The past week I've been up for another week of IRBC! As always, it was an absolute blast! I spent time with family, I spent time with friends, and, most importantly, I spent time in God's word. The teen leader was such an amazing speaker, and the Holy Spirit was totally working - especially in my life.
Obviously it would take waaaay too much time to re-hash every single sermon, but I can share some notes! Not all the messages had specific titles... so I'm going to make some up for ya'll to remember ;)
1) "The Battle Is On"
Romans 1:18 - "For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness."
Satan is trying to suppress - dunk our heads - in unrighteousness so that we can't breathe in the truth!
We can't just ignore the fact that we're drowning!
1 Peter 5:8 - "Be sober and alert! Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour."
How do we resist the prowling Devil?!
1 Peter 5:9 - "Resist him, strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering."
BE ALERT! If I'm spiritually "dunked" in unrighteousness, how am I supposed to breathe?!
Be strong in your faith.
THE BATTLE IS ON!
2) "Anxiety"
Philippians 4:6 - "Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God."
Anxiety is a uneasiness due to an impending fear. It's mental, emotional, and spiritual strangulation.
First - we become fearful
Second - we become distracted
Third - we become unfruitful
Fourth - we become negative
The solution to all this?! It's a greek word that Pastor Cox likes to call - GET OVER IT!
First - we worry when we add more things to our already full schedule
Second - we worry when we subtract God from our everyday life
Third - we worry when we multiply our problems by looking inside for our own solutions
Fourth - we worry when we divide GOD and ME
Make a decision and go with it. You can always clean up the mess and move on to what God has next.
3) "Doubt"
Jeremiah 29:11-14 - " 'For I know what I have planned for you,' says the Lord. 'I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope. When you call out to me and come to me in prayer, I will hear your prayers. When you seek me in prayer and worship, you will find me available to you. If you seek me with all your heart and soul, I will make myself available to you,' says the Lord. 'Then I will reverse your plight and will regather you from all the nations and all the places where I have exiled you,' says the Lord. 'I will bring you back to the place from which I exiled you.' "
Have the courage to question, to admit the struggle.
By risking safety and not always playing it safe - this is how we grow!
First - refuse to say you understand something when you don't
Second - feel free to honestly ask questions
Third - when you're sure of something GO ALL THE WAY!
Fourth - put questions to resources: Bible, Pastor, Youth Leader, Books
Fifth - ask the right questions ~ Not always "why" - maybe "what" instead
4) "Battle For My City"
Nehemiah 1-2
First - recognize the need
Don't be oblivious to the world's problems!
Second - rally together
God provided Nehemiah with the materials needed to accomplish what God burdened his heart with.
Go out and look for the need of the Savior.
Third - RISE UP!
Go do it! Fight where you are. Do your part.
It was such a convicting week filled with awesome messages! I wish you all could have been there! If you want a full copy of my notes from the past week, shoot me an email!
