescription for Dead-Ends/Crisis

What to doWhat not to do• Don’t fear• Stand still

1. Fear2. Run

• Watch God work• Quit talking

3. Fight4. Tell everybody

Ex 14:15-17Then the Lord said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. "As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons ofstretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of

Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land.

Samuel Morse• Born in 1791• Morse grew up desiring to be an artist• Morse grew up desiring to be an artist, • it was difficult to make a living as an

artist in America during that timeartist in America during that time. • Wife died; then his mother and father also

died soon after.died soon after. • He went to Europe to paint and reflect on

his life. On his return trip aboard a ship, p p,he was captivated by discussions at dinner about new experiments in electromagnetism.

Samuel Morse• During that important occasion, Morse made the

following comment, "If the presence of electricity b d i ibl i t f th i it Ican be made visible in any part of the circuit, I

see no reason why intelligence may not be transmitted by electricity."

• In the face of many difficulties and disappointments, he determinedly perfected adisappointments, he determinedly perfected a new invention, and, in 1837, applied for a patent that became what we know today as the telegraph. He also created Morse code. It wastelegraph. He also created Morse code. It was only later, after many more setbacks and disappointments, that his projects received funding.funding.

• “ I will wait patiently for the direction of Providence "Providence.

• Morse went on to create several other inventions and can be recognized today as the father of faxes, modems, e-mail, the internet and other electronic communication.

Goal of the Christian Life?

D E A T H !D E A T H !So Christ may live through us!

Can a Dead Man Have Stress?

We are to live as though we are dead.

Rom 6:11-12

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesusto sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

• A dead man can’t have stress• A dead man can t have stress.• A dead man can’t get offended.

A d d h id• A dead man has no pride or ego.• A dead man can’t sin.

Jesus had emotion but did not sin.

Paul’s perspective on his cross

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in p pdespair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the ylife of Jesus may also be revealed in our body (2 Cor. 4:8-10).

Gal 2:20-21

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in

the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for meHimself for me.

Wh h t h lf illWhen you have too much self-will or no accountability, the cross has not been

applied to that area of your lifeapplied to that area of your life.

All that is not of Him must beAll that is not of Him must be crucified on the cross for His life to

be fully realized through usbe fully realized through us.

Cross is for every believer

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me letanyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me For whoevercross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake willwhoever loses his life for My sake will find it. - Matt 16:24-26

Michael Molinos,1600s

“Doing is delightful. It belongs to beginners in Christ Suffering belongsbeginners in Christ. Suffering belongs to those seeking. Dying – dying to the self--belongs to those who are beingself--belongs to those who are being completed in Christ.”

The Cross is our training ground for effective Kingdom influenceeffective Kingdom influence

Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war And my fingers for battlehands for war, And my fingers for battle —

Ps 144:1

(Whenever God is wanting to teach me a new principle, I must learn it from a very practical

perspective. I am actually thrust into the middle of the battle to learn the process of

that battle myself )that battle myself.)

The cross is the proving ground for your faith

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while if need be you havefor a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much g y gmore precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found t i h d l t thto praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you lovehaving not seen you love.

1 Peter 1:6-8

Satan Attacks Marketplace Leaders in Our Most Vulnerable

Areas and the Place of Our Inheritance

Satan’s 3 Pillars of EntrapmentSatan’s 3 Pillars of EntrapmentPassion. Possessions. Position.Passion. Possessions. Position.

Satan’s 3 Pillars of EntrapmentSatan’s 3 Pillars of EntrapmentPassion. Possessions. Position.Passion. Possessions. Position.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him For all that is in the world the lust of thein him. For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17

Satan’s 3 Pillars of EntrapmentSatan’s 3 Pillars of EntrapmentPassion. Possessions. Position.Passion. Possessions. Position.Passion. Possessions. Position.Passion. Possessions. Position.

Lust of the EyesLust of the Eyes

Lust of the FleshLust of the Flesh

(Possessions)(Possessions)

Pride of LifePride of Life(Passion)(Passion) (Position) (Position)

What I see I wantWhat I see I want

Feel good lifestyleFeel good lifestyle“David and Bathsheba”“David and Bathsheba”

What I see I want.What I see I want.Consumptive Life styleConsumptive Life style

I must be seenI must be seenas greatas great

Positions of PowerPositions of Power

Generosity Generosity Integrity Integrity Humility Humility

God’s Solution to Satan’s 3 Pillars of EntrapmentGod’s Solution to Satan’s 3 Pillars of Entrapment

Passion. Possessions. Position.Passion. Possessions. Position.

