“Refocusing On God’s Greater Purpose” Begin the year // Resetting our hearts Refocusing on God’s greater purposes Something we need to see through eyes of faith – our life Glasses – some things right in front of me I can’t focus and truly understand without these glasses I can see some other things fine –but not what’s closest to me Bible is the pair of glasses for my life It helps me focus on & truly understand what’s right in front of me Causes some other things to become fuzzy CAN ONLY HAVE ONE FOCUS Prayer, fasting and word – taking our focus off of the world – focus on bigger purpose in God’s word You have a bigger purpose than you realize It’s not school on Monday or the right party on Friday. It’s not to get the girl, get the grades or get the raise It’s not your 401k, or getting 1k of likes on Instagram It’s not to get in the right crowd, college or company IT’S THE PURPOSE THAT BEGAN IN GENESIS AND ENDS IN REVELATIONS 14 Days Of Prayer & Fasting

Covenant Video Here Covenant video from Read Scripture It was on Friday. “The Covenants”

Your Greater Purpose (in Jesus) To partner with God to reverse the curse! This is what we’ve been reading about in Genesis The people God created to bless, chose to reject him and live in a curse instead This world is under a curse – everything drifts towards decay and chaos Your marriage Your kids Your emotional health Your physical health But from Noah to Abraham all the way to us Our greater purpose to partner in covenant with God to reverse the curse Abraham is called the father of our faith

(Genesis 22) God creates the covenant, we still have to partner in faith There is a way we commit in Jesus A way we refocus Abraham shows us how He goes from being under the curse To being the one who brings blessing Your purpose too “I will surely bless you . . . and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” v16-18

REVERSE THE CURSE 1. Listen to God’s Word Prayer and Fasting –The Bible Project Abram had his past talking to him Brother and father died - Big mistakes and regrets Wife was barren - separated from his firstborn child & second wife Nephew was ungrateful - 35 years and no land You have others “After these things, God test Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am!” (v1)

You Have An Enemy Trying To Overwhelm You In A Cursed World “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:11-12) He’s trying to get you to listen to your pain, past, people. Choose to listen to God’s word to say here I am Testimonies Most spiritual thing I’ve done for this fast – deleted my espn app Here I AM

SPIRITUAL WARFARE People partnering with God (through Jesus) to reverse the curse of sin & satan through whole hearted obedience to God’s Word Why haven’t you?

Is anything in their life changed – Mostly no They’ve changed Here I am

14 Days Of Prayer & Fasting REVERSE THE CURSE 2. Let go of the world (fasting) Prayer and Fasting –The Bible Project “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” v12

To reverse the curse you can’t worship what you have now Nothing you have right now is the end of what God wants to give you Good: an ingredient Bad: an invitation Instead of what do I have? What does God want me to do? ESPN App / TV by myself Pride and frustration – If sara sent me to the store for some chocolate chips, some cookies I didn’t get them to keep them –I got them to be an ingredient in something better ABRAHAM – was given a son – it was good –couldn’t settle and stop If you are in a place where everything is bad Not the end either Consider it an invitation to see how great God is

REVERSE THE CURSE 3. Live it out today (obedience) It always come down to today “I will surely bless you [reverse the curse in and through you]. . . and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” .” v16-18

THE KEY TO VICTORY There is no greater act of spiritual warfare than obeying God’s Word. It’s what we live out, not speak out or attend, that most determines our ability to reverse the curse for ourselves and others! (Gen. 22:18 / Acts 19:15) Live it out Community –who will say God provides (board of supervisors) Family – who will be the emotional leader who will let others start again (Family member and neighbors) Most of all – YOU Regardless of what you have – let it go And live out God’s word not your past The good and the bad Someone who has reversed the curse

Christine Cain video The one you spliced for me Steven

REVERSE THE CURSE Listen to God’s Word Let go of the world Live it out today Partner with God –start with you Today I believe he can reverse the curse Some –will I listen Never done this before –God wants to ask you a question today Every word – brings an answer, a decision and an action Song Elders