Generosity Generosity

Integrity Integrity HumilityHumilityDeut 8:18Deut 8:18--1919

Phil 4:8Phil 4:8--9 Finally, brethren, 9 Finally, brethren, h t thi th t thi t

Deut 8:18Deut 8:18--1919"And you shall "And you shall

remember the Lord remember the Lord your God, for it is your God, for it is He who gives youHe who gives you

1 1 Peter 5:5Peter 5:5--77"God resists the proud, "God resists the proud, whatever things are true, whatever things are true,

whatever things are noble, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are pure,

whatever things are lovely, whatever things are lovely,

He who gives you He who gives you power to get wealth, power to get wealth,

that He may that He may establish His establish His covenantcovenant

God es sts t e p oud,God es sts t e p oud,But gives grace to the But gives grace to the

humble." humble." Therefore humble Therefore humble

yourselves under the yourselves under the g yg ywhatever things are of good whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue report, if there is any virtue

and if there is anything and if there is anything praiseworthy praiseworthy —— meditate on meditate on

these thingsthese things

covenant....covenant.... yymighty hand of God, mighty hand of God,

that He may exalt you in that He may exalt you in due time. . .due time. . .

these things. these things.

Ps 51: truth inward partsPs 51: truth inward parts

Addictions

• Addictions are one means that Satan uses to entrap Christiansuses to entrap Christians.

• Addictions are a symptom of not b li i l d b G dbelieving we are loved by God.

If you struggle with any kind of addiction, immerse yourself with yscriptures about the love of God.

Eph 3:14-19

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father f L d J Ch i t f h thof our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the

whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the

friches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; y y g ;that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depthsaints what is the width and length and depth and height — to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of Godfilled with all the fullness of God.

Kingdom Truth: Weakness=PowerKingdom Truth: Weakness=PowerJesus ministered from a place of

weakness not strengthweakness, not strength

Paul

2 Cor 10:10-11"F hi l tt " th " i ht• "For his letters," they say, "are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is

k d hi h t tibl "weak, and his speech contemptible."

1 Cor 2:1-6

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

I was with you in weakness in fear and in muchI was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power that yourdemonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

2 Cor 12:9-11

• And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

• Testimony Shy, English, Omar

Withholding Your Natural GiftingWithholding Your Natural Gifting to insure God is in it.

“Most Christian enterprise is Ishmael not born of God but of anIshmael, not born of God but of an inordinate desire to do God’s will in our own way The one thing Godour own way. The one thing God

never did.” Oswald Chambers

Oswald Chambers

“Al b f b i t“Always beware of being more eager to do God’s will than God is for you to do it Th k bl thi b t O L dit. The remarkable thing about Our Lord was not that He was eager to do God’s

ill b t th t H b di t t d it ”will, but that He was obedient to do it.”

When we fight the process ofWhen we fight the process of the cross, we delay the

f lfill t f d tifulfillment of our destiny.“If my people would but listen to me if Israel wouldIf my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways, how quickly would I subdue their

enemies and turn my hand against their foes (Psalm 82:13,14).

1 Cor 13:2-3

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and alland understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains butso that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feedthough I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned but have not love it profitsbe burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Understand God’s love for yourself and for others.

Mark 12:29-31Jesus answered him "The first of all theJesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love , ythe Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor asthis: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these "greater than these.

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one

another." John 13:35

Culture Must be Reclaimed throughCulture Must be Reclaimed through Extravagant Love and Servant

Leadership Modeled in HumilityLeadership Modeled in Humility

Winning Culture through the Cross

• Culture views Christianity as a right wing political action groupwing political action group

• They only know what we don’t believe iin

• We become the head, not the tail, by solving societal problems in the spirit of love, humility and the power of God working through our weaknesses

Viewing Failure/Brokenness• It often takes a crisis to force us to examine ourselves.

• God doesn’t test us in order to find out something HeGod doesn t test us in order to find out something He doesn’t already know. He tests us so that we can learn about ourselves and His love, power and faithfulness.

If h t d l thi f• If you hope to succeed, learn everything you can from your failures and brokenness.

• God sees failure as preparation for successGod sees failure as preparation for success.

• Our lives are framed by the events and experiences that God takes us through, and our lives are defined by how we

drespond.

But those who suffer [God] delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction” (Job 36:15)speaks to them in their affliction (Job 36:15).

Embrace the Cross

Brokenness always precedesBrokenness always precedesgreatness with God.

The Importance of Solitude

It i i ibl f t li iIt is impossible for you to live in your inmost being where Christ lives without l i il d ti f fl tiloving silence and times of reflection before God.

B.U.S.Y. Being Under Satan’s Yoke

1 Sam 2:35-36

I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My g yheart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever.

Are you willing?

Prayer

